The children finished the cleaning… and were about to leave Kathy’s house—but not before devouring every single treat the sweet semi-human had given them. That didn’t even count the gold coins she handed to each of them with a knowing smile.

  Now the three of them walked through the village with their mouths full of orange-based sweets—a delicacy among delicacies, a true delight for their young palates.

  “I’m really hungry,” Mathias said, right as his stomach demanded food. His tail began to sway from side to side, almost as if it were warning him that it was time to eat.

  “Me too! Let’s go to Anita’s bakery!” Selestia suggested enthusiastically. “I want to try the new fruit bread.”

  Christopher and Mathias could have sworn a tiny strand of drool slipped from the elf girl’s lips.

  “Well, I want a shredded meat sandwich,” Christopher added, licking his lips. He knew the one Anita made was delicious… and he had no intention of leaving without one.

  “Me too! I hope it has spicy sauce,” Mathias chimed in again, his eyes sparkling.

  “You two are monsters,” Selestia complained, clearly annoyed. “Just think—Lady Valentina has to cook meat for you. You’re monsters! She must suffer so much having to prepare that.”

  “Actually, Mama loves seeing me eat everything she cooks,” Christopher said with a smile. “Including meat.”

  “So jealous,” Selestia muttered, frowning. “I’d love it if Lady Valentina cooked for me every day…”

  “Well, you are staying with us, so Mama will be cooking for you these days.”

  The beautiful elf girl’s face lit up as if she had just discovered the greatest secret in the world.

  Christopher and Mathias smiled, then immediately started teasing Selestia.

  “So, are we going to the bakery?” Christopher asked.

  He took the lead, and the three of them headed toward the bakery to enjoy a feast using the gold they had recently earned.

  ? ? ?

  Valentina let out what felt like her hundredth sigh of the day as she checked the village’s material stock once more.

  “We’re critically low on medicine,” Valentina said, lifting the sheet of paper to her face and covering it for a few moments. “We only have a handful of remedies left—some for poison, fever, and the flu… and a few to treat serious wounds… very few. Just those three there…”

  She was hoping Alexander would be able to obtain every medicine on a long, carefully specified list.

  “Oh, Gods… please, I beg you…” she murmured to herself, her voice heavy with exhaustion and deep concern. “Don’t let anyone fall ill—at least not until they all return with the medicine.”

  “Valentina, please try to calm down. If you keep this up, you’ll only stress yourself even more,” said the woman sitting at the same table.

  She was one of the most important people in Valentina’s life—truly important: Rachell León. She was also one of the very few who could call her directly by her name, without the honorific Lady.

  And even more than that—

  “Besides, if you keep thinking about bad things, you’ll just attract bad things,” Rachell added.

  “But Rachell… what if it happens?” Valentina asked, gripping the paper again. “What if something bad happens to someone?”

  She looked once more at the few remaining medicines. All of them fit into a single, rather small box.

  “We have almost nothing left… imagine if one of the village children gets sick, or if they’re bitten by something venomous… how would we treat them if it’s not enough?”

  “I know it’s a possibility—we can’t control children. But even so, you have to believe that everything will turn out fine,” Rachell said, gently patting Valentina on the head.

  She was one of the few people with whom Valentina could let her immature side show—where she could even act like a spoiled, needy child.

  “If something does happen, we’ll do something about it.”

  Valentina looked like a small child.

  “Rachell… give me some head pats…” she murmured. Her eyes grew watery, while a vein of irritation throbbed across Rachell’s forehead.

  “Valentina, it’s time to work.”

  But Valentina’s expression hardened slightly, and she looked straight at Rachell.

  “Rachell.”

  Rachell gave her full attention—though the cold words that followed made her uneasy.

  “We’re alone… don’t call me by my name.”

  “Ah…” Rachell’s eyes widened in surprise. Then she gave Valentina the warmest smile. “Sorry… Mom. Old habit.”

  ? ? ?

  “THIS IS SO GOOOOOOD!” Selestia exclaimed, stuffing her mouth as she took big bites of the fruit bread she had just bought. “Anita’s dad is a genius! Only a genius could come up with this recipe.”

  “I can’t argue with that,” Christopher said, taking another bite of the sandwich he had purchased. “But Anita’s also a great cook. This shredded meat sandwich is amazing.”

