Aaron was surprised to find Jessica here with Lord Falkner of all people. then leaving with barely a word.

”why didn’t you tell me you are a godling we've been friends since we were kids”

“I’m sorry mother didn’t want me to tell anyone” some of the anger left her face but some remand

turning his attention back to the strangely burnt tree it had to have been skylight “but why not me? Is that why William is around here?” he only half listened instead circling the tree trying to find a clue

“what are you doing?”

“trying to find something” the ground seemed to be normal without anything abnormal. Maybe if I climbed on and surveyed everything around me? He jumped to reach a lower branch which fell and landed on his back which knocked the breath out of him

“Are you ok?” Jessica asked rushing over to him

“I’m fine” Aaron wheezed

“don’t exert yourself so much” dusting himself off inspect the tree where the branch broke there was a sparkle of something

“Hey William, come here!”

“What do you need him for?” William came over breathing hard “what is it?” “Can you get an ax and see what this is” showing him the small sparkle with Jessica looking over his shoulder he broke in a grin

“right away” herring off to their shed

“What's going on here?” mother asked “where supposed to be harvesting and you took all my help” looking baffled and angry

“Aaron found a sparkle In a tree” showing mother

“That's great, can you help while Sir William does this?” “I guess” Jessica sighed as I rested on the porch

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“I got something!” William cried coming over to them everyone crowded around me as he handed me a key about almost as long as my palm the the metal shown a brilliant steel color unlike anything he has ever seen but cool to the touch light and impossibly smooth

“is this what I think it is”

“just as I suspected celestial iron” William confirmed everyone gasped there's only one place to get celestial iron. the heavens. where the gods craft it and rarely give it to mortals everyone know nothing can scratch and have magic properties if he sold this key he could live like a lord

“do you know what this means” William want on “your father left you something very special now we just have find what it unlocks”

“if the key was in the tree then the chest could be anywhere” Jessica said she has a point something must have gone wrong in leaving it with mother because her shocked expression on finding the key means father couldn't have left it where he intended

“So where do we start?” Jessica asked, staring at the key in his hand. No one had any idea what to do next. We searched around the tree when mother found an odd patch of dirt. Mother got two shovels. Jessica and William started digging after a while and not hitting anything. I was worried then William called out and there was something metal but his shovel went right through it. They dug until the hole was six feet deep and five feet long and there was a chest in the middle but when Jessica tried to grab at it her hand passed through like it was made of mist. Getting in the hole myself as Jessica got out grabbing it was no good my hand passed right through as well. I stood inside the chest

“how do we get it?” no one had any idea. “William got out” after that he tried the key but it passed though it as well throwing skylight at it and then the key but to no avail. He climbed out of the hole defeated. Everyone left the hole in silence he sat down near the front door for a few minutes

“I’m sorry it was not my secret to tell you can tell who you want” mother said he was so lost in thought he didn't realize she was there

“Thanks and I’m sorry for not appreciating you enough. Thanks for your help in everything” she beamed at him wiping the sweat off her brow then. went back to work Jessica went back to her home William left with a bow a bow! Mother fetched him some water before he went. the sun was beginning to set mother and me sat there silently watching

“I can’t believe it we can’t touch it” mother sounded troubled “at least we got half of the harvest in our storehouse” “my shoulder seems to be getting beater” Aaron added

Mother then looked at the rain clouds over us and just nodded. Something just occurred to me the night of the dead is here in two days. I forgot! the night of the dead where spirits wander the mortal world so they can either help loved ones in small ways or get vengeance where death is at his weakest but if you wear a mask they can’t hurt you. If they can’t recognize you. Mine broke last year, I’ll have to get a new one.