PlayerOliver

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.

Stone in the shoe

But that's not what happened. Instead, you went straight to your grandma to tell her what you heard.


"Arctus?" you call now, suddenly shivering. "Let's get inside."


She comes over (reluctantly) and you both go back into the house. As you lock the door she makes a low, questioning sound, seeming to notice the change in your face.


"I'm okay, bud. Just thinking about…how weird it's gonna be here before Grandma gets back."


Typical for Grandma that she didn't tell you where she was going. When you told her about the voice she just went quiet—nodded—and started digging through a pot of soil.


Eventually, she pressed a ring of old, slightly dirty keys into your hand.


"I thought it would be something like this," she told you with heavy eyes. "You'd better go—go to Silvertree. You'll be all right. But I think I might be…busy, for a little while."


Wordlessly, you took the keys. You knew better than to ask; but the look on her face seemed to answer whatever questions you had. The forest wasn't going to be safe—not to live in, and maybe not safe altogether.


She turned away in distraction—but then, suddenly, she spun back around to face you again. This time, her eyes were wide as full moons.


"And Huknock—while you're in Silvertree—promise me something. Promise me that, no matter what happens, you won't let anyone find out you're a Witch. Please—make sure you always keep it a secret."


You didn't have much time to process what had made her so suddenly worried; you just nodded, once again knowing better than to ask for an explanation you weren't going to get.


With that, your grandma gave you one last smile—and turned to leave the room with her Familiar, Carys, flying at her side.


All you knew for sure then, with those keys in your hand, was that you were going to have to make the best of things wherever you ended up.


17