Knights of Cygnus: Lupus
Chapter 5 – To Henesys!
"Lupus. Abbie. Please come in." Nineheart beckoned the pair into an office, overloaded with papers and files. The room's walls were panelled, as if it were some dining hall, despite its size. The room was indeed tiny. A couple of pieces of mahogany furniture were crammed in amongst the paper work. A tanned person with black, fuzzy hair stood next to a wall surveying an old, torn map. He looked too engrossed in his work to bother asking.
Nineheart was sat at his desk almost completely hidden by folders and books, scrawling on forms and muttering about 'all these newbies taking up all my time...'. He finished his writing with a flourish and dropped his quill back into the ink pot.
"Now that you've managed to pass our little test, I guess I've got to give you your first assignment. Although, that does not mean you are Knights yet. After you've proven your worth, you'll receive the full graduation. Do you have any questions so far?" An awkward silence ensued. "Good. Your assignment is to travel to Henesys to investigate some strange happenings."
"Strange happenings?"
"Yes, Abbie. Strange happenings. A mysterious figure was seen wandering around Henesys in a cloak and hood. No further information has been given. Just after these sightings monsters in the local area have started going crazy. It is thought that one of them was given some kind of cursed object and as it carried it around the curse spread to other animals. We had to send an agent there to seal away some berserk orange mushrooms a few days back. He's still there, so you'll be meeting him when you get to Henesys. His name is Roca and he's been an agent for Erev for a good few years. You are to do exactly what he says, understand?" At this he looked at Lupus suspiciously. It's always the quiet ones...
"Do you have any questions now?" He asked, resuming his writing.
"Yeah, I have a question." Lupus responded. "Who's this guy?" He said, jabbing his finger into the person's ribs, causing him to yelp and lose concentration.
"Hm? Oh sorry, I forgot to introduce you. This is Fi. He's the son of Kyrin, captain of Nautilus and pretty much the greatest pirate in history. She sent him here on a research inquest. She's considering making him a temporary agent over here for a while, so he gets a taste of some real combat. Remember his name; you might be working with him after your graduation."
Fi went on studying the map as if no one had mentioned his name. Everyone went silent for a few moments as Nineheart continued his paperwork.
"Are you two still here?" He spoke without looking up from his desk. "Could you please leave now? You're using up all the oxygen in the room."
The two left without a word.
"Well he's gone all nasty, hasn't he?" Abbie pouted as they walked down the corridors. "I mean, what kind of assignment is that anyway? Orange mushrooms must be the most pathetic creatures on earth! Why do we have to deal with them?"
"Abbie. We'll get better assignments soon. Just be patient, you'll see. Besides, Nineheart still thinks we don't know how to use a weapon. We'll show him, so don't worry."
*
Soon the two were boarding the ship to Henesys. The first thing Abbie noticed about the ship was that it didn't float. It flew. The ship was in every way shape or form a ship, and yet it flew through the air instead of floated on water.
"It's because Erev is an island in the sky, remember? We'd have to build some kind of elevator to get down to the sea, so scientists at Erev invented these flying ships. They proved so successful that they're now a primary method of transport between islands." Lupus explained.
"Where did you learn all that?" Abbie asked as they stepped onto the ship, which dipped slightly under their weight while it adjusted, causing her to trip.
"Why did you think I was reading all the time?" He snapped, catching her before she fell. "And you said it was a waste of time."
"Thanks..."
Another goat-like figure led them into the ship's hull. The hull was only dimly lit by a few candles, struggling to stay alight in the moist conditions. Drips could be heard echoing through the corridors. The damp, almost rotten floorboards creaked under every footstep as if they were about to give way. Lupus watched a mouse scrabble over Abbie's trainers, causing her to squeal.
"Why don't you get some lights fitted?" Abbie asked.
"We need to preserve as much energy as possible for running the ship. In case you didn't notice, sticking out the bottom of the ship is a large crystal which acts a lot like a huge battery. I we used much more electricity, gas or water than we are right now we'd drop out of the sky half way to Victoria Island." Abbie gulped. "And the crystals are far too heavy to have too many on board, so we just have the one."
The husky goat stopped a little right of their bedroom door. "You'll be sleeping here. The crew would appreciate it if you would stay in your cabins at all times." He stumbled. "B-but of course if you wish to roam you may, sir." He dropped his head and muttered an apology.
Lupus nodded and a rather confused Abbie followed.
"Sir? What makes you so special Loopy?" Abbie pouted in her usual way. Their room was quite small; there was a bed on either side of the room and a squat bedside table in between them. Above the table was a classic, circular window looking out at the skies. The cabin was actually fitted with electric lights, unlike the corridors, the floor was carpeted and the wall was painted. There was even a door on the right wall which seemed to be an en suite. Not bad...
"I told you not to call me that!" Lupus defended his pride. "And anyway, even trainee knights are considered extremely powerful. Our 'rank' would be equivalent to a Major in an army. That's why our room's so much better than the others..."
"Oh. Does that make me 'sir' too then?"
"Well, not exactly, since your a gi-" Lupus was cut off by Abbie's squealing as she ran out the room, telling random crew members to be her slaves, then shouting at them when they didn't call her 'sir'.
Lupus sighed and dropped down onto his bed. Laying his head down on the pillow he stared up at the ceiling.
It's going to be a long night...