Welcome to Gaia! ::

Earendil knelt down to examine the earring. Indeed, it was very pretty, and it didn't surprise Earendil that Miyuki liked it.

"That is a nice one," he agreed. "A very nice one indeed."

He smiled and kept looking at it, waiting for her to ask if she could have it - as she almost certainly would.

Earendil smiled at Miyuki. "Well," he murmured softly, "do you remember earlier, when we were talking about jewelry, and we talked about your mother's necklace? How she got it when she finished some of her training?"

In a manner of speaking.

"What your mother and I were thinking was that we could get something for you - this, then - when you've completed a bit of your own training," he went on. "Perhaps, say ... when you've learned enough of the blade to actually use a real one instead of a wooden one? Do you think that's fair?"

Earendil smiled and hugged Miyuki tightly. He could tell from their training sessions that it really wasn't her 'thing', but perhaps this would help her a bit. It was important, since they were doing so much traveling anyways. And he was proud of her for agreeing - even if the look in her eye didn't match her seeming willingness to go along with his decision.

She was growing up quite quickly, even if not physically.

"Then we'll leave it for now," he murmured, standing again, "and see if we can't find the candy shop. How does that sound?"

Earendil chuckled as they headed once more into the street.

The next few shops were more administrative businesses than anything else, so they passed them over. To the end of the street, there was no candy shop. But on the next street - there were the shops for the children: candy and toys and scrolls and so on.

Many of the children of the city were on that street, and the reason was clear - the new playground was situated at the far end of it, in a large park, and the children were taking a break from their playing to window shop in the new stores.

The candy shop was past the scroll shop, but Luk slowed when he saw Miyuki looking at the scrolls with seeming interest.

"You like scrolls?" he asked her, tilting his head slightly.

"Ah, I see," Luk smiled. "Yes. Books are much more sensible. They last longer, they can be made much more beautiful ..."

He paused and picked up a blank scroll, opening it and running one finger along its edge. "But on the other hand ... there is something to be said about the regality of a scroll," he murmured softly. "It just seems ... I don't know. Quaint."

He put the scroll down again, chuckling softly at himself. "You must think I'm crazy," he smiled at Miyuki.

"For maps?" Luk mused. "I don't know ... I'm not sure I would use either, to be honest. A good leather map would be my choice. No folds, creases, crinkles - and it will outlast any book or scroll, hands down."

They also took up less space and were less likely to tear or be damaged - leather was an amazing material.