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Eli clears his throat and smiles, looking into Luna's eyes. Very, very gently he touches her mind, showing her the Russian countryside and a land where the story may or may not have taken place. The princess in the story bears a striking resemblance to Luna.

"Once upon a time in Russia, there lived a princess who never smiled or laughed. Despite her father's, the King's, best efforts, none could cause her to express joy in any fashion. He tried jesters, actors and fools from all over the land and beyond, but none succeeded. The King despaired of his daughter's melancholy and vowed that the man who could make her smile and laugh would marry her and be his heir.

Far across the kingdom lived an honest man who worked hard for his master each and every day. At the end of each year, the master would put forth a bag of money on the table in the shop and allow his worker to take what he wished. The honest, hard-working man was also very pious and did not wish to sin by taking too much, so he took but a single coin for all of his work for the year.


On the way home, the man stopped to drink at a well and his coin fell and splashed into the water. Unable to do anything for it, the man went on his way. The following year, the man was once again presented with the money and took, again, a single coin for all of his trouble. And once again, on his way home, he stops to drink at the same well. And yet again, his coin falls into the water, never to be seen again." Eli relates, showing Luna in her mind exactly where the man reaches just a bit to fall into the well and how the coin slides out of his shirt pocket and into the water, sinking into the darkness.

"The third year, the man once again takes but a single coin for his trouble. He does not want to lose this coin, but thirst overtakes him on the way home and he stops at the same well to drink. This year, however, something new happens. As he drinks, the two coins from his previous years float to the surface and he takes them back immediately! Now that he has money to his name, the honest man wishes to see the kingdom.

So, he travels along the road to the capital. Along the way, a mouse asks for alms, and the honest, pious man gives him a gold coin before going on his way. He does not realize that the mouse began following him. Miles down the road, a beetle asks for alms and the honest, pious man gives him a gold coin as well. He does the same for a catfish several more miles down the road, and they follow him just as the mouse does until they reach the capital." Eli says.

"Now, before you question it, the catfish could walk on its own. Do not ask me how. I only tell the tale. I did not create it." Eli chuckles.