Knowing better than to question the Seer, Winter Storyteller set off towards the Three Troll Bridge, mustering as much patience and goodwill as he could. After all, they were known to use the vilest language and talk about the strangest and, at times, cruelest things. It was one of the reasons he wasn't thrilled by the first challenge, as everyone who knew them avoided the trolls. Thus, they had a lot to say to those unlucky ones who had to cross their bridge for one reason or another.

As he slowly stepped onto the bridge Jack, as the Winter Storyteller used to be called, started preparing for the trolls' vile language in addition to their horrible smell.

"Who goes there?" Stinky, the troll asked.

"A weary traveler in need of your help," Jack thought as humbly as he could manage.

He proceeded to lower his head, hoping that they might understand his meaning without any words being exchanged.

"We are always in the mood to torture, I mean, help weary travelers," Smelly, Stinky's younger brother, said.

Thus, the journey of pain and torture of Jack's sensitive ears and overstimulated nose began. Still, it was the voyage he was determined to withstand. After all, he wished for nothing more than to retrieve his title of Winter Storyteller. Furthermore, he was determined to finish the tale of one winter morning when something horrible happened to the happy snowman as the snow joyfully fluttered down.

The stories ranged from the unnecessarily rude ones to shady dealings, which troll tribes were prone to and went in many different directions.

Jack tried to focus on the nature they were passing by instead of registering their foul words. However, that was difficult to do when all of them talked very loudly and into his ears because they insisted he had to be in the middle. They claimed it was so that they could 'better protect him from all the hidden dangers that lurked from any corner, but Jack wasn't sure about that. It seemed to him as if there was more danger of his ears being permanently stained by the vileness of the trolls.

"We are here, our mute little friend, The Land of Gen," Gassy, the third brother, said as his breath stank worse than ever.

"I thank thee for your assistance," Jack thought politely, in case they could hear his thoughts.

After that, he made a rude sign with his forefinger and thumb, which was the universal sign of gratitude in troll society.

The trolls turned around and left the moment their job was over. Jack felt a swell of pride that he could withstand their stench and, even worse, their foul words that no living being should ever be unfortunate enough to hear.

The moment of joy was short-lived as he had no idea what he was supposed to do once he was there. The Seer just said he needed to get to that land of wonders. Then his next clue would be revealed. Yet, he saw nothing to indicate where to go or what to do.

Looking around, he spotted an enormous carriage and a giant inside it. It was the know-it-all Red of the great Unknown. He was one of the beings even more disliked than the trolls as he also talked without stopping. The difference was that he adored meddling in other people's lives and telling them what a 'proper' way to live one's life was.

"Lost your voice, have we? The Seer said you might be dropping by," Red said as his red hair, for which he got the name swayed gently in the wind. "I see you have passed a challenge of patience already, but I have so much more to teach you before you can go on. Namely, I need to teach you how to truly listen. You have become so accustomed to others listening to you that you forgot how to do it yourself."

Jack had no choice but to nod his head in agreement as he had a feeling that if he thought of any words to say, Red would have heard them and did his utmost to explain why his thoughts were wrong. Furthermore, he would go out of his way to show him the 'proper way to think'.

"You have spent more than half of your life just talking, but how often do you stop to truly listen?" Red asked, scratching at his freckled face.

"Not so often," Jack automatically thought.

"Well, that is your problem. One who listens but never truly hears is a being who survives but doesn't truly live," Red said.

Seeing the confused look on Jack's face, Red was kind enough to explain his words of wisdom. After all, people rarely could understand without him giving them further instructions.

"Once upon a time, when you first became a storyteller, you used to be such a great listener. You would listen to other people's tales of woe with patience and kindness that they rarely encountered. In turn, it made them more comfortable coming back to you and allowing you to retell their stories with slight alterations to hide their identity. However, as of late, you are forced to draw from your memories of the tales you heard long ago. The reason for that is that no one is telling you anything," Red said, like an old, tired teacher that he, in a way, was.

"What am I supposed to do to fix that?" Jack wondered in silence as he had no idea how to begin fixing the issue.

"You are supposed to learn how to listen again so that you could become an even better storyteller and get your voice as well as your calling back," Red said. You have already learned patience as you managed to survive the three trolls. Now, you need to listen to the story of my life," Red said.

Jack wasn't really thrilled by the idea. But he was ready to do whatever it took to get his life back on track. The storyteller was all he ever wanted to be and all he ever was. There was nothing that appealed to him as much as that did.

"Once upon a time, I used to live in the homeland of giants, Standing Tall, where I had a poor but happy life," Red started the story of his life. "However, things changed. Food was becoming difficult to find especially having in mind our voracious appetites. Thus, I realized that if we wanted to survive, my family and I had to move to a better place. One with abundance and size far greater than the one we left behind."

"Leaving your homeland must have been hard?" Jack thought, feeling pity for anyone who had to leave everything they knew behind and start an arduous journey of finding a home.

"It was heartbreaking, but it was something I had to do for my family and five children. I couldn't very well let them starve," Red said rationally, although a trace of pain was noticeable on his large weathered face.

"I am so sorry you had to go through all that," Jack said, feeling Red's pain as his own.

Once he had to leave his home as well, and even though it was a long time ago, it still pained him to remember all he had left behind. What stopped him from missing his home as much as he did at first was thinking that he had found a home with the people of his new village, the same ones who turned their backs on him the second his gift wasn't working perfectly.

He was no longer sure where his home was, but he wished to hear that Red, the giant, had found his happiness in this new land full of food and wonders.

"Moving here gave us more than we could have ever dreamed. However, we also lost something. We no longer had the connectedness, the family that we used to have back home. And even though life here is much richer, we still have many obstacles we have to overcome daily," Red said.

"Such as?" Jack thought.

"Well, we are giants, and people of this land have many prejudices about giants. They are afraid of us. Also, our wisdom is seen as burdensome as some people prefer being stuck in their own ways than finding the best way to live their lives," Red said with genuine sadness that Jack didn't predict. "What's worse, the rules that apply to us are much stricter than those that apply to other beings living here. For that reason, we have to be extremely careful and even teach our children to be less boisterous and proud than is usual for giant offspring," Red said.

A deep sigh that followed his words almost blew Jack over. However, he dug in his heels and thus prevailed against the sudden airflow.

"That is not fair. You work as hard as any of the natives, or even more. They can't treat you like that!" Jack thought with righteous indignation.

"Unfortunately, they can, and that's the sad reality even of our world. They judged based on looks and stories others tell about us," Red said.

"I wish there was something I could do to help," Jack thought pensively. "Wait a minute! I am a storyteller. Once I get my voice back, I can tell everyone the true story of your life, of the way the giants truly are. It's time for the world to see you as something either than scary humanoids."

"And that is why you have passed another test. You were able to put aside your own issues and feelings and find a way to help me deal with mine. You have finally learned how to listen to truly listen with your heart and not only your ears," Red said.

His large lips pulled back in an enormous smile that seemed more like a wild animal showing its teeth which was nevertheless a genuine sign of approval.

Knowing what he knew about Red, Jack smiled back, making a silent promise that he would do his best to make giants the most beloved characters in his stories.

"Thank you for showing me what I failed to see on my own," Jack thought, pushing at the giant's shoulder, which was seen as a sign of respect, even affection in their society.

"You are very welcome. I can see why the Seer thinks so highly of you. You catch on quickly," Red said honestly, "Anyway, jump in my carriage, and I'll lead you to where your next challenge awaits.