—Shifts have been rough lately —Mom said, rubbing her temples.

I twirled the pasta around my fork and took a big bite. —Mmm! —I hummed with my lips pressed together, letting her know how good the food was.

—I’ve been seeing the shadow wolf again —I said after swallowing.

Mom set her fork down and looked at me with concern.

—Sweetheart, sometimes our minds play tricks on us, especially after a traumatic accident —she paused—. That wolf is just a part of what you’re processing. It’s not real, but what you’re feeling is. You need to face it, not hide from it.

—I know… —I murmured.

—I’m going to message your therapist to set up a video call for you. Sound good?

I nodded, grateful.

—I’m going out to skate for a bit, Mom.

—Alright. Do you have any new friends? —she asked excitedly as she got up from the table.

I stood up and hugged her. —Yeah, Mom. His name’s Ozian, and today I’m gonna blow his mind with my unexpected spins —I joked—. Let me help you with the dishes, you’re tired.

She shook her head, so I went to brush my teeth, fix my hair, and before heading out, I walked over to the living room where she had already settled in.

—Mom, what did you want to tell me?

—We’ll talk about it tonight, Juno. Go have fun.

I said goodbye and headed out toward our meeting spot: Old Oak Island. Ozian was already there, his golden retriever running circles around him.

—He’s adorable! —I exclaimed as the dog ran up to greet me.

—This is Loki —he said—. Let’s go!

Without wasting time, we made our way to the park—him pedaling, me pushing forward on my skateboard, and Loki trotting between us.

—Loki is a secret agent on a never-ending mission to steal food —Ozian joked.

—He’s clearly the god of CHAOS… and chewed-up skateboards —I laughed as the dog made another failed attempt to catch my board.

We rode through several wide streets, lined with large houses that had spacious porches and gardens slowly turning golden and ochre with the arrival of autumn. Among the buildings, thick-trunked trees stood like silent witnesses of time, their roots creeping through the sidewalks. Sunlight filtered through the fallen leaves, casting dancing shadows on the pavement, while the air carried the fresh scent of damp earth, mingling with the distant presence of the forest and mountains.

Loki ran ahead of us, barking excitedly, while Ozian and I kept a steady pace, leaving behind the quiet hum of the neighborhood as we made our way to the park.

—Do you think there are people our age who already know what to do with their lives? —I asked, letting out a bit of my frustration.

—Yeah. —Ozian answered without hesitation—. I know exactly what I want. I want to use science and technology for something that actually matters. I’d love to create a device that helps people with mobility issues become more independent.

—You’re aiming big, huh? —I said.

—I’m aiming for what I want —he stated, and for a moment, his eyes stayed on mine. Then, as if realizing it, he quickly looked away with a slightly goofy smile—. Even if it sounds impossible sometimes…

There was a weird silence. Not awkward, but… different, before he continued.

—Uhh… the device… —he cleared his throat, running a hand over the back of his neck before speaking again with more confidence—. It would be lightweight, like an extension of the body. It would have sensors that could detect even the tiniest movements—or maybe even brain signals—so people could walk, stand up, or… just be free.

That last word echoed in my head. Free.

I looked down, watching a dry leaf roll between the wheels of my skateboard. Free. I didn’t feel that way. Something inside me was changing, like reality had cracks I could no longer ignore. But if I said it out loud… it would become even more real.

—And I want it to have a fun design —he added, smiling a little, like he was trying to ease the tension—. With lights and… I don’t know —he shrugged.

Suddenly, the sound of wheels rolling over concrete greeted us as we arrived at the skatepark. A group was practicing in one corner. Off to the side, a couple of little girls were trying to stay upright on their boards, bursting into laughter every time one of them fell dramatically.

Loki, in his natural state of chaos, bolted straight into the middle of the park, dashing back and forth like he owned the place.

—By the sparks on the wheels, this place is awesome! —I exclaimed, stopping for a moment to take it all in.

A slender tree caught my attention. Its trunk leaned slightly, accustomed to bending under the weight of time without breaking. Its branches tangled together in a harmonious chaos, as if they shared a secret language.

As I approached, I felt the heartbeat of its wood, a serene pulse vibrating deep within. The bark held onto a subtle chill, the lingering touch of autumn stealing away its last breath of warmth. Only when a flock of birds landed on its branches did the tree’s energy seem to shift, finding in them the familiarity it had been missing.

The birds, used to human presence, remained alert, their heads tilting in precise, calculated movements. Then, a small blue-feathered swallow left its perch and flew toward me. Its wings stirred the air so lightly that the movement was almost imperceptible, and when it landed on my shoulder, its weight was no more than that of a fleeting thought, a newborn idea. To her, I was just another branch to rest on.

But it was more than that.

The warmth of its body contrasted with the cold of the tree, and when I closed my eyes, I felt it—the exhaustion in its tiny heartbeat, the story etched into its light breath. It had come from far away with its flock, from a journey traced across the skies, where the air changed its scent and the light its shape.

