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

For the third time tonight, you come to a sudden halt—but as you turn your head, you can't seem to find a source for the voice. After a moment, however, you glance over toward the other side of the street, and you notice a figure standing in the glow of a streetlamp.


They seem to hesitate—but then, putting their hands in their pockets, they step off the sidewalk and cross the road, stopping just a few yards in front of you. Now that their features aren't cast in shadow, you can make out brown hair hanging just above their shoulders; pursed, somewhat chapped lips; and slightly wary eyes. From what you can tell, they seem to be just about the same age as you.


He takes a short step forwards, and what little light there is lands on his face. The more you look at him (though it's only in the space of a second), the more you think he does look a little like the kid you sort of remember. But he's older, of course, and quite a bit taller. He doesn't quite smile as he approaches; he just looks at you for a few more moments, seeming surprised.


"How'd you know to call me that?" he asks, pushing some hair behind his ear.


"Uh—oh, I just…ran into your parents."


He looks even more surprised then—but he nods, shifting from foot to foot.


"It's weird—I thought I saw someone moving around in there earlier." He cocks his head towards your house. "But I thought I just imagined it because no one's been in that house for so long. Then I looked outside just now, and I saw you coming down the street—and I wasn't sure if it was really you, but I just figured that if it was you, it'd be…you know, cool, to see you again."


He gives a little, uncertain laugh, smiling for the first time. Or at least you think he is; it's still pretty dark.


"You remember me, right?" he asks, sweeping more hair out of his eyes. "I mean, we used to hang out all the time."


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