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Stone in the shoe

When you were a kid, you lived with your grandmother in the small town of Silvertree, on the edge of a magical forest. Grandma is a witch, and she taught you how to use your magic to affect the natural world, too. “Magic is a part of you,” she always told you. “Learning how to use it means figuring out who you are.” Now you’re 19 and on your own. After years of living in the forest while you perfected your witchcraft, you’ve returned to take care of your grandmother’s house and crow-familiar while she’s gone. Figuring out who you are feels more important than ever - not to mention, figuring out what Silvertree is. A lot is just as you remembered: the friendly generous next-door neighbors with a kid just your age, the proud town council, the quaint little shops with quirky punny names, the gentle shadowy forest full of magic.

PlayerOliver · Fantasy
Not enough ratings
443 Chs

39

Before you quite make it to the front door, however, you run into Tobias just as he's about to head upstairs. He stops when he sees you, looking a little surprised to see you're still here. You hesitate, feeling a sudden pang of guilt for spending the party with Zoe after Tobias asked you to come. Before you can say anything, however, you hear a rustling sound, and you see him writing something in a large notebook he's holding.

"Here—I figured I should give you some way of getting in contact," he says, tearing out a little piece of paper. When he hands it to you, you see he's written his phone number in surprisingly neat handwriting. When you turn the note over, you see what looks like part of a drawing, a few pencil lines weaving together in a pattern you can't make out. Tobias gives you a small smile.

"Thanks," you say, when you can't think of anything else. Tobias nods. "But, uh, my phone's broken right now. Do you have…email?"

Tobias raises his eyebrows, but he doesn't question it—he just takes the piece of paper back and scribbles down his email address instead. At the same time, he turns up one corner of his mouth, and although he manages a bit of a smile, you think he seems a little disappointed as he waves and turns to head up the stairs.

And so, as Tobias proceeds up to his room, you leave the house to make your way back home through the softly darkening evening.

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