Wondering how he was going to get about writing a to-do list without any implements, a smart idea then occurred to him.

Maybe I do have something.. She did say that I’ve got me all the things I’ll be needing in that ring she gave us.

“Now let’s see if ta old coon’s still got a wee bit’o sense in her,” he mumbled with hope before closing his eyes. He then focused all of his thoughts to the ring of holding that he wore on his left hand.

In the darkness behind his eyelids that was normally reserved for the usual phospenes or else the floaters behind his eyelids, now also played host to a new and very distinct greyish rectangular cube.

The outline of this cube switched uncannily from being distinct with bold strokes at times, yet in the next it would switch to phasing into immaterialism.

Gerald chose not to dwell to much upon it like he had in the past, for to puzzle out the workings of a ring of holding would just end up with him having a headache. He was well aware that it was way beyond his ken and he was fine with that.

What he was more concerned about was the ghostly objects floating about inside the mental representation of the cargo space in his mind.

Gerald then focused on the thought of something to write with and maybe a quill of sorts.

With glee he was rewarded with two ghostly figures within the cube becoming more material. The two objects then superimposed within its own outline and filled out with colour as if to become more real before becoming enlarged beyond the space of the cube the represented the ring of holding within his internal vision.

It was a small stack of fine parchment of unknown make and a basic pencil. With approval Gerald confirmed his selection with a positive mental nudge.

“Aye now that’s wa’ I’m talking about!”

Then opening his eyes he then also opened up each of his hands before willing for the same objects to appear in them.

On his left was the stack of parchment paper with two small pieces of string serving as a binder, whilst in his right was the very same pencil he had interacted with inside his ring of holding’s interface.

Woweee… what is it? asked a surprised Silky who was watching with interest as her core grew slightly brighter.

“Nothing much kiddo, just something for me to make a list with tis all. Now be a good kiddo and keep quiet for your old’man for a sec aye?” Gerald replied before squatting down onto his haunches.

Finding the cold floor to be slightly uncomfortable on his bare ass and his unmentionables, he shrugged off the discomfort to continue with his work.

He crossed his legs before placing the newly acquired paper in his lap.

“Ah here we go, now let’s get started,” he said before scrawling on top of his notepad.

He scrawled THINGS TO DO in a neat and tidy font before grunting in satisfaction.

The last time he had to write anything was years beyond counting, but he found some relish in the thought that his script was still as pleasant as ever.

Some things just don’t slip eh? He thought with pride at the simple title.

Silky then floated down before aligning just in front of him to better observe what he was up to. She tried her best to hold her metaphorical tongue, but was unable to reign in her curiosity as more questions plagued her. Especially after seeing Gerald’s weird facial expression at the weird scratches that he had somehow magically leave upon the white square thing in his lap.

What is a list and how are you doing that? She asked in regards to the letters he was able to scrawl down.

Gerald was brought out of reverie before sighing in frustration, he cleared his thoughts by reminding himself that Silky was still just a kid. Or whatever it was that determined age in regard to dungeons. So he marshalled his patience before giving her an answer.

“Well ya see kiddo, lists are just a bunch of things ya want to do ta help you remember to do them. An me being able to write this list here? It’s because I have me here some pieces o’ paper an a pencil.”

Oh okay, lists sound pretty handy. Silky thinks a list would be good for Silky… But Silky wonders why the queen mother did not deem it important to mention about these handy lists? It would make growing so much more easier than just having to think about all the things to grow, the digging to do, all my new friends and the mana Silky has to reinforce in places..

Ach, goddamn kid talking fucking weird all the time.. and she just made a fucking list to me for fucks sake, Gerald cursed to himself before trying to reign in his annoyance so he could give a reply.

“Well it would’ve be handy, but I’m sure Isaldra missed it cus ya will find out bout lists soon enough yourself kiddo. Now how bout ya let me get on with MA list, and then we can make you one too? We do got us plenty o’pieces of paper,” he said before shaking the notepad to display the number of sheets available for use.

Then.. how does mister Gerald make the marks on the Sheets? How does the pencil work like that when it is just wood and stone? Silky asked after having used her dungeon-sight to examine the properties of the pencil that Gerald used to miraculously etch runes upon the piece of paper.

Gerald was left flabberghasted.

How the fuck did Isaldra, the Queen of all dungeons oversee the training of this youngling and send them out into the world without having taught her what ta flying fuck a pencil was? He wondered.

Guess it’s up to me then, he added to himself. Then with another sigh he held up the very same pencil that was the object of their attention.

