Oh, the kids are here! Clare said, breaking off from her statue making. Kepler—

[I see them.]

Astrid, your friend is here!

The girl had just caught Puck and shoved him snugly into her mouth. [Really? Felix?]

Yep! Clare thought about telling her to spit him out, but decided it was too much trouble. The faerie squirmed against her adorable creation’s cheek, as if she were a chubby little chipmunk.

[Yay!] Astrid ran for the entrance.

[Is Puck… okay?]

He’ll be fine. Oh, no Celio today.

[Good.]

The party was instead made up of Ira, Father Silas, Felix, Septimus, Nova, and two unknown boys of the same age.

Kepler checked their statuses. [Hugo and Myles. No last name, so they’re also from the orphanage.]

Hugo was the tallest of the bunch, with a perpetually nervous look. Myles was, by contrast, shorter than Nova and broad shouldered.

[They’re actually a few years older than Nova and all, which explains why we haven’t seen them before.]

Astrid burst out from under a floor tile. [Hi!]

Hugo screamed.

There was an awkward pause. Puck squirmed in Astrid’s mouth.

“Hi!” Felix said, “What’s in your mouth?”

Pulling out the dungeon servant, Astrid waved him around happily. [This is Puck! He was being a brat, so I put him in my mouth.]

[You were being a brat.] Puck replied, sullen. [I was being funny.]

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“Boy, I sure wish you could speak human.” Felix said, having heard none of their exchange. “Wanna go exploring? I bet you know how to solve all the puzzles. Then we should spar!”

“Me too.” Septimus said quietly. “I’d like to spar, too.”

Nova snorted, “But we don’t help on the puzzles.”

Myles shifted uncomfortably. “We’ll come too, I guess.” Hugo shook his head at his friend desperately, obviously terrified of Astrid. The short boy paid his friend’s silent protests no mind.

“Okay!” Felix said.

[Okay!] Astrid also said, putting Puck back in her mouth.

They both nodded.

Nova giggled, and all the children began looking for the dungeon key. Ira helped.

Father Silas sidled up to the offering shelf and started unloading items onto it.

Spectacles? Oh, but they’re broken.

[With all the parts here, I can easily fix the design.]

Oh, right! And can’t we get normal glass from this?

[Easily, and aluminum, too.]

Clare squealed. The acorn caps have dirt on them! Your garden is going to thrive!

[Ah, yes,] Kepler blushed at her enthusiasm, [I’ll put the acorn caps under plant products.]

Oh? A paper flower! So pretty.

Silas added walnuts, a tiny sock, an old-fashioned pen, sand—and tiny flecks of seaweed—and even more candy.

Hugo cleared his throat, shifting nervously as everyone focused on him. He was crouching at the base of the statue. “Uh…” He held up a brass key. “Is this the way forward?”

“Yeah, that’s it!” Septimus said.

Felix cheered, and Nova joined in laughingly. Myles nodded at his friend.

“C-cool.” Keeping a wary eye on Astrid, Hugo trotted over to the door to the west wing. “Should we go this way, then?” He looked at Ira questioningly.

She nodded.

“You go ahead without me.” Father Silas precluded himself cheerfully. When Ira gave him the side-eye, he chuckled. “I’ll just stay here—I can leave if there’s any threat.”

Sighing, Ira nodded again. The kids cheered and rushed the door. Hugo kept ahead by throwing his lanky elbows liberally.

After they left, Silas brought something else from his pocket. “And I’ve got the good stuff.”

[Vodka.] Kepler identified.

“You wouldn’t mind reproducing this, right?” The old man wheedled happily. “Jove buys the high-end vodka.”

Clare scowled. That’s not happening.

Kepler stared at her contemplatively. She flushed hotly, embarrassed and angry and something else. Let’s, let’s just keep our dungeon G-rated—

She yelped as he grabbed her and wrapped her in his arms. [I haven’t absorbed it, and I won’t.]

Oh. Oh, I see.

Clare hid her face in his fuzzy chest. I’m sorry…

He squeezed her tighter. If it had been a real body, she wouldn’t have been able to breathe.

It was odd.

Because it made her feel better.

She didn’t notice Silas taking the unabsorbed flask back. Only noticed when he sat down on the tiles, looking thoughtful.

Kepler began to pull away, nuzzling the top of her head. She grabbed his ears, keeping him close. He froze.

Let’s stay like this.

[Alright.]