Luke walked back into the main hall of the cathedral, his thoughts still a whirlwind from the morning's events. As he entered, he saw Sister Maria leading the children away from the dining room, their faces still glowing with the warmth of a shared meal. Luke realized he had missed lunch due to the extra cleaning he had to do that day.
Sister Maria noticed him and smiled warmly.
"Welcome back, Luke. You must be starving after such a long morning."
Before Luke could respond, Father Wingate entered the main hall, having just finished ringing the bell. His face was a picture of calm curiosity.
"Luke, what's going on at the barracks? I saw knights rushing in and out of the city just now, right after I rang the bell."
"Nothing weird, just the same old routine. I was busy with the cleaning work with Eamon, so I wasn't informed about anything else going on," Luke shrugged, trying to keep his tone light.
Father Wingate nodded, though a hint of concern lingered in his eyes.
"I see. It's just unusual to see such activity. But if you weren't told anything, then it might not be something to worry about."
Luke's mind flashed back to the strange stains on the equipment and Eamon's anxious behaviour, but he decided to keep that to himself for now.
"Yeah, I was just focused on the cleaning. I didn't see much of what the knights were up to."
"Alright, then. You should have lunch now. You must be hungry," Father Wingate dropped the topic with a final nod.
Luke thanked Father Wingate and headed to the dining hall. The room was empty and quiet, a stark contrast to the lively meals he usually shared with the children. He sat down at one of the long wooden tables and began to eat, his thoughts still occupied with the events of the morning.
As he ate, the feeling of attachment to the mystery surrounding the knights grew stronger. The sight of the stains, Eamon's hurried actions, and now the knights' unusual activity—it all pointed to something bigger, something hidden. Luke couldn't shake the feeling that he was on the edge of discovering something significant, something that might need his attention.
Finishing his meal, Luke leaned back in his chair, letting the quiet of the empty dining hall wash over him. He thought about how his life had changed since coming to the cathedral, the peace he had found here, and the unexpected challenges that had come with it. The children, Sister Maria, and Father Wingate had become like a new family to him, a family he wanted to protect.
He decided he would talk to Gareth about it, perhaps later in the day. Gareth won't keep secrets from Luke, but if otherwise were to happen, then Luke might have to find other ways to uncover the truth. He couldn't ignore the feeling that something was brewing, something that might affect not just him, but everyone at the cathedral.
Luke finished his lunch, standing up with a new resolve. Whatever the mystery was, he was determined to get to the bottom of it. He would be careful, of course, but he wouldn't shy away from it. The call of the unknown was too strong, and Luke had never been one to turn away from a challenge.
Leaving the dining hall, he felt a sense of purpose. The quiet of the cathedral, the familiar sounds of children playing, and the gentle hum of daily life all seemed to urge him forward. He was ready to face whatever lay ahead, to uncover the secrets hidden in the shadows, and to protect his new family from any threat that might come their way.
As Luke stepped out into the courtyard, he knew that his journey was far from over. The echoes of the unknown were calling him, and he was ready to answer.
Luke made his way back to the barracks, his mind still racing with questions. But rather than heading to the training ground, he decided to go to the rooms. He already knew where Gareth's room was, so he went there straight. Knocking on the door, he heard Gareth's familiar voice call out.
"Enter."
Opening the door, Luke stepped inside, surprising Gareth.
"Luke? What brings you here? Is something wrong?" Gareth asked, concern evident in his eyes.
"Gareth, what's going on around here? I mean, with the knights and all," Luke took a deep breath.
Gareth frowned, not understanding the implication.
"Same old, same old," he replied, echoing Luke's earlier response to Father Wingate.
"No, I mean, I saw knights rushing in and out of the city earlier. And while I was cleaning, I noticed reddish-yellow stains on the armour and swords. What's happening?" Luke shook his head.
Gareth's expression shifted, a mix of understanding and caution. He looked around the room as if ensuring they were truly alone, then leaned in and lowered his voice.
"Recently, the number of monsters from the Unknown has increased. There have been more sightings than usual."
Luke's eyes widened. The City of Purewood was on the edge of the map, directly bordering the Unknown—a place shrouded in fear and mystery, said to be the origin of all monsters.
"So, the knights have been fighting these monsters?"
"Yes. The knights have been working hard to combat this infestation, especially the ones close to the city. We didn't want to cause panic among the people, so we kept it quiet," Gareth nodded.
"Are the knights doing okay? I mean, are they managing?" Luke felt a chill run down his spine.
"The knights are doing fine. The reddish-yellow stains you saw are probably monster blood, not ours. Despite the different types of monsters, they all have weaknesses. The knights have memorized these weaknesses and, working in groups, they can take down the monsters efficiently. It's not like what happened to me with the Plyburg," Gareth tried to offer a reassuring smile.
Luke recalled the story Gareth had told him about the Plyburg, a dinosaur-like monster that had punctured Gareth's leg because he had been alone.
"So, they're managing better than what happened to you?"
"Exactly," Gareth confirmed. "We're trained for this, and they've been doing a great job. We just didn't want people like you to worry."
"Thanks for telling me, Gareth. It makes sense now," Luke nodded slowly, understanding the reasoning but still feeling the weight of the information.
"No problem. Just keep it to yourself, alright? We don't want unnecessary panic," Gareth clapped a hand on Luke's shoulder.
Luke promised he would, though the knowledge now rested heavily on his mind. He left Gareth's room, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension. The knights were handling the situation, but the increase in monster activity was concerning. As he walked back to the cathedral, the echoes of Gareth's words lingered in his mind.
The City of Purewood was indeed on the edge of the world, and the Unknown was a constant threat. The knights' efforts were crucial in maintaining the city's safety, and Luke couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for them. Yet, there was also a nagging worry about what might happen if the monsters grew too numerous or too powerful.
As he walked in a circle inside Gareth's room, Luke's thoughts turned to the city's leadership.
"Does Mayor Kingsley know about this?" he asked Gareth.
"Mayor Kingsley is yet to return to the City of Purewood. I forgot to mention it to you all this time, huh? He's currently in the City of Esbakan with his wife and daughter," Gareth shook his head.
"Why is he there?" Luke inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"Mayor Kingsley is working on a joint agreement with the mayor of Esbakan. The whole trip was supposed to take about a month, and it's been a few weeks already. If I've done my math right, they should be returning in about a week," Gareth explained.
"So that's why the Knights of Purewood are taking full command right now," Luke mused.
"Exactly," Gareth confirmed. "With the mayor away, the knights are handling the city's defences and making sure everything runs smoothly. We didn't want to worry the townsfolk unnecessarily, especially with the mayor not around to reassure them."
"Alright, I understand. It's good to know the knights have things under control, but it's still a lot to process," Luke nodded, absorbing the information.
"Don't worry, Luke. We've got this. Just keep doing your part, and everything will be fine," Gareth gave him a reassuring smile.
As Luke continued his walk back to the cathedral, the weight of the situation pressed on him. The knights were handling the increased monster activity, and the mayor's return was imminent. But the feeling of attachment to the mystery and the sense of impending danger lingered. He couldn't shake the feeling that something significant was on the horizon, and he needed to be prepared for whatever came next.
The city of Purewood was more than just a place to live; it was a community that depended on everyone doing their part. Luke felt a renewed sense of purpose, knowing that he had a role to play in keeping the city safe. He resolved to stay vigilant and ready, for the sake of the people he had come to care about and the city he now called home.