Now that Alicia had regained her bearings on where exactly she was, the events that led her here and what was expected of her henceforth, it was time for her to find her weapon. Descending the stairs to reach the small room that was the cove, the Sun trainee peered around herself with a look of surprise written all over her face. Was that it?

Truth be told, she was under the impression that she was supposed to pick out a weapon capable of mass destruction from a weapon cache or armoury. But there were only tiny glowing stone tablets that lined the far wall in this... almost claustrophobic room. Did she make a wrong turn somewhere or something? But there were no other rooms that the stairs led to... unless someone had directed her to the wrong place by accident.

< There is no cause for concern m'lady. >

A voice?

Staying put at her current position, Alicia swept her gaze across the room again. But there isn't anyone here. Did it come from a speaker device perhaps? Wait a minute. Did she 'hear' that with her ears even?

< No you didn't. >

The masculine voice answered her question almost immediately in a matter of fact tone.

< And no, you are not hallucinating. This is real and I'm talking to you in your head. >

< Wait... what? >

There was a soft chuckle.

< You'll get the hang of it. Now where are my manners... ahem... the name's Ardwyad. >

< Pleased to um... meet you Ardwyad. I'm Alicia. Not to be rude but what are you? A ghost? >

< Alicia. Such a fine name you have m'lady. I'm much more than a mere apparition. I'm a griffin. >

The image of a majestic beast with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion, the head and wings of an eagle, and an eagle's talons as its front feet that immediately came to her mind at the mention of the word 'griffin' was met with a hum of approval.

< Yup. Something like that. >

< Okay... so where exactly are you Ardwyad? >

< I'm here. >

She felt the nudge in her mind. A beckoning to step forward and stretch her hand out towards the tiny stone tablets that lined the wall.

< This one. >

Running her finger along the cool surface of the stone tablet that her hand had stopped moving at, Alicia felt it respond to her touch. A soft humming that was soon followed by a stronger reverberation.

< Yes. Now take me into your hand. >

Ardwyad instructed. There was a blinding flash of light that came from the stone tablet as soon as it was plucked from the wall. When Alicia was able to see again, she found that the stone tablet that was in her hand was no more. A grappling hook gun having taken its place instead.

< Ardwyad? >

< I'm here. >

< But I thought you said that you are a griffin? >

There was an awkward sound of Ardwyad clearing his throat.

< I was a griffin before I became this... contraption. I didn't mean to lie to you m'lady. >

Alicia shook her head as she used her other hand to gently pat its side. She had no idea if Ardwyad would be able to feel something like that in this form but it was worth a long shot in any case she figured.

< It's ok. I'm sure that there are reasons for this. We'll figure things out together somehow yeah? >

< Indeed. I appreciate your understanding and acceptance of this arrangement Lady Alicia. >