"Tom, how old are you?"

It was a random question. It took Tom a moment for him to process the fact that Xaerv had broken the silence to ask such a pointless question. Then again it was Xaerv. Even on a good day like this all his screws weren't quite there. On the other side Xaerv had been curious for some time. Tom looked very young, but not as young as the smallest children he had seen in chaotic. Yet at the same time he had an air about him that was knowledgeable, almost adult-like. At times he seemed very grown up, far too much than what his height and youthful aura should have portrayed.

"Fifteen years..." Tom strained, sitting down the heavy crate he was carrying. "Why do you ask?"

"Curious." Xaerv replied tracing the boy with his crimson eyes. "How long is a year?"

"Three hundred and sixty five days, plus one day for every four years." Tom explained as he collected another crate.

"How long is that in sulhns?" Xaerv inquired.

Tom paused for a moment. That was a good question, one he hadn't bothered to calculate before. Setting the crate down he leaned against the case trying to think.

"How long is a sulhn?"

"One hundred and eighty three days, but we add on no extra days."

"Well, my birthday's still far off. That means I'm..." Tom took a moment to work out all the math. "Around thirty-one sulhns, give or take a month . Wow, I sound so old."

Tom continued to move boxes of battle gear. Xaerv gave the boy a strange look. With a flick of his wrist a wind swept past Tom. All the boxes that surrounded him were lifted off the floor and put in their rightful place on the shelves. Tom nearly fell over as one of the heavier crates was taken from his hands and his balance thrown off. He smiled as he stretched his sore back.

"Thanks Xaerv." He said looking at the neatly organized shelf.

A stern look grew on Xaerv's face.

"You're too young to be about without a caretaker. You should not be working for Bodal."

Tom looked at him confused.

"Xaerv I'm fifteen, sixteen in a few months. Back home I had a part time job and I don't see why that should change here."

"Because you are only thirty-one! Most child are not allow work until they are in their forties!" Xaerv argued.

"Well humans are considered mature at eighteen years, sixteen if they prove themselves able. I think I'll be okay." Tom scoffed as he collected a clipboard from the shelf.

Xaerv did not ease up. He seemed very upset over this matter.

"Creatures are not mature until they are at least fifty sulhns. This is after they start an apprenticeship and finish their schooling. You should be in school by the way."

"Back home I am in school Xaerv. I'm in my tenth year, eleventh if you count preschool."

Tom began to go over inventory. Xaerv stepped in front of the shelf. Clearly he was shocked by something the boy had said. Tom rolled his eyes seeing the conversation was not over.

"Wait, so they send babes to school?! When you are no more than..."

Xaerv used his fingers trying to count back from fifteen. He never was very good at math. Tom set past him and continued to inventory. Xaerv jumped back into his way once he got the answer

"Four!"

"Five Xaerv," Tom huffed. "I started school when I was five years old. School starts in fall and my birthday is in spring. I don't gain another year until school is almost out. By school code, technically I was six years old because you have to round up the age to six before you can be admitted into kindergarten."

"But that means you were only twelve sulhns! At most!"

Tom was starting to grow annoyed.

"Yes Xaerv." He said with a slight hiss. "Humans mature faster because we don't live as long."

Tom moved on to a different row. He hoped to give Xaerv the hint that he wanted to be left alone. Perhaps he wasn't clear.

"That's sad." Xaerv commented rounding him again. "How long do you live?"

Tom sighed and pinched the bridge of his noise.

"About eighty years, sometimes more if your from a wealthy family, sometimes less if your from a poor one. Though death isn't that easy to calculate." Tom answered solemnly before returning to inventory.

"Ah! Creatures out live two centuries with ease. That explains why you age so quickly."

And the prize goes to... Tom thought

"Xaerv!" A shrill voice snapped.

Tom looked up to see Bodal standing not far off. He carried a torweg by the strap. Tom had never been so relieved to see the short creature in all his life.

"Your torweg is repaired. Take it and kindly leave my staff alone." Bodal said tossing the battle gear to Xaerv.

"But I-"

"No buts!" Bodal said firmly. "Back to the storm tunnels with you."

Tom slipped off and returned to inventory. He would not be caught in the wake of Bodal's anger should Xaerv decide to annoy him further before he left. It was not long after Xaerv disappeared that Bodal's voice rang out again. This time in a calm tone, slightly more patient, radiating with authority that didn't need to be forced.

"Thomas..."

And I'm in trouble. Tom thought dragging himself back to Bodal.

There was no doubt the arsenal clerk was disappointed that Tom was once again wasting HIS time chit chatting with the random creatures that passed through. Tom immediately tried to appease him.

"I got all of the crates loaded on to the shelves like you asked. I'll also have the inventory finished in a few minutes."

"Don't bother." Bodal said plucking the quill and paper from Tom's hands. "I'll do it. Just go on."

Tom wondered if this was Bodal's subtle way of firing him for the day. He knew that Bodal would never, and to some extent couldn't, fire him. But there were time Tom's attitude tried his patience and he would send the boy off until he had a greater need for his assistance. Tom felt slightly disappointed in himself.

"Oh, alright then."

Tom started to walk off. Bodal glared at him and let out a slight cough.

"Ah hem. The door is the other way Thomas." He said sternly.

"I know, I was going to get those scrolls from your study. You do still want then translated and copied before your next lesson don't you?"

"I do, but that can wait. Now go on, it's a beautiful day outside."

Bodal turned back to the case of battle gear and paused before adding on another comment.

"A little sun and fresh air is good for your health. I've heard taking a day now and then can do wonders for extending someone's life."

Tom cocked an eyebrow in a quizzical fashion. Coming upon the realization a thin smirk grew on Tom's face.

"Aw, if I didn't know better, I'd think you cared." Tom quipped.

"Then it's a good thing you know better." Bodal said eying the boy over his shoulder. "Now go on. Unless you'd prefer to help Olkiex clean tar out of those jammed pyroblasters."

Tom cringed at the thought of slime-like goop out of battle gear. A task that would be delegated to him alone as soon as Olkiex discovered he had a helper. The boy quickly made a B-line for a the door.

"On second thought I think I'll get my bag and go out the shore with the others. I hear the weather's nice today."

"Sounds like a plan." Bodal said with a smile. "Now go see it through."

Tom disappeared quickly after that. Olkiex lumped in, covered in the disgusting black slime. He raised his soot stained goggles showing his displeasure.

"How come he gets a day off?"

Bodal huffed and didn't bother to even look in the engineer's direction.

"Because," He replied simply. "I'd sooner let myself be made a fool than outlive a child."

"When did you become the boy's keeper?" Olkiex smiled.

"Get back to work Olkiex. We're not getting any younger." Bodal said marching off.

Olkiex cleaned his goggles and walked back to his workshop. On his way he couldn't help but muse to himself.

"That we are not... That we are not."