  Mathias was also enjoying his milanesa sandwich—though his was made with chicken. His feline tail swayed happily, radiating pure joy.

  “The milanesa sandwich with spicy sauce is the best combination that could possibly exist.”

  “The egg empanada with pesto and basil sauce is way better,” Selestia shot back, her face showing clear annoyance.

  The children kept laughing as Selestia continued scolding them over many other things.

  At last, they went from three to four—just as another of their friends showed up, as usual, accompanied by his sweet little sister.

  “Oh! Hey, guys. I haven’t seen you all day.”

  “WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU DIDN’T HELP US WITH THE CLEANING?!” the three of them shouted at him, their faces clearly annoyed.

  Meanwhile, Diana had already run over to hug Christopher tightly.

  “Huh?” Sebastián tilted his head to the side, trying to understand what was going on. “You know I’ve been busy with some things at home, right?”

  “Ah! Right,” the three said at once, striking their right fist into their open palm in a sharp, exaggerated motion.

  That simple gesture was enough to make Sebastián furious beyond words.

  The only one who kept smiling the whole time was Diana.

  ? ? ?

  “Valentina… I mean, Mom, it looks like the kids have finished cleaning Kathy’s house,” Rachell commented, taking another sip of the green tea she had just prepared. “Are you going to give them another task? Otherwise, they’ll start bouncing off the walls any minute now.”

  “Right…” Valentina murmured, once again straightening her posture into one more fitting of a ruler. She had been receiving gentle head pats from Rachell while reviewing a new inventory list. “I was actually considering sending them to the outskirts of the forest. I’d like them to gather some medicinal herbs, but…”

  “But you’re worried they might run into a magical beast,” Rachell finished calmly. “Maybe even another Alpha-class one.”

  Valentina sighed. The strain was already beginning to show.

  “I know my son too well… he’s definitely going to ask me to—”

  “Mom, we’re done cleaning! Could you give us another task? Like patrolling the forest and looking for medicinal herbs?”

  Rachell smiled faintly. “Lady Valentina, sometimes your ability to predict the future really surprises me.”

  “It’s not foresight,” Valentina replied. “I just know my son far too well.”

  The children—and even Selestia—began chattering at once, bombarding her with requests for new missions. Some were downright absurd: fighting another magical beast, hunting a Feathered Serpent, even taking down a Manticore. Every single suggestion was shot down with a firm no.

  The noise, the overlapping voices, the impossible ideas… it felt like her head might split open.

  Rachell winced sympathetically. Then she cleared her throat and raised her voice.

  “Children, please. Quiet down.”

  Valentina let out a small laugh. “You’ve still got your touch, Rachell.”

  “Valen—Lady Valentina is extremely busy right now,” Rachell said firmly. “She has a lot to handle and no time to waste.”

  “But, Rachell…” Christopher protested, using her name casually. He knew her well—after all, she was his best friend’s mother. “We want to do more than just clean houses. Send us outside.”

  “Lady Valentina, if you’d like, I could help you,” Selestia offered softly. Her eyes shone like stars. “I can read… I could help with your work.”

  Both women felt their hearts melt.

  “That girl is just precious,” Rachell murmured, gently tugging Selestia’s long elven ears.

  “I know,” Valentina replied with a fond smile. “Just imagine—Alexander wouldn’t even let me adopt her.”

  “Well… you can’t, in the end,” Rachell said with an awkward smile, recalling the scene. “She already has parents.”

  “Lady Valentina, maybe there’s a magical beast out there—one that only we can stop,” Mathias insisted, brimming with determination.

  The others nodded eagerly in agreement.

  Valentina smiled. At the very least, the children were full of life and spirit.

  “I’m sorry, kids, but we’re not sending you outside. I already told Sebastián—it’s too dangerous,” Rachell said, her brow furrowing. Then her expression softened. “How about another cleaning mission?”

  “W-WHAT?!” they all shouted in unison, outrage written all over their faces.

  “Clean another house?” Christopher pouted, crossing his arms. “Mom, you’re cruel.”

  “That again…?” Mathias sighed, just as dejected.

  “I wouldn’t mind,” Selestia said gently—though deep down, she hoped for something that would let her use her magic.

  “I like how energetic you all are,” Rachell said thoughtfully, resting her chin on her hands. “But you didn’t let me finish. This time, you’ll be cleaning the garden of one of the most important spirits in our village.”

