“A name decides the future?” Nova asked, having heard the telepathic conversation, “That is a lot of pressure. How are you supposed to know their future talents and dreams?”

“Why don’t we do your ceremony first and then see if we can find out some more about them,” Selina decided.

Nova frowned. “If it wasn’t for the communication barrier I don’t think I would want to participate in this ceremony of yours. Will it really enable me to use telepathy?}

“It did for all of us,” Selina answered, “Sanders hasn’t tried it but we are fairly certain Dorian is also from your world.”

“But is he a fira?” Nova demanded.

Selina looked at Dorian who shook his head. “Actually, something has been bothering me lately,” she muttered, “Have you been able to understand us this whole time when we were talking? We assumed since you came from another world the language would be different.”

“It was for me,” Dorian assured them, “Sanders has just helped, and apparently English has become somewhat popular there recently.”

“How would-”

“It is better if you don’t know,” Sanders interrupted with a smile, “Shall we get back on topic?”

“As forceful as the rumors say,” Nova scoffed, “Just what I would expect from someone famous.”

“So who would you like to do your ceremony?” Sanders asked.

Nova glared. “Can someone make him leave?”

Howard decided to take action and drag Sanders out so he didn’t have to get any further involved in the issue with the guests. “Why do you care so much if we find out about your homeworld and identity?” Howard asked him.

Sanders smiled. “Everyone has secrets, though this is actually something my… boss ordered. When I become a part of other worlds that have nothing to do with ours I have to change my name and follow the rules of that world as closely as possible. I have never been particularly talented at following rules exactly.”

“What would happen if your identity is revealed?” Howard asked.

“It is hard to say for sure,” Sanders mused, “but you saw how Veda reacted to seeing the smallest glimpse of who I really am. I suppose I might be feared as a dangerous monster, but more than that, if my enemies find out how much I like other worlds like this it wouldn’t be accidental.”

Howard grimaced. “And just how much should I be worrying about your enemies doing that?”

“Probably not much,” he said, “Most of my enemies are the frontal confrontation type. They would prefer to take me on at my most powerful and then they get mad at me when I hold back.”

“Most?”

“The rest are usually scared and hide behind that boss I mentioned before,” Sanders explained, “That is probably as much as I dare tell you.”

“And yet you casually bring plants from there over here?” Howard asked, “If I couldn’t guarantee that I can control them I would be concerned about them destroying the current ecosystem.”

“That was why I casually brought them,” Sanders replied with a smile, “When the day comes that you don’t need them anymore, they will mysteriously disappear. Unless you want to use tinsel as money for the rest of your life.”

“I doubt it will last more than a decade,” Howard told him.

“That fira was right though,” Sanders considered, “This really is a gathering of very special people. More so with our new guests. I imagine the other colonies will grow uncomfortable if they find out about the existence of a colony made up of light-haired people and red-eyed people.”

“That is entirely possible,” Howard agreed, “We still need a new form of weapons and I haven’t figured out the defenses. Do you really think the other colonies will notice us soon?”

“Nova said she had to trade with the other colonies for food, right? It is possible someone followed her from the last one because of the boy.”

“It would be easy to make the excuse that he was kidnapped or something,” Howard agreed, “but dirt is a lot harder to manipulate than I thought it would be. Every time I try to harden it, it turns into stone.”

“The plants would have softened it anyway,” Sanders pointed out, “How about hanging vines? You could make a dirt bet at the top of the stone wall and there are plenty of dangerous hanging vines that would ward both plants and animals off. Then in front of the wall, you plant something with thorns. Poisonous berries might help your case as well.

“That’s true. And if everything is in stone beds I don’t have to worry about infecting the water and confusing the fountain.”

“Jonathan has some specimens right now, I believe,” Sanders informed him, “I am sure he would be more than happy to help.”

Howard sighed. “I need to explain about our guests before he attacks someone in their sleep anyway.”

“Jonathan isn’t that kind of madman, but good luck,” Sanders replied and headed towards his house leaving Howard alone.

After a moment of watching Sanders go Howard headed to the secret entrance to Jonathan’s lab. Just after he opened it-

{I knew you people were hiding something suspicious.}

It was the white-haired boy along with both of his younger siblings.

{When did you start following me?} Howard asked.

