A Mystery

After finishing their meal in the dining hall, the students were organized into separate groups based on their sash colors. The Black Sash and White Sash students were noticeably fewer in number compared to the other groups.

Ray sat with Monk, Gary, and Kyle at their designated table. Even though the trial had concluded, the atmosphere in the room was much like it had been during lunch. Some students were nervous, beads of sweat forming on their brows as they murmured prayers. Others were excited, brimming with anticipation.

The dining hall had a warmer ambiance now that night had fallen. A grand fireplace at the center stage cast flickering orange flames across the room. The paintings on the walls appeared more vivid, their details sharpened by shifting shadows.

The lights around the hall gradually brightened to a warm orange hue, activating one by one as the Master Knights stepped onto the stage. Wilfred, Delbert, and Bernardo stood at the front, joined by the other two Master Knights from the trials—the masked knight in black and the female archer.

Each knight held a box containing the different colored sashes. Wilfred stepped forward, a box in hand.

"We will now announce the results of today's assessments. When you hear your name, please come to the stage to receive your sash from one of the Master Knights."

One by one, students were called forward. They approached the stage, where they were handed sashes of solid colors, each easy to distinguish from the others. Their reactions varied—some shouted with joy upon receiving a white sash, while others looked crushed, unable to contain their disappointment. One boy openly wept after being handed a red sash.

The process continued table by table until it was Ray's group's turn.

Ian and Slyvia received white sashes, as expected based on their stellar performances in the trial. Dan was awarded a blue sash, looking slightly disappointed, while Martha beamed as she accepted her green sash.

Monk walked toward the stage stiffly, his nervousness evident. Ray understood why—like him, Monk had struggled in most aspects of the test, aside from one. A red sash seemed inevitable.

Yet, to everyone's surprise, Monk was given a black sash.

Excitement lit up his face as he quickly bowed and hurried off stage. A murmur spread through the hall. Monk was the first student so far to receive a black sash.

When Gary's name was called, he strode up confidently. His performance had been unmatched throughout the trials, and there wasn't a doubt in anyone's mind that he deserved a white sash.

But as he reached the stage, Gary was also handed a black sash.

He stared at it in disbelief, unmoving. Seconds passed before he snapped out of his daze, accepted the sash, and bowed to the Master Knight before leaving the stage.

Then, Ray's name was called.

He expected to receive a red sash and didn't particularly care, as it aligned with his original plan. But when he stepped onto the stage, Bernardo—who had been distributing red sashes—remained still. Instead, the masked knight in black stepped forward, presenting Ray with a black sash.

Ray accepted it without hesitation and quickly left the stage.

With the distribution complete, the celebratory meal began. The feast was grand, featuring high-quality dishes prepared with the finest ingredients. Ray had never eaten such exquisite food before.

As they sat at their table, most of the group engaged in cheerful conversation—except for Gary, who seemed subdued. Eventually, he spoke.

"Why did we receive black sashes? What does this mean?"

The table fell silent. Gary was clearly troubled by the outcome, and no one had an answer for him. Black was an unusual sash color, and its significance was unclear. Was it good? Bad? No one knew.

Gary had been the highest-performing student, while Ray and Monk had ranked among the lowest, yet all three had been assigned the same sash. It made no sense.

Slyvia was the first to break the silence. "I tried asking a second-year student who also wore a black sash, but he wouldn't tell me anything about it. He was fine talking about other things, but when it came to the sash, he avoided the topic completely."

"Maybe we're special," Monk suggested. His usual shyness had faded since receiving his sash, and he was speaking more freely with the group.

"There have been cases of knights changing their rank later on, so I wouldn't worry too much," Slyvia added, as if trying to reassure Gary.

Gary glanced at Ray, then let out a small chuckle. "Looks like we'll be training together after all."

Ray offered a slight smile but remained quiet. He was just as unsettled as Gary. His original plan had been to receive a low-rank sash, allowing him more freedom and keeping him away from the scrutiny of the Master Knights. Instead, he had been given black—a color no one seemed to understand.

Out of 300 students, only four had received black sashes. Thirty had been given green. Ten had received white. The rest were scattered among other colors. 

It was clear now—black was the rarest of them all. 

And its meaning remained a mystery.