of Shovels and Knights (Shovel Knight stories)

Reize - Uncle Donovan

The gentle breeze made his long scarf weakly flutter around, making him feel like one of those legendary warriors who standing on a cliff would ponder about their past and next adventures.
That was what he was doing as well. 
Kind of.
Well, maybe not on a cliff... but that roof wasn't either that close to the ground either. 
He gave another look at his boomerang blades; there were still a few small stains of that dense, sticky thing those liquid samurai were made of, and a big grin appared on his face as he was recalling the exact moments he defeated and made them melt and slide away. 
It was a matter of constant practice, and he would have soon become a powerful warrior, or even better a knight! He wondered if he could get the title as young as he was, he was proving himself after all and now he was a sort of hero in the village, along with Baz and--- the man with a particular love for hats. 
The boy standed up and took a deep breath, break was over and it was time to look for new advetures or enemies and rivals to fight. He heard that Shovel Knight was coming back after the defeat of the Enchantress, he would have loved to have a rematch with him-- 

- Hey you, up there!! Are you Reize, son of Luan? - 

He startled. It had been a while since someone said his father's name, and only a few people knew his origins. 
And that guy in a green coat and pink plague mask wasn't sure one of them. 

- Yeah? Who sends you? - 

- Good afternoon. My lord Plague Knight received a visit from Specter Knight, who wanted to give you this. - and the alchemy pupil handed him a wrapped-up paper. 

He would have asked why then he didn't do it himself but then he just thought none of them wanted to be seen. After all, some people were still looking weird at the masked "doctor", and beside the natives of the Lich Yard not everyone was used to ghost or those kinds of things. 
The boy greeted the minion and when he turned back he unrolled the letter:
"When the moon is high up on the sky, make sure none is near or follows you. I will be waiting on the entrance of the Lich Yard. Don't be late."

It took a long while to convince his oncle the Farmer Hedge he would have been fine and that any way he could take care of himself, and left before the old hedgehog would have brought up the story of the Tower and the possesion, again. He had grown up since then, how dangerous could really be there?
He arrived at the gates of the village on ruins. The place was on a higher hill, with two platforms somehow floating above the ground, on a side what remained of an ancient tower. He could see it all from up there, the houses to the skeletons hideouts, the graveyards, the torches, the wandering spirits--- he wondered if the Phatom Striker had ever got back there or he left the place to get back once again to a life of fights and adventures.
He felt sudden cold chills running on his back, the air felt dense, the sky got dark in seconds and a lighting stroke, and he felt a presence standing behind him. 
Sure ghosts know how to introduce themself.

- You sure are brave, I would have expected everything beside you coming earlier. - 

He wasn't sure how to take that. Or how to even refer as him. 
Reize turned back and saw the tall figure, wearing the ruined armour of an old and ruined golden color, and the large, long, tattered cloak wrapping on his shoulders and neck, covering his head like a hoodie. He was holding his scythe low on the back, always ready to strike if there was the need. 
He felt him staring at him from up and down, as he was judging every single aspect of his portray, so he made sure to keep a calm attitude and never look down.
Then the silence was broken by his emotionless voice, who immediately stated who was the superior one between the two.

- Welcome, kid. -

He tried to hide his annoyance.

- Hello...Specter Knight.-