All the students had prepared themselves, placing the red tag just underneath their trousers and had it sticking out from their behind like some type of tail. They then evenly spread out across the field just in front of the mansion.

  "Alright everyone, remember the rules!" Kyle shouted. "No physical skills are to be used, no violence against each other. Touching is allowed, such as knocking away but nothing else."

  As the students prepared themselves, they all had their eyes set on one person. Ray. He was the new target whereas before they would have gone for Flynn.

  Noticing that all eyes were on him, he decided to fake a yawn only enraging them more. "This c.o.c.ky guy, where the hell did he come from?"

  "Just you wait," Flynn said. "That advanced weapon is mine."

  Kyle blew the whistle which signalled the start of the game, and as Ray had expected, each of them had come towards him. Although only one of them seemed to stay behind to observe, which was Flynn.

  "This reminds me of the time when I was in the tournament?" Ray thought. When he fought back then nearly every single person had chosen to target him, although last time it was out of anger and hatred.

  The footwork they displayed was impressive, using minimal force against the ground, it caused their footsteps to appear light, and almost no sound was heard. But they hadn't mastered hiding in the shadows.

  Ray prepared himself planting his feet and kept an eye on each one of them. Using his dragon eyes, he could tell their flow of energy and where they planned to move next. If they were at the same level as Sir K or Monk, they would have been able to even hide their energy from his dragon eyes.

  But they were stills students.

  Using this information at the right time. Ray dashed forward avoiding each one of their grabs and at a lightning-fast speed that seemed too fast for the human eye to see. Ray grabbed each one of their tags until he had appeared directly in front of Flynn.

  However, Flynn wasn't impressed nor distracted. At that moment he used his black sash footwork he had learnt to get around behind Ray. He went to grab Ray's tag, although he wouldn't have the most tags he could still get some of his pride back.

  But Ray wasn't going to let that happen so easily. When Flynn went to grab the tag, he felt his hands completely phase through. "What the…"

  The image of Ray was an afterimage, and now while constantly moving in Flynn's blind spot and not making a single creak, he appeared invisible to the eye. For the first time, Flynn felt afraid as he tried his best to look around, but he could see no one.

  "Gotcha!" Ray said as he pulled the last tag and lifted it into the air. "I hope you will keep to your side of the bargain."

  Flynn was shaking, the others expected him to lash out, or complain that it wasn't fair. How was a student meant to go up against an a.d.u.l.t, But Flynn then knelt down on the floor and started to beg.

  "Please, take me in as your student," Flynn said. "I now see that Kyle wasn't lying and you are a true master that even surpasses him. If I wish to grow, I need the guidance of someone like you."

  "Hey, watch your tongue," Kyle complained. "I am still here, you know."

  "Stand up," Ray said. "If you truly wish to learn from me, then prepare to accept the consequences." Just then, a magical scroll appeared out of thin air. It had been a while, but it was the contract that they had heard about.

  Although all knights of the Redwing army were made to sign the contract. Students were not. They were too young, and Avrion was more using them as a method to fund the city itself. However, with Avrion technically at war, many of the students had left the city, and those that left didn't have much of a family, to begin with. Avron had become their home.

  While Ray knew he needed someone he could trust, he couldn't risk making his enemy stronger, or someone to betray him after he had lent them all this power.

  Seeing the conditions, and seeing the contract, it was something Flynn had only heard about. Only the top members of the Redwings were able to offer one. 'Just who was this man really?' Flynn thought.

  If he was a simple old friend of Kyle, it made no sense for him to be able to offer a contract. The only conclusion Flynn could come to was he must have been someone high up in the Redwings that was hardly seen.

  Once the contract was signed, the students continued with their training. While Flynn was now tagging along with both Ray and Van to their next destination. Before that, Kyle stopped Ray just before leaving.

  "Hey Ray, what's going on, you never offered contracts to the new students before," Kyle asked.

  Ray explained the beasting process that was taking place. How they needed strong individuals who would be able to survive the process. In a way, this team would become a special unit for them when fighting against the Shadow.

  "I want in," Kyle said. "And before you say it's too dangerous or something like that please understand. Monk and Gary were my friends too, Ray. I miss the old times when it was just us four, and I want to do whatever it takes to get them to come back."

  Ray looked at Kyle, he was indeed strong enough to survive the process, but for some reason, Ray didn't even want to consider those close to him for it. He felt like the stronger his friends would get the more they would be targeted, and he didn't want them to burden that pain.

  But hear Kyle was aksing him, practically begging him to help out in some way. Perhaps Ray's thoughts of not even asking his friends were selfish.

  "Very well, Kyle, I will put you on the list."

  "Come on, you two," Ray said. "We have more places to go to."

  "Where are we going to next?" Flynn asked.

  "Why don't we head to the white sash area next."