Ray woke to the sharp clanging of metal pots, the sound echoing through the mansion. His sensitive hearing made it even worse than for the others. Standing at the door, Joe banged the pots together—a traditional way to wake new students.
"Can you not just wake us up like normal?" Gary groaned.
They quickly got out of bed, dressing in their standard academy uniforms before lining up in front of Joe. He inspected each of them, ensuring their gear and sashes were in order.
"Good, you're starting to look like real knights now," Joe said. "Unfortunately, I have some bad news. Training has been canceled for today due to an emergency meeting between the master knights. You're free to spend the day as you wish."
"Can we go outside?" Ray asked.
Joe shook his head. "Until you've learned the basics at Avrion Academy, you are not permitted to leave the city. Feel free to visit the library or the church to receive a blessing from the Divine Being."
With a final salute, Joe left.
