We woke up before everyone else.
The house was still asleep, but the forest…
The forest was alive.
We left the village, and nostalgia hit my chest so hard it felt like soone had thrown open an old door in my mory.
— Do you rember? — Mira said quietly, looking at the path.
— Everything, — I replied. — Every branch.
We walked along the familiar road—the very one where we’d run as kids, dueled with sticks, where I froze the river for the first ti, and Mira set half the bushes on fire for the first ti.
Now, life ruled here.
The forest humd.
We heard people working.
Axes biting into wood.
Children laughing sowhere in the distance.
Soone dragging logs, soone building, soone humming an elven lody under their breath.
When people noticed us, many stopped.
They stared for a long mont.
So whispered—but then returned to their work.
Mira looked around with such wonder it felt like she was trying to morize every stone.
— They’ve… done so much, — she whispered. — Zen, they’ve grown…
— Are you proud of them?
You could be reading stolen content. Head to
for the genuine story.
— Very.
She wiped a small tear away with her finger and imdiately snorted.
— Don’t look at
like that. Just got sothing in my eye.
We walked on.
A New School of Magic
Suddenly, Mira froze.
— What… is that? — she pointed at a stone building.
— A magic school, — I said.
— What kind of damn magic school—in OUR village?! — Mira shot toward the door like lightning.
Inside were about a dozen elven children and a couple of human kids. They were quietly copying runes.
While we watched, one boy jumped in fright, dropping his book.
Mira imdiately picked it up.
— Whoa! This is amazing… everything’s so clear! Even I would’ve understood this as a kid!
— Teacher, where did you get this?
The elven teacher, pale as snow, replied:
— The Council of Branches gave it to us… said this book was written by… Zenhald Helvard.
Mira turned toward .
Slowly.
Very slowly.
With a look like I’d been hiding the world’s greatest treasure from her.
— You. Wrote. This?
— Well… yeah.
She smiled wide and warm.
— I’m proud of you, little brother.
And sothing inside
trembled. For a mont, everything felt brighter.
The Heart of the Forest
We reached a massive tree—the very one that had beco the center of the new city. Its crown stretched into the sky, runes softly glowing on its bark.
A young elf stepped out from within.
— I am the keeper of this city, — he said with a respectful bow. — The Council of Branches temporarily entrusted
with watching over everything while they are away.
Mira made a comical face.
— Eeeeh… I really wanted to see them. What, did they go even higher up again?
At the sight of her, the keeper nearly fainted—his ears trembled, eyes widened, and he smiled like a child staring at sweets.
— You are… Zenhald Helvard…
— And… Mira Helvard?!
— Yes, — we answered together.
He almost bounced in place.
— We are endlessly grateful to you, Zenhald! Your books… they changed everything. Learning magic beca ten tis easier!
Mira nudged
with her elbow.
— Turns out you’re a genius.
— I didn’t do it on purpose…
— Don’t be modest!
The keeper, trembling with emotion, said:
— I will imdiately send word to the Council of Branches. They will be here… tomorrow evening!
He rushed upward, leaving a trail of magical light behind him.
?? Returning Ho
— Well then, — Mira took a deep breath. — While the Council’s on its way… shall we go ho?
She grabbed my hand.
— Race you! Like when we were kids!
— You always cheated!
— Then traditions must be respected!
We ran through the forest, laughing, as if wars, deaths, and storms had never existed.
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