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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 · Kỳ huyễn
Không đủ số lượng người đọc
443 Chs

13

You get right to work as inspiration strikes at once.

A few minutes later, hands a little spattered with paint, you sit back to admire your handiwork: a realistic but beautifully multicolored painting of a lush forest full of every kind of flower, complete with a tiny sign that reads "Alberobello Forest." All of this is done in steady, inch-thick lines.

The effect is…pretty striking, actually. It's bold, eye-catching, and just kind of works.

As Tobias is putting a few hurried final touches to his (quite impressive) banner, you realize the only thing missing from yours is a title. What do you write to announce the spectacle you're advertising?

You finish at last just as Tobias is scrambling to his feet.

"Okay, it's not dry, but we really need to—oh, awesome, you're done," he says as he glances at your banner. You notice he looks pretty pleased with what you've made. "Thanks. I definitely owe you one for this, Huknock."

At last, you bundle all your stuff together, head back onto the main street, (pausing only so that he can toss the paints and brushes into the dumpster) and merge with one of the small crowds headed for the park. Tobias glances at you for a second, but he looks away before you can make eye contact. At the same time, you notice him pulling his banner close to his chest and doing his best to keep his paint-stained hands out of sight as you walk through the park gates.

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