107 Vin

Mindy's first question; "Are they… all right?"

"Bueeehhh!" the younger boy threw up on the spot, and the younger girl, the youngest of the lot, looked green enough to join him at any moment.

"I need a toilet. Fast." The older girl, the teenager, added hurriedly.

"And I need a place to rest." Remian's mom looked pale.

His dad, a wrinkly, kindly faced man with graying hair, smiled and said, "Don't worry about us, we'll manage…"

"My carriage is over here." Remian pointed. "I have a suite in the Adventurers Guild."

"I think we can give them rooms of their own." Mindy mentioned.

Remian considered briefly. "True. But I'll pay for their rooms with points."

"No time. I really, really need to go, now!" his sister squirmed.

"FDF camp. That way." George pointed.

"Airport inn. Over here." Mindy gestured.

"Bucket?" Tim offered.

The second sister grabbed the bucket and used it the way her brother earlier should have, while the elder sister followed Mindy to the airport inn.

Proper introductions took place in the carriage later, as they made their way to the Adventurers Guild.

Remian's Dad was named Damien Vin. He was a retired teacher, but also an ex-council member of Petal Town back at the Rain Sultanate, a vassal state of the Empire. Since Remian's sudden miraculous resurrection, he actually joined the New Church of Light as a pastor, trying to learn and practice healing by miracles. He often went to hospitals and critical condition patients to pray for them. Sadly, despite his efforts, a lot of these patients successfully died.

Remian's Mom was named Lisa Vin. She was also a teacher, except that she had refused to retire despite her age. She had been many things in life, from a factory worker to a delivery girl to an office clerk to a bank teller to the firebrand speech-giver at the Maelstrom Straits International Canoe Marathon. The one field she never wanted to work in was medicine; she hated and feared needles, especially since she sometimes needed to get poked by them. One of her obsessions in life was alternative health lifestyles, including health diets, new experimental health products sold directly by friends and never in shops, sleeping and waking up early, and cultivating spiritual power in order to cut down on medical bills.

Remian had three younger siblings. The eldest was Sabriane, a fifteen year old sister who wore heavy make-up. Other than too many pimples for her make-up to hide, she actually seemed to be the healthiest of the siblings. She had an interest in interior design.

The next oldest was Darian, an eleven year-old brother who seemed to be trying to collect ants in a gourd. His eyes positively lit up when he saw Carrie, and Vigil running around his mother's paws. He hesitated, caught between leaping at them joyfully and behaving politely in front of his brother's friends.

The youngest was Eriane, a seven year-old girl who did not in any way hesitate to jump at the wolfcats. "So CUTE!" she shrieked, grabbing up Vigil instantly. "I want one! Can I keep him? Can I? Can I?"

"I know, right? Right?" Mindy nodded enthusiastically.

"Not helping!" Remian groaned. "Eriane, they're Wilds. They're not kept by anyone. They own themselves."

[That!] Carrie agreed firmly, but the newcomers didn't seem to hear her.

Remian made introductions all around as they settled in to rooms on the next highest floor of the Guild. After they all went up and the Guild Hall settled down some, Asda turned to her mom and said, "Who do you favor?"

"Darian." Her mom said instantly. "He's around the same age as you. You would go well together."

"But from the looks of it, Remian isn't going to last much longer. Darian won't have enough time to grow and mature. I don't think he's suitable to take over." Asda shook her head. "I think Sabriane is the one to support. She's the natural choice after Remian goes. She does seem like a responsible girl. If we get close to her now, we could stand to gain a lot."

"Maybe. Or maybe we should target Eriane. She's still young and teachable. She would be easier to advise."

A low growl sounded from the side. Asda turned to see Carrie glowering at them in an unfriendly manner.

"Hey, don't be like that. We're just… talking. We don't mean anything bad." Asda said defensively.

Carrie snorted. She didn't seem to believe them.

"Yip." Vigil actually seemed to be laughing at them. But that couldn't be the case. Could it?

Actually it was, but within the walls of the Guild Hall, only four people and Carrie knew it for sure.

[Such scheming people! Already trying to pick who replaces you!] Carrie sniffed from downstairs.

