Diana and Dereck stayed up all night telling the younger children in their house about their first meeting with Theanore and Marinus. Dereck now regretted being so unfriendly during the first encounter with the two children. He listened to Diana filling in the gaps from where he had run off.

“And they do enchanting here. They have a mana fountain and everything.” Said Diana excitedly. The children gawked at her.

“But isn’t it too hard to enchant, Diana?” Asked one two-year-old. He, much like Theanore, couldn’t pronounce r’s.

“It comes naturally to these too.” Said Diana. “If we are good, perhaps they will teach us. Or maybe just give us the book they used to learn how to enchant.”

“Theanore’s notes would be nice. The book is probably a heavy brick.” Said Dereck. Diana poked his nose to make him go quiet again.

“Do you think they will make another charity fair? The performances were mostly free to watch on the previous one.” Said a four-year-old girl. She had full cheeks despite her time in the orphanage.

“Maybe, maybe not. They already took us in, and it would be too much to ask for more. Now be quiet, someone is coming.” Said Diana as she heard footsteps.

Claudia opened the door before the children could get to their beds and clicked her tongue in disapproval.

“What are you all doing up? Your noise is keeping the rest of the children up.” Granted, only the two houses nearest theirs, but those children generated enough noise to keep other children up and if Claudia didn’t put an end to it then all the children would be zombies come morning.

“We are sorry, Claudia. We were speaking about Theanore. Do you think she can teach us about enchanting?” Asked Dereck, hopefully. He felt it would be better not to be able to make gazillion enchantments like Theanore and Marinus. Just one was good for him.

“This is their main source of revenue.” Said Claudia. She preferred not to give hopes to the children, only for those hopes to be dashed. “But I will see if I can’t talk them into it. Now, off to bed with all of you.” She said sternly, and the children dragged their feet to their beds and got under the soft covers.

Claudia tucked them in and kissed each of them for goodnight. This had been one of the few comforts she, as a matron, could give them. Now, that they lived in a better place, she felt like she could give it to them with less guilt.

The morning after, the news that Claudia was going to speak with Theanore about enchanting spread like wildfire. Especially the older children were very excited as most didn’t have a trade and being enchanters could set them up for life.

Claudia felt the pressure of her children’s expectations. She approached Crassus again, feeling like it wouldn’t be fair if she went to Theanore first. Theanore was just a child. A good one, but she didn’t understand the value of the knowledge she had. Or of money in general.

“Crassus, can I speak with you? And with you too, Madam Esmer.” Said Claudia when she saw the dungeon core. She had been told that Esmer was Theanore’s mother, but she wondered how did that happen. All things considered, Theanore was a nymph and Claudia had even seen her apple sapling.

“Of course, Claudia. Let us go inside the house.” Said Crassus and Claudia and Esmer followed him to his house. This was the first time Claudia had been invited in. She looked around. It was a modest one-room dwelling with four beds, a stove, and a dining table. Still, it looked homey and clean.

“Some children want to learn enchanting.” Said Claudia, deciding to get to the root of the issue as soon as possible. “I know that will harm your business somewhat, but you did say you would teach them a trade.”

“Not his business, my daughter’s and her fiancé’s.” Said Esmer, brows furrowed. “I am certain that by trade, Crassus meant that they could become merchants and farmers.”

Claudia wilted at that. Well, it had been worth a shot. Crassus placed a hand on Esmer’s shoulder and spoke.

“I was thinking of having them attending the Mirstone mage school. They would have learned enchanting there anyway. Esmer, these children can’t remain here forever. New will be brought here, as much as it pains me. The children we already have need to be able to put bread on their tables.”

“But they must enchant only with mana crystals made by them. Even if they have to save days for one.” Said Esmer. With a single crystal, they could make something that was up to level 100 on the scale. That would make them at least one gold coin, if it was a single enchantment. Ten, if it was dual one.

“Some of the children don’t have enough mana to make a single crystal in a month!” Protested Claudia. Granted, these were the youngest ones and their mana reservoirs could grow with them, but not for quite some time.

“Enchanting is supposed to be hard work, Claudia.” Said Esmer calmly. “Let your children grow up a little before you make them learn a trade. They can remain here until they are eighteen, after all. Besides, there is nothing wrong with being a farmer. Especially since I will be providing the land.” Finished Esmer with a grin.

Both Claudia and Crassus looked at her.

“I thought your dungeon is a cave?” Asked Crassus, and Esmer nodded.

“A cave in a hidden valley. I have never allowed anyone to settle there, and so it is a lush forest. The children will have to tame it, but I will protect them if they settle down on my land. I will also make sure that they could trade for what they need.”

Claudia couldn’t believe her ears. She had expected for the children who become farmers to have to ask for work in the surrounding villages. But now Esmer von Kleindorf was offering to house them and give them property.

“How big is the valley?” Asked Crassus the question that even Claudia wanted to ask.

“Oh, bigger than this continent.” Said Esmer smugly.