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Speaker 1: Hello friends, and welcome to sleep Tight Stories. I'd like

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Speaker 1: to say hello to Naomi who is ten and Amelia

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Speaker 1: who is six from Temple, Georgia. Hello to Amelia Mendoza

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Speaker 1: who is three. Hello to Michael Olkowski who is seven

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Speaker 1: years old. Hello to Rosanna who lives in Fairbanks, Alaska.

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Speaker 1: And Hello to Abba Lean Mattan. Miss you and love

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Speaker 1: you very much. Don't forget to eat your vegetables and

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Speaker 1: brush your teeth and go to bed on time. They

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Speaker 1: can't wait to see you, Sending you hugs and kisses.

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Speaker 1: Happy belated birthday to Rosaliah from Santiego, Chile, who turned

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Speaker 1: seven on November thirtieth. Mommy and Daddy are very proud

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Speaker 1: of your swimming. Keep it up. Happy belated birthday to

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Speaker 1: Lila who turned seven on December third. Happy belated birthday

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Speaker 1: to Oslon from Manhattan, New York City who turned seven

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Speaker 1: on December sixth. Mommy, Daddy and baby Aaron love you

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Speaker 1: so much. You're a brave, smart, kind boy and they

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Speaker 1: are so proud of you. Happy belated birthday to Riley

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Speaker 1: Mendoza from Collegedale, Tennessee, who turned six on December seventeenth,

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Speaker 1: and happy belated birthday to Emily from Shanghai who turned

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Speaker 1: eight on December fifteenth. Happy birthday to Vivi in West Lafayette,

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Speaker 1: Indiana who is turning eight on December eighteenth. Happy birthday

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Speaker 1: to Maya from San Marcos, Texas who is turning five

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Speaker 1: on December eighteenth. Your Mom, Dad and Babby you very much.

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Speaker 1: Happy birthday to Finn Ashby from Melbourne, Australia who is

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Speaker 1: turning seven on December twenty first. And Happy birthday to

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Speaker 1: Henry from Hermantown, Minnesota, who was turning eight on December

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Speaker 1: twenty second. Happy birthday to you all. I hope you

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Speaker 1: have a wonderful day. Shout outs and birthday wishes are

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Speaker 1: one way we give thanks to our supporters. If you

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Speaker 1: would like to support us and receive more bedtime entertainment

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Speaker 1: like this, all add free, please visit our support page

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Speaker 1: at sleep tightstories dot org slash support Thank you. After

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Speaker 1: receiving her message from the lake and heading out the

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Speaker 1: next day, Esther is not sure what to expect. When

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Speaker 1: they see the beginnings of the mist in the distance.

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Speaker 1: They pause, take a deep breath, and continue on their way.

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Speaker 1: Ariah asks Esther to lead the way which is unusual.

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Speaker 1: But Ariah cannot see the map, so she doesn't know

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Speaker 1: which way to go. Esther does her best to lead

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Speaker 1: them towards the veil of the mists, and when it

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Speaker 1: is time to find a place to rest for the night,

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Speaker 1: they both get a surprise. The Magical Book of Dreams,

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Speaker 1: Part twenty three. Lead the way, Ariah said to Esther,

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Speaker 1: making a sweeping gesture with her hands, like she was

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Speaker 1: letting her walk through a door. Me, but you are

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Speaker 1: the night, Esther said, hesitating, Yes, I am, but only

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Speaker 1: you know the way. Don't worry, I will be right

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Speaker 1: behind you. Esther wasn't so sure about this arrangement, but

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Speaker 1: she started walking slowly toward the mist they could see

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Speaker 1: in the distance. She had always been in the background

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Speaker 1: and never had to take a leading position before. She

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Speaker 1: was content to escape into her mind and not deal

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Speaker 1: with others. Esther had plenty of friends, but since her

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Speaker 1: father disappeared, she had become extremely quiet, except around her brother,

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Speaker 1: whom she loved to argue with. The map tells us

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Speaker 1: to follow the stream as closely as possible, Esther said,

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Speaker 1: and it should lead us almost directly to the veil

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Speaker 1: of mists. I suggest we find a place to rest

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Speaker 1: before it gets dark. Following this strange path, I don't

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Speaker 1: think we can make it that far before it becomes

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Speaker 1: too dark to safely walk. I would also like to