  “WITH GREAT PLEASURE!” the three shouted, eyes sparkling and nearly brimming with happy tears.

  “You really are easy to convince,” Valentina sighed with a small laugh, returning to her paperwork.

  “All you need to do is go behind the Great Tree and remove the algae damaging the aquatic flowers,” Rachell explained as she took her seat again, teacup in hand. “Can you handle that?”

  “OF COURSE!”

  The children bolted off at full speed. The two adults exchanged amused glances, laughing softly at their enthusiasm.

  “They’re clever, but still so innocent,” Rachell observed, settling beside Valentina and setting aside the reviewed documents.

  “I’d hate for Christopher to ever lose that innocence I love so much,” Valentina confessed with a small pout.

  Rachell nodded, thinking of Sebastián and Diana—their smiling faces, their hugs.

  “I feel the same. I wish Sebastián and Diana could stay just the way they are forever.”

  She placed the papers neatly beside a family photograph.

  In it, Valentina and Alexander held Christopher between them, all three smiling with a warmth that seemed to fill the room.

  “Mom… does Christopher already know that I’m basically his older sister?”

  Valentina chuckled softly.

  “I promise I’ll tell him. He just wouldn’t understand yet.”

  “Then… will you tell him everything about how we met?” Rachell asked, curiosity softening her voice.

  “Yes, but don’t worry,” Valentina replied with a gentle smile. “I’ll tell only Christopher.”

  “I don’t mind my little brother knowing,” Rachell said lightly. “Honestly, I’d love to see Sebastián’s reaction when he realizes Christopher is his uncle.”

  Valentina chuckled.

  “By the way, Rachell… what about Diana?” she asked, giving her a playful nudge in the ribs. “Do you think she’ll take it well? After all, she’s in love with my baby—and with your little brother too, isn’t she?”

  “She’ll probably get mad first… then cry,” Rachell admitted with a fond sigh. “But I doubt she’ll really mind. In fact… I think she’ll like him even more.”

  They both laughed, until silence gently settled between them once again.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Rachell absentmindedly played with the papers on the table, torn between returning to work or simply watching Valentina.

  In the end, she made up her mind.

  “Mom… when will you tell Christopher that he…?” Her voice faded before she could finish the question.

  Valentina’s expression softened with sadness.

  “Rachell, my daughter…” she murmured. “He’s still very young. And right now… I don’t want to talk about that. Please… let’s change the subject. It hurts too much.”

  Rachell narrowed her eyes slightly, then smiled with understanding. She leaned against Valentina’s arm and hugged it warmly.

  “Of course. I’m sorry, Mom.”

  ? ? ?

  “It should be around here,” Christopher murmured.

  He stood by the edge of a small stream near the Great Tree, carefully parting the flowers that bloomed along the water.

  They were vibrant and alive, their roots spreading beneath the crystal-clear surface.

  “Don’t even think about pulling them out,” Selestia warned, shooting Mathias a sharp glare. “If you do, I swear I’ll rip your ears off, big-ears.”

  “I knooow!” Mathias complained, carefully moving the flowers aside again. “And you’re big-eared too!”

  “I wonder what kind of spirit it is,” Christopher said thoughtfully. “If it lives here, it must be small… but Rachell said it’s important.”

  Selestia crouched down, breathing in the delicate fragrance of the flowers while gently brushing their petals.

  “The size of a spirit doesn’t matter,” she replied softly. “Some are small, yet incredibly powerful. This one must be very kind… just look at how lovingly it tends this place.”

  “Rachell said it should appear around here,” Christopher added. “If it’s like the spirits in my mom’s garden, it should show itself once we move the flowers.”

  He did so with utmost care, Valentina’s many scoldings echoing in his mind. Not a single petal was harmed.

  “Christopher, don’t be rude,” Selestia scolded him again. “Those flowers belong to the spirit.”

  “Come on, great spirit!” Mathias called out cheerfully. “Come out! We want to meet you!”

  “Pff—”

  Selestia covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. Watching Mathias talk to flowers was ridiculous… and strangely endearing.

  —Splash—

  A soft sound rippled behind them.

  Before they could even turn, a clear, gentle voice reached their ears.

  “Children? Are you looking for me? Do you need help with something?”

  They turned at once.

  Standing before them was the spirit they had heard so much about—the guardian of this place.

