Page 24

Seren

The stairs creaked softly beneath their steps as the Oracle led Seren up to a small loft tucked beneath the slanted roof.

Seren stood in the doorway of her new room, her breath caught somewhere between disbelief and quiet relief.

The loft bedroom was small but warm, the slanted wooden beams above her head adding a sense of hidden sanctuary. The bed, tucked against the far wall, was covered in a soft quilt, its checkered patterns cheerful in a way that made something in her chest ease.

But it wasn't just the bed.

To one side of the room, built beneath the eaves, stood a set of haphazardly filled bookshelves.

The shelves were crammed with old, well-loved books, some stacked horizontally, others shoved in at odd angles.

The scent of aged paper and ink mingled with the lingering traces of lavender and herbs from the Oracle's presence.

And next to the bedroom—

A small ensuite bathroom.

Seren peeked inside, surprised. The stone sink, the antique brass fixtures, the deep, clawfoot tub—everything about it was unexpectedly thