Gaepora came by my room personally come morning to bring the completed Knight's uniform, properly altered to take my own differences into account, along with a new sheath suitable for the Goddess Sword. It was actually longer than it needed to be, though Gaepora confided that one and only one of his ancient texts spoke cryptically of enhancing my sword and perhaps the sheath was designed to accommodate those.
In Skyloft I'd worn at least a few clothes, since it was the local custom – like other Heroes before they started, I respected the Hylian customs where it didn't inconvenience me. I'd more or less grown used to them by now, but the Knight's uniform was definitely a bit different, largely due to the addition of a chain mail shirt.
As every other Hero since has noticed, I had hard-wearing leather boots, well-made and designed to last in almost any environment. Unlike them, concealed within them were a pair of plates that would help protect my lower legs – something only I got, I gather. Some tanned leather, not as tough but still tough enough, provided some protection for the rest of my legs, covering up the plain leggings I'd worn before.
Naturally, I wore the signature green tunic, belted at the waist with a strap running over the shoulder for the sword. Clinking underneath was the heavy mail shirt, only just visible here and there, around the sleeves, neck and base of the tunic. Beneath that, a white under-tunic that was made to stop the links of the mail from harming me instead, and to provide additional padding against the blows I'd likely receive. The weight of it didn't bother me, it was more that I wasn't exactly accustomed to it yet.
The cap did not cover my dreadlocks – not all of them, at least. I'll admit to having my own share of second thoughts about it, but obviously since all other Heroes have had a cap, except for Manic who had Ezlo instead, I put up with it.
Then lastly of course there were the gauntlets. Like the boots, like their wearer, tough and hard. Again there were plates concealed within the arm guards for additional protection, and places for the spikes to go through – which, I noted with interest, were not simply holes, but perfectly fitting metal coverings that would definitely make a blow hurt now. If Link was trying to make me use a sword more, he was going the wrong way about it with these.
Gaepora gave me a hand adjusting the straps for the sheath so once again I wouldn't have any issues with drawing the sword, promising to continue to consult the texts of his library for anything that might aid me, and also reminding me I was always welcome to stop by at any time in my quest, particularly if I needed to know something. Fi's encyclopaedic knowledge, granted to her by Hylia, largely obscured that.
On my way out of the Academy, I found that last night had been a total secret – and so of course, everyone knew about it. One of the disadvantages of a closed society, even one as far-reaching as Skyloft.
Fledge stopped me first, remarking that I looked more like a knight that he thought he could hope to be – still constantly underestimating himself as usual. I was going to give him a few words of advice on that, but before I got the chance he surprised me.
"I made this," he told me, reaching into one pocket and unfolding a pair of connected leather pouches. "I... had a little help from that other green Knight," he added hesitantly.
"Link, you mean?"
"I think so. We were a little bit distracted. He made it so those pouches are a bit bigger on the inside than they are on the outside. We did a few little tests, and we found it does have limits to it, so you don't want to try to stuff too much in there just yet. He said to make sure you knew that as soon as he had an upgrade to make it even bigger, he'd make arrangements for you to find it."
"Just as long as he doesn't forget again. He needs a better memory. Thanks for this Fledge, it'll be useful. Don't let anyone bully you while I'm gone now, will you?"
"I don't think I'll have too much trouble," he smiled, though nervously – again like usual. "Groose hasn't come out of his room since yesterday, and Cawlin and Stritch aren't so bad without him around."
"Well, just watch out for him when he does. And if you do need a hand with him... don't hesitate to ask Pipit. I got the idea he'd like a reason to take his sword to Groose."
"You shouldn't say things like that," Fledge whispered rather loudly. "But... I'd like to see it happen."
It was a start, at least. He might still be timid, but maybe with time, and Pipit hopefully looking out for him, he'd finally find a backbone.
I left him to continue helping out around the Academy, satisfied he'd been able to see me off, passed Cawlin who simply scowled at me, and headed outside, almost bumping into Instructor Owlan – who was bearing a wooden shield.
"Knuckles!" he exclaimed. "What a coincidence – I was just coming looking for you. Headmaster Gaepora told us what happened last night, and seeing the blade for myself I can hardly disbelieve now. But before I forget – this is for you," he told me, handing over the shield. A simple, round, wooden shield with two straps on the back so I could just strap it to my arm and still use that hand.
"Hadn't exactly intended to use a shield," I admitted. "Pipit didn't cover anything with them, and it's not as if I've needed one before."
"Ah, but if you wield a sword, a shield is vital," Owlan said sententiously. "Do be aware that this is particularly weak to fire, of course. We ah... would have given you a metal shield, but we're unfortunately out of fuel for the forge. But perhaps you will find one on your adventures."
"Knowing Link, it wouldn't surprise me. Now I just gotta figure out where to put it-"
Fi appeared, emerging from the sword as a ball of light that coalesced into her form before us, causing Owlan to start back in surprise. Fi, as always, ignored such reactions.
"Master, your pouch is designed for holding such things," she informed me. "I have studied it for you, and believe the openings will simply expand to consume whatever you wish to store within, leaving the material undamaged."
I paused, taking this in – her peculiar way of talking often left me having to mentally translate to a more understandable form. "You're sure?" I asked eventually. Fi responded appropriately.
"I predict a high chance that nothing untoward will occur should you attempt this, Master."
