Hide And Seek
940 Words [SOLO6]
Mercury was still just as cold as it had been the first time she had been here, though today it wasn't snowing. This time, through, Hesperis had known where to go to find relief from the harsh winds. Thankfully, it was easy to find her way to the cave entrance by the glow of her uniform alone.
Perhaps it had all been thought out this way.
She stepped on the first step, then the second – she was alone, as chilling as the thought was. Last time, her ancestor had been here. Now... she seemed to be alone. The staircase seemed to huge and intimidating when she walked it alone.
“Welcome back, Hesperis.”
She tensed, eyes wide, and his voice laughed. “Damnit, gramps !”
“Gramps ?” His laughter paused only a second, then turned into a warm chuckle. “You know, oddly enough I don't so mind the sound of that...”
Sure enough, she could see the light of his uniform now – he was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. “Well, if I just call you Hesperis, then this s**t's gonna get confusing real quick.”
“True. Then what should I call you ?” He was unmoving as he watched his descendant come closer and closer, one step at the time. As she continued on, Hesperis could see the knowing smile on his face.
“Darryl.” Came the automatic answer. What could it hurt, after all.
“Darryl, then...” She came to a stop in front of him. “Then, young lady, I have a mission for you.”
“A mission ?” What the hell was he talking about ?
“Somewhere in there.” He gestured to the city around him. “There is something hidden for you to find.”
“...Are you serious, gramps ? It's gonna take me forever.”
“Not if you use the knowledge you've already acquired.” He said, amused, then he walked off, heading down the path, leaving poor Hesperis Page completely confused.
Well, then.. Better get started. Through, really, she didn't even have an idea what she was looking for !
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This wasn't working too well for her so far. It had felt awkward going into houses until she reminded herself that no one lived here anymore. It was all surprisingly well-conserved, surprisingly, but nothing seemed to be what she was looking for – or, at least, Hesperis Knight hadn't told her that she'd found what she was supposed to find.
Use the knowledge you've already acquired ? The hell did he mean by that ? The hell...
...Wait.
The one thing that Hesperis Knight had voiced the most important about the town of Hesperis was the university.
That was enough to send Hesperis page running toward it. The large doors opened with some struggle, and she slid her way inside.
The main hall was large, and beautiful – all lightning taken care off by similar strips of lights than those which adorned her uniform. She walked along, her heels clacking against the marble floor. It was cracked in places, fallen in disrepair. There was a large desk at the end of the room. Orator's desk ? She walked to it, hand resting on the wood as if afraid it might fall apart. She stepped on the other side, hand running across a notch in the wood.
She pulled it, revealing an hidden drawer.
Inside, there was a ring.
“Good job, Darryl.” Came the familiar voice behind her – with Hesperis Knight stepping out from behind an old, faded curtain. “You've found it.”
“That's it ?” A ring ? Hesperis Page held it in between her fingers, carefully. “What it is ?”
“Our signet ring. Well, your signet ring, now.” He took it from her hand, then carefully slid it on her ring finger – it was too big at first, but quickly shrank down to fit snugly. He looked oddly happy about the gesture. “I hid it here... Before I died. I didn't think I would ever get to do this.”
“You're being creepy again, gramps.”
“Perhaps. Through, this is tradition – entertain your old man a little, won't you ?”
It was odd how the words came, flowed so freely, on both their sides, really. She just nodded.
“Today, I hand over the mantle of Hesperis to you. Today, you swear to protect knowledge with your very life, to shield it against those who would use it to ill intent.”
What she had to do was pretty clear.
“Today I swear to protect knowledge from those who would use it to ill intent.”
“Today you swear to serve both Mercury and Earth with all your loyalty.”
“Today I swear to serve both Mercury and Earth to all my loyalty.”
“Today you swear to guard this city and those within with your life.”
“Today I swear to guard this city and those within with my life.”
“Then this city is yours, Darryl.” Hesperis Knight let out a content sigh. “If I didn't know better, I'd think you knew exactly how this goes... Through given how quickly you've found it, I would say your perceptiveness is already proved.”
“You call that quick, gramps ?”
“Compared to most, yes.”
Well, that was a little reassuring.
“Through I will go as far to assume that you have no idea what this is for, and how to use it.” So much lost... Again. He started to lead her toward one of the side rooms. “Through, that is easily arranged...”
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