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

You're anticipating a long walk back to town, but thankfully, in the nice weather it seems to go quickly enough. It's early afternoon by the time you arrive back on your street, and already the forest seems like a distant memory. Your thoughts are mostly taken up by Arctus, hoping that she's okay and looking forward to seeing her once you get back home. Absentmindedly, you scan the street for any signs of her, slightly anxious that she might have sensed you returning and wanted to come and greet you.


It's in that moment that you catch sight of Tobias standing in the driveway, gazing over at you from across the road.


When he sees you looking, he hesitates. You think you see him fidgeting with the ends of his sleeves.


Then he seems to breathe—drops his shoulders—and walks to the edge of the sidewalk before crossing the street.


You can't quite read his face as he comes towards you. It looks a little drawn—tired, definitely. The closer he gets, the harder it seems for him to bring his eyes up from his feet.


But just as he comes close enough that you can see him clearly, you suddenly lose sight of his face altogether—because before you can even blink, Tobias wraps you in the tightest hug you've ever felt.
