Miss yesterday? Catch yourself up:
Special thanks to The Hearthlight Chronicles’ creator, Henrique de Aguiar, for allowing me to use his game like this. You can find him on Bluesky, X, or Itch, or better yet, grab The Hearthlight Chronicles - it’s only $3.
Today’s Prompt: “An ancient oak tree stands in the heart of the village, rooted in the past with its branches reaching for the future. What does this tree reveal to you?”
Today’s music: Lo Fi Hip Hop, by Serene Rhythms. 🎧 Listen on Soundcloud.
The Ancient Oak Tree
I decided today was the day to move past the square and explore the nooks and crannies of the town. I could see myself staying in the market square for my entire time in Hearthlight—I mean, what’s not to like about a hub that provides unlimited coffee, beer, or ice cream? Still, I could feel the itch to get moving, and I had a whole day with nothing in my calendar.
As I walked through town, I passed a narrow laneway and almost continued on, but I caught a slice of green out of the corner of my eye. At the end of the laneway I saw a sliver of a park and decided that way was as good as any other. I wandered down the gap between two buildings, nothing dirty or dingy about it. The pavers beneath my feet were clean and free of moss, and despite there being no one around, it felt like this was a path many had wandered over time.
Emerging into a dappled glade, I stopped in my tracks. It was almost as if I’d left Hearthlight and found somewhere else entirely. A green meadow sprawled before me, with a slight rise leading to an ancient oak tree. Its boughs were still heavy with green leaves, beckoning me to stay a while and reflect. Well, why not?
I walked to the tree, the grass soft under my shoes, a slight springiness encouraging me on. There weren’t any ropes around the tree or signs warning people away from climbing it. As I drew closer, I could see this had an effect. Parts of the tree’s bark were worn as if many people had climbed its branches over the long years it had stood vigil. Should I climb it? I looked about a little sheepishly. There wasn’t anyone here to witness either a mighty ascent or a catastrophic faceplant. Come to think of it, the buildings of Hearthlight were a long way away. From the dappled shade under the tree, it looked as if I’d walked a kilometre to arrive here, but that couldn’t be right. The hamlet just wasn’t that large.
Right?
I noticed something on the ground by the base of the oak. I bent to get a closer look at a small sign. It had no nail holes in it, perhaps having been placed in the boughs above and fallen at gravity’s whim. I picked it up and turned it over, brushing the dirt off. It had crude lettering pyrographed into it. I could just imagine a child’s hand holding the woodburning pen as I read:
I MISS YOU, DAD. I HOPE YOU CAN SEE THIS FROM HEAVEN.
Well, shit.
I stood, thinking of the boy from yesterday, his sign, and the oak tree. I could imagine him scampering to the highest point he could manage so his father could read it from a perch in the clouds. I guess it was going to be a tree-climbing day after all.
I tucked the sign into my jacket, grabbed a branch, and set my foot against the ancient oak. It was an easy tree to climb, and I managed a slow but steady rise through the branches. I admit, I kind of lost track of time; the tree wasn’t that high, maybe 25 or 30 metres, but when I managed to poke my head through a gap in the canopy, it was as if I’d climbed half the Empire State Building. I could see Hearthlight spread below me, the little hamlet a ring of comfort about the base of the tree. And sure enough, above me were white, fluffy clouds—just perfect for someone’s dead dad to perch on and check in on how their son was doing.
I’m not sure how long I stayed there. A gentle breeze made the tree sway, but I didn’t feel like it was going to toss me to the ground. It was more like… an encouragement to stay, to relax, and to enjoy the view before me. A small, happy town, a slice of what everyone hoped for—a beer or ice cream, and a few friends to share them with.
As I removed the sign from inside my jacket, I realised I’d left my Hearthlight invitation in my room at the pub. Did it matter? Did I need it? It wasn’t like anyone was going to ask me for it here at the top of the oak tree. The branches wouldn’t allow two people up here and, come to think of it, they shouldn’t have allowed me up here, either—but here we were: the tree, the sign, and me. I ducked back beneath the verdant canopy and placed the sign between a fork in some branches. I made sure a little light could hit it, and the words were facing up, then I clambered back down.
Back on the ground, I dusted my hands on my pants, then set off again. When I reached the market square, I bumped into Hollis. I gave him a friendly wave. “Morning, Hollis. Get you a coffee?”
“I wouldn’t say no.”
We wandered into the gelato store because Trudy made a mean cappuccino. After we got our coffees and headed outside, Hollis thanked me. I said, “Hang about a minute. That’s a mighty fine oak tree in the middle of town. How long’s it been there?”
Hollis looked at me, a craggy eyebrow raised, then saluted me with his coffee. “Ain’t no oak trees in Hearthlight. If there were, someone would’ve climbed one to leave a message worth remembering. A tree like that would recall every soul that ever climbed it. I don’t think you’d find it twice.”
I watched him go, coffee in hand, jaw slack, and… unsurprised. Hearthlight felt a little special. It didn’t matter if Hollis was pulling my leg. Sometimes, it’s okay to find magic where you least expect it.
Roll result? A tree, a sign, and a sky full of reminiscence.
XP gained: 1 quiet reckoning, 1 soft-spoken truth from Hollis.
Ready for Day 4?
Thanks for reading my Hearthlight journey! Avoid FOMO…
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