The Plan

When Ray woke up, his mind felt clearer than it had in days. He now knew exactly what he needed to do. He had his answer.

Even if it meant risking everything he had gained so far, he had to see what was behind that red door.

The white orb in his dream had called out to him. Was this the same vision and feeling that had been haunting Gary? Was this why he was so desperate to go down there?

The next day, Ray asked Gary to meet him alone. He told him that they would go together. Gary was overjoyed and couldn't stop thanking him, calling him the best friend he ever had.

Ray felt a twinge of guilt. He hadn't told Gary about his own dream. This wasn't for Gary—it was for himself. But Gary saw things differently.

Throughout training that day, Ray found it impossible to focus. All he could think about was the plan to infiltrate the red door. The anticipation gnawed at him. Every second of the day felt like an eternity.

Gary, on the other hand, seemed more energized than ever, as if he had returned to his old self. The burden that had been weighing on him was now lifted.

Once training had ended, Gary called both Ray and Monk to the temporary rooms of the Black Sash mansion.

Ray was surprised that Monk had been invited. Maybe Gary had asked for his help as well.

When Ray entered the room, Gary swiftly closed all the windows and doors, ensuring no one could overhear their conversation. A plan was spread out across the floor, carefully drawn and thought out.

"So what's with the emergency meeting?" Monk asked, arms crossed.

Gary walked over and placed a firm hand on Monk's shoulder. "Ray and I are going to see what's behind the red door, and we need your help."

Monk's eyes widened. "You're going to do what? Are you insane? We'll be kicked out of the academy!"

Monk turned to Ray, as if expecting him to talk some sense into Gary. "You have to stop him, Ray."

Ray shook his head. "You were the one who asked me to look out for Gary. He's been having dreams about the red door. This isn't just about curiosity."

Monk scoffed. "Well, you two can go get yourselves expelled, but I want no part of this."

Monk moved towards the exit when Gary called after him.

"Wait! You remember our duel? If Ray hadn't stopped you, I could have been seriously hurt. You said you owed me one. Well, I'm calling in that favor now."

Monk's grip tightened on the door handle. His jaw clenched. He was wavering.

"Monk, didn't you tell Ray that we were family?" Gary continued. "I see the Black Sashes as my family, and I need your help."

Monk let out a frustrated sigh and released the handle, turning back towards them. "Fine. But after this, we're even. And I want to hear the plan first."

Ray noticed that one person was missing. "Hey, Gary, if you wanted the whole Black Sash family in on this, why didn't you invite Kyle?"

Gary rolled his eyes. "Come on, really? We all know he's got a big mouth."

They all chuckled. It was true—if Kyle knew about this plan, half of Avrion Academy would have heard about it by now.

Gary laid out the plan. "Here's how we do it. Right now, two knights in black armor guard the red door at all times. They're said to be as strong as Master Knights, so there's no way we can take them on. But once a month, the black-armored knights gather for a meeting, and they're temporarily replaced by Squire Masters. That's our chance. One of us will create a distraction, and while that's happening, Monk, we need you to pick the lock. You're the fastest and the best at it."

Monk's cheeks turned slightly red, but he nodded.

"What do we tell the others while we're gone?" Monk asked.

"We say we're doing special training together," Gary answered.

"What if they find out about the broken lock?" Ray questioned.

"They won't. We've trained for missions like this our entire time here. This is exactly what Black Sashes are meant to do."

Ray took a deep breath. "Alright. Let's do it."

Suddenly, a startled gasp echoed from the window. Shadows flickered before forming into a distinct shape—a figure emerging from the darkness.

It was Jasmine Heart. Her green eyes gleamed under the dim light, long black hair flowing past her shoulders. A black-gray cloak covered her body, and the unmistakable Black Sash adorned her chest.

Jasmine was a third-year student, one of the best among the Black Sashes. They rarely interacted with third-years, as most of them were out on missions. But given how few Black Sashes there were, everyone knew each other.

She stared at them, wide-eyed. "I can't believe what I just heard."

A heavy silence filled the room. Sweat trickled down Ray's back. He could hear the quickened breaths of both Gary and Monk.

Gary narrowed his eyes. "What are you doing here? Were you spying on us?"

"No! It was an accident. I came up here to train by myself. I was practicing blending in with the shadows."

"Isn't that just a fancy way of saying you were spying?" Monk asked.

"That's not the point!" Jasmine snapped. "I heard everything. I know what you're planning, and you're not going to get away with it. Once I tell the Master Knights what you're up to, you'll all be expelled."

The three of them exchanged nervous glances, each hoping someone had an idea on how to get out of this situation.

Gary took a step forward, his voice calm but ominous. "Well, now that you know about our plan… we can't just let you go free, can we?"