The snowmen had finally reached the rock in the ice room, and the ants were making another tunnel through the mountain. With all the ice gone, the ice room was warmer, and so the snowmen had to sit on the food to keep it from getting warm.

That made the snowmen smell like some of the foodstuff that were in the room. A competition for the nicest smelling snowman was held, and the children of the grotto all voted for the snowman who smelled of tea.

As a result, the other snowmen began to make him give them time to sit on top of the crates with herbs. But what the winning snowman did was not sit on the herbs, but rather sit next to them.

Around the crates, five snowmen could sit comfortably. Thus, the snowmen who didn’t want to smell that strongly of fish or meat sat by crates rather than on them.

To keep the ice room from getting any warmer, a four-leaf clover was absorbed into the walls and an ice enchanted stones were positioned at all corners of the room. But not in the tunnel that was being built, least the ants freeze.

With the more space came larger deliveries. Now there was a delivery for the orphanage every week, rather than every day, like it had been before. The children were happier with this new development.

One morning, as they were all decorating the surrounding trees with Yule decoration, the grotto got visitors. It was grandpa Thinker and grandma Thinker. The children were overjoyed to see them, and the two elderly people carried a sack with candy canes, from which they gave to everyone.

But the reason behind them coming was a business one. They had heard about the life-extending ring being mass-produced here, and they wanted to take the inventor under their wings.

Theanore was being held up by Crassus, so she could place the star on top of a small fir tree. When she saw the two spirits of Yule, she waved the star around like a flag, calling them over.

They made their way to her and Theanore placed the star at the top finally. Then Crassus set her down and she ran to grandma Thinker, hugging her legs.

“I have been good. Everyone here has been good. Did you come here to check us?” Asked Theanore, and the old grandma hugged her back.

“Have you been eating your greens?” Asked grandma Thinker with mock seriousness.

“I have.” Responded Theanore with genuine one.

“Have you been honoring your bedtimes? Brushing your teeth?” Continued the grandma.

“Yes, yes. See?” Said Theanore, opening her mouth to show a row of pearly whites.

“Well, young lady, you pass the check. But we came for something else. We heard that you can make life-extending rings now.” Said grandma Thinker.

“Not me. Elmar. I am certain, if you ask, he can make you one really quick.” Said Theanore.

“And does this Elmar have a home?” Asked grandpa Thinker. He had been wanting a child ever since he got married. He could adopt one finally.

“Yes. Right here. Just like everyone else.” Said Theanore, not really understanding the question.

“He meant if Elmar is an orphan, Thea. He is, and he is fifteen. You can adopt him if you wish, grandpa Thinker.” Said Crassus. It would be best if all the children found new families. Maybe he could have an artist make their portraits and hang them in Mirstone?

“That is precisely what I want to do. The lad is talented, there is no doubt. There is much I can teach him.” Grandpa Thinker laughed then. The sound was warm and good. Theanore smiled at it.

They went searching for Elmar and found him giving enchanting lessons to children. Grandpa Thinker observed as the boy enchanted a leather band with a thick skin enchantment, and the soil around the mana fountain cracked a little. This was an elemental mage, the spirit of Yule, realized.

Elemental mages were rare. One had to have a great understanding of nature, life, and death to be an elemental mage. Most were touched by a deity or a spirit. Grandpa Thinker wondered who was Elmar’s patron.

Elmar raised his head and stared at the two elderly people. He, just like any other child, had seen their portraits before in books about Yule. He bowed his head and the surrounding children followed his lead.

“No need for that, young man. We came here to ask you a question. Would you like to be adopted by my granny and me?” Asked grandpa Thinker.

Elmar was ready to jump with joy, but he stopped himself. Why now? They could have offered before when he lived in that old, gray building. When he barely had enough to eat or clothes sturdy enough to wear.

Why him? He could enchant, but he could do almost nothing else bar the basic stuff. He was no one special. This must be because of the life-extending rings, he thought grimly. As soon as they got them, they would discard him.

But there was so much he could learn from these two. They were the pioneers of magic, and they knew secrets that they hadn’t shared with anyone else. But would they share them with him?

“Can I sleep on it?” Asked Elmar finally, much to the amazement of the surrounding children.

One boy tugged his sleeve and whispered in his ear.

“You miss this chance now, and you may never be adopted, Elmar. Get this opportunity for all of us.”

But Elmar was unmoved. He wanted to speak with Hades on the matter. Besides, he doubted that his new parents would let him go to the forest of plenty all the way from Alerion.

“You can, young Elmar. Granny and I will be here to hear your verdict on the morrow.” Said grandpa Thinker.

Elmar returned to teaching his class, but he was bombarded with questions about why he wasn’t jumping at the opportunity. He only answered cryptically once:

“The dawn is wiser than the dusk.” And returned to explaining about the theory behind picking the right words for enchanting.