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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

2

You're not exactly sure why your grandma kept the diary so hidden away; whether she just wanted to keep it safe, or out of sight entirely, you don't know. But now that you've found it, you don't want to risk it getting damaged, or even lost. It's a part of your family's history—and it's a link between you and a past you never knew about. You just can't bring yourself to let it go.

At long last, you meet Robin's gaze again—and after a pause, you slowly shake your head.

"I'm really sorry. I just—I think I would feel better keeping it here."

At once, you can see the disappointment in Robin's face—but even before you can finish your sentence, he's already nodding in understanding.

"No, it's okay, I completely get it. Seriously, it's totally fine. It's yours—I don't have any right to ask for it. Just—I mean, thanks for letting me read it. I probably never would have known any of that stuff about her otherwise."

He manages a small smile, and then, taking a few moments to rub his tired eyes, he says:

"I know I've been making this into such a big deal, but—really, it's not like it's life or death. I want the archives to stay open, but it's not worth so much stress. And honestly, like, even the fact that I got to see this diary…that's so amazing on its own. I really appreciate that. So yeah, thanks."

After finishing his breakfast, Robin heads back to his house to finish getting everything ready. Meanwhile, you sit down and open your grandma's laptop. It's what you'd do on any ordinary day—and today, you feel as if you need something ordinary to take your mind off of everything else.

Of course, trying to feel normal today—knowing what could happen tomorrow—might always have been impossible.

When you see you have no new messages at all, however, it gets a little harder to ignore the anxious twinge in your stomach. Even though you're not sure who you were expecting to contact you, there's something unsettling about being met with absolute silence on a day like today. Things should be happening, the town should be bubbling with anticipation—but for you, there's nothing. You're sure it can't be anything but the unnatural calm before a storm.

However, before you can close the laptop, somebody's name appears suddenly on the screen.

It's Tobias, asking if you're free to hang out tonight. He doesn't say it in so many words, but it seems as if he's feeling apprehensive enough about whatever tomorrow might bring that he just wants one more evening that feels normal.

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