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

Eventually, Tayo catches sight of his wife in the crowd and excuses himself to go catch up with her. Now that it's just the two of you, Zoe smiles and holds up the flowers you gave her.


"Now, why don't I finally get a vase for these?"


Zoe gestures for you to follow her into the kitchen. It's a little quieter in here, with only a few small clumps of people chatting among themselves, some of whom look up just to say hi to Zoe as she passes through. You stand slightly awkwardly between everyone as Zoe pulls a simple glass vase from somewhere and sets it on the counter so she can arrange the flowers.


"It's wild bergamot, right?" she asks you over her shoulder.


"Um…I'm not sure," you reply, stepping a little closer to her so you can feel less stranded in the middle of the room—plus, you're kind of interested in what Zoe's doing with the flowers. Not wanting to stay totally silent, you add: "I think my grandma always called them something to do with bees."


"Oh, yes, they're called bee balm sometimes. Bees love them, obviously—and they're good for making tea, as well."


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