“Well ya see kid, this here is a bog standard pencil ta any which bum can get for nought but few coppers in a half decent city,” he said as he threw the pencil up to have it sailing end over end into the air before catching it.

He found a slight sense of satisfaction to have it land in his hand the same way up.

He also happily noted how Silky tilted along with the flicked pencil and was paying him her unwavering attention. Well, that was as far as he could discern what a piece of floating sentient gemstone was thinking anyways.

“This here is pencil ta used to be just a piece of charcoal,” he started. “The idea is ‘ta charcoal rubs off easily so you’s can use it to make marks or write words because of how it just rubs off on things like… on your chosen whatchamacallit?”

He then began tapping the pencil on the sheet of paper as a word eluded him.

“Ah fucking wotsits? What was it? MEDIUM!! Aye medium, so aye kid.. just like this piece of paper can be a medium. So with you’s wonderous pencil, yous can write songs, make poems, write your name or indeed.. make lists like I’m doing just the now.”

“Well anyways, then as usual the Grafters came along and made it way fancier,” he concluded his lecture.

A moment of silence flitted by as Silky continued observing the utensil.

Hmmm… a pencil can do all this?

“Yes indeed kiddo,” Gerald answered her patiently.

Can I have your pencil mister Gerald?

“What? I can’t kiddo, I’ve only got ta one.. and I dinnae know when I would even next be in’na town or anywhere where I can get me one,” he countered whilst starting to feel exasperated.

But Silky can just make you more, Silky can make you lots more!

Oh shit yeah.. I forgot that ta kid’s a dungeon and she could just magic some more, he rememebered whilst feeling quite stupid. Dungeons were famous for making treasure up to lure would-be adventurer, what’s a pencil to one of them?

“Knock yourself out kiddo.. here catch,” he said before throwing the pencil in her direction.

The fairy-sized pencil pinwheeled through the air for a few moments before cluttering lamely just below the floating core.

Thanks mister Gerald, she thanked him before picking up the pencil using a weak form of telekinesis that she used to manipulate objects. Then pencil was then left to levitate it in front of her.

Well that looked a realm’a of stupid, kid should’a caught it in the first place when I threw it at her.. no style at all, Gerald complained eternally whilst grumbling incomprehensible nothings to himself.

Silky then went to work absorbing the pencil with the little twig-like utensil breaking down into blue motes of mana that dispersed in all directions.

When it was completely dissimilated and absorbed, Silky then proceeded to digest information on the molecular structure of the foreign wood and the granite that constituted the makeup of the now none-existent pencil.

Then with a little “popping” sound she willed an exact replica of the pencil.

It was summoned into being just above Gerald’s head before harmlessly cluttering on its flat side onto his skull.

“Hey yous wee cheeky shite!” Gerald grumbled before picking up his brand new pencil. He also noted a hint of a metallic smell that seemed to be the trademark to Silky’s work.

“Well good on ya kid… how bout ya make a few more?” he tried asking with a sly grin.

Sure no problem mister Gerald, Silky can make you lots more!

Along with multitude of popping sounds, tiny pencils started to materialise in the air before the two that all came falling down to bounce about in random directions.

Gerald was alarmed at first before the feeling was quickly replaced by amusement as the small shower of pencils quickly escalated into a downpour.

“Haha kiddo! Now we won’t be needing to buy us another pencil in ma whole life!” he joked.

But just as suddenly as it had appeared the shower of pencils abruptly came to a stop.

What was even more alarming to Gerald was how Silky’s normally emerald green lustre had dimmed considerably as the baby dungeon begun to slowly tilt forwards and then dip slowly towards the ground.

“Hey kiddo you alright?!” he asked with concern before jumping up from his seat.

He then rushed over to Silky before having to slow down, least he tripped from the brown pencils that littered everywhere on the dirt floor between them.

But even doing so, he was able to make it in time to grab Silky before she could hit the floor.

Surprisingly he found her to be warm to the touch.

Silky just used too much mana… Silky – I think I need a sleepy, she said before falling silent.

“Hey! Hey kiddo, you alright?” Gerald asked whilst still feeling concern for his charge.

Blewblewblew…blewblewblew…blewblewblew.

“Wait.. is that a snore? Ha! Didna’ even ken they slept,” he mused to himself as relief washed through him.

Then lowering himself to the ground once more whilst cradling Silky in he arms whilst his notepad was tucked in his armpit, he then gently laid the kid beside him as to lean onto the side of his thigh.

Seeing she was safe, he then grabbed himself a rogue pencil before Gerald went back to writing his to-do list with a gentle smile.