When I opened my eyes, it was still there, motionless on my shoulder. Its gaze, small yet vast, carried the quiet certainty of one who has found shelter. It wasn’t in a hurry to leave. Neither was I.

—Look who’s got new friends —Ozian interrupted, leaning his bike against the tree.

I smiled as the swallow took flight.

—What do you say? Should we hit the ramp? —I asked Ozian, giving him a light shove with my shoulder.

—Mmm... Sure, but just so you know, if I fall, I’m making a whole drama out of it —he said, securing Loki’s leash. The dog, however, only had eyes for my skateboard, as if he wanted to hop on in my place.

I started with some simple tricks, letting the skateboard glide smoothly along the edge of the ramp. I could feel Ozian’s gaze fixed on me, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly open, surprised, but also with a hint of concern, like he was about to call an ambulance.

As I landed a spin, he let out:

—Do you realize you’re ridiculously awesome?
—It’s just practice… and a few scrapes. Well, and a broken arm once.

Ozian made an exaggerated grimace. I laughed and stopped to adjust the laces on my red boots.

—I think this is my favorite spot in all of Virewood.
—Not bad for a town that probably has ghosts —he replied, with that sideways smile of "I know something you don’t."

Immediately, I went back to my skateboard. As I tried a tight turn, I lost my balance and ended up rolling off the ramp. My hand sank into the damp earth at the edge, and for a moment, I stayed there, breathing deeply. I felt the texture of nature between my fingers, rough but vibrant, with a scent that connected me to ancient wisdom. I closed my eyes and let that moment imprint itself on me.

—Are you okay? —Ozian rushed over.

—Yeah, yeah, just checking that gravity is still working.

I raised my dirt-covered hand and showed it to him like a trophy.

—Oh, wow! You’ve got scrapes. You should clean it up.

I burst out laughing.

—What, like it’s an emergency? —I said, with a mischievous grin, before pushing off again on my skateboard to do a few more tricks.

I glanced at Ozian out of the corner of my eye, worried I’d fall again. But instead, I went for a spin with more style, enjoying the wind and the challenge.

Finally, after a couple more attempts, I jumped off the skateboard and let myself fall into the grass next to him. Loki came immediately, lying down between us, panting and wagging his tail.

—Have you heard about the "cursed land"? —I asked, remembering the class from earlier.

—Yeah, but people don’t really talk about it. They say it’s around here. —He pulled out his phone and showed me a map, pointing to a dark, fenced-off area.

—And what do you think?

—I’m not sure. It’s like everyone’s just gotten used to it being there, like a secret they all prefer to forget.

As we gathered our things, Jassiel, the kid I’d met the day before, came running up.

—Juno! I didn’t see you. Can you do tricks on the skateboard? —he asked with a smile. Then, noticing Ozian, he looked at him and said—: Oh, hey, Ozian! After that, he frowned and looked at me as if trying to figure something out—: You’re friends with a nerd?

—Hey, Jass, being smart is cool, you know? —Ozian shot back.

The kid shrugged, unfazed.

—Leave him alone! —I said, rolling my eyes—. Of course, I can do tricks. There’s nothing like the feeling of gliding. Come by tomorrow around four and we’ll practice for a while. You’re gonna fall in love with skateboarding, I promise.

—Like Ozian falling for you? —he laughed with a mischievous grin—. Awesome!

Him? Falling for me? I thought, almost unable to believe it. Ozian? No, that doesn’t make sense. We just met today. Jassiel’s just saying kid stuff.

Jassiel gave me a thumbs-up, excited, then turned when a girl called him, walking over.

—That’s my sister, Savannah.

She caught up to us, wearing loose clothes and her hair in braids that framed her unsettling honey-colored eyes. She greeted Ozian with a handshake, the “nerd” style: a palm-to-palm cross, followed by a perfectly synchronized knuckle bump.

—Why didn’t you go to class? —Ozian asked.

—I felt sick all day. Weak, blurry vision… but I came to find Jassiel.

—I’m Juno —I introduced myself—. I hope you feel better soon.

We said our goodbyes, and I walked home with a feeling that something was off. When I got home, my mom was putting away the groceries. She smiled when she saw me and pointed to a box on the counter.

—Your favorite cereal. I thought some chocolate might do you good after your first day.

—You’re the best, Mom. —I served myself a generous bowl and sat down across from her.

As we ate, my mom lowered her voice a bit, as if sharing a secret.

—Something strange happened during my last shift at the hospital. A patient with a… different kind of bite. It was about five centimeters, but a dark stain started to spread from there. Like poison no one could stop. He died within hours.

—And you’re telling me this because…?

—Because I want you to be careful, sweetheart. There are things we don’t fully understand. You haven’t been to the forest, right?

I shook my head. Her serious, worried tone still hung in the air. The conversation ended, but the weight of her words stayed with me as I got ready for bed. I thought about the map Ozian had shown me: why would the government forbid access to a territory and try to erase its existence?

Already in my pajamas, I dug through my bag for the halonita and sighed when I saw its glow, feeling the curiosity pulse with the same intensity as my heart when I remembered Eridanus.