webnovel

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

41

Before you can tap Tobias on the shoulder, however, he turns and points to somewhere on the other side of the park.

"Hey, isn't that that business guy? Where's he running off to?"

You spin around and catch sight of Mr. Clarence walking quite briskly towards the secluded patch of trees where you met Marlowe, growing increasingly smaller in your vision as he gets further and further from the fair. Even from this distance, however, you can see that he's holding a phone to his ear.

Frowning, you turn back to the park gates and see that Gus has suddenly been called away by someone who seems to be complaining angrily about something. You can see him anxiously glancing back at the box, which is sitting out on the stand with a chain connecting it to the wooden structure itself, but he is being forced to give most of his attention to this unhappy customer. The guys by the gate haven't moved; but they do seem to have finished their lemonade.

"What's up?" Tobias asks, seeing that you're distracted. For a few moments, you don't reply; your thoughts are starting to race.

Why would Mr. Clarence rush so far from the rest of the fair just to take a phone call? It could be that it's just too noisy in the middle of it all—but then why go so far out of sight? Could he be discussing something he doesn't want anyone else to hear? Is following him—something you can't quite believe you're considering—really worth it just to hear whatever he might be talking about?

And at the same time—what if those guys really are eyeing the lockbox, and you're the only person who's noticed?

You take a deep breath; and in a few quick seconds, you make up your mind.