Not daring to touch any of the objects inside the trunk, Loch tentatively asked, "Where did you get these?" Jonesy stood up from his spot on the side of the bed and approached the open trunk. Loch and Squirt made way for the older boy, their eyes shining with excitement. Jonesy looked over the items in the trunk for several seconds and then at Squirt and Loch, saying with a proud smile, "I made them, of course."
Inside the trunk were four objects that varied in size and shape. They were cushioned by layers of cloth and looked to be in pristine condition. Jonesy ran his calloused hands over the items and first retrieved what looked like a metal case the size of a cigarette pack, with a thin bronze chain hanging from the top of it. "Squirt, this is for you. I always worried that if you had to deal with people who didn't know sign language and you didn't have one of us with you, you would have trouble communicating with them. So I made this," Jonesy explained while he looked over at the silent Squirt and held up the metal square object.
He then pressed down on one side of the metal square, where there was a slightly protruding button. The case then made a soft clicking noise as it split down the middle. The metal block opened up like a book, revealing chalkboard material on the inside. He then pushed his thumbs down either side of the inner part, making the bottom slide out, extending the block, and making it the size of a hand. Turning the now rectangular case to the side, Jonesy revealed a mini chalkboard with a thin piece of chalk strapped in the center. "I know it isn't anything special, but I thought it would come in han..." Jonesy's shy explanation was cut off by Squirt, excitedly grabbing the mini chalkboard from his grasp. Within seconds, the silent boy removed the chalk and started scribbling on the board before rubbing what he had scribbled off with his sleeve to scribble something else.
"Ha. Well, I'm glad you like it. The chain is so you could wear it around your neck if you wanted to. I also tried to make it small and compact enough so it would also fit comfortably in a pocket. It's up to you, though, how you want to carry it." Jonesy finished. Squirt nodded in reply to his explanation but was otherwise too engrossed in playing with his gift for him to pay attention to anything else, making Jonesy and Loch both laugh. Jonesy went back to the trunk and was just about to retrieve another item from within when the sound of the door being opened in the dorm room pulled him up short.
Loch could just make out the ending of what sounded like a hushed but passionate conversation coming from behind the door. He clearly heard the familiar voice of his friend Randall's shout, "Just make sure you don't seclude yourself away in that tower too long. You don't want to end up like that old lonely Witch that Loch hangs out with, do you? Even I would have trouble looking at you then." A soft but stern girl's voice responded, "Oh, is that right? Well, I heard that there are plenty of young noble boys who study to be sorcerers at Glinstone Tower. So, I doubt I'll be lonely. Maybe I'll be so busy entertaining I won't ever need to leave the tower again." The opening of the door was paused halfway, as if the one opening it was frozen in motion. Randall's heated reply came back after a pause. Loch could swear that he could even hear his hairless friend's teeth grinding when he spoke. "If any of those privileged ponces even try to lay hands on my Lacey, I swear by the blessed soil."
The dorm door opened wide, revealing Randall, who was receiving a gentle smack on the back of his head by Lacey, who also muttered under her breath with a heated face, "When did I become 'your' Lacey, you big fool." Randall paused in the now wide-open doorway as he made eye contact with the three other boys at the other end of the room, who were all looking at him with smirking expressions. The bald boy's cheeks gathered a nice hue of red as he coughed into a closed fist, as if trying to smother his own voice. Seeing the three boys standing in front of the open trunk he had previously seen under Jonesy's bed, Randall, who was also curious about the contents, used it as a perfect object to divert attention. "Hey, Guys, what's in the trunk?"
Loch, who was still smirking, was about to reply when Lacey walked around Randall and made eye contact with him. She gave Loch a warm but saddened gaze. He had seen that look upon people before and knew it was the face of a coming, tearful farewell. The sight removed the smirk from his face, as he gave the girl a soft smile in return. A surge of emotion welled up in his chest, making Loch feel stuffy, but he did his best to ignore it at that moment, and instead replied to Randall in his best cheerful voice, "Hey, you two. Come over and see. Jonesy said he had personally made each one of us a present, and because we're all unexpectedly leaving before even he does, he wanted to give it to us now."
