The Knight

By Geraldine Ang

Staff Writer

She was a fearless knight, dressed in a suit of silvery armor that shone...

Astrid spun in front of the mirror, yanking her butterfly-patterned tights up a little higher.

...with a million different colors. The bold warrior had intentionally worn this armor, for it not only blinded lurking bloodthirsty beasts, but also charmed every fine lord and lady in all of the lands.

Still, the knight had no time to continue admiring herself, no matter how dashing she might’ve looked in the morning light. Her fair queen had given her a mission, a mission that could change the entire fate of her kingdom. She would stride through mercilessly barren deserts, she would sail seas full of beautiful man-eating sirens, she would...

“You’re still here?” Astrid’s mother rapped sharply on the other side of her closed door. “It’ll be night by the time you get there.”

“I’m going!” she huffed, “Can’t a girl have a few minutes to get ready?”

Her mother’s laugh was soft. “Get ready for what? You’re just going to-”

...save her kingdom, that was what the knight was going to do. She would not fail the royal family. She would not fail her people.

Astrid gave her dark, chin-length hair a satisfied fluff, and puffed out her chest as she strode out of her room.

Her mother was already gone by the time she poked her head out of the door. Astrid grabbed the large bag hanging on the doorknob, then jumped when something warm rubbed against her legs.

It was a monster the knight had only heard of in whispered legends.

“The Leo Titus, they call it,” a fortune teller with ink-colored eyes had told her, “With fur and fangs made of pure gold. Its roar turns hunters into stone from terror, and echoes among the night sky until the very stars tremble. Oh, and its deadly bite...”

Leo the tabby cat nipped playfully at her hand when she reached down to untangle his body from her ankles.

The lion-like beast sprung forward, sinking its razor fangs into her shoulder. Invisible fire burned through the knight’s veins as rage tinted her vision bright scarlet. The great creature’s poison worked fast, and the warrior could already feel her energy slipping away like running water. Still, she raised her moon-colored sword, her battle cry piercing the air like an arrow...

“No, I am not going to feed you.” She ran a hand through the cat’s gingery fur, rubbing just a little more behind his ears. “I know mom just filled your bowl thirty minutes ago.”

The feline shook off her hand with a rather offended look, and dashed back towards the kitchen with a mournful cry. Typical Leo.

Astrid blew her bangs out of her eyes, and She swung the bag over her shoulder.

The monster gave her one last vengeful snarl before retreating towards the deepest shadows of its den. The knight’s first instinct was to leap after it, to finish the terrible beast once and for all, but her steady mind held her feet against the ground.

She had a far more important quest to complete.

Her sword slid back into the sheath at her side as she turned away from the creature’s den. The Wanderlust Forest awaited her, beckoning to her with ebony branches and glowing eyes.

Cool afternoon wind brushed against her cheeks the moment she stepped outside. Astrid straightened her back, and let the city swallow her whole.

Since it was rush hour, the narrow streets were packed with cars. Panicked businessmen late for meetings honked their horns while cabbies rolled down their windows to smoke. One of them gave her a friendly nod as she walked along the sidewalk next to the jam.

All around her was a catastrophic symphony of people. A middle-aged man in a wrinkled suit nearly bumped into her, clinging to a battered briefcase. A lady with bright pink hair was talking loudly into a payphone, her accent indicating that she was not a native of the country. Astrid had to push through a small crowd that had gathered around a street musician, though she did swing her head along to his drums as she passed by.

Branches and thorns tore at the chinks in between the knight’s armor, stinging more than they should’ve. Peculiar shadows danced and twisted all around as she ventured on, with nothing but her own sharp senses to guide her. The Wanderlust Forest was an otherworldly realm of its own, a land of mystery and insanity that no other hero had ever returned from. Still, she just gripped the hilt of her sword a little tighter, and carried on with her head held high.

Something rustled in between the leaves.

The warrior whirled towards the noise, her heart thudding painfully hard against her chest. For a moment, the enchanted forest was absolutely still. Wind whistled too close to her neck.

She unsheathed her weapon, slicing it through the air in a smooth arc. The stranger cried out in alarm, shrinking away from the glinting blade. The figure’s hood fell back with the sudden movement to reveal a pair of glassy eyes.

“I’m sorry I startled you, dear.” The old woman’s voice was kind. “And I hate to be a bother, but I was hoping you could help me cross the street.”

Astrid glanced over at where the stranger was pointing with a smile.

“Of course.” She gave the elderly woman a light pat on the shoulder. “I’m actually heading that way myself, so it won’t be any trouble at all.”

She kept one hand on the woman’s elbow and the other against her upper back for support. Astrid’s eyes flickered back and forth down the street, her feet hesitant. Cars raced by, nothing more than multicolored streaks in her vision. Even after living in the city for so long, she felt as if crossing busy streets could be a bit of an extreme sport.

Finally, the driver of a dented white pickup truck caught her eye. The vehicle slowed ever so slightly. She stepped...

...in front of her newfound companion. The silver-haired woman had politely asked her to guide her across a river that ran deep through Wanderlust Forest, and a true knight could never refuse a good deed. She wondered idly to herself where the elderly maid might’ve been headed, but knew better than to pry. Years of living behind the castle’s stone walls had taught her only the best manners.