  Her skin glowed with a soft bluish light, calm and luminous. Her eyes, clear as a cloudless sky, shimmered with gentle serenity.

  Her long hair flowed like moonlight upon water, brushing the surface of the stream behind her. Two lotus flowers floated at either side of her head, resting delicately against her hair.

  Her ears were long and fin-shaped, smooth and elegant. Lotus blossoms covered her slender form with sacred petals, lending her an aura of purity and quiet divinity.

  Her voice was as soft as flowing water.

  “Tell me, children… what brings you here?” she asked, tilting her head with graceful curiosity.

  “So beautiful…” the three whispered in unison.

  The spirit heard them—and smiled.

  “Thank you for the compliment,” she said warmly. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you.”

  The spirit woman—almost divine in appearance—approached them with light, graceful steps.

  “Is there something you want from me?”

  At last, the children managed to shake off the spell her presence had cast over them.

  “Ah! Y-yes! We’re very sorry, Miss Spirit,” Christopher said quickly. “My name is Christopher!”

  “Nice to meet you. I’m Selestia.”

  “And I’m Mathias.”

  The beautiful spirit looked them over from head to toe… then her gaze lingered on Christopher with particular curiosity.

  “You… Christopher,” she said softly, pointing at him. “Are you Valentina’s son?”

  Christopher nodded. “You know my mom?”

  The spirit let out a sweet, friendly laugh. When she looked at him again, her eyes narrowed slightly, filled with nostalgia.

  “She is my friend. Your parents brought me here and asked me to keep the stream that runs through the village clean and pure.”

  “Woooaaah.”

  The children stared at her in awe. Once again, they had stumbled upon something so incredible that it sent shivers of excitement down their spines.

  “You’re amazing, Miss Spirit!” Mathias exclaimed, bursting with enthusiasm.

  The spirit smiled warmly.

  “Please, call me Nidya.”

  “Nidya…” Selestia repeated, stepping closer, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, her fists lightly clenched as if trembling with excitement. “Are you a water nymph?”

  “Well… you look a lot like the drawings of nymphs I’ve seen in my books,” Christopher added. He glanced at Nidya once more, blushing slightly.

  It wasn’t attraction.

  He simply thought she was very beautiful.

  “But…”

  “Am I a little different?” Nidya asked with a playful smile. She gently patted Selestia’s head, then softly tugged at her ears before letting her go.

  She approached Christopher next and crouched down in front of him.

  That part of the stream was shallow—the water barely reached the children’s knees. When Nidya knelt, it looked as though the lower half of her body blended seamlessly with the flowing water.

  “Tell me, little Christopher… have you figured out what I am?”

  “U-umm…” he stammered.

  Her beauty overwhelmed him, clouding both his thoughts and the memories of magical beings he had read about.

  “No… sorry. I give up.”

  “Water nymphs are a bit different,” Nidya explained kindly, tilting her head. “They don’t have bluish skin like mine. I am a lovely Naiad.”

  A little egocentric? Perhaps. But who would dare argue with her?

  “Amazing—a Naiad!” Mathias exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear and showing his small fangs.

  Christopher sighed.

  “You don’t actually know what a Naiad is, do you?” he asked tiredly.

  A heavy bead of sweat slid down the semihuman’s forehead.

  Nidya laughed softly. Those children made her smile like she hadn’t in a very long time.

  Selestia stepped forward, eager to show what she knew.

  “Mathias, listen carefully,” she said seriously. “Naiads are water spirits. They can purify contaminated water. In a large lake, a group of them can make it completely drinkable in just a few days. They also get along well with other aquatic spirits.”

  Nidya looked at Selestia with genuine fondness.

  “You’re a very intelligent elf… it’s rare to meet someone who knows so much about my race.”

  “Yes, but…” Selestia hesitated. “If this is just a small stream, shouldn’t there be more like you?”

  “You’re sharper than I thought,” the naiad said, gazing briefly at the sky. “All my friends have left. I came to this village together with your parents, Christopher. They saved me,” she added, giving the boy a tender look.

  “How did that happen?” he asked.

  “It’s a long story… but yes, they saved me.”

  “But isn’t this stream too small for you to purify it all by yourself?” Selestia asked.

  Nidya smiled faintly.

