Quick Tales

Growing up on her family's farm near Ravenwood Forest was like living in a myth. Each day began before dawn, watching the stars fade as the morning light touched the dew-kissed fields. Life was filled with love and hard work, whether under sunbeams or moonlight when chores needed completion at odd hours.

One early afternoon, after finishing schoolwork in her cozy attic bedroom—filled with books about everything from forest plants to celestial bodies—Eira ventured into the fields. Her heart was heavy; today marked one week since Grandmother Brightstone had passed away, and everything felt different without her comforting presence at dinner or her late-night stories by the fire.

In search of solace, Eira wandered the familiar farm, where small discoveries often brought comfort. Today, her curiosity led her beyond the ordinary. Among the towering sunflowers and blooming wild lavender, she spotted something peculiar. Half-buried under the tall grasses lay a flute, seemingly forgotten.

As she picked it up, an eerie silence fell over the field. The instrument was ancient, yet beautifully crafted. Every note carved into its surface felt as if it had been shaped by a master artisan from a forgotten time. It was heavier than she expected, but it fit perfectly in her hands, as if waiting for her.

Without hesitation, and driven by an instinct she didn’t quite understand, Eira raised the flute to her lips. Her fingers settled over the holes, and she began to play. The melody flowed from the instrument like water from a spring—gently at first, then gaining strength, until it reached a powerful crescendo before fading away softly.

As the last note lingered in the air, the world around her began to change. The brown earth beneath her feet turned vibrant green, transforming into a swirl of blue-green hues like a sunset meeting the ocean. The colors danced and swirled, forming shapes she had never seen before.

From the magic of the melody, creatures from her grandmother’s stories emerged—mythical dragons breathed gentle flames that left the flowers unharmed, and phoenixes sang along with the flute, their voices blending in perfect harmony. The very air seemed to hum with magic, woven into the fabric of the world around her.

Among the fantastical beings, a unicorn appeared. Its shimmering coat reflected the colors of the rainbow, and it looked at Eira with eyes full of understanding. In that moment, she knew she was not alone.

The creatures gradually disappeared as the melody faded, leaving Eira standing in the quiet, enchanted forest. Time had passed—how long, she wasn’t sure—but the depth of the experience stayed with her. As she walked back toward the farm, she felt a sense of peace. Perhaps her grandmother’s passing wasn’t a goodbye, but a step into something greater, a connection to a world beyond what could be seen from the fields.

Eira returned home with the flute safely tucked into her bag, a newfound sense of wonder within her. The farm felt less lonely now, even without her grandmother’s physical presence. She understood that their bond had not been broken but transformed. Magic, she realized, wasn’t confined to the stories her grandmother told—it lived and breathed around her, waiting to be discovered.

As the sun set over the fields, casting golden light across the hills, Eira knew she had found her place. She had unlocked a hidden world, one where mythical creatures roamed and magic danced in every corner. Her journey had only just begun, filled with discovery and adventure, and she knew that with each note of the flute, she would draw closer to the mysteries of the world she had always felt but never truly seen.

With a heart full of peace and excitement, Eira stepped into the night, the sky above glittering with stars. Her grandmother’s spirit, now a guardian, watched over her, and the magic of Ravenwood Forest waited for her next song.