“Now,”
Kevin announced, “I had never imagined so many people boarding this spaceship
until I witness them cramped up like sardines in there.”
Creston merely chuckled at that remark
as he brought Gordon and Kevin along the corridor, where all the training halls
were located. Apparently, every single one of them was packed and fully loaded
with newly recruited trainees. Some were
seated neatly listening to their lecture, some were scurrying around, wildly swinging
their swords. If the doors are all open, you could be convinced that you are in
a middle of a busy beehive.
“Of course they are!” Gordon said,
“Every citizen from this entire spaceship is inside. What do you expect?”
“Everyone except the three of us, technically.” Kevin stuck
out his tongue at Gordon.
“Hey! One more word and I’m gonna
shove you in there.”
“That is if you can even dare to do
it before my dad.”
“Wha-?”
“Alright guys, take it easy now.” Creston
interrupted, “I know this new order may seem a little outrageous, but I believe
you know how much it really matters to you, and to everyone else.”
Gordon heaved out a sigh, and turned
back to Creston. “Speaking of that Spiral Order, I wonder why it’s named like
that. Why don’t they give it a nicer and more sophisticated name?” Gordon
asked, “Something like, umm, ‘Ascended’?”
“I think it’s kinda random,” Kevin
suggested, “like how they simply throw in another similar name… The Prism
Order, as far as I can recall from many other funny ones.”
“Yes, the Prism Order was just one of
the many orders,” Creston answered, “there were the Cyan Order, The Diamond
Order, The Sapphire Order…”
“Alright I think I get it now.” Gordon
stopped his trainer before he could begin a history lesson. Somehow he’s just
not fond of them. He remembered sleeping through many history lessons, and then
being filed a complaint by the tutor. He just can’t help it; those boring stuff
never seem to tuck in nicely in his mind.
“Since you mentioned it,” Kevin said
rather anxiously, “I have a crazy idea tingling in my mind. Wanna hear it?”
“What is it?” Gordon inquired again.
“If we are all knights under the
Spiral Order,” Kevin told them, “I guess we can call ourselves as…” He made
sure he paused for a few seconds before he continued, “the Spiral Knights.” He
spread out his fingers like he was trying to conjure something out of thin air.
Kevin quickly glanced at Gordon and
Creston, anticipating for any acknowledgements… only to see Gordon giving him a
blank stare like he had suffered from amnesia.
“What? Isn’t it brilliant?”
“Well, if that’s the case, I’m glad
we’re not living at the times of the Cyan Order, or I have to dress myself light-blue
and wear a sign that says: I’m glad to be a Cyan Knight!”
“Now, would you like me to shove you in there instead?” Kevin
pointed at a room ahead. On its door was a sign inscribed with the words: Trap
Room.
“Well that is if you even dare to do
it before your dad,” Gordon shot
back.
“Hey, you-!”
“Now, now guys,” Creston nudged them,
“you don’t want the other trainers to complain about all the commotion you’ll
make, yes?”
“No, sir.” the boys said in unison.
“That’s better,” Creston stopped in
front of the entrance to another training hall. “Ah, here we are. We’ll have
our lessons here for today. Oh wait, I almost forgot. I want to tell you guys
about something… two of them, actually.”
“Good news or bad news?” Gordon and
Kevin asked.
Creston bit his lip, a habit Gordon
noticed whenever he was hesitating, “Well… one is good for sure.”
“What’s the good news?” asked Kevin.
“Anytime from today onwards, the
Alpha Squad will conduct a qualification test for candidates joining the team.
If you pass, you may get your first and very own complete Cobalt gear as a
reward.”
“Really?” Gordon and Kevin were so
overjoyed, they cheered and leaped like merry, little children! The Cobalt armour was only handed out
exceptionally to those who can proceed one step closer to the rank of an Alpha
Squad member. Strutting around gloriously with a full Cobalt armour would be
like a dream come true.
“Don’t get too excited though,”
Creston cut in before the boys manage a group hug with him, “if you fail, you
would be disqualified and have to start your training all over again until the
next test comes. Besides, they need to make some preparations beforehand, hence
the test would only take place after a week, or even a month. So be patient.”
“Yes, sir!” Gordon beamed at him,
“Oh, and what’s the second news?”
“You mean bad news.” Kevin corrected.
“Well, not exactly. Can’t say so
myself.” Creston stepped forward and pressed the open switch. Something behind the
walls whirred softly like a sigh before the door slid open. As Creston stepped into
the hall, he gestured for the boys to follow him.
“I think
it’s better to see it yourselves.” Creston tried to smile. Did he bite his lip again?
Gordon thought. Maybe he imagined it, or did he?
Gordon sensed
something wrong was happening, and his instinct told him not to enter that training
hall. But his curiosity was pulling him so hard that he found it hard to resist.
He decided to take a look inside, thinking that everything will reveal itself once
he sees what’s inside.
Just a peek,
he thought, a little would be enough. It wouldn’t hurt, right?