{Just now. You guys were speaking in that strange language and staring at the wall. Then you split up. The first guy went to a house, but you headed to the cliff so we followed you,} the boy summarized. His younger brother had a remarkably similar glare, but the girl’s gaze was cold and distant.

{Everyone has their secrets,} Howard replied, {and this place isn’t safe. Jonathan lives here and he tends to be a bit-}

{Aha! So that is why you welcomed us in! You have a way to keep those with the bloodcry safely locked up!}

{I already told you it’s not the bloodcry,} Howard corrected.

{Fine, Dream. Red eyes are red eyes.}

{Oh yes, aren’t they fascinating?} Jonathan asked, stepping out with his own red eyes glittering, {But have you noticed how they are all a different shade? I have been investigating the meaning behind it using various experiments on myself, but Azul refused to participate and Leon won’t come near me.}

{It isn’t his eyes that makes Jonathan dangerous,} Howard explained, {You should leave.}

{If he is so dangerous what are you doing here?} the boy with white hair demanded.

{For business. I was hoping he could help me with the defenses.}

{Ooh, defenses?} Jonathan broke in, {What did you have in mind? We don’t have the materials for armed artillery but a certain amount of things can be substituted with Wisdom and Dream. I have discovered that Dream allows Alchemy and I can alter substances. Nothing as fancy as turning things into gold. I have managed the gunpowder James asked about and I believe I created the perfect material for crossbow bolts.}

{I was thinking more along the lines of poisonous handing vines,} Howard replied, {Something that would ward off predators.}

{Poisonous vines?} Jonathan asked with a wide smile, {I have just the thing. Grapes of death. They have exploding seed packets that look similar to grapes but explode when touched. That is how I made the gunpowder too. It isn’t the same we are familiar with, but I believe it will have the same results based on my testing.}

The white-haired boy was staring in shock. {You want to grow exploding vines?} he asked incredulously.

{Grapes of death,} Jonathan corrected.

{But what you just described is exploding vines! They are extremely dangerous and the big ones can kill people.}

{Big ones?} Jonathan asked, {And just where did you hear of those big ones?}

The boy took a step back. {The last colony. They supposedly grow around here, but their leaves are black instead of red.}

{Interesting. I will have to see if I can harvest some for you, Howard,} Jonathan mused, {I do hope you can make a strong enough wall. I could help you with my alchemy skills.}

{I think we should stick to the small ones,} Howard argued quickly, {We don’t want to kill visitors and start a war. We just want to warn them and scare them.}

{Boring, but fine,} Jonathan reluctantly agreed, {I will give you the one seedling I found. If you want more it will have to be harvested later.}

{I will come back for it when I finish the wall,} Howard told him, {but exploding things aren’t poisonous. Why did you respond like that?}

{Ah, the explosion releases a small cloud of gas that burns the eyes like a strong onion.}

Howard winced. {I will have to be careful about how I plant them.}

As he turned back to leave he saw his path was blocked by the three children. {I won’t let you plant those things,} the white-haired boy announced, {You are trying to make sure that we can’t escape this colony!}

{No, I am not,} Howard replied, {but we still need defenses. If you are insistent, why don’t you help me and make sure there are escape routes.}

{You can’t trick me. You are just going to fill them in later!}

{Between you and me, which one of us do you think would win in a battle of Wisdom? I am not stupid,} Howard pointed out, {I just want the colony to be safe.}

The boy looked guilty. {I guess I jumped to conclusions. I didn’t mean to threaten you.}

Howard felt a strange sensation and somehow a word, or rather a name, projected from his mind. {Denewulf.}

The boy froze. {How? You must be really powerful. We aren’t even near the fountain but you overwrote my name.}

{I did?} Howard asked. He watched carefully for the boy’s reaction but was surprised to see a smile.

{I like it. Somehow, the name has a warm feeling.}

The girl suddenly grabbed Howard’s hand. {Can you name me too?} she asked sweetly, desire clear in her eyes.

{I’m not sure,} Howard replied honestly, {I didn’t name your brother on purpose.}

{Then if I stay by your side maybe you will name me too,} she replied with a bright smile. The younger boy grabbed Howard’s other hand looking hopeful.

Denewulf smiled at the sight. He almost seemed like a different person. {Can we stay with you?}

{Wouldn’t you rather have your own house? With Nova?} Howard asked.

{I suppose,} Denewulf relented, {Then we will visit often. I need to help you with the defenses, right?}

Somehow his smile now seemed cunning.