On the edge of a quiet village stood a magical forest known as Willowmist.
No one entered after sunset—except for Arin, a curious student who loved solving mysteries more than anything.
Arin wasn't the bravest student in class, nor the strongest.
But he noticed things others didn't.
Like the way the wind sometimes whispered his name when he walked past the old trees.
One evening, while studying near his window, Arin saw something unusual—
a soft golden light flickering deep inside the forest.
It wasn't fire.
It wasn't a star.
It moved.
Calm but curious, Arin grabbed his notebook, a small lantern, and quietly stepped into Willowmist Forest.
The forest felt different at night.
The air was cool and cozy.
Fireflies glowed like floating stars.
The trees hummed gently, as if they were breathing.
As Arin followed the golden light, he noticed strange symbols glowing faintly on the tree trunks.
They looked like ancient writing.
"Who lights the forest at night?" Arin whispered.
The golden light suddenly stopped beside a large silver tree.
Underneath it sat a tiny floating lantern—no bigger than his palm.
But no one was holding it.
Arin stepped closer.
Suddenly, the lantern spoke in a soft voice:
"Only the one who listens may understand."
Arin didn't run.
He didn't shout.
He simply listened.
The forest grew silent.
Then he heard it—
a quiet cry.
Behind the silver tree was a small fox made of mist and moonlight.
Its tail shimmered like smoke.
One of its paws was trapped under a fallen branch.
Carefully, gently, Arin lifted the branch.
The fox stood up, glowing brighter now.
The lantern floated higher and said,
"You have solved the forest's mystery.
The light appears when someone kind enters Willowmist."
The symbols on the trees began to glow warmly.
The forest wasn't dangerous.
It was protecting something.
The mist-fox walked around Arin once, then touched his notebook with its nose.
A glowing mark appeared on the cover—a tiny lantern symbol.
"Whenever the forest needs you," the lantern whispered,
"you will see the light again."
The golden lantern slowly faded into the sky.
The fox disappeared into silver mist.
Arin walked home peacefully.
Excited.
Calm.
Different.
The next morning, no one believed his story.
But when Arin opened his notebook in class, the tiny lantern mark shimmered softly.
And far away, deep inside Willowmist Forest,
a golden light flickered once more.
The mystery was only beginning.
Goodnight.
Do you think the golden lantern is truly guiding Arin… or is it leading him into something far more dangerous?