doravg

A merchant stumbles on a grotto, lost. He eats his last apple. The merchant plants the seeds the next day to provide food for future lost travelers. 

And so, the nymph Theanore is born.

She would grow from a tiny seed to a splendid apple tree. She would meet many friends. Theanore will try her hand at being a merchant like her father. And she will get to know her lifetime companion, the merman Marinus.

But as every farmer can tell you, apple trees live only for about 150 years and so, with her tree dried up, so will Theanore die.

 But before that, she will live.

The Apple Grotto Nymph (Dungeon Core Fairy Tale)

We, the forest of fireflies' guardians, do hereby pledge our services in exchange for one enchanted item per day per member of the party…

"This is a robbery!" Marinus snapped. He placed a hand over Theanore's as she nearly signed the contract.

"We will provide the items themselves, kid," the mage said. She had already made the barrier and was now invested in the children's enchantment business.

"You will get one item per person per month. It is not like you need a lot to power up the barrier. You draw on the plant life around you," Marinus countered.

He had felt as if the barrier had taken root and could feel the magic in the air. The anchor, unknown to the mage, was Theanore's apple tree.

These adventurers wanted to pay Theanore with her own money!

"Look, kid, this is not a charity…" the mage hissed, but then Marinus huffed.

Chapter 28: The worried father