The Master Jeweller

While Luke was walking up the front stairs of Melinda's friend property, he couldn't help but wonder, what this individual looked like.

'A short, beardy old man,' probably he joked. What if its a big, strong, intimidating individual over six feet tall?

Melinda knocked on the door of the jeweler crafter's home. A medium height man of middle age opened the door. A few strands of gray hair were sticking out the top of his hair with a clean shaven beard.

He greeted them with a confident smile and invited us inside to a back room. The room had watches, pendants and other jewelry associated accessories adoring every area of the room.

He eyed Luke for a bit and then asked, what can I do for the lovely couple?

Oh noo, we aren't a couple they said in unison. With a quizzical look, Tim stated "He is a pictured image of the guy that you told me about, who keeps staring at you but never approaches you!"

Cough!! Melinda cleared her throat and then said awkwardly, it's a different guy. She continued, tell Tim why we are here.

Yes, Luke responded trying to clear the atmosphere and start anew, I would like a gold pendant, kind of like the one she has, to store this gem.

"So matching pendant's then, Tim asked?"

I guess, Luke responded handing him the purple gem.

"I can do that," Tim responded, looking at the gem. Would take an hour or two.

We will wait, Luke stated looking for a place to sit.

Luke looked around the room at all the adornments that were hanging. On a high shelf, in a glass case was a gold pendant with a green stone in it. The pendant looked old but the stone seemed magical. It was quite different to the gems that they had.

So did you two meet, Luke asked Melinda as Tim was in a far off corner making the pendant.

Melinda stared in the distance for a bit then she said, he helped me when I was in a dark place. Luke realized that he was touching a sensitive area of her mind and decided to change the topic.

Is there anyone that you could think of that….. we should talk too, he asked covertly so that the man would not be aware of what was being said.

She thought for a minute then said, considering that I have not been to classes today, I really have not seen anything unusual from anyone so far but I will keep an eye out.

I have been thinking, Luke stated as he watch Tim. What if he uses the ability?

He didn't use it when I handed him, my gem, Melinda said softly. It might be safe to assume that the first individual that touches it may have been bound to it. You can try mines, she said as she hand him her pendant with it remaining on her neck.

Luke made sure that Tim was engrossed in his work and then he took a pen from his bag and gently threw it onto the floor. He then tried to get it to return to his hand.

'Nothing happened.'

Satisfied, she asked? Yes, Luke said smiling at her.

As they returned to silence, an old picture of a woman caught Luke's attention. He moved in closer to take a look. Though it was quite dated, the eyes of the woman seemed kind of familiar. As he tried to focus on her face, Tim approached him and caused him to shift his attention to what he carried in his hand.

Tim stepped forward with a gold pendant with the purple gem in it. Here you are, young man.

How much is it, Luke asked?

It is a gift since you are friends with Melinda. They left the room and headed to the front door of the house. As Melinda walked ahead, Tim said to Luke, look out for Melinda. She seems strong outside but inside, she is fragile and if she breaks, she will lose herself.

"If you be her anchor, I am sure that she would be yours!"