The process of making a grindstone sounded fairly complicated. Surely there would be a better way to stick small rocks onto one big one? Serendipity glanced at Glory somewhat sceptically, but said nothing as she swept the stone back and forth against the blade. It took a while, but sloughs of rust began to come off.
She'd expected it to be shiny and bright, mirror-like, like the other restored weapons in the cave had been. Although the rust was chippy away bit by bit, revealing something underneath considerably more close to silver, it still looked dull and dirty.
Patience, Glory had said-- and he didn't think she'd have to spend too long on the knife. Not as long as she might have to spend on one of the swords down in tunnel J, at least. Still, even if it were going to be a long process, just the sensation of her arms wearing away, burning with the effort of grinding away at the rust, felt good. Right. Like this was what she was meant to do.
For a moment she sat in relative silence, aside for the screeching of rock against metal, of red-brown flakes peeling gradually off the blade. "Why not use water?" She eventually asked. "It doesn't look very clean and water might help to get all the rust off."
She lifted the knife, turning it in her hand, gesturing. "It, uh-- it's a layer, right? Of kinda dirt-like stuff? Water gets dirt off your skin and stuff," it was half a suggestion, but soon Serendipity was setting the knife back down and returning to methodically cleaning.
@Glory
Not if it's dried dirt, Siren wanted to say. She wanted to point out how, when you bathe, you don't dip yourself in water either-- you soak. It would be an experiment just for herself another day, however-- she was here to learn, not to try to correct.
She listened and she watched as she continued to slowly saw bits of rust off the blade, ears flicking-- "How does it do that?" She asked in response to the leather-soaked oil, blinking. She could understand how the stone would get things off, but not how something smooth would.
Was it like the hot water theory?
... why not soak it in the oil to begin with?
More experiments for later, she decided, as she set the stone down and picked up the soaked scrap of leather, striking it over the blade. She liked this a lot better-- it was quieter, and smoother, and it didn't feel as hard on her arms. But she'd probably get used to that part. A moment or two later, she picked up a smaller, finger whetstone and continued to grind the rust away.
@Glory
Shinier. Got it. She nodded gently to herself, eyes half-shut, as she continued to grind the knife down and down and down until the rust had gone, leaving a smooth, shining surface. She could almost see her face in it now, a face mauve shape speckled gold.
She looked between her knife, then Glory's sword, and nodded.
Though, at the mention of oil and fire, she had an idea. She jittered on the spot for a moment, tail lashing excitedly, as she brought herself up to her feet. "I gotta show Dread!" She announced very urgently, wide-eyed.
He seemed to like fire. It either got him very excited or very angry and she couldn't tell which, but she was sure as hell about to find out. "I, uh-- will be back later! Thank you for teaching me how to fix it!"
And then-- quickly, but unless stopped --she skittered out of the cave and down the narrow path.
@Glory
[potential exit unless stopped]