The walk across the castle to Professor Bubage's office was long, but far from quiet.
After seeing off the ghost girl Moaning Myrtle, he was greeted by Sir Cadogan from a portrait.
"The destination has not yet been reached!"
The short, stout knight in armor raised his longsword, the metal on his body clanking loudly. "Loren Morgan, my dear friend, press onward without fail, or die gloriously in the midst of your charge!"
Loren had already climbed the seventh long flight of stairs and strolled around the landing. A painting hung on the stone wall there, depicting a broad meadow where a plump little gray zebra grazed absentmindedly—
That was Sir Cadogan's mount.
"Sir Cadogan."
Loren could not help smiling. "At this hour, shouldn't you be in the portrait at the Fourth Tower, battling those treacherous monks? What are you doing here?"
"Sir Cadogan received word that you are about to embark on an expedition and came specially to see you off!" the knight shouted. "I shall miss the days we fought side by side. We once hid together from evil wizards in the night, searched together for the mysterious Astronomy Tower, and saved Barnabas together when he was besieged by Trolls..."
Loren tugged at the corner of his mouth, revealing a faint smile, but he did not interrupt. Instead, he stood before the portrait and quietly listened to the knight's cries, his gaze fixed on the endless meadow within the painting.
The plump gray zebra continued chewing grass. Its thick lips moved somewhat like a cow's, and its nostrils snorted out droplets of moisture. It was unhurried and leisurely. Loren wondered whether paintings could feel full. There were clearly no mosquitoes in the painting, yet its tail kept swishing back and forth.
The blades of grass rubbed together, making