Three floors above her, Tim laughed softly. [Didn't anyone tell them? Remian already picked George.]

[There's no need to pick anyone. Remian's not going anywhere for a very long time yet!] George insisted firmly.

[I'll second that. We'll save him.] Mindy agreed.

[Guys…] Remian sighed. [I'm bringing my family here so they could have a better life, not to replace anyone. Fresh air, healthy food, less stress… I want to lighten their burdens, not increase them. Don't give them any responsibilities for the time being. Let them settle in first, make friends, get comfortable with the environment, and play around with missions in the Adventurers Guild. No commitments, no positions, no burdens. Not yet. Got it?]

[Yep.] Mindy, Tim and George agreed.

[But you are intending your parents to teach, right? I'm guessing some sort of school.] Tim mentioned.

[I think your brother is going to love the Feelo-wasps.] George added.

[Phoebe and Lydia could probably use some help setting up the hospital. Isn't Sabriane some sort of expert on interior design?] Mindy asked.

Remian let out a long, long sigh.

***

Three days later, Damien and Lisa Vin were negotiating the construction of a schoolhouse with Arnold and Andros. Sabriane had practically moved in with Lydia and Phoebe at the new hospital as they set it up with a crew of ten. Darian had made fast friends with the Feelo-wasps and spent all day out in the farm with them and other Wilds. He was already showing signs of being able to hear mind-talk.

As for Eriane, she mostly followed Mindy around.

Predictably, the first thing that Mindy did was to teach her about airships. But Eriane wasn't too interested in those. The thing she was interested in was the control of airships, most specifically wind magic.

It turned out, she was also interested in water magic. And earth magic. And life magic.

"You may as well just join the Adventurers Guild. They teach all the basics of magic there, starting from scroll-casting." Mindy advised.

But there was a snag.

"If you want to be an Adventurer, magic alone isn't going to be enough!" Max told her. "You also have to learn wilderness lore, tracking and trapping, how to hunt, and yes, you're going to need to learn how to use a weapon."

"A weapon?" Eriane was wide-eyed. Nobody ever asked the seven year-old her to handle a weapon before.

"Yes. Like a sword, or an axe, or a spear…" Max trailed off, considering Eriane's size and build. "Um… maybe a slingshot? Or a crossbow. Something long-ranged, I think. At least throw darts."

"Something long-ranged is good. I like long-ranged." Eriane said. "I want a weapon that can hit something very, very far away, with a lot of power, and without anyone knowing it's me!"

"That…" Max scratched his head, drew a deep breath, and closed his eyes for a moment. "There's only one thing we have that can do that."

"There's a thing!?" Mindy gaped.

"Come with me." Max said mysteriously.

He brought them to his room, his personal, nobody-dares-to-disturb-him-there room. He took out a long metal box from under his bed, and opened it. Taking out its contents, he showed it to them with swagger.

"This is the CU-T3R Sniper Rifle, the pride of the Libertaria Special Forces." Max told them. "It's one of ten awarded to the Iron Legion as a token of support from Libertaria. This is a focused runic cannon that combines the design and functions of a musket with runes for sound-dampening, projectile blessing, speed-launching, and durability. The ammunition have both sharpness and explosive runes inscribed on every bullet. We call it the Cutter Rifle."

"Wow." Mindy and Eriane were both suitably awed.

"I only received it last week, a prize for personal achievement in killing my 100th Tier 4 Wild in service and defense of the Legion." Max said, posing. "I… might also have exaggerated my part in dealing with a few Tier 5's."

"Since when did you deal with any Tier 5's?" Mindy blinked.

"Um… like I said. It's just stories." Max winced. "Ehh. Never mind. The point is, if Eriane trains really hard and becomes really good with projectile weapons like the crossbow, and hand-cannons and muskets, one day, maybe, MAYBE I might let you borrow the Cutter Rifle for a bit."

"Really?!" Eriane was jubilant. It was as if she already held the rifle in her hand. "YAY!"

Mindy had to grin. "Oh well. At least she won't be badgering anyone about owning a wolfcat cub for herself."