Edward Linden followed his new companion.

The kid was fast. Lukas was possibly the fastest ten year old Edward had ever seen, besides himself. Not to mention he was obviously used to peculiarities of his town.

And he not once looked back to see if Linden was keeping up.

Fortunately, Ed was no slouch either. In a strange twist of fate, his physical might was only growing, and at a scary pace to boot.

It wouldn’t be long until he could arm wrestle grown men. Outrunning them was possible already, especially at long distances, because his child like endurance had him practically never tired. But he was aware that this kid in front of him would leave in the dust any of his peers.

“Man, I waited so long for you, man!” Lukas shouted back.

“The crap do you mean –waited-? I went to meet you immediately!”

“Okay, my bad, I’ve waited for literally anyone. Those damn ink drinkers sure made me sit on my ass!”

“How long did it take for you?”

“Almost two damn months!”

“What? It hasn’t even been a week for me!”

“You lucky fuck!”

‘Man, this kid is a ten year old!’ “Language!”

“Hahahaha! You’d swear too if they made you wait for months on end.”

The kid hit a nail on the head. Except Linden wouldn’t be tame enough to stop at f bombs.

“You know, I think I know why they made you wait for me!” Linden shouted.

“Hee? Why?”

“You’ll know soon!”

The fact was, officials probably meant for Lukas to not outrun his companion.

It was a flaw actually, to not think of your coworkers, and go forward as fast as you can. But if Linden straight up told the kid that he was too fast for other children, making Lukas proud of himself would be the only thing he would accomplish.

And pride comes before the fall.

Linden would have to let him have a taste of getting left in the dust, and make him realize the importance of teamwork.

Before long, two boys arrived at the door of a building.

“Inn’teresting” was written above doors.

“Let’s go through the backdoor.” Lukas made a proposition.

“Sure, lead the way.” Linden shrugged.

They approached the building from the side. ‘Which is funny, cause that makes it a side door.’

Linden giggled.

“What?” He was asked by Lukas.

“Nothing much.”

They entered the building, and found themselves in a kitchen.

“Okay, let’s go to my room. We’ll go through the hall.”

Linden simply nodded.

They exited through kitchen doors with “for employers use only” written on them on the side of the dining hall.

Linden took in the sight.

There were few customers, slowly eating and drinking. They all looked like regulars, and judging by the keys around their necks, most of them were explorers.

But it wasn’t this that made Linden stop, and look closer at “Inn’teresting”.

This place was… Vertical.

It wasn’t like your normal restaurant, where there is a ton of tables packed on the floor, with maybe possibility of more floors.

This place had some kind of… indoor balconies, connected with staircases much too dangerous for anyone in their right mind to drink alcohol in any of those hanging gardens of social interaction.

In other words, tables were packed in three dimensions.

Linden shuddered thinking what would happen if someone from the top started puking all around.

Looking closely, yes, there was a sign “Do not vomit outside of your designated areas.”

This gotta be a great place.

‘Oh, more signs.’

- “No shooting contests.”

- “No starting fights” Oh, so you can beat someone black and blue, as long as the barfight wasn’t started by you, yes? Awesome.

- “No throwing food at other customers or waiters”

- “Respect utensils”

- “Don’t steal tableware.”

- “Don’t steal tables”

There were also doubles.

- “Don’t set anything on fire.” Was a visibly old sign. The new one, right next to it, spelled:

- “Don’t set anything on fire, even if it’s your designated area.

And many, many more.

Considering the fact that every warning has its precedent, one couldn’t look at this without a certain degree of fear.

“What the crap happened here?” Whispered Linden.

“What do you mean?”

“All those signs… Did all of that happened at some point?”

“Oh, yeah. Most of it happens sometimes even despite warnings. But there aren’t many that would repeat the offense after doing it once.”

“I see.” Linden decided not to pry.

They climbed one of the monkey stairs, as Linden designated the in his mind, turned left, and arrived in a corridor, and in front of doors.

