Moon Dew refused a long-term partnership.
Angel was not surprised.
After all, Moon Bell and Moon Dew owed their very existence to the Flower Moon Fairies. Moon Dew could not possibly end that partnership.
At most, she could spare Juanjuan one or two Drunken Thorn Roses now and then, as she had this time.
Obtaining them in large quantities was all but impossible.
"I understand. I think Juanjuan will understand too," Angel said.
Moon Dew nodded lightly. Then something occurred to her, and she added, "I can spare one or two occasionally, but we still have to follow the rules. Your friend has to come to the Witch's Cottage and tell me stories first. I can't make Drunken Thorn Roses grow by myself."
Angel nodded. "I know. Those are the rules of the Witch's Cottage."
Perhaps their conversation showed Moon Dew that Angel's mood and responses had not changed at all. The awkwardness she had felt earlier slowly faded.
That was how children's feelings worked: they came quickly and vanished just as fast.
Before long, Moon Dew was her innocent, cheerful self again.
She began chattering away with Angel.
As they talked, Angel spotted the sign for the entrance to Rivet Street ahead. He paused and told Moon Dew, "We're almost at the Pointed Hat Magic Workshop."
Moon Dew's eyes lit up. "Great!"
She was curious about the items she could redeem at the Dawn Store. It even had magic! If that magic worked back home, could she slack off a little on the cultivation exercises her mother and the fairy sisters had left her?
At the thought, Moon Dew could hardly wait.
But Angel said seriously, "I should warn you: there will definitely be other people at the Magic Workshop. Are you sure you want to go now?"
"If