  “I’m very strong, you know. It makes me a little sad that you don’t believe in me…”

  “I-I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to upset you, Nidya,” Selestia apologized with a small bow.

  In truth, Nidya had only said it to tease her. She enjoyed how thoughtful and intelligent the children were.

  “Hey, Nidya…” Christopher murmured nervously, glancing around. “You… you’re not going to attack us, are you?”

  The question made Selestia lift her gaze, a bead of sweat sliding down her temple.

  She knew exactly what Christopher meant. Naiads were known for certain… unsettling traits.

  “Why would she attack us?” Mathias asked, genuinely confused.

  Nidya looked far too gentle for him to imagine her harming anyone—especially children she had only just met.

  The naiad studied the two who understood the truth.

  “Elven girl… no—Selestia,” she corrected herself softly. “Do you know the answer?”

  “Naiads can be aggressive toward anyone who enters their domain,” Selestia replied seriously. “In this case, this stream… and besides, we touched her garden without asking permission.”

  Nidya smiled again as she rose to her feet. Her gaze shifted to Christopher, who hadn’t moved an inch.

  The tension broke the moment he spoke.

  “Nidya won’t attack us or anything like that… right?”

  “Ohhh? And how do you know that?” the naiad asked, clearly amused.

  “We were given the mission to clean your garden,” he said, pointing at the water flowers. “If there were any chance you’d attack us, they never would’ve sent us.”

  “HAHAHAHA!” Nidya burst into laughter, her long hair swaying from side to side. “I would never lay a finger on you, kids. Not on you—and not on anyone from this village. I live here too! And I like everyone, even if I don’t show myself very often.”

  She brought a finger to her chin, thoughtful.

  “Sometimes I come out to play with the children who go fishing… I only ask them not to dirty my little stream.”

  Then her expression turned serious.

  “But that kindness only applies to those who live here. If someone from outside invades my territory without permission, I’ll be forced to attack them.”

  “Of course, I won’t kill them—but I will hurt them,” she added calmly. “I don’t like strangers entering my stream. I don’t know if they’re clean or dirty people, and I won’t allow the water to be contaminated.”

  Selestia nodded, her eyes shining with understanding. She felt exactly the same way about protecting nature.

  Seeing Selestia hugging the naiad with pure devotion, Christopher covered his face with one hand in quiet resignation.

  “And… are you really strong?” Mathias asked, his feline tail swaying with excitement.

  “I don’t fight in close combat,” Nidya replied playfully, stroking the boy’s ears and instantly relaxing him. “My specialty, little and adorable semihuman, is elemental water magic. With it, I’m very strong—and my racial magic makes me even stronger.”

  “As strong as Lady Valentina?” Selestia asked in awe.

  Valentina’s mastery over water magic was extraordinary.

  If Nidya rivaled—or surpassed—that…

  “Could be,” the naiad answered with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.

  Selestia was utterly captivated. Mathias’s ears and tail twitched on their own.

  Christopher hesitated, then spoke with quiet excitement.

  “Hey, Nidya… could you teach us elemental water magic?”

  “Yes!” Selestia and Mathias shouted together.

  Nidya fell silent.

  She had never shared her magic with anyone before. But the image of those children calling her teacher sent a warm thrill through her spirit. She took a slow breath to steady herself.

  “With great pleasure, children,” she said at last, smiling with gentle warmth.

  “YEEEEES!”

  “Nidya! We’ll clean your garden as fast as we can—and then you’ll teach us water magic!”

  Christopher immediately started pulling away the algae that spoiled the garden’s beauty. Mathias and Selestia followed just as eagerly.

  Soon, the three of them worked side by side, restoring the aquatic flowers.

  Nidya watched them, smiling.

  Her heart trembled with joy.

  It had been far too long since she’d felt this happy.

  She gazed down at the water flowing beneath her and activated her racial magic, allowing the lower half of her being to merge with the crystal-clear stream.

  And, just for a moment…

  She allowed herself to remember the past.

  ? ? ?

  “I’m alone… all my friends are gone. All that remains of my beautiful lake is this small puddle of water.”

  She stood at the center of what truly was nothing more than a puddle—barely thirty centimeters deep and a miserable half meter wide.

  “In just a few more hours… my lake will dry up completely,” she whispered. “And I will die.”

  What looked like a tear slid slowly down her bluish cheek.

  “Friends… soon I’ll be reunited with you.”

