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

Marlowe clenches their teeth, watching the sunlight fade in the reflection on the rippling water. You're not quite sure what's on their mind—but you sense that they just want a few moments with their thoughts.


Eventually, though—and quite suddenly—they stretch their arms over their head, before turning to you and saying:


"I don't think I want to be here anymore. I don't know if you're planning on staying, but if you're not—do you maybe want to walk back with me?"


The streets are quiet as you step out through the front door and start heading back towards the town. You and Marlowe are mostly silent as well; occasionally one of you might say a few words, but it's clear just how much Marlowe is preoccupied.


As you pass the now-locked park gates, however, Marlowe slows down—and then comes to a stop, eyes fixed on the gates' iron letters spelling out "Ambrose Park". After a long pause, they murmur:


"I know I can't do anything about the fact that his name is all over town. I guess I'm gonna have to get used to it, since I'm probably staying in Silvertree for now. I just hope at some point people will remember my parents as much as him."