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Speaker 1: find a defensible position in case some of those growls

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Speaker 1: we hear in the distance decide to come and say hello,

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Speaker 1: Ariah said from behind Esther. They talked as they walked,

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Speaker 1: pointing out various plants that at one time would have

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Speaker 1: been edible or had a particular color. Ariyah hadn't seen

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Speaker 1: them personally, but was required to read old books on plants,

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Speaker 1: which were often in full color, a study she didn't enjoy,

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Speaker 1: something she and Esther had in common. It seemed only

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Speaker 1: her annoying little brother enjoyed the study of plants, gardening

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Speaker 1: and such. As they turned a corner and a gap

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Speaker 1: appeared in a stone like tree, Esther pointed to a

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Speaker 1: beautiful sight in the distance. Is that some color I

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Speaker 1: see up ahead? Might that be a safe place to stop?

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Speaker 1: It may serve as our resting point. But the color

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Speaker 1: might be good magic or a trap. I guess we

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Speaker 1: will find out which soon enough, Ariah said, urging caution.

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Speaker 1: The path they walked on, next to the stream was

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Speaker 1: well worn, narrow and uneven, bordered by the remnants of

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Speaker 1: the once lush forest, now asleep and stone like. It

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Speaker 1: didn't look like it had been walked on for some time,

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Speaker 1: and if the plant life grew like it did in

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Speaker 1: normal times, it would have long since been overgrown. The

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Speaker 1: ground was a mix of hard packed earth and scattered stones,

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Speaker 1: slowing their progress to their right. The stream, a narrow,

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Speaker 1: glistening snake of water, provided one of the last vestiges

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Speaker 1: of the forest's former beauty. Its waters, clear and cool,

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Speaker 1: flowed steadily, seemingly unaffected by the gloom that had fallen

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Speaker 1: on the rest of the realm. These trees must have

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Speaker 1: been incredibly beautiful at one time, Esther said softly. They

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Speaker 1: are so tall, taller than anything I have ever seen

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Speaker 1: in Shirewood. Yes, I have seen paintings and illustrations in

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Speaker 1: books of the various forests throughout the realm. They were

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Speaker 1: a sight to behold. But maybe some day they will

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Speaker 1: have the same color and life as in the past.

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Speaker 1: We must continue to hope, Riah replied, walking faster in

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Speaker 1: an effort to encourage Esther to do the same. It's

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Speaker 1: difficult to walk on this path just when you think

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Speaker 1: you have a secure footing, you walk on a slippery stone.

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Speaker 1: But we must move faster. The resting point is still

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Speaker 1: a fair bit away, and the gray will soon turn

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Speaker 1: to dark. I'm trying, Esther said, as she picked up

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Speaker 1: the pace. She no longer paid attention to the pain

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Speaker 1: in her legs, but she had her limits. The growling

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Speaker 1: and the howls of the creatures waiting for them had disappeared.

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Speaker 1: The forest was eerily quiet, without the typical sounds from

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Speaker 1: animals of the forest, the fairies and pixies and butterflies

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Speaker 1: and bees. Why is it so quiet, Esther asked, Other

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Speaker 1: than the sound of the stream in our feet, there

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Speaker 1: is no sound. They may be on the move, waiting

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Speaker 1: to intersect with us somewhere up ahead. We must keep

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Speaker 1: an eye out, Ariah said. Maybe they got tired and

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Speaker 1: decided to leave us alone. Esther replied, that made Ariah laugh.

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Speaker 1: She didn't have a great sense of humor. As they walked,

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Speaker 1: the path began to wind more closely along the stream,

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Speaker 1: its burbling sounds growing louder, masking the sounds of any

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Speaker 1: approaching creature. This made Ariah more wary. Eventually, the air

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Speaker 1: grew cooler, and a faint mist began to curl around

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Speaker 1: their feet, signaling they were getting closer to the veil

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Speaker 1: of mists. This also made the path increasingly difficult to

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Speaker 1: walk quickly as the moisture made the path slippery. They

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Speaker 1: continued for what felt to Esther like a whole cycle.

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Speaker 1: She didn't complain or stop, and tried to keep pace.

