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nAlmost a year had passed since I had entered Avrion Academy. This meant it was time for our basic knight training to come to an end and we would move onto becoming second years at the academy. We would still require to progress with our sash training and I still would have to continue with the dragon knight training.

nThe dragon knight training was not what I had expected. They had brought in a teacher from Roland academy to try to teach us magic. After with no success, they tried pushing us to our physical limits expecting something to happen. Every day we would try something different, rather than training it seemed we were more like test subjects. Whatever was happening they didn't seem to be happy with the result we were providing them.

nWith the year ending, the final season of winter had come. The snow deepened and massive icicles appeared on buildings. Not all students had made it to the end. Some had found it too hard to keep up with the demand for training due to their own laziness or inability. While others had broken the rules of Avrion academy forcing them to be expelled.

nI received most of my information about Avrion academy from one person, Kyle. It felt like Kyle had now become our eighth roommate, spending more time in our room with everyone then he did in his own. He was still his usual self keeping up with all the gossip that went on around the city.

nRumours were spreading between the students that the Dark guild had infiltrated Avrion academy. That some knights were working undercover for them. Some claimed that the knights were being lost on the battlefield in great number as well, that the shadow plague was starting to creep past the borders.

nOf course, this information wasn't given to the students and was only learnt through rumour, making it hard to confirm if true or not. What we did know though, was more meetings were called between the master knights, also it seemed as if the knights in the city had lessened.

nI had grown a bit bigger and muscular and would say my sword skills were now decent. I was even now a match for Gary when just comparing our sword skills, but it seemed like I had hit a wall. If I fought with Harry now I knew I would have no chance of winning.

nThis left me with ultimately three different options for improving my strength. To learn how to use and utilise Ki in my body and sword, to unlock more of my dragon skills or to gather more beast crystals.

nThe first option would require me to find a teacher or wait till the academy taught me, The second option I still had no clue how to unlock my dragon skills. So that left me with the last option which was the easiest. This opportunity would come soon as second years were made to hunt in the lands near the kingdom.

nAfter training had finished it became routine for me to relax on my own on the roof at night. The others would continue to talk about what was happening in Avrion city and got used to my absence.

nAs I was looking down at the city, something strange had caught my eye. Down below was an old man walking on his own through the night. Retired knights were allowed to stay in the city so that wasn't a strange sight. The city was safe due to the fact that only knights were allowed to live here. Making crime very rare.

nWhat had caught my eye though was what was behind the man. A group of 4 people seemed to be following him. I had watched them for a while now to confirm my suspicion. I guess the city wasn't as safe as I thought it was. Humans were still humans after all, they did cruel things to each other for no reason.

nI wasn't going to get involved since it was none of my business, but something kept bugging me. I decided to activate my dragon eyes skill to see what was up.

nI hated it when my instincts were right, each of the four people who had been following the man had mixed auras. The colours shining off their body was a yellow mixed in with a purple. There were two times I had seen a purple aura before, the first being my father and the second being the drop bear King. This could only mean one thing, it was the shadow plague.

nAfter what had happened with my father, they had become an enemy of mine. It was time I asked them a few questions of my own.

nI quickly climbed down from the roof of the building making use of the ledges and cracks in the walls. I decided to stay up high on top of the houses as I went through the city. It allowed me to position myself better and get a clearer view. I quickly went over to where I had seen the old man.

nI had finally caught up with the old man, the group of people wear still following him from a distance away. It was as if they were waiting for the right moment to attack.

nThe old man then did something unexpected, he had decided to walk down an alley in between two houses, where no people were present. it was as if the old man had a death wish. It was obvious that the group would use this moment to attack him.

nAs the old man entered the alleyway I too followed along on the roof. As I had expected, when the man had reached a decent distance into the alleyway, two people had blocked his path forcing him to turn. The man turned around and now two more stood to block him from retreating. He was trapped.

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"I'm afraid you'll be coming with us old man.

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nThe old man looked around at the people surrounding him.

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"I guess the rumours about the Dark guild infiltrating Avrion were true after all.

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nFor a second I thought I had misheard the old man, the dark guild? I was confused. These people were clearly infected by the shadow plague. Where the Dark guild somehow related to the shadow plague or had the old man simply mistaken them for the dark Guild?

nOne of the men started to laugh.

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"You guys are so clueless, the dark guild will soon take over Avrion and none of you will be able to stop it.

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"One against four, it will be tough, but I won't just give up without a fight.

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nThe old man sounded confident, but the aura coming off the four people were strong, at most he would be able to take down two and the old man didn't seem to be holding any weapons.

nAlthough I wasn't confident in taking them down myself, I was confident in my black sash skills to escape if I was in trouble. The main thing I needed to do was hide my identity from them, in case they lived to see another day. I quickly took off my black sash and cut it in half, making it into one long strip similar to a scarf.

nI wrapped the sash around my face covering my mouth and nose. I was wearing my black sash gear which included a hood so my hair was well covered.

nI jumped from the roof of the building landing next to the old man.

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"Why don't we try two against four?

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