Master Of None

Walker headed towards Lisa's room. He had the fact that the party needed some modified water proof gear for traveling in the pouring rain. However, he was also interested in spending some quality time with his little sister. He had focused so much on the party and growing stronger that he had neglected to take some time for his family. It didn't help that he had been caught up in the healing efforts at the cathedral along with spending time with Alice. 

He approached the door worried that he would be waking her, however, he could hear that there were scissors cutting fabric inside. With a knock on the door, Walker heard that the cutting stopped and footsteps approaching. As the door swung open, Lisa's face showed a brilliant surprised smile. 

"Brother! What are you coming here for? Don't you need to train for your quest?" Lisa had been hard at work herself wanting to reach a higher level in her own system. If she could level up as a seamstress she could constantly make better and stronger clothing for her bother's party. She would also one day be able to provide money for the family while they were out hunting. 

She knew that she didn't need to work for gold but she hated the idea that she would not be contributing when everyone else seemed to be. Eleven Su's parents managed the estate and helped to keep everything clean. "I couldn't leave for another month or more without spending some time with you. What kind of older brother would I be if I didn't? Not to mention I also have a challenge for you, are you up for an order?" 

Hearing what Walker said Lisa became much more animated. Not only did she get to spend time with her brother for some sibling bonding, but she was also going t have an order she knew would be helping them. She could not contain herself and started to bounce on her feet waiting to hear more. 

"We have to travel in a lot of rain and that means that we will be soaked the entire time. I had hope that you could make us some water proof anything to maybe save our feet and bones from freezing." Lisa looked at Walker intensely while she brainstormed ideas. 

A look of enlightenment came to her as she started to rush around the room for small pieces of wax. "This is the perfect solution. You won't need new clothing or anything to wear extra. Just get everyone's winter gear I made and  boots so I can make them water proof." With his orders, Walker headed out and managed to get everyone's traveling gear. 

Most of his party members were relaxing on the rainy day and spending time with their parents as well. Remey was gearing up to go to the orphanage one last time before they left, Walker was lucky to catch her and ask for her boots at the last minute. She had not seemed too happy switching to her old pair but when she heard that the agility boosting boots she had gained from the ancient ruins were going to be properly water proofed she became much brighter. 

Since Remey had finished her antidote potions earlier in the morning to free up her time she also promised that on her way home she would get something special for dinner. Walker did not disagree at all with this since he knew his mother would be excited for the help, even if it ended up being something small. 

Carrying all of the gear in his hands along with the boots Walker looked like a living ball of laundry. When he burst through the door Lisa jumped up and was about to throw her scissors at him before she realized it was him. "You scared me half to death Walker. What if I have thrown these at you!?" 

Come on, you wouldn't have hurt me, you are too adorable to hurt anyone." Walker tried to talk Lisa down so she wouldn't be too annoyed with him for his loud entrance. Walker placed the gear and boots on the table looking at the pieces of wax that Lisa had gathered up. 

"So here's the plan, we need to heat up these extra bits of wax in to a hot thin liquid. I save all these from making water proof thread for this reason. Then we will add some natural oils that will help it bond to the fabric. The next step will be completely coating the outside in a very thin layer of wax. It is kind of hard to do because if it is spread too think the fabric won't be able to absorb it and you will just have a crumbly wax mess." She held up a large metal bowl resting it on a piece of blackened wood. "Now get some of that fancy fire magic, I want all of this melted while I prepare the clothing." 

Walker had never seen his sister in her work mode. He swore that she was a completely different person. This change must have begun when she got her first quest and just kept building until she was an intense worker always striving for improvement. 

Lisa was pulling out wire molds that she put the gear on, they were similar to mannequins but made of wire so the gear could be easily adjusted and sewn. She had enough to set up everyone's gear separately. "Walker throw your boots to me and hurry up with the way!." Her shout gave him no means to argue and he again did as he was told. 

She even set up the boots with some pieced of rounded wood so they were bent like someone was wearing them already. It was a trick he had not thought that a seamstress or even a cobbler would use, mostly because he had little to no experience in the techniques they would use. He made himself a promise to learn some extra trade skills when he had time, they could come in useful one day. 

She started to add bits of thread to the joints in all of the clothing making them seem even tighter. This would tighten the spaces between the seams making them less likely t allow water within. This would keep them all drier in the long term travel. 

Getting all the way to the forest was the problem when it came to the rain. There would be no way to block the downpour and the party would take all of it upon themselves. When they entered the forest there were the benefits of the trees which could block a lot of the falling droplets. 

Walker used one of the lit candles in the room to start his grand elemental manipulation skill. The fire in his hands was basically the same as the dark fireball but it was made of regular fire. This was enough to heat the wax in the bowel to the melting point. "Make it as hot as you can without causing it to burn. The thinner it is the easier it will be to brush it on to every single bit of fabric." 

Walker had expected Lisa to be in awe of his magic use, however, she was instead focused solely on the sewing she was doing. The smell of hot and nearly smoking wax filled the room, upon completing the first pieces of gear Lisa checked the viscosity of the wax. "Perfect, now I will add some mineral oils that will keep it stable and allow it to absorb in to the fabric better. I need you to do the mixing while I keep sewing. If you stop mixing the oils will burn." Her words carried a heaviness that he had not expected, he was more and more impressed by the minute.

He continued on with the wooden stirring stick he was handed while Lisa went to each of the wire mannequins in turn. She was speeding through the sewing much faster than anyone would normally. "Stay focused on the wax, it smells too hot." Lisa could smell the wax starting to smoke slightly and she quickly called for the adjustment. 

Walker had been watching his sister work and couldn't help but wonder what kind of skills she had developed that let her flow through every stitch with such speed. After another half hour, Walker could see that the oils Lisa had added were completely incorporated and had become a perfect emulsion. Lisa had also finished up the sewing. She had taken one of the larger needles and added to the places where the laces joined the boots. The new look was one that seemed much more closed and stable. The technique was not one that only a cobbler would have but also one that a seamstress would have, Walker was interested in seeing this overlap of skills. 

"Alight let the wax stay at that temperature so I can get a brush." Lisa had a set of brushes she had invested n recently started away in a tool drawer. She grabbed three that were ideal for the job and focused back on the task at hand. She dipped the largest in and started to evenly brush the wax in to the largest areas of the gear. Her brushstrokes were definitely imbued with mana that Walker could easily sense. This was definitely adding to the water proofing technique and would lead to a better product. Walker was amazed all over again by the skills his sister knew. 

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