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Speaker 1: She was, ever so slightly becoming accustomed to being in

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Speaker 1: front to leading. Looked down at her bag, stopped and

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Speaker 1: said to Ariah, the map is glowing quite a bit

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Speaker 1: more brightly. Taking the book out, she looked at the

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Speaker 1: map and it signaled what Ariah had actually realized. Their

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Speaker 1: resting spot was just up ahead. Sometimes good awareness of

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Speaker 1: your surroundings is just as valuable as magic. It's probably

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Speaker 1: letting us know that where we are going to rest

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Speaker 1: for the night is just up ahead, Riah said. Hopefully,

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Speaker 1: it also means the area is safe. Why don't you

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Speaker 1: let me lead until we get there. Esther stepped aside.

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Speaker 1: As Riah walked past, she had that same serious look

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Speaker 1: on her face that she always seemed to have when

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Speaker 1: she was prepared for danger. They walked into a small

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Speaker 1: clearing somewhat protected by the encircling stone like trees. The

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Speaker 1: place they settled upon had one root in and one

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Speaker 1: root out. The hollow where they stopped still held traces

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Speaker 1: of good magic. There was a hint of color here,

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Speaker 1: the muted greens of moss clinging to the stone like trees,

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Speaker 1: and the soft blue of a small flower bravely pushing

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Speaker 1: through the cracks in the earth. It was a subdued beauty,

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Speaker 1: a faint whisper of the realm's former vibrancy. What a

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Speaker 1: difference this is from the rest of the forest, Esther said.

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Speaker 1: Ariah's eyes were lit up. She had seen some natural

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Speaker 1: color from time to time, but it had been too long.

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Speaker 1: It is beautiful, she said. Esther looked at Ariah's face

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Speaker 1: and swore she saw the beginnings of a tear forming

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Speaker 1: on her face. It's one thing to hear stories of

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Speaker 1: good magic and what the realm once was. It was

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Speaker 1: something else to experience, even this version of it. Let's

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Speaker 1: sit here, Ariah said, handing Esther more of the weirdly

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Speaker 1: textured food to eat, and they both sat down. Well.

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Speaker 1: Ariah sat down, Esther just fell down, her legs crumbling

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Speaker 1: from underneath her. She was tired. As they began to

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Speaker 1: get comfortable, preparing makeshift beds to sleep on, there was

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Speaker 1: a subtle shift in the atmosphere. It was getting warmer,

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Speaker 1: and the colors ever so slightly more vivid. Do you notice,

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Speaker 1: Esther said, yes, Ariah said, as she stood up, prepared

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Speaker 1: to defend herself. Be calm, my friends, There is no

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Speaker 1: need for alarm, said a voice behind them. Ariyah and

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Speaker 1: Esther turned around, suddenly a bit alarmed. They hadn't heard

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Speaker 1: a voice since Tenton had left them. Now in front

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Speaker 1: of them was something both had never seen before. Their

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Speaker 1: unexpected visitor was a pixie, no taller than a rabbit,

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Speaker 1: slowly fluttering closer to them in the clearing. His delicate

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Speaker 1: and translucent wings shimmered in the fading light, casting tiny

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Speaker 1: rainbows onto the ground. He was a burst of life

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Speaker 1: and energy, his presence a vivid contrast to everything else

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Speaker 1: Esther had experienced since she arrived. Though wary, Ariyah was transfixed,

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Speaker 1: she was speechless. Hello friends, he chirped in a high pitched,

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Speaker 1: melodic voice. I am Flicks, the guardian of this little haven.

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Speaker 1: Esther and Ariah exchanged surprised glances before Esther responded Hello,

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Speaker 1: flicks Um, we were hoping. Flicks hovered closer, his curiosity apparent.

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Speaker 1: You were hoping to stay the night, he said. The

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Speaker 1: magic here told me so. It's been a long time

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Speaker 1: since it sensed anything good. It's why the flowers still

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Speaker 1: bloom and why I stay. I take care of them

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Speaker 1: and they help take care of me in return. You

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Speaker 1: are safe here for the night. None of the creatures

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Speaker 1: will approach. His tiny face was earnest, and in his

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Speaker 1: bright eyes there was a spark of the playfulness pixies

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Speaker 1: were known for. The trees will keep you hidden, and

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Speaker 1: the magic in this place will ward off all that

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Speaker 1: has been influenced by the artifact. Only the Gray Queen

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Speaker 1: could come here, but I'm sure she is much too

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Speaker 1: busy to visit. Ariah nodded, appreciating the reassurance. Thank you, Flicks.

