AAOOOSC! Wheatie Bits!

E. 5. "Reid, The Knight In Golden Armour" (2/3)

As they are strolling through the desolated, grassy plains, buzzing, airy, musical sounds echo through the air.

They instantly halt, exchanging bewildered expressions as the kazoo-like sound.

Kale has his eyes lifted from his smartphone with a gawk. "What on earth is that?"

Nolan has his hands on his eyes with a grimace. "Must be shmooker."

"Hopefully, it is him. It'd be much easier to find him." He begins following the screeching sounds.

With a pouty expression, Nolan comes behind him.

The vibrating woodwind noise gradually becomes louder, notifying the two friends that they are approaching the source of the sound.

Up ahead, they spot the edge of the cliff, which is looking out into a canyon. Sitting by the cliff is Reid Duke, whom they immediately recognize.

Reid is in a golden knight's armour bearing steel gray, red, and white designs. He is blowing through a stick with a hooked end like a cane, creating the kazoo-like sound to the tune of "The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel.

Next to him is a golden Suffolk punch horse, who is contently munching on an apple.

Kale and Nolan stand a yard away from him, staring at him with utter puzzlement.

"Okay, you can stop now," Nolan snaps above the buzzing music in disgust.

Reid halts his music and lowers the instrument from his lips. He peers behind his shoulders, spotting his two friends.

His eyes light up at the sight. "Claguer! Doctor Pat!" He clamours to his feet, his metallic armour clanking to his movements. "You're here!" He rushes up to them excitedly.

"We were waiting for you at the training spot," Kale informs him gently. "You did agree to train with us, right?"

Reid's arched eyebrows shoot up. "Oh yeah! I was gonna join you guys! I just had to warm up first!" He holds his stick-like object up.

"By making our ears bleed?" Nolan raises his eyebrows at him while gaping.

"No, no—" Reid gazes at his instrument. "—this is a crumhorn, a beautiful instrument from the medieval times!"

"How is that beautiful?" Nolan gives the medieval instrument an offended expression.

"He's the one who thinks that hippos are beautiful," Kale points out flatly.

He rolls his eyes. "Right."

"So, we're gonna get going?" Reid asks, prancing toward the golden horse.

Nolan eyes him warily. "Yeah, that's the plan."

Kale has knitted eyebrows on the strangely-coloured horse the knight is hopping on. "Since when did you own a horse?"

"When I became the power player of the Golden Knights!" Reid hops on the black saddle and holds onto the reins. "This is Crusty, my trusty destrier!"

Crusty lets out a happy neigh.

"Crusty?" Nolan has raised eyebrows. "You named it 'Crusty?'"

"Yes." Reid promptly pats Crusty's thick neck. "And it's a 'he.'"

The destrier whinnies in response.

Nolan rolls his eyes. "Oh my goodness."

"You're just jealous that you can't think of a great name like that," Reid tells him with a smirk.

Nolan gives him an unamused expression. "Yeah. So jealous."

Kale lets out a huff with a chuckle. "Okay, let's just go back to the training spot."