Our Role

Sir K was the first to approach the mansion doors. He grasped the giant metal ring and pulled. As the doors swung open, a gust of wind rushed out, kicking up dust. Ray instinctively closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, Sir K had vanished.

"Where did he go?" Monk asked, glancing around.

"My eyes were closed," Kyle admitted.

They all exchanged looks, equally confused about Sir K's sudden disappearance.

"Well, shall we go in then?" Gary said, stepping through the doorway first, unfazed.

Inside, the mansion was underwhelming compared to the rest of Avrion City. Unlike the academy buildings, which used crystal-powered lights, the mansion relied on candles, casting dim flickers of light and deep shadows along the walls. It was clear that the upkeep here had been neglected.

Ray activated his Dragon Eyes, scanning the area. He detected several people inside, but for some reason, Sir K was nowhere to be seen.

"What should we do?" Monk asked.

"I think it's best if we wait here," Gary suggested. "The worst thing we can do is wander around and get lost."

They agreed, deciding to remain by the entrance. It was unlikely Sir K would forget about them. Soon after, a knight wearing a red sash entered the room through one of the side doors.

"Hey, are you guys first years? Black sashes, huh? Well, you're in the right place. Don't worry," he said.

Gary took the opportunity to ask a few questions. "I thought only Black Sash knights were allowed here?"

"Yes, but as Red Sash knights, we sometimes serve as messengers between different departments," the knight explained.

Monk leaned toward Ray, whispering, "Looks like we lucked out. Guess it's true they treat the red knights like crap."

Gary turned back to the Red Sash knight. "Do you know anything about the Black Knights?"

The knight hesitated for a moment before answering. "Well, normally, I wouldn't share this kind of thing, but since you're going to be Black Sashes anyway, it won't do any harm. There are rumors that the Black Knights are assassins. That they go on secret missions, act as double agents, or are sent to eliminate targets."

"That can't be true," Gary snapped, looking visibly annoyed. "A knight would never do something as dirty as assassination. They fight their foes head-on."

The Red Sash knight gave Gary a knowing look. "Even if some people see it as a dirty job, someone has to do it. The kingdom relies on skilled knights for more than just open combat. With the Dark Guilds and the Black Plague threatening the land, warriors with those abilities are needed."

Gary remained silent, clenching his fists tightly.

"Anyway, just stay here. A Squire Master should be down shortly," the Red Sash knight said before exiting the mansion.

As soon as he left, Gary turned to the others, frustration written all over his face. "Do you believe what he said? How could a knight do such things?"

While Gary was clearly disturbed, Monk and Kyle seemed excited. They were relieved they hadn't been selected as Red Sashes and were eager to prove themselves.

"Humans have always been like this. It's nothing new," Ray muttered.

Just then, a knight entered the room. He had short blond hair and a beard, appearing a few years older than them. He wore a blue sash, distinguished by a single golden ribbon.

The knight approached them and introduced himself. "Hi there, I'm the Black Squire Master, Joseph. You can just call me Joe. I'll be taking you to your temporary rooms for the night. Training starts bright and early tomorrow. Normally, you'll stay in your usual accommodations, but for tonight, you'll be sleeping here."

Joe led them up the mansion's stairs. As they walked, Gary couldn't hold back his curiosity. "Is it true that the Black Sashes are assassins?"

Joe's expression didn't change. "It's not exactly a job to be proud of, but yes, it's true. We usually only get one new recruit per year. It's remarkable that we've taken in four this time. Sir K will explain more when the time is right."

Gary fell silent, deep in thought.

They reached a door marked Blue Squire Knights. Inside, the room was even barer than expected—eight single beds lined the walls, but there were no desks, no chairs, nothing but the beds and blankets.

"I know it's empty, but it's only for one night," Joe said before leaving them.

The moment the door shut, Sir K suddenly appeared in the room.

Kyle, who had just been getting into bed, yelped and tumbled onto the floor, while Monk instinctively pulled his blanket over his face.

"Sorry for the scare," Sir K said. "I had something urgent to take care of."

Gary wasted no time. He walked straight up to Sir K, the question burning in his mind. "Is it true that the Black Sashes are assassins?"

"You don't seem too thrilled about the answer," Sir K observed. "But yes, it's true. Each of you was chosen because the Master Knights saw something in you—something that would make you a great assassin. Right now, Avrion Academy has a dire need for them."

"But I did the best," Gary argued. "I should have become a White Sash."

Sir K's eyes locked onto Gary's. "You certainly impressed all of us. You easily could have been a White Sash Knight, but we believed your skills were better suited for the Black Sash."

Gary exhaled sharply, his shoulders slumping as he made his way back to his bed, defeated.

Sir K turned to the rest of them. "Get some rest. Tomorrow, everyone in the academy will begin their training based on their assigned color rank. Afterward, there will be group basic training with all students."

Then, his gaze shifted to Ray. "Ray, you'll need to stay behind for additional training after the color training."

Before Ray could even ask what it would entail, Sir K vanished into thin air once more, leaving only more questions in his wake.