Randall started to walk over with a grin, but half way his face morphed into a slight frown as he mulled over Loch's words. "Ah, Jonesy had already told you about us? Wait!" Randall approached Loch and with a surprised expression, he said, "Us? Do you mean you were also offered to be recruited by that strange man?" Lacey had also approached the group and gave both Loch, Jonesy and Squirt a small hug. While she hugged Loch, she whispered into his ear, "I've been meaning to say this all morning. Thank you for curing me. My personal guardian angel." The sweet words made Loch's ears go a little red, as he gave the girl a small nod in reply. To distract himself from the awkward moment, Loch began to inform the group about what had occurred with him and Tobias, including a shortened story about the crazy events that had happened the night before. The whole dorm could tell Loch had skipped a lot of the details, but didn't begrudge the boy his secrets.
Randall, once Loch had finished his story, immediately began to berate him for doing something so dangerous last night on his own. He wasn't mad that Loch had snuck out to follow a Hunter in what was clearly going to be a dangerous situation, for what else would a Hunter be hunting someone for, but that he hadn't invited Randall to accompany him, as it sounded very exhilarating to Randall, and he was miffed he had missed it. Lacey then berated them both, telling them that their luck was bound to run out one day if they didn't start looking before they jumped into such situations. Both boys nodded multiple times and put on their most earnest faces in response, swearing up and down that they would stop taking such silly risks, and that Lacey was so right and so smart. A sight that made Jonesy suppress a chuckle under a fisted hand as he shook his head. Jonesy secretly mimed hand gestures to Squirt behind Lacey's back, saying, "Those two. Lost cause." From which Squirt happily responded by writing in a very neat hand on his new mini blackboard, "Agreed, no hopers."
As if she had eyes at the back of her head, Lacey turned around with hands on her hips and said, "Pardon? Do you have something to say?" Jonesy quickly shook his head while Squirt grinned and wrote, "No." Seeing the unfolded blackboard, Lacey's stern face changed into an inquisitive one and she asked, "Where did you get that, Squirt?"
Instead of writing the older boy's name, Squirt drew an arrow and held the board up, the arrow pointing towards Jonesy. The older boy smiled and patted Squirt on his shoulder as he explained, "I made it for him. Like Loch had said, I've made a gift for each one of you. Here, let me get you yours." Jonesy retrieved a bronze tube that looked like a telescope from the trunk. With the entire group now paying attention to him, the older boy stepped back, creating a little distance, and held the tube up vertically and in front of him so everyone could see it. He then pressed a button on the side of the tube. The tube extended about three feet into the air, revealing a perfectly circular sky-blue umbrella top. The material covering the umbrella held stitched images of different birds in flight. Lacey's eyes sparkled at the sight of it as Jonesy handed it to her.
"I remembered you saying that you always wished you had one of those painted umbrellas from Gregor's shop. Now you have something even better. I also reinforced the bottom of the handle. So, if you get into a jam or Randall gets too handsy, you can use it as a club." Jonesy explained, winking at Randall as he said the last part. Lacey stared at the umbrella as tears gathered in her eyes. She gave it a twirl, making the birds on the umbrella's surface look as if they were flying, bringing a smile to the girl's face. She then wrapped the older boy in a fierce hug. Even though he didn't say it, Lacey knew Jonesy must have known the real reason she had always wanted an umbrella. She had always felt it was a great way to hide the hunch, lump filled back of hers casually.
"Alright, enough now, Lace. Let them man breathe; I don't want him passing out before he gives me my present." A pretend gruff voice rang out between the hugging duo. Causing Lacey to release Jonesy and then turn and give the bald boy a mock withering gaze. He just smiled innocently in response while pointing a finger at Loch, who held his own hands up in innocence. With an eye roll for the both of them, Lacey stepped aside and began to twirl her umbrella, while holding it against one shoulder, admiring that the unique stitching made it look as if the birds were in flight.