It was easier than trying to find a way to carry it on my back too, at least. Not really expecting it to work, I gave it a try anyway and Owlan was again surprised, this time with me, as the pouch really did expand to fit around the shield, swallowing it up without distending the outside. It still looked like a small, square pouch, far smaller than the shield, it still had an opening that looked as if it was too small for it, but there inside was clearly the shield.
"Remarkable," Owlan murmured.
"Thank you," Link said, again perched nearby. This time on the edge of the Academy's roof just above. "You wouldn't believe how complicated it was to make it work, and don't ask me how it works. If I can only just barely understand it, I don't think you would."
"About time you showed up again," I told him, a little ungraciously I'll admit. "What did you forget this time?"
"I didn't forget anything," he said, injured. "I just got told I need to be here. Mother has an annoying tendency to leave out the details, especially since she had me take up this post. I don't know why I have to be here, I just have to be here. Oh, and you'll probably want to stop by the Bazaar," he added as an afterthought. "I knew there was something I had to tell you."
"You see what I mean about forgetting things?"
Link gave me a flat look.
"Ah... perhaps you'd better move on, Knuckles?" Owlan suggested mildly. "You do have a long journey ahead of you. And his advice can't hurt."
"His advice has a high probability of aiding you in a time of need," Fi noted. "It would be a suitable course of action to visit the Bazaar in preparation for your journey."
"Of course I'm going to go there, I just didn't need him to tell me that."
Link stuck his tongue out at me. Again Owlan reminded me I had better things to do than argue with him all day, and at last I moved on again. Fi, however, did not disappear, instead floating along beside me.
"I have further information regarding the results of the stone tablet, Master," she told me. "It appears a column of light, visible only to us, that locates the rift in the cloud barrier we are required to seek. It does not provide any illumination however, and as a result flying at night will result in a high probability of danger. I advise against flying in such conditions."
"I wasn't planning on it. I don't suppose you know what lies below the clouds in that region?"
"That information is not yet available, Master. It will be necessary to journey to our destination I order to reveal it. I strongly advise retrieving the sailcloth you were given by the spirit maiden in order to assure a safe landing."
"I'm confident in my own abilities Fi," I protested. "I might have this cap on, but I can still manage."
"Nevertheless, I project-"
"Wait, let me guess. High chances of risk if I don't take it? Or something along those lines?" Fi simply nodded, not appearing concerned about my interruption. "Alright," I sighed. "I'll go get it before I head to the bazaar."
Fi simple vanished back into the sword again.
Once I'd retrieved it I again made my way for the Bazaar, Skyloft's gaudily coloured general market. For such a small island, it was remarkably busy, but since I'd seen other floating islands out and about around the sky, I could only assume there was more of a population than I thought. Certainly the presence of Loftwings, and everyone's partnership with one, suggested that.
Luv and Bertie were a couple who ran the potion store, and naturally knowing what everyone else did, called me over, not only giving me an empty bottle for free, but topping it up with their red Heart potion – a restorative, just on the off chance that I'd need it.
They also ensured I knew what they offered between them. Luv was in charge of sales, selling the mentioned Heart potion, a pink Revitalising one that was weaker, but through some magic would also repair my shield if damaged, the interestingly rainbow Guardian potion – again, by magic, protecting me from harm, a bright blue Air potion, in case I needed better water breathing, and a green Stamina potion to restore my energy should I become winded.
Bertie ran an infusion store, which can best be described as a way of upgrading Luv's potions. All I had to do was bring him the right ingredients – almost exclusively some kind of bug or another – and it would enhance a potion I'd already bought.
Among the other store owners that hailed me were Gondo, tinkerer and mechanic on a level that might possibly even rival Tails' own. While he didn't have anything he could help me with right now, he did make sure I knew that if I ever needed anything repaired, or wanted to upgrade anything, or I needed to and lacked the tools, he was the man for the job – for a fee, naturally. My own meagre stock of rupees had been earned doing odd jobs here and there between lessons, and didn't really amount to enough for anything yet – that, of course, would change.
Peatrice didn't call me over, rather Gondo brought her to my attention. She looked bored, apparently having little to do, but explained her services all the same. Effectively, she ran the bank. Not just for rupees though – for items too. If I needed more space in the pouch, I could leave something with her, and retrieve it later. She added a small enchanted gem to the straps of the pouch that, she assured me, meant that if there wasn't enough room it would automatically (or perhaps automagically) be sent here to her, thus solving the problem of not having space.
Rupin was the last of the store owners to get my attention, manning the Gear store. While at the moment he was, he admitted, out of stock (for the same reason I only had a wood shield and not a metal one) he assured me he would soon be getting many useful items that would likely aid me in my adventure, and persistently badgered me until I promised to stop by whenever I returned to Skyloft, just in case he had something useful.
There was one last stop I made before I left Skyloft, and that was naturally the Master Emerald. I'm sure it was aware in some way of what I had to do, probably even more than I knew. It probably didn't need me to tell it – yes, I talk to it, don't look at me funny – what I was doing, but I intended to all the same.
There Fi surprised me, appearing not to talk to me, but to hold what appeared to be a conversation with it. It pulsed in response to her presence, then she said, "Yes, that is so." A pause again while she listened. "I predict a low probability of that at this time," she told it. It spoke one more time in whatever fashion. "Certainly. We will return in due course. It is time for us to leave now Master, but on our return this should be our first stop," she informed me, then without explanation for this bemusing incident, she vanished yet again.