Linden had to think about the proposition, quickly.

From one hand, exploring had to have a learning curve.

He found new friends, something of a job, and was preparing to grow.

Traveling with Unique Keys' group would be dangerous, exhausting, and he probably would be unable to return for long periods of time.

Or at all.

If slivers of stories he heard from Lukas' rambling were to be believed, He would be forced to tread on a thin line, on one side of which there lays insanity, and on the other, death.

But there was also the other side of the coin. Opportunity.

Who does not risk, neither shall he eat.

In the end, there was only one thing he could do. Linden pulled out a coin from his pocket, and flipped it upwards.

'Heads, moderate effort. Tails, hardcore grind, and adventure.' The coin dropped to the floor. Linden kneeled down, and looked.

Tails.

He smiled viciously. There would be no throwing it again.

He looked up at the group, and asked: "Can I get a green key first? I think I kinda need it for this to be legal?"

Nepizze snorted. "Sure. I'll make the pen pinchers speed it up."

"Also, am I correct in assuming I will be taught stuff? My experience leaves a lot to be desired. Also, I can see some swirls if there is a lot, or on a Maelodorless background, but not what they mean."

"We will have to teach you, not much choice here. Aren't you curious what your role will be?"

Linden already had a guess. "A person that tries their hardest not to be a deadweight until he gets good enough to predict storms, and other stuff?"

"And you are smart to boot. Leader, I'm definitely in favor of the kid joining."

The Forests' Chase nodded. "His name is Edward."

Nepizze ignored her boss. "Well, anyway. Let's eat, and we'll sort this out later.

.....................

The food was good. A kind of dish made of meat chunks with veggies and groats, is what Linden got. It was a bit spicy for his taste, but otherwise delicious.

After the meal, Ed and Lukas split off from the group. Lukas was first to speak up. "Oh shit, man! What? You're joining them? How? Why?" He went silent, most likely because his circuits overheated. Or maybe his jaw left its hinges again.

"I don't think I told them I will join them. Although I most likely will, I want to ask someone for advice first. For now, I made them put pressure on the guild. Remember our conversation about waiting a month for an assignment? I bet you a relic we'll get it tomorrow."

Lukas calmed down a bit.”I don’t ave any relics to bet, and even if I had, I wouldn’t” “Also, If I were you, I’d just accept without thinking.”

Linden could imagine. It would be almost like Batman asking a ten year old boy to come join Justice League.

‘Show me a boy who wouldn’t. Or even a grown man. You can’t.’

“I’m happy you aren’t me. All that talk about joining groups aside, we still have to prepare for our assignment. Especially now, since we’ve learned we might not have much time.”

“Well, I’m more or less prepared.”

“I would rather get more stuff, but I don’t have the money anymore.”

“Like what?”

“Some ingredients. And I want to read more. But I should be alright without, for now at least.”

“So, we meet up tomorrow?”

“Most likely.”

The boys went their ways.

Linden had a lot to do.

First, he would have to consult Ms. Lisa.

Second, find out which materials and ingredients exist around here.

He headed for his temporary home.

On his way there, he couldn’t help but think about one thing.

‘There are old corpses near bundles of relics.’

But He didn’t find no skeleton back in his cave. Nor a mummy. Just relics, and himself.

Himself.

‘Crap, am I some kind of fucking undead?’

……………………….

He got back home.

“Hello Ed.”

“Good evening Ms. Lisa.” He greeted the woman.

“ How is your partner? Is it a boy, or a girl? Are they nice?” She asked.

She really was an A grade Mum.

“Quite nice. But there is a certain matter I need your opinion on.”

“Such as?”

“What do you think of Ferns’ Flower?”

“The miraculous medicine, or exploration team?”

“The latter.”

“Good people. I knew their second in command, Nepizze, before I had to stop my journeys. A great friend, and even better explorer.”

“Well, they want me to join them.”

Silence encompassed the room.

Ms. Lisa laughed. “Damn, your delivery was on point here!”

Linden looked her in the eye.

Ms. Lisa stopped laughing. “You… You’re serious?”

“Quite so.”

“You must be shitting me.”

“Do I look like it?”

“No. But I can’t see why they would want that. No matter how I slice it, you shouldn’t be more valuable as a member than any yellow key. Red tops.”

“Maelodor. I started seeing it. I thought I was hallucinating before, but it turns out I wasn’t.”

Ms. Lisa looked at him as if he was a brand new creature. It was no longer the look of a mother. She was judging him with an eye of skilled, albeit retired, explorer.

“Oh... Oh. Well, that explains things. A person with The Sight that isn’t working with any other group... Valuable. One too young to be at the paycheck of any nation affiliated guilds though? Priceless.” She considered, her caring look returning once more. “So, what will you do?”

“I think it’s an opportunity. I want to take their offer. What do you think?”

“If you really are blessed with the Sight, then there is no one who could teach you how to use it better than them. There are other groups, and other unique keys, but Nepizze was my partner for trainee assignments, and last time I checked, she was still a good person.”

“So it’s safer than trying to join any other group?”

“Yes. As for not joining a group at all, that’s a bad idea, at this point. You are valuable, like I said, and there will be those that will want you for themselves. Not everyone will be kind enough to ask. Some will even want to eliminate you.”

“You said something about nation affiliated guilds. Do you think they’ll want to shut me down?”

“If scouting you doesn’t work, sure. They are competing with us from Independent Guild for information, territory, relics, and for competent personnel as well, obviously.”

“I feel like I’ll need to step up my game either way. Did you maybe finish my holster?”

Ms. Lisa thrown him something.

It was a nice, brown half flap holster, and It was in a similar color as Lindens belt and boots.

“Thank you. I should probably pay you for all that. Leather this thick must’ve been a pain to work with.”

“It’s a present. I don’t know when your birthday is, but here, take it.”

“I don’t know when my birthday is either, now that I think about it, but still, thank you.”

He turned around, but was stopped by Ms. Lisa. “You will need much more than this revolver where you are going.”

“I know.”

“Do you have something in mind?”

“I hope I can borrow some money from my new seniors. A rifle would be nice. Also, you maybe know if I can buy some aluminum here?”

“What’s that?”

“Metal. Lighter than iron, but softer, more brittle, and non magnetic It doesn’t rust, but gets covered in oxide on the surface.”

“ I think you might mean glin. Yeah, you can buy some toys made of it sometimes. It’s rare and weak. you can’t make equipment from something like this.”

“I know that, as well. Do you happen to also know where I can get some amount of rust?”

“Shouldn’t be too hard. Why?”

“They are all ingredients I need.”

“For what?”

“Explosives, obviously. This one is called thermite.”