The murky water pooled over her knees.

She glanced back at her companion.

“Allow me to carry you,” the knight offered with outstretched arms, “for this water is harmless, but quite deep.”

“My robes may be heavy, good knight.” There was a peculiar spark in the stranger’s eyes. “Are you sure you wish to be so chivalrous?”

“It would be an honor, my lady,” the knight replied without missing a beat.

With that, the warrior lifted the maid easily into her strong arms, then started across the night-colored water. The liquid seemed to grow thicker as it surrounded the knight’s waist, churning in slow spirals, almost like oil. Trying to swallow her whole. But even as her once-spotless armor grew soiled, the knight never tried to set the elderly woman down. Sweat beaded the back of her neck, and her feet felt like sunken boulders. The knight ignored her aching muscles, taking one slow but firm step after another.

Hours had seemed to pass by the time they reached the other side. With one last burst of energy, the warrior pulled herself up onto dry land once again. She set the elderly woman down as gently as she could, then gave her a polite bow.

A grin tugged at the corners of the stranger’s lips. The knight realized with a start that there was a sort of golden glow that had started to form around the woman’s robes.

She had encountered a sorceress in disguise.

“That river, hero.” The enchantress’s words seemed to echo all around. “Was the River of Lost Souls. Its waters are thick and dark with the hearts of the dead. Only a living, truly pure heart can ever cross it. Not only were you able to reach the other side, but you did so with an honest, good intent—to help a stranger.”

Something glowed in between the sorceress’s beautifully slender fingers.

“As a thank you...”

“...please take some chocolate,” The woman’s wrinkled face pulled into a sweet smile. “For so kindly helping me cross the street.”

“Thank you very much!” Astrid took the chocolate, giving her new friend a quick parting hug.

“I wish you well on wherever you’re going.” The woman waved in farewell. “Be careful!”

Astrid returned the wave before she walked on, popping a bit of the chocolate into her mouth. The warm taste of it settled over her mouth, making her blink with surprise. It was the best chocolate she had ever tasted.

The sorceress’s magic potion had returned all of the knight’s energy, and perhaps had even given her a bit more. The knight’s senses had sharpened, the world clearer than ever around her. Her movements were silken and ghost-like, as if she were a tiger on the hunt, ready to strike at any moment.

Then, the knight finally saw it.

Just up ahead was the giant, sapphire lake.

It was the Lake of Dragon Tears, the knight’s final destination. She rushed forward, her feet flying over the ground, and...

The metal pole made an awful ringing sound when Astrid’s head collided with it. As she stumbled back, she wasn’t sure what was worse—the already-forming bump on her forehead, or the embarrassed heat blooming up her cheeks.

Fortunately, no one else seemed to be around. She brushed off the front of her shirt, shook her head to clear it, and continued on her way.

Astrid had to tug at the door more than once to get it to squeak open. Too-strong air conditioning blasted her face. Her eyes scanned the neat rows of white machines...

She knew the lost treasure was here. It had to be. She treaded carefully around the glittering lake, turning in suspicious circles. Suddenly, the wind picked up, rippling the mirror-like surface of the water.

Something was gleaming inside the lake.

The knight sucked in a deep breath, and dove.

The lake water was nothing like the River of Lost Souls. It was the color of brilliant jewels, crystalline and everlasting. She couldn’t tell if it was the enchantress’s potion or the water itself that made her armor suddenly feel so light. She cut through the water like her skilled sword, gliding deeper and deeper.

She could see it, right beneath her.

Golden coins and pearls larger than her fists spilled over the top of a wooden crate. Necklaces and diamonds that seemed to glow on their own winked up at her, as if they were made out of stars that had fallen to the earth. There was even a polished crown, embedded with elegant emeralds the color of fresh spring leaves.

The warrior pushed herself through the water with one last stroke and...

“Hey.” Astrid jumped at the unfamiliar voice. “Could you hurry up? Other people have laundry to do too, you know.”

“Oh, sorry!”

She pulled the rest of her clothes out of the laundromat’s dryer, stuffing them back into the bag.

“You’re not going to bother folding them?”

Astrid turned around, and came face to face with...

...a sea monster.

She scowled, “Didn’t you just tell me I was taking too long? I’m just trying to get out of your way.”

The boy looked at Astrid as if she was a piece of old gum he had accidentally touched underneath a school desk.

“You wouldn’t be taking so long in the first place if you just stopped daydreaming.” He sniffed indignantly.

“I was not-”

“You know,” he continued talking as if she hadn’t spoken, “I think I saw you from across the street. Didn’t you run into that pole?”

Astrid sputtered weakly. Instead of replying, she whirled away, hoisting the bag of laundry over her shoulder.

She could still sense the boy’s smug sneer as she shoved the laundromat’s door open. But despite him, Astrid could feel her own grin growing again as she...

...slashed her sword through the deep water. The sea monster thrashed in pain, but struck once more, protecting its precious treasure.

Still, she was a fearless knight, and she would not give up.