Before they started heading towards home, Edward stopped Mark, and went back to the shop. He exited it with a his revolver loaded, and a handful of lead round balls for their new weapons.

“Sorry. Figured it would be stupid to carry an unloaded gun. Especially something this expensive.” He explained himself to the older boy.

“It’s alright, not a bad idea. Would be dumb if buying revolvers got us robbed, instead of deterring lowlifes. But I’ll wait with loading until we get Mom to make us holsters. She will probably need a gun to form the leather around it, and doing that with a loaded firearm can be a bit…”

It was true. Modern firearms can be simply unloaded, but it’s a pain in the ass to do it with a muzzleloader. Not impossible, but it’s much easier to just shoot it empty.

(Which shouldn’t be done in the living room, nor in the kitchen. Black powder makes everything dirty, and the noise would be a problem for neighbors.)

“Yeah. Good thing we got matching guns. I think it will be easier to make two identical holsters, rather than having them made completely differently.” Linden once again praised himself for decision making.

That’s when a drop of water fell on Mark’s nose. “Not to rain on your parade, but we should hurry home. Did you secure your revolver? We don’t want you to lose it.”

“Yup. Nice and tight.” Answered Ed, and pulled aside the fabric of his poncho.

The gun was secured behind his belt, on the right hip, facing forward with its grip.

“An interesting way to carry." Mark remarked. "Let’s hurry then.”

The rain already made some of the paths slippery, so the boys couldn’t run with all their might. As a result, once they got home, they were completely drenched.

What awaited them inside was Ms. Lisa, busy not letting Melodia wriggle herself out of a sewing lesson.

“There is absolutely no reason for you to not know how to repair your own equipment.”

“But I already know how to that.”

“Well, there is also no reason to not know how to make that gear.”

“I can just buy it.”

Okay. That sounded like a long discussion. Linden saw no reason not to help out.

“Excuse me, can I learn?”

Ms. Lisa paused, and a look of realization shot through her face. She nodded, and gestured Ed to sit down.

“True, those pants of yours were horrible, even for a hack job. A true waste of amazing materials, even if you had no choice but to do it. Let’s have you remake them into something that isn’t an insult to every explorer in existence.” Mel’s Mom was merciless when it came to sewing.

“Amazing materials? Insult?” Linden didn’t know what to think of those words.

She shot him a look of disbelief. “What, you don’t know what that is?”

“Should I?”

Ms. Lisa sighed, and said something that made both of her children drop their jaws.

“Your equipment consists mainly of low grade relics.”

“Huh? Seriously? How?” Linden heard of relics, but not of what they are.

“Tell me, where did you get your backpack? Or that bedroll?”

Oh. “Emm… In Wandering Rocks. Found it.”

“And that’s exactly what relics are. That knife of yours. Does it rust? Or maybe it’s difficult to make it sharp?”

“No. Quite the opposite.”

“Precisely. Low grade relics are items you find in uncharted lands. They are things we modern humans can easily imitate. Except our imitations will always be imperfect.

Take your knife for example. It’s just a hand tool, nothing more. But it holds edge, it’s easy to sharpen, never rusts, its handle fits you like a glove, the blade never chips, and so on. Each of those characteristics is easy to recreate separately, but not all of them at once.

Same with that bedroll. I bet it will keep you warm and cozy in any weather, except maybe temperatures that would outright burn you alive, or freeze your piss before it comes out. And it’s light to boot.”

“What about high grade relics?” Linden wanted to know.

“A different can of worms. It’s not something you need to concern yourself with now.” The woman answered.

Edward shrugged.

Melodia almost regained her composure. “How come we didn’t notice?”

Her mother was quick to use the moment to her own advantage. “Maybe you would, if you knew more about tailoring. My first clue was that fabric.”

Mel slumped her shoulders in defeat. “Alright, I’ll learn.”

“Good girl. Cheer up, Ed will learn with us.” Ms. Lisa told her daughter. “Come to think of it, teaching is a great way to learn. Why don’t you give him some pointers first?”

The prospects of being a senior at something completely wiped Mel’s negative emotions away. “Okay, I’ll start by teaching him buttons.”

“Do that. But before that. Ed, Mark? Do you have any preferences in holsters? I can see you bought guns. You’ll explain how you got two instead of one later.”

Mark shrugged. “Something secure, I guess.”

Linden had more specific wishes. “Can I get a holster that would allow me to carry a gun like I’m doing now?”

“No problem. Is there any reason you carry it like that?” Asked Ms. Lisa.