  Her chest trembled with uneven spasms. Crying and breathing at the same time became unbearably difficult.

  She fell to her knees, stretching out a trembling hand toward the water, as if she could still hold it between her fingers.

  “I don’t want to…” she murmured, memories flooding her mind—days when her lake overflowed with life. “I don’t want to… I don’t want to disappear… Waaahhh! Don’t dry up! Please, don’t dry up! Hold on… just a little longer!”

  Nidya longed to reunite with her friends—yet at the same time, she wanted to live.

  She was afraid.

  She didn’t know what awaited her once she vanished.

  Fear dragged her into despair, and loneliness made everything a thousand times heavier. Day after day, she watched the remnants of her beloved lake slowly evaporate.

  Sadness and hopelessness struck her without mercy.

  Her life would fade along with the lake.

  That pitiful half-meter puddle was the only thing keeping her alive.

  In the end… she resigned herself.

  And waited for death.

  “According to the map, this should be a large lake.”

  A woman’s voice reached her from behind.

  “It seems the sun has evaporated it,” added a man’s voice. “What a shame…”

  Nidya turned toward them.

  What she saw startled her—a human and a beautiful elf, holding hands beside the puddle.

  “Love, look! A Naiad!” the elf exclaimed, eyes sparkling.

  The man didn’t linger on her nudity or her overwhelming beauty.

  His gaze fixed only on her feet—on the fragile puddle sustaining her life, which would vanish in mere hours.

  “You’re in danger,” he said gravely. “If that puddle dries up, you’ll die.”

  Nidya lowered her gaze.

  She already knew her fate. Hearing it aloud felt like a cruel mockery of the world itself.

  “Would you like to come with us?” the elf asked gently.

  Confused, Nidya looked up—just in time to see the man filling a cylindrical glass container with the water from her puddle.

  “That way,” he said, holding it up, “even if the puddle dries up completely, you’ll be able to keep living—if you come with us.”

  The container shimmered faintly.

  Her water.

  Her life.

  “But only… if you agree,” the elf added softly, extending her hand.

  Nidya frowned.

  “You’re mocking me… You just want to keep me trapped like a trophy in that horrible jar! I want to be free!”

  Her teeth clenched in rage. Despair, fear, pain—how could she not think the worst?

  “We would never do that,” the man said firmly. “We’re about to found a village where everyone will be welcome, regardless of race or origin.”

  Nidya watched them closely.

  The man squeezed the elf’s hand, tender and natural.

  She understood then—they were a couple. A human and an elf, united by a shared dream.

  “It will only be a few days inside the container,” the elf promised. “When we reach the place where we’ll build our village… you’ll be free again.”

  She extended her hand once more, eyes filled with sincerity.

  “We don’t want you to die. Please… trust us.”

  Nidya looked into her eyes.

  There was no deceit there—only a genuine desire to save her.

  Her gaze drifted back to the container. Inside it, her water… her life… still pulsed faintly.

  “At the place where we’ll build our village,” the man added, “there’s a small stream running through it. You’ll be able to live there with us. We’ll protect it. We’ll never let it dry up… and you’ll be free to purify it as much as you wish.”

  “Please,” the elf whispered. “Come with us. Don’t disappear.”

  Nidya could no longer contain everything she carried inside.

  Her heart—already shattered—couldn’t endure another fracture.

  She shed the last tears she had left.

  And with a plea born from her broken soul, she looked at them and cried out:

  “PLEASE… SAVE ME!”

  ? ? ?

  Nidya watched Christopher, his face glowing with childlike joy as he tossed bits of algae at Mathias.

  Selestia, on the other hand, quickly lost her patience. She raised her arms and scolded both of them with fiery intensity.

  Without a doubt… he inherited their way of thinking, Nidya thought—referring to the couple who had saved her.

  “Children,” Nidya called out with a gentle motion of her hand. “When you’re finished, I’d like you to clean the algae growing around my home.”

  “I live there,” she added, pointing behind her—toward a section of the Great Tree submerged beneath the water.

  When they approached the spot she indicated, the children discovered a small cave completely hidden beneath the lake’s surface.

  It looked deep. They could barely see a few meters inside.

  “Is this your room?” Mathias asked, already taking a step forward.

  Immediately, Selestia yanked his tail—hard.

  “OWOWOWOW! THAT HURTS! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?!” he yelled, flailing wildly.