“Okay, we’re here.” Said Lukas, and opened them.

Inside, Ed saw a small room, with bed, desk, and ‘shelves’ resembling hammocks.

“Nice.” He said aloud. It was indeed quite good looking room. It was as if someone went and decorated a room for 10 dollars.

And did it correctly.

A small, circular window let some light in.

“Okay, we will set out outside in not so distant future. We need to be prepared, because I don’t much like the idea of having to be rescued, or dying before even becoming an explorer. That being said, let’s talk about our roles.” Said Lukas. “What can you do?”

“A lot. I lived in Wandering Rocks for a while, and did so without any issues. I even put some meat on.”

“Oh... Well, I guess that’s good, less of a chance of something going to shit if you are as experienced as you said. Okay, is there something you can’t do?”

“I’m shit at navigation. I arrived in town by sheer luck. And also, I’m lacking in knowledge of places we will be going to.”

“Well, that luck of yours isn’t ending any time soon, because one thing I’m confident in, is navigating. The other is my knowledge. I was reading and asking questions since I remember.” Bragged Lukas. “I saw how good you are at running. Not many can keep up with me, I’ll have you know. Can I assume your climbing game is just as good?”

“It’s better. I’m also confident in a fight.”

“For a kid?”

“No” Linden lifted a side of his poncho, revealing a revolver.

“Uuaa! Do we have a rich kid here?”

“I won it in a bet, fair and square” “And I have a lot of good equipment. Aside from navigation stuff, I don’t think I’m geared up any worse than a red key.”

Lukas whistled quietly. “Tall claim.” He leaned closer. “Any of the good stuff?”

This kid would be his companion in the near future. It’s better to establish relationship of trust, than hide things that will be revealed eventually anyway.

And hey, if Ed revealed one of his secrets, then this kid would probably focus on keeping his tongue behind his teeth, instead on trying to uncover any more.

And most of all, Edward Linden wanted to brag.

“This baby right here, for example. He knocked at his knife. Found it in a cave.”

Lukas’ eyes widened. “You have a relic?”

“Yup, yup. Do keep it a secret. I don’t want to have to shoot wannabe thieves.”

“Crap, I feel somewhat undergeared now…” Lukas muttered.

“Look at it from a brighter perspective. If we end up finding a knife-shaped relic, I won’t need it.”

Lukas expression brightened. “Okay, I call dibs!”

“Sure. Now, tell me what you know about those ‘abyssal delvers’ you mentioned”

“Well, one of them is Forests’ Chase, and the other..’

“Wait. I’m from the boonies. The term, what does it mean?”

Lukas shot him a weird look. “Okay, so you remember how there are places with more maelodor than somewhere else?”

“Yes”

“And you know places where there is no maelodor whatsoever, even during storms?”

“We are in such a place now, right?”

“Yes. An abyss is something opposite to that. A place where there is so much maelodor, that it almost turns tangible. It forms mostly in various chasms and cave systems, hence the name. They have their own rules, but not much is known about them, since you have to be a special kind of cookie to go down there.”

“What kind of cookie?”

“The toughest, obviously. First, you gotta find an abyss. Not easy. Second, you have to go down into it. Or delve, if you will. That one is as easy as eating a greymourn mushroom. You can do it, but only once. And don’t expect to write home about the taste. Or at all.”

“But some people returned, if what you said is true," Ed paused. "Honestly? Sounds exciting.”

Lukas stared at Linden for good five seconds.

“Haahaha! You are the first kid our age I talked to, that said it’s exciting, instead of scary! And you seem smart, so it’s not prattling of a dumbass!”

“Edward? Let’s do our best! I’ll be in your care.”

Linden ignored the lurking insult, and focused on positive stuff instead.

“Sure, and likewise.” Ed grinned. “Let’s see if all those places and creatures live up to the stories.”

“Man.” Lukas got excited. “I’m so glad I’ve met you.”