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

Looking back at your things on the counter, Nic nods.


"At least I get to get out there when I feel like it, for now. That's something I like about this job: flexible hours."


She seems a little tired as she weighs up a few things on some scales.


For a short second, all you can think is that:


You try to stay patient, but can't help letting your attention wander as Nic sorts through your items.


"Yeah, so," she says after a little while. "The job definitely has its upsides."


"Well, there's the way employees are treated sometimes. This place is part of a big chain, and it comes with all these rules and guidelines employees are supposed to follow, like 'Never disagree with a customer,' or 'A smile is part of your uniform.' And you've heard about the Employee Pledge—it's all just a little intense."


She does smile, though it's a slightly grim smile.


"I mean, being polite is one thing, but smiling all the time is just…creepy. And like, in my interview, they asked me why I wanted to work here. I kind of wanted to say, 'Because you're gonna give me money,' but obviously you can't really say that. So I just said: 'I really love animals.' And the lady was like, 'Tell me how your love of animals will help you excel in this job.' I mean—I don't know, because I don't want a bunch of cats to starve to death? What else is there to excel at?"


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