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Speaker 1: I know you both have many questions, especially you, Esther.

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Speaker 1: How did you know my name? Esther asked, good magic,

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Speaker 1: young princess. I have sensed you since your arrival through

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Speaker 1: the portal. You are like a beacon in the night.

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Speaker 1: Such love, hope, and warmth accompany you. The few of

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Speaker 1: us laughed have been waiting for you since you were born,

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Speaker 1: which was announced to us. Despite all the distance that

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Speaker 1: separates our realms, At some point we will have time

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Speaker 1: to talk. But now you must both rest because what

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Speaker 1: waits you will require all of your will and strength.

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Speaker 1: Ariah finally spoke. Are you able to help us, help

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Speaker 1: us reach the veil of mists or tell us a

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Speaker 1: shortcut to the starlit summit of Eldoria? Oh? Good night.

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Speaker 1: You know very well that our realm has no shortcuts.

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Speaker 1: Your role here is to protect Esther, to support her

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Speaker 1: in her transformation, and I'm afraid there is no quick way.

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Speaker 1: There is only patience. I will share this. When you

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Speaker 1: leave this wonderful hollow in the morning, after following the

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Speaker 1: path for a time, you will be presented with three choices. Esther,

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Speaker 1: you must lead in making the decision as to which

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Speaker 1: choice to take. Do not listen to Ariah, listen to

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Speaker 1: you your heart. It will help you make the right decision. Now,

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Speaker 1: I am very sorry, but I must leave you, Flicks announced,

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Speaker 1: his voice tinged with a hint of reluctance. It was

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Speaker 1: such a pleasure to meet you both now, at this

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Speaker 1: point in your journey. I wanted to help you both

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Speaker 1: as much as possible, and I would love to spend

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Speaker 1: more time talking, but the night is my time to

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Speaker 1: watch over this haven and ensure its magic remains undisturbed.

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Speaker 1: Esther and Ariah, listening intently to Flix's every word, nodded

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Speaker 1: in understanding. Thank you, Flicks. We wish you would stay,

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Speaker 1: but we understand, Esther said, gratefully, I hope we will

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Speaker 1: meet again. Flick smiled, a slight, warm glow emanating from him,

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Speaker 1: lighting up his delicate features. Remember, Esther, your father loves

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Speaker 1: and trusts you, he said, Even in places where it

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Speaker 1: seems all magic is lost, there's always light waiting to

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Speaker 1: re rekindled. With those parting words, Flicks fluttered his wings

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Speaker 1: and rose into the air, hovering momentarily as if to

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Speaker 1: memorize the scene before him. Then, with a swift, graceful motion,

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Speaker 1: he darted away, disappearing as suddenly into the night as

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Speaker 1: he had appeared, his light fading into the shadows of

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Speaker 1: the trees. Esther and Ariah sat quietly in awe of

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Speaker 1: what they just experienced. A million thoughts were going through

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Speaker 1: Esther's mind, Questions, fears, she wished she had her mother

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Speaker 1: to talk to, even one of her old tear would

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Speaker 1: have had some advice to give. She knew that with

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Speaker 1: each challenge she faced and each cycle that passed, she

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Speaker 1: had a greater sense of self reliance. Every difficult path navigated,

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Speaker 1: every strange creature encountered, and every problem they solved gradually

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Speaker 1: built her confidence. But she felt lonely. She must hurry

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Speaker 1: to find her father and return home. I've never seen

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Speaker 1: a pixie, Ariah said, far more quietly than she might

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Speaker 1: typically talk. Ariah's face actually showed a smile. I have

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Speaker 1: not met one before either. Ariah's face slowly lost its smile,

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Speaker 1: and she returned to her usual seriousness. He was right.

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Speaker 1: No matter how much I would like to talk about

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Speaker 1: about what we quickly experienced, we must sleep, or at

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Speaker 1: least try. We need our arrest for the path that

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Speaker 1: lies before us. Esther thought it impossible to sleep, her

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Speaker 1: mind was racing, but as soon as she laid her

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Speaker 1: head down, she was again quickly asleep with a snort.

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Speaker 1: And that is the end of this part. Good night,

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Speaker 1: sleep tight