“Oh, how are we going to reach level 1000 when we are still at level 300?” Asked Theanore after she was told the news. Her eyes were tearing up. She never thought that money would be the thing that stopped her from publishing her book.

“Look, kiddo. We at least know the cost of the book’s publishing now. We can wait a couple of years and try a different publishing house.” Said Lena as she placed a comforting hand on Theanore’s shoulder.

“No! We need to do our best.” Said Theanore, wiping the drops from her eyelashes. “If I can’t publish the book now then I am not a passionate enough writer. I will be a simple toddler! Toddlers give up when faced with a roadblock. I am more than a toddler! I am an n…”

Marinus pretended to choke and Theanore blushed. She really needed to stop nearly giving away her secret.

“I am a girl!” She said and both Larriel and Lena chuckled.

“You said it, sister.” Said Lena. “I suggest you and Marinus train on linen capes for now and make a golden ring for the Emperor when you reach level 1000. And we will need 100 mana crystals to deliver to the publishing house.”

Theanore pointed at the overflowing enchantment fountain and shrugged.

“We have more than that already in the fountain. Plus, we can make more. But what of this Kickstarter? Do the two editors need help?” Asked Theanore and Larriel shook her head.

“No. By the time we left they already had the entire publishing house as volunteers and donators. They have 100 gold coins between them, but they will spend it on the charity fair. For performers, games, and prizes.”

“Can we go to it too? To inspect it, I mean.” Said Marinus hopefully. For all that the merman acted more mature than his age, he was still a child. Jasper grinned at him and spoke.

“Why yes, of course. You will have to inspect all the games and toys. Plus, taste the foodstuff and drinks. Well, not the grown-up drinks.” He finished as he winked.

“And my plants? Did you get my plants?” Asked Theanore, remembering the second reason why their guardians were sent to Mirstone.

“Here they are. Plant them really quickly and get to enchanting.” Said Brandon as he handed the bag with the plants to Theanore.

Theanore grabbed the bag and rushed towards the cleared-out space next to the quick shot raspberry. Marinus followed her and only Crassus remained with the adventurers.

“I really appreciate what you do for my little girl.” He said. Then he pulled out a white stone. “But I feel like there should be no more lies among us.” He said, placing the stone between them.

“Lies? Are you not their father or something?” Asked Larriel, eyeing the stone of goodwill that was slowly absorbed into the soil.

“I am Theanore’s father, sort of. She is an apple tree nymph…and a dungeon core.” Said Crassus as the stone was finally absorbed. The stone of goodwill acted simply. When a secret was said, just as it sunk into the soil, then the people to whom the secret was told were forced to show goodwill to the secret teller.

They wouldn’t be able to act on the secret or share it. And they wouldn’t be able to do harm to the secret keeper or the subject of the secret.

“I see why you took such precautions before telling us. But, why tell us now?” Asked Lysandrus. Even without the stone he still wouldn’t have hurt the little girl. As dungeon cores go her dungeon was practically a greenhouse and a farm.

“Because I need you onboard fully now that grandpa Thinker is singling out my little nymph. He is a powerful enemy to have and I am but a weak merchant. Your barrier won’t hold him back. The apple grotto needs something stronger.” Said Crassus and he received thoughtful frowns from all adventurers.

“You don’t mean…” Asked Lena and Crassus nodded.

“Yes, a barrier of the open secret. One centered at the apple sapling from which Theanore was born. And I feel that the children need to know about it too. Theanore keeps giving herself away. If it is not for Marinus, you would have found out by yourselves.”

A barrier of the open secret was a secret barrier in which a secret was known by the citizens of an entire town or a village. Everyone had to lie about the existence of the secret and thus they powered the barrier.

“I suggest Mirstone. We can con the citizens into agreeing during the charity fair.” Said Jasper. “They will think it a game. The best lies stem from ignorance.” Finished the worker elf. His fellow adventurers and Crassus all nodded.

“Even grandpa Thinker can’t pass through such barriers. Only the ones in the known can. This means that after the fair you will have to remove your original barrier.” Said Crassus.

Lena raised her eyebrow at that. For a merchant, Crassus was very knowledgeable in matters of magic. She voiced her question and received a smile in return followed by silence.

Huffing, the mage agreed. A contract appeared and everyone signed it. There were two empty spaces for Theanore and Marinus to sign. They found the children planting the Ogre’s demise and harvesting the flowers for tea. There was a murder muffin there with them lazily laying on the ground next to the cactus.

“Children, I told our guardians the truth.” Said Crassus and both children looked panicked at the adventurers.

“They know that I am a dungeon core?” Said Theanore in a squeaky voice.

“They know I am a merman?” Asked Marinus, one hand on Theanore, ready to tug her back to the ghost aura’s protection.

“A merman?” Asked Lena and she nudged Crassus. “Truly?” Crassus nodded.

“Worry not, kiddies. We love you both very much and we will protect you from the evils of fellow adventurers, grandpa Thinker, and tax collectors!” Said Jasper, standing on his tiptoes to appear taller.

“Tax collectors? Really, Jasper?” Asked Larriel drily.

“They may not be a problem now, but we haven’t paid a single copper for taxes. They’ll search for us high and low, mark my words.” Said Jasper ominously. The two children gulped, imagining eldritch horrors after their money.