Eddie stepped out of the garage, Flintlock rifle slung across his back and two satchels secured at his sides, one leather, containing his personal stuff, the other is a canvas satchel, containing his ammunition. The morning air was cool, slightly obscured by the morning fog. Muted grey painted the sky. Outside, Catherine and Torrie stood near the low stone wall overlooking the sea, Catherine is leaning on the stone wall. Their figures bathed in the fading light. 

Torrie, her eyes wide with excitement, was practically bouncing on her heels as she bombarded Catherine with a flurry of questions about magic. Her silver-jade conduit ring bouncing on her metal chains on her neck as she talk.

"Catherine, Catherine! Could you transmute copper into gas if you added enough heat and pressure? Or would it just destabilize like Eddie’s brilliant idea last week? You know, the one that nearly made the whole living room smell like burnt coins for days?" 

"Well, Torrie, theoretically, yes, you could, but transmuting metals on that scale requires an extraordinary amount of precision—far more than most Alchemists can safely handle. And Eddie’s experiment wasn’t entirely off-base," she added with a faint smile. 

Markus, meanwhile, leaned casually against the stone wall. His gaze fixed on the sea as the waves gently lapped against the shore below. He looked up as Eddie approached.

"All set, Ed?" Markus asked. Pushing himself off the wall.

"Yeah," Eddie nodded, "I'm ready."

As Eddie joined them, Catherine's eyes were drawn immediately to the rifle on his back. Her brows furrowed in surprise. "Eddie, what is that?" 

“Err... dad asked me to carry it.” Eddie said, straightening the flintlock on his back, “For protections, of course.”

“Why not use your usual ring?” Catherine said

Eddie stood there, “I uhh,”

“Eddie gave the ring to me.” Torrie said, “I’ll be using the ring.”

“Well that’s a disappointment,” Catherine sighed. She studied him longer, searching for the boy she remembered in the man before her. "I see... Well, I suppose a bit of extra protection never hurt anyone." 

She then stepped closer, her scholarly curiosity piqued. "May I?" she asked, touching the rifle. 

Eddie quickly swatted her hand away, a playful smile tugging at his lips despite his tension. "No, can't do, Ma'am. Dad said nobody else should touch it besides me and my brother Alfred."

Catherine pouted. Folding her arms, sulking playfully. "Hmph, and here I thought I'd get to examine something new. Very well, I suppose I'll just have to content myself with the mysteries of the Artefacts."

Torrie giggled at the exchange, and even Markus couldn't help but chuckle. Eddie shook his head, still smiling, as he adjusted the strap of his satchel.

Catherine regained her usual demeanour, though a hint of amusement lingered in her eyes. "Alright, let's get going. The Deep Glaive waits for no one."

The group began to make their way down the path leading away from the house. Catherine walked at the front, her staff clicking rhythmically against the cobblestones. Torrie followed closely behind, practically skipping with every step. Markus and Eddie brought up the rear, with Eddie casting one last glance back at the house where his father stood watching from the doorway.

Mr and Mrs Welton raised a hand in a silent farewell, his expression a mix of pride and concern. Eddie returned the gesture before turning away.