After being released from Lacey's bear hug, Jonesy joined Loch and Randall, who were both looking at the older boy with shiny puppy dog eyes. In Loch's case, due to his new electric blue eyes, they looked as if they were actually shining as he gazed up at Jonesy. Ruffling both boy's heads, Jonesy gave them a roll of his eyes and began to rummage in the open trunk. Both younger boys were almost vibrating in excitement but after several seconds of waiting and watching Jonesy still rummaging inside the trunk, they both knew the older boy was screwing with them. "Come on, Jonesy, if you don't hurry, I'm going to pee my pants. You know I can do it. Don't test me." Randall threatened. Jonesy spun around on his one good foot and, with an exaggerated rush, stuffed a wrapped package in Randall's hand. The act made the whole group laugh, and Squirt even wrote "Ha Ha" on his board.
Just like an impatient child on Christmas day, Randall ripped open the wrapped package, revealing what appeared to be a leather-bound, bulky glasses case. Opening the case revealed an odd pair of glasses that were closer to goggles nestled in a molded cushion. This time, it really did look like Jonesy had put miniature telescopes instead of lenses on the glasses. Even though Loch was giving the item an odd look, Randall looked visibly excited by the item and hastily pulled the glasses/goggles from the case and put them on. Randall then placed a finger and thumb on one of the lenses and turned them like a dial. This caused both of the telescopic lenses to extrude out, magnifying Randall's sight. He then began to walk up and down the dorm, extending and retracting the lenses while looking at various objects.
Seeing his mate with what he now knew to be binocular glasses, like the ones he had heard the wall Guards wore, Loch couldn't help but say with a cheeky smirk, "Well now you can spy on Lacey even if she is on the top floor of the Glintstone tower. You'll just have to figure out which room and floor she's on and then find her window for a peek whenever you're feeling lonely." Randall spun around and faced Loch with a heated gaze that looked comical as the glasses made his eyes bug out. After a few seconds, Randall's fiery gaze morphed into a large, excited smile, as if he had just had an eureka moment. While the boys were playing it up, Lacey gave Loch a scandalous expression and then turned to Randall and gave him a wary but almost thoughtful look, as if she had some odd ideas running through her mind while she gazed at the goggles. Jonesy laughed a hearty laugh at the sight and banter of his friends, even while a small tear ran down his face. He quickly swiped it away as if he was scratching his cheek, making sure that no one saw, and then stuck his head back into the trunk.
Loch focused back on Jonesy, after he finished chuckling at the other two, who had started bickering. Squirt started drawing pictures of Randall with his goggles, looking at a stick figure girl in a bath. Randall began to chase the boy up and down the room, demanding he rub the image off. The atmosphere in the dorm crafted a harmonious scene of a family truly comfortable in each other's presence, and it was like a warm blanket to Loch's slightly downtrodden heart. Jonesy turned to face Loch with the last item that was in the trunk, catching Loch's attention again. Held in the older boy's hands was a case approximately two feet wide and one foot across. The hard polished wood of the case looked expensive to Loch and made him even think for a second that perhaps the case was the gift. 'Maybe it's for storing my small amount of medical supplies. That would be great.'
Instead, when Jonesy unhooked the latch at the front and lifted back the lid, what Loch saw was clearly not meant as an aid for the medical arts. If anything, it was a tool for the exact opposite purpose. It was an object made for nothing but to cause injury. Almost as if it was glowing in a bright light and he was a moth, Loch couldn't take his eyes off the object revealed within, as if he was under a spell. With a careful hand, Loch reached out and grabbed a beautifully carved brown handle of a revolver cylinder handgun that Loch had only ever seen the Captain of the city guards wield in real life. What felt like years ago, Loch had witnessed one afternoon the captain strolling the shambles by himself. After passing a seedier part of the area, the captain was suddenly ambushed by a local gang that thought the man was a fat sheep, ready for shearing. Instead, what the group found was a tiger, strolling among the feral dogs. The captain calmly retrieved his revolver from his holster and dropped three of the notorious gangsters wielding clubs in three shots, so smoothly and effortlessly that it left Loch drooling at the sight.
The captain's skill left Loch impressed, but what really caught the boy's attention was the sight of the gleaming weapon in the man's hands. The only other firearm Loch had seen previously in use was the one shot long rifles all normal city guards wielded. He hadn't seen the rifles in use, but Loch knew that with only one usable hand, it was almost impossible for him to wield one.
