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

The night sky flickers with stars and passing satellites as it swells above you, seemingly just holding back from swallowing the earth. You and Tobias watch it quietly for a while, sitting side by side on the swings, neither of you entirely sure what to say. It feels good to dwell on something a little bigger than you for a few moments.


"You're not cold, are you?" Tobias asks after a minute. "Sorry—I wasn't really thinking about if someone would have to follow me."


You shake your head; thankfully, it's not a cold night.


"So, um…" he goes on, swinging just a little in his seat. "Anyway. It's all kind of been about me. What's been going on with you?"


Tobias raises his eyebrows, slightly surprised.


"Oh, yeah—I kind of forgot about all that. It's weird…I was only away for a day, but it kind of made me realize how small this place is. There's a lot of stuff going on outside. I'm not saying what's happening here isn't important, but it's easy to think you live in this little bubble where nothing else even exists. I think I've felt like that for a long time; like I'm just kind of trapped. Even if I don't go to college, I think I'd still go visit some other places—and maybe move away eventually."


He nods to himself, as if making up his mind.


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