Vivian awoke with a start, a feeling of pins and needles covered her body. She had been dreaming of Edgar Conners again, his face twisted in a cruel sneer. She shook her head, trying to dispel the nightmare.
Despite the disturbing dream, Vivian felt a renewed sense of determination. She had her encounter with Edgar to thank for that.
She practiced deepening her voice first thing in the morning. Eventually, she got it to a point where she thought it believable.
Crystal began stirring awake.
"Morning," Vivian greeted, with a deep voice.
Crystal's yawn and stretch were cut short. "Say that again?"
"Are you ready to get the day started?" Vivian replied, keeping her tone low.
Crystal burst from the bed. "You sound like a guy! A real guy!" she squealed as she ran over to Vivian.
Vivian nodded excitedly while her friend crushed her in a hug.
"Okay okay," Vivian spoke while laughing, "I have a hard time saying certain words, but I think I'm ready to test it out."
"Let's do it!"
Gerald and his wife were tending to the morning breakfast rush when Vivian and Crystal descended the stairs.
Looking up from the plates he stacked on the counter, Gerald greeted the two.
"Good morning, and thanks for last night." Vivian replied.
Gerald paused. "Oh.... the lad speaks." He piled plates high into his hands and made his way towards a few people at the inn eating breakfast. "You know..." he looked back, "I was beginning to think you truly were mute."
Crystal beamed. "I told you he's just a fan of the knights and got a little too excited."
Vivian rolled her eyes while heading over to help Gerald before he dropped anything.
Gerald gratefully accepted the help. "Actually, if it's not too much to ask, Crystal, do you mind helping out my wife with breakfast if you're an okay cook? Since we ended up full last night, today there are many customers."
She agreed and headed off towards the kitchen while Vivian unloaded the plates of food on the tables Gerald pointed to.
When all was said and done, the two sat on a bar stool for a break.
"You know... being a knight is definitely a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I can completely understand how you look up to them so much..."
Vivian was in the middle of taking a sip of water and was ready to object when Gerald continued to speak.
"I used to want to be one too... trained obsessively and..."
A lightbulb went off in Vivian's head.
"Would you consider training me to be a knight?"
Gerald's eyes widened in surprise. "You want to be a knight?"
Vivian nodded, her face determined.
Gerald chuckled. "Well, I'm flattered, but I'm not sure I'm the best person to teach you. I'm more of a barkeep than a warrior these days."
"But you used to be a knight," Vivian insisted.
Gerald scratched his head. "Luke... I just don't know that I have it in me anymore..." Gerald sighed after looking at the determination in the man's face. "I suppose I could teach you the basics. But it won't be easy."
Vivian's eyes lit up. "That's great! I'm ready for a challenge."
Gerald smiled. "Alright, then. Let's work out a deal. If you help us sometimes when we're short, I'll agree to train you."
"That's no problem for me!" Vivian exclaimed.
Gerald chuckled, seeing the gleam in the lad's eye. He reminded him of who his son could have been had they not lost him.