A revolver, though, was different. He had seen the Captain of the Guard withdraw it from his holster with one hand and shoot it with the same. It looked like the perfect weapon for Loch, and he had always dreamed of it. He remembered having many late-night conversations with Jonesy about the gun he had seen and later found out to be called a revolver because of the revolving cylindrical cartridge where one placed the ammunition. The only thing that annoyed Loch was that when he asked Jonesy to inquire his master at the Tinker workshop about the subject he found out one had to load the bullets in one at a time and then move the cylinder to the next hole, it sounded like a nightmare with two hands let alone one. Following that, Jonesy and Loch discussed various methods for improving the revolver's loading mechanism, most of them mere concepts not feasible in real life or at least in their current capacity.
Now holding the object of his dreams in one hand, Loch couldn't gulp audibly. Holding the weapon, with its dark, cold metal barrel almost a foot long, Loch was surprised by its weight. Lifting the revolver and pointing the barrel at the wall, Loch tried to get a feel of the weapon. And although he found it not too hard to keep the barrel steady, he couldn't help but think he would need a lot of practice to be able to wield it with a steady hand in actual combat. Even though the loading sequence was a pain, Loch couldn't help the stupid grin that almost split his face as he gazed at the weapon. A sudden question sprang to his mind at that moment, as a look of fear passed Loch's eyes as he snapped his head up to face Jonesy. "Jonesy, how did you get this? Don't you need a permit? You didn't steal it... did you?"
Jonesy waved a dismissive hand and explained with a laugh, as he saw that everyone else in the room, with even Squirt lifting his head from his chalkboard, were all staring at the weapon in Loch's hand and then at Jonesy. "Don't worry. I already said it. I made all of these personally, and I even got Master to sponsor a permit for you, so don't worry. However, I couldn't get the permit to purchase ammunition, which requires a certain status that even my master isn't capable of attaining. In saying that, considering you'll soon be a Hunter yourself, you should have no problem getting ammo for it. Now let me show you something different about this revolver that I think you'll appreciate. By the way, it was this very weapon that was the reason I was able to pass the Clocktower examination." Loch handed the weapon over to Jonesy, who reached for it and, with an inquisitive gaze, he watched the older boy use one hand to press a button on either side of the gun just above the trigger guard.
With a snap that almost made Loch gasp in shock and cry out, "It's broken!" the revolver from the cylinder to the barrel snapped in half, but to Loch's relief, the weapon didn't fall apart. A hinge at the bottom held the front half, which hung down with the barrel now pointing at the ground. The cylinder that one loaded the bullets into was now exposed. Jonesy then tucked the barrel under his left armpit, leaving the cylinder and handle facing away from him. With his right hand now free, he slipped off the cylinder and said, "Due to your obsession over this gun, Loch. I spent almost a year whenever I could grab some spare time in the workshop to work on this. Now, watch carefully. Due to some modifications, you can load the revolver in three different ways. One is the old fashion way, without splitting it. The next is like now, you can have multiple preloaded cylinders, and you just have to slip the cylinder off and put a new one on. Easy peasy. The other is using this." Jonesy reached into the case and grabbed a ring that had a flat top with six little holes in them.
"This one was actually an idea from my master. See, instead of removing the cylinder, you place the bullets in this and place them into the holes. Loading the bullets all at the same time. My master thought the whole idea for streamlining the loading process was novel enough that he even said it could help to stimulate the firearm industry, which has stagnated for a long time. Even though general firearms are still not powerful enough to break the hide of even a Tier 1 Demon let alone a Fiend, they still act as a great deterrent. Still, though, I believe I have some ideas regarding to increasing the firepower. I've been working with some different types of ammunition that have led to some incredible discoveries, so just wait. I'll make sure you'll be the first to test them when they're deemed safe enough to use. Of course, as long as you have actually learnt to wield it properly, that is." Jonesy said. He had to stop himself from getting sidetracked at the end, though. Once he started talking about different chemicals and metals and their reactions, he noticed the whole group started to look at him with shared glazed looks. He then placed the bullet ring back in the case and then put the gun back together with a one-handed flick and went to pass it to Loch but paused as he noticed the almost waterfall of tears running down the sandy-haired boy.
"What's wrong? I thought you'd lov... oof!" Jonesy began to ask worriedly, but was interrupted when Loch wrapped the older boy in a fierce one-handed hug. With a smile on his face, Jonesy patted Loch on his back, while the others surrounding them watched on. The rest of the small group silently gazed at the two boys, that were closer than many brothers that shared the same blood, each with different thoughts and emotions gathering within themselves. It became painfully obvious after the gift given by Jonesy that today marked a true change in all their lives. It would see the odd put-together family treading very different roads. While not knowing whether they would even see each other again, they all held on to a small hope that the separation wouldn't break their familiar bond. But none spoke of it and instead, once Loch and Jonesy had separated, they unanimously decided to help each other pack their small suitcases, while swapping stories of their past escapades together.
The time went by in a flash and before any of the group were aware of it or were truly emotionally ready, Mother Leanne had entered their room and notified them that their individual sponsors were waiting downstairs. Mother Leanne didn't leave straightaway and instead waited by the side of their door. The group paid no more attention to her, as they were all gripped with the sudden sadness of loss and shared one last moment to hug each other, bidding farewell and good luck. Jonesy, who wasn't leaving until the next day and was the only one without a suitcase at that moment, took the initiative and headed towards the door. The group, seeing the person they all looked up to, reining in his emotions and then making his way through the door, they all followed in a line. Each was attempting to put on their own brave face as they made their way past Mother Leanne.
Lacey was the first to arrive at the door after Jonesy. She paused next to Mother Leanne and gave the tall, plain faced woman a large smile, with sparkly eyes. The emotionless woman's scarred lips trembled slightly as she looked down at the hunched girl, before a small upturn of her lips denoted what was a full-blown, teeth-showing grin on another. "You are going to do great at the Tower Lacey, just remember that the process of finding an answer is just as important as finding the answer itself. Now go, Sorceress Danielle doesn't appear to be a woman who likes waiting." Lacey nodded seriously at Mother Leanne's words and after a quick one arm side hug that caught the older woman off guard, the hunched little lady walked out of the room, doing her very best not to look back. Even though she could feel Randall's fiery gaze upon her retreating figure.
Randall stood next to Mother Leanne next and, although he didn't smile at the woman, he did his best rendition of a gentleman's bow and said in a soft voice, "Thanks for taking care of me. I know I didn't always make it easy." Randall's self-aware words surprised Loch, who was standing at the back, as he was also retrieving Jack and the Raven's stand from his side table. Mother Leanne's previously small smile had vanished when Lacey had left and although she was gazing down at Randall with her usual stoic expression, Loch could tell the woman's gaze held a gentleness when she looked at the top of the bald boy's head.
"I would warn you to do your best to stay out of trouble from now on, but I believe that would simply fall on deaf ears. Instead, let me give you a different piece of advice. Stubbornness is all well and good and you'll need plenty of it if you truly want to attain the rank of Knight in the future. However, just remember, the tall tree that doesn't learn to bend eventually breaks instead. Learn to adapt, blend the old and new and listen closely to your fellow Squires. There is much to learn from them. Who knows, maybe one day you will reach the Rank needed to approach the Tower and demand entry instead of pleading at a barred door. I think she would prefer that too." Mother Leanne's words were said plainly, but they appear to carry a spark that lit the fire within Randall. His previously cowed and dejected posture straightened as he looked back at the tall woman, his face a mask of determined ferocity. "I'll not demand anything. At that time, if the door doesn't open upon my arrival willingly, then I'll just go through it."
Randall did turn back just before he exited the dorm. He looked at Squirt and gave the small boy a cheeky wink. He then looked at Loch, his face growing serious once more, Loch saw the inferno within his best friend's gaze and Randall saw the gathering storm within Loch's. The boys said nothing to each other, but their eyes conveyed everything. A nod was given to each, and then Randall disappeared down the hall. Squirt was the next to approach Mother Leanne, but she just looked at the boy, who walked straight past her. He was engrossed in scribbling on his mini chalkboard, and disappeared. Leaving only Loch with Jack upon his shoulder and Mother Leanne still standing motionlessly by the door.
For some reason, the nerves Loch had restrained, as he spent the previous hour talking over everything with his friends, had returned with a vengeance. As he walked towards the doorway, he felt his vision beginning to tunnel and become blurry. A sick feeling rose in the pit of his stomach, and he felt his breath becoming labored. Loch paused in front of the open door, the opening taking on the appearance of a monster's gaping maw in his hazy sight. 'Just one more step and it's all going to change, forever.' Loch's mind began to race as he felt the sudden compulsion to step back. A slender hand gently rested on his shoulder at that moment. The sudden touch made him look up to the stately Mother Leanne on his left. As he gazed into the golden eyes of the silent woman, Loch found his blurry sight clearing up.
"This is not forever Loch; the winds of fate brought you all together and one day they will again. Next time, however, I believe it won't be Jonesy providing the pillar of support for you all but you, Loch. Now go and don't look back. Just remember, I'll always be here, and you will never truly leave my care. No matter how tall you get, nor how strongly you spread your wings. None of you children will ever truly leave my care." Mother Leanne said. Her face was firm upon staring at Loch and the previous odd personality reading ability Loch had felt in the hall earlier suddenly triggered again. An armored plated woman suddenly overlapped mother Leanne's plain brown robed image, with features bearing a striking resemblance to the woman before him. This one, however, glowed golden like the sun, while a pair of soft Angelic wings sprouted from her back, as a huge spear made of flames was grasped within her hands. The heroic-looking woman disappeared after only a moment, and the simply dressed Mother Leanne was left in her wake.
Loch's muddled brain faltered at the sight he had just seen, but was soon forced to take a step forward that he had been avoiding, as the plain woman exerted a significant force on his shoulder and pushed him. Taking several stumbling steps, so he didn't face plant onto the hardwood hallway floor, Loch turned around to demand angrily why the woman had rough-handed him so, but was left frozen with his mouth agape. Looking into the now empty dorm, Loch couldn't see Mother Leanne. Even when he poked his head in and looked to either side, he couldn't catch a hair of the woman. "What on the holy soil? Did you see where she went, Jack?" Loch asked, facing his feathered friend upon his shoulder, who gave a simple caw with a head shake in reply.
"Seriously, it is one odd thing after another these last couple of days. It's starting to get exhausting." As Loch looked into his room from the outside and mumbled to himself, a booming voice, that sounded as if it was coming from a general addressing his soldiers, broke him from his thoughts. "Time to move out. Your training begins right now. We will be jogging to the Brotherhood compound. Anyone who can't make it all the way or is left behind by the group will be left behind for good. Now, move!!"
The sound of heavy footsteps striding out the front doors of the Orphanage, followed by a flurry of small and sporadic steps, sounded out from below after the loud bellow. Loch did his best to run towards the stairs and then down them, as he awkwardly carried his suitcase and Jack's stand under his arm. He had just managed to stumble/step down the last stair when he caught sight of the tail end of a wildly surging group of familiar children heading out the door. The large, towering frame of Knight Captain Maxwell leading at the front, and already halfway down the connecting street, was only just barely visible in the mid-day sun.
As Loch looked at the running horde of children, doing his best to keep track of his friend Randall, who was one of the ones leading at the front, a gloved hand came resting upon his shoulder from behind. Loch followed the hand and looked up at Tobias, standing there with the confident bearing of a nobleman, with not a hair or whisker out of place. He too was gazing at the departing group in silence for several moments before he tapped Loch's shoulder and said in a calm voice, "Come, Loch. It's your turn now. We must be going. There is a lot we need to do, and just like them, your training will be starting today as well."
Tobias, with hands held behind his back, took a large, graceful stride through the open front doors and out onto the streets. Loch watched the man in a daze for several seconds but noticing that Tobias had already reached the front gates and was stepping upon the street, he leapt after to him and yelled, "Wait for me Master! I'm coming!"