“Yes. When the grip is facing forward, It’s much easier to draw with either hand.”

“What about speed?” Asked Mark.

“I’ll just have to train with it a lot.”

“Okay. Go learn from Mel, and in the meantime, I’ll start working on holsters”

Linden nodded, and moved out of the room along with Mel.

“Dammit, I can’t believe I’m the only one with just one single shot.” She complained.

“I can let you borrow my blunderbuss sometimes.” Consoled her Linden.

“Can you let me borrow your revolver?”

“No can do, I already developed emotional attachments to it.” “But we can train shooting and maintenance together, so that you know how to use it once you get your own.”

“Deal. By the way, how did you afford it? Did you borrow money?”

“No, I won a bet of sorts.”

“Huh. I want to be that lucky.”

“I bet you do.” Laughed Linden. “Okay, let’s go do something useful.” “Teach me, master, the art of thread and needle.”

Melodia’s laugh was, not a surprise, melodic. Okay, but you gotta continue calling me that.”

“What are you, a martial monk?”

“What monkey?”

“Nevermind.” “Oh, show me your pistol later.” Edward changed the topic.

“Right back at you.” “But for now, sewing. Remember, You brought it upon yourself.” “First. Show me your way of sewing buttons.”

Linden did just that. When he looked at his companion, he saw a look of terror.

“Apologize to the thread.” She said.

“Show me how to do it then.”

Mel looked at a bundle of thread they were using, and vocalized. “I’m terribly sorry for him.”

“Show me how to sew.”

“Oh, that. Sure.” The smirk on her face suggested she wasn’t actually serious about talking to things. But being a ten year old is something that happens once in a lifetime, so she added: “But not before you apologize.”

‘Whatever. I’m too old to get stubborn now.’ Ed thought, and expressed his regret, extending his apology towards the button as well.

”Excellent.” His friend giggled. “Now, watch.”

She started sewing a button on a piece of cloth. It was fairly smooth, and the end result was similar to professional work, or so was Ed’s impression.

It was his turn.

“Okay, you’re doing much better now. Keep it up.” She praised him. “We’ll move on to another step now…”

But that wasn’t to be, as a knock to the exterior door could be heard.

It was answered by Mark, who quickly yelled for Linden to come over.

Once he did, Ed saw a child with a bag, and a funny hat. “Edward Linden?” The kid asked.

“Yes.”

“A letter.” Kid said, and handed over a piece of paper. “You better read it now. I think.”

Mark nodded, as if he fully agreed with the kid.

Ed took the letter, and opened it.

Hastily come to the appropriate guild building. Your partner was assigned.>

Under that, there was a scribble,(Probably a signature) and a seal.

“Okay then. I should set out now, probably.” Concluded Ed.

“I think the same. Do you know where to head?” Confirmed Mark.

“No. I thought about being guided by someone willing to accept appropriate compensation.” Linden looked at the kid, and wiggled his brows.

The boy looked at Mark, most likely concluded he can’t take advantage of Ed while a yellow key is present, and made his proposition. “One bri.”

“Okay, but you guide him all the way.” Agreed Mark.

“I’m gonna go get dressed.” Linden informed, and went back to the room.

He took his clothes, knife, a revolver, and came outside.

He showed a coin to the kid. “After you.”

The child nodded, and started walking.

…………………..

Eventually, they reached the guild facility. It was pretty close to the registration place, but located in a way that made it not as easy to find. A bri well spent.

The kid run off. Linden entered the building, strolled over to the counter, and greeted a worker, and a boy his age who were already waiting for him.

“Good afternoon. My name is Edward Linden.” Good first impressions were important.

“Oh, so It’s you. My name is Lukas, nice to meet you.”

“May I ask you for your badge?” Asked the guild worker.

Edward answered by handing it over.

It was checked, and given back. “You can introduce yourself to each other now. You will be sent an assignment on a later date.”

‘Well, that was brief for a bureaucratic matter.’ Linden couldn’t complain.

Luke was fairly quick to seize initiative. “Let’s come over to my place. We should get to know each other better.”

It wasn’t a bad idea, so Edward complied.

They bid farewell to the guild worker, stepped outside, and Lukas gestured Linden to follow him.

“Actually, why at your place?” Asked Ed.

“I live in ‘Inn’teresting’ and we have some high ranking explorers over there right now. Even two Abyssal Delvers. If you wanna meet them, follow me.”

Linden didn’t want to reveal his ignorance again, and simply nodded.