Skill unlocked: Jumping rope.

Theanore the nymph has jumped the rope five times without tripping. This is quite the achievement after a week of struggle. Good job, Thea.

Level unlocked: Level 20.

Theanore the nymph has reached level 20. A true milestone. As such, she is given a one-time boost of a thousand mana, not to her regen, but to her reservoir. It may be a droplet in the sea with your current mana, Thea, but you earned them.

Here is the new selection of plants you can get from either grandpa Thinker or dungeon core Alina:

Lacebark Elm;

Coral Bark Maple;

Crape Myrtle;

Beech;

Stewartia;

Paperbark Maple;

Serviceberry;

Black Tupelo;

Winter Heath;

Redtwig Dogwood.

You can pick two, as there is no selection of animals for level 20. All of the above plants bloom either in fall or winter.

“Ok, Tania. Let us see. The Paperbark Maple looks weird. I’ll take it. And the Winter Heath looks pretty. I’ll take it too.” Said Theanore and two big seed bags appeared before her.

“Mommy, can I go plant them? Before the snow makes the soil hard.” Asked Theanore, but Esmer sighed.

“Thea, it is two weeks to Yule and three to New Year. The soil is already hard, dear heart. Maybe keep the seeds somewhere dry. Now, since you mastered this skill, how about mastering another? Like juice making or cake baking?” Asked Esmer, and Theanore perked up at that. To make things with her mother was like a dream come true.

“Let us bake a cake. Luca said he had never had anything sweet to eat before. He’ll love it. But, is it a real skill?” Asked Theanore doubtful. She had cooked before but never gotten the skill for it.

“It sure is. To get the baking skill, you have to bake a cake. To get the cooking skill, you have to make a stuffed chicken with rice. Once you get the hang of the system, you can get all the requirements.” Said Esmer.

“Stuff a chicken? Oh, no…” Said Theanore. Her Colorful Egg specters didn’t lay eggs anymore and the nymph knew they were endangered, but she had never thought that she would need to sacrifice one for a skill.

“Thea, chickens are food. I’ll make it ready for cooking, but there is no logical argument you can come up with for passing up such an easy skill and a level up. But we will make the chicken for New Year. For now, let us make a cake.” Esmer picked up Theanore and carried her, bags with seeds and all, towards the house.

This forest was better for Esmer than her dungeon of illusions. She hadn’t known how lonely she had been until she had been surrounded by laughter. By the house there stood Marinus, Luca, Nathan, and Danika. Esmer let down Theanore and watched as the little girl ran to Marinus.

“Mari, I leveled up. Now I have two bags with seeds. One of them is a maple which bark looks like curled up paper!” Said the girl excitedly. Ever since Marinus had taken so long to come back, the little girl was almost protective of him. She wanted to share everything with him. Esmer smiled at that.

“Danika, Nathan. To what do we owe the pleasure?” Asked Esmer. Nathan pulled out a rolled parchment and gave it to Esmer.

“I think that Crassus should be here too. He is the legal guardian of the children.” Said Nathan as Esmer scanned the content of the parchment.

“You want us to run an orphanage?” Asked Esmer, the refusal on the tip of her tongue.

“I can have more friends? Mommy, please say yes!” Said Theanore as she jumped up and down. Esmer sighed. The forest and the surrounding land were both Theanore’s. Her agreeing would be only a formality.

“Do you have a plan how to supply the camping site with necessities for the children?” Asked Esmer. Danika nodded.

“We will run deliveries, covered by the state. The orphanage is not going to get a cut in funding or a change in status. It would simply be relocated. Permanently, if you all agree. The matron has already agreed to let the kids come over for Yule.”

Theanore had written a two pages long letter to the matron, begging her to let the kids come. She had even included some paintings of the camping site and the petting zoo.

“Where is father, mommy?” Asked Theanore. Esmer let her mana scan the forest and found Crassus fishing in the pool cavern. Esmer told Theanore that, and the nymph rushed inside the house and then through the hidden tunnel.

The tunnel was not needed anymore, for the dungeons on the peaceful list were seldom raided. Still, Crassus didn’t want to uncover the entrance. The quick shot raspberry had crawled over the wall, and it was easier to keep the grotto warm with a walled in entrance.

With a fishing rod in hand, Crassus stood by the water, and he thought on what he was going to get the children and Esmer. Maybe he would make them a wood carving? Something the entire family liked. The murder muffins, perhaps?

He was taken from his thoughts when he heard running. He saw Theanore, who was beaming at him.

“Did you level up, Thea?” Asked Crassus, and Theanore nodded.

“Father, Danika and Nathan want us to welcome the orphans here in the camping site. Can we? Please.” Theanore had moved closer to Crassus so that she could sit next to him.

“Are the deliveries of food and clothes covered?” Asked Crassus, mirroring Esmer’s concerns without even knowing it.

“Yes. By the Mirstone publishing house. It would be so good to have more friends.” Said Theanore wistfully. Crassus knew he couldn’t refuse. Besides, if the forest of fireflies became an orphanage, then no one was going to ever raid Theanore’s dungeon. It was a great fear for him.

“Ok, you have my permission. Tell Danika and Nathan that they are invited for Yule. We will need to go shopping at Mirstone. Run off now, Thea.”

Theanore hugged Crassus, and she ran out to give the two editors the good news.