  Arms crossed, Selestia glared at him.

  “You’re rude. How could you even think about entering a girl’s room without her permission?”

  Her words made Nidya’s eyes widen slightly in surprise.

  “That’s enough, you two,” Christopher said, stepping in to separate them.

  “Remember—she asked us to clean it herself. That means she gave us permission.”

  “Although…” he added, looking at the water, “with this much water, there’s no way we could actually go inside anyway.”

  A girl? Me?

  Nidya smiled—but not just any smile.

  It was one born of gratitude.

  It’s not just her son… Everyone here thinks this way. In this village, they truly accept all races. Maybe… it’s time for me to interact with others.

  She lifted her gaze toward the top of the Great Tree. For a brief moment, she thought she could make out a figure… silently watching from above.

  She couldn’t tell who it was.

  You should do it too, she thought gently.

  ? ? ?

  “Nidya is amazing!” Christopher exclaimed, shoveling a mouthful of rice and meat into his mouth.

  He chewed happily. His mother’s cooking never disappointed.

  After swallowing, he asked,

  “Why didn’t you ever tell me there are spirits in the village we can actually talk to?”

  He was clearly referring to Nidya. Unlike the others, she could hold a real conversation.

  “You never asked,” Valentina replied with a teasing smile.

  The small spirits living in her garden couldn’t speak, but they did know how to communicate.

  When they needed water, for example, they would flutter around Christopher, Valentina, or Alexander in playful circles.

  To most people, it would look like meaningless play.

  But to them—to Christopher, Valentina, and Alexander—every movement carried meaning. Years of living alongside them had taught them how to read even the subtlest gestures.

  “She seems like a very kind person,” Selestia said as she tasted the basil-sauce noodles Valentina had prepared.

  Her plate also held a salad of assorted vegetables, thin slices of apple and pear, and the steaming noodles releasing a mouthwatering aroma.

  “And she is,” Valentina replied. “And she likes children, so I’m sure she’ll get along very well with you.”

  “She’s amazing!” Christopher added. “I never imagined that little stream was a Naiad’s home. Although… that would explain why the water in the village is always so clean.”

  Selestia paused, then nodded with a bright smile.

  “You’re right! That means it’s thanks to Nidya that our river is so beautiful… and that the flowers and plants around the Great Tree are so full of life!”

  “In fact,” Valentina said, drawing a mysterious smile, “there’s another reason why the plants around the Great Tree thrive so well.”

  She waited eagerly for their reaction.

  “The truth is… it’s because of the spirit living inside the Great Tree.”

  Another secret—ancient and beautiful—was revealed.

  “WHAAAAAT?!” both children shouted in perfect unison.

  To Valentina, that sound was pure music.

  “There’s another spirit!? What’s their name? What kind are they? Why did you keep that secret from us?!”

  “Why didn’t we see it when we fixed Nidya’s room?” Selestia asked, puzzled and a little frustrated. “We were so close to the Great Tree… we should’ve been able to see it!”

  “The spirit living inside the Great Tree is quite shy,” Valentina explained.

  For a moment, the children lowered their gazes, disappointment flickering across their faces. They worried that, in the end, they might not be able to speak with it at all.

  “But don’t worry,” Valentina continued gently. “You just need to give it time… and earn its trust.”

  The children nodded, their enthusiasm rekindled—as if that promise alone had ignited a new goal in their hearts.

  “I understand,” Christopher said, setting aside his empty plate and turning to Selestia with determination. “We’ll try to talk to the tree spirit when we go back to Nidya.”

  Selestia nodded firmly.

  “Yes!”

  “Oh? You’re going back to her?” Valentina asked as she gathered the dirty dishes. “Will you keep cleaning?”

  “No! She’s going to teach us Water Magic!” Christopher announced, practically bursting with excitement.

  Of all the things he loved, few thrilled him as much as learning new spells.

  “Lady Valentina,” Selestia said respectfully, “I truly love learning magic from you… but being taught by a Naiad is an opportunity I can’t miss.”

  Valentina placed a hand on each of their heads, ruffling their hair with affection.

  “I hope you make the most of it,” she said with a fond smile. “You know how rare it is for a spirit to agree to teach beings of another race… so you’d better learn something, or I will get angry.”

  “Yes!” they replied together, brimming with enthusiasm.