Knights of Cygnus: Lupus

Chapter 3 – Training; Endurance, Strength and Friendship

Abbie and Lupus entered the Training Hall.

It was a large room, roughly pieced together with beams of various materials. The floor was tiled with clay and the majority of the room was covered by long, oak tables; rough around the edges and somewhat precarious. The hall was filled with cheers of drunken men and clanks of beer mugs. A few tapestries were draped around the place to try and make it look grander, but in actuality the tapestries were so worn down they made the place look worse. The hall was almost completely windowless, there was only one large window above the door which covered the upper wall, but it had various cracks and holes in it.

Nobody seemed to notice the pair walk in, and those who did spot them didn't seem to care. The Training Hall didn't look like it was being used for training any more.

Lupus and Abbie barged their way through the singing, utterly pissed crowds to the front of the hall. A small door with 'recruits' painted on it in red was left unlocked.

*

"So... you are Lupus and Abbie, the new recruits?" Kiku muttered under his breath. How pathetic. They're letting kids become knights? That Goddess needs to get her priorities sorted. "I don't want to waste much time with the likes of you, so I'll cut the chit-chat and get on with the test. As you can see, in front of you is a replica of Eos Tower, the original of which is in Ludibrium. It's not real, so don't worry about getting killed until you reach the bottom."

"Much like the monsters on this island, this replica is just an illusion, a simulation if you must. It can't kill you. But I'll tell you now that only one person will leave this tower. Once one person leaves the door will close and the other is trapped in the tower until the next trainees arrive, although I've never seen anyone able to live without food or water for a year."

"As you progress down the tower -"

"Sorry? Down the tower? Shouldn't we be climbing it?" Abbie asked.

"Stupid child. The top of Eos tower is connected to Ludibrium, so usually you'll be going down, not up. I'm sure even your friend knew that..." He sighed. I can't believe these two... "As I was saying, as you progress down the tower you'll be faced with many perils, but since this is a simulation, sadly, you won't be killed if you fall for the traps. You'll be frozen for one minute and then you'll be released ten floors above the trap that 'killed' you. It's as simple as that. Get to the bottom first and you become a knight. But your friend dies. That's why we call this the test of friendship; can you take your friend's life into your hand and crush it? That's the cold-heartedness we need a Knight to have." After he had finished, a long silence pursued, as if they were waiting for him to continue speaking, even though they knew he had finished a while ago.

"Sorry, Abbie. This is the end of the road for you." Lupus muttered, pulling his hood up over his head, ashamed. "I'm not turning down this opportunity for anything. Not even you."

"Lu-Lupus... You... can't..." Abbie's eyes welled up with tears. "I... I don't want to die!" She wiped away her tears. Even if she got to the bottom first, she'd never be able to leave Lupus alone, doomed to die. It was a no-win situation. The unbearable truth bore

"Oh, I forgot to mention. When we're done with this exercise we warp the hologram back into an alternate dimension where we keep all our goodies. So even if you found a way to escape from the tower, you'd still be screwed." Kiku explained.

This bastard enjoys seeing us choose between death. He really disgusts me... I just hope Abbie doesn't take this too badly. I don't want to be the one to tell her family...

"Ready you two?" Kiku smirked. They both gave a brief nod. "Then go!"

As soon as she sprinted, Abbie fell flat on her face in the dirt. She looked down to her feet. Dammit, he set up a pitfall. I'm in trouble before I even enter the tower...

She yanked her foot from the trap, earning a crack from her ankle joint. Already sprained it. She limped into the tower as fast as possible. A hundred floors all centred around a single pillar that supported it. All the rooms were circular, and were covered in various pitfalls and holes. Spikes jutted out from the walls. The entire structure reminded her of when she was five, playing with the new Lego sets delivered by her grandma. Oh god. I'll never see her again... Gran... I'll try my best just for you...

Abbie leapt towards the ladder, trying to keep the tears from her eyes. How can it be over so quickly!? She heard a click behind her. Before she could turn to see what was going on, she was frozen. Ugh... One minute.. I need to be more cautious.

*

I'm sorry, Abbie. Lupus flicked from wall-to-wall avoiding the floor, which seemed to be where the majority of traps were set. His sandals slapped against the plastic structure each time he kicked off.

His foot felt a click as the wall sunk below his feet, he looked down quickly as a spike ran him through.

No use... The walls are trapped too... Floor 73 as well...

Lupus' eyes closed.

One... Two... Three... I need to get going as soon as I wake up... As long as I make more than ten floors progress each time, then I'll be fine... Where could Abbie be by now? I doubt she'll make it all the way through. I'm so sorry...

*

Abbie fell to the floor. The studded bricks grazed her cheek; tiny drops of blood dabbed on the plastic. The floor beneath her began to slide away. Too tired too move, Abbie groaned as the trapdoor opened.

Lupus... Help me...

Her limp body plummeted to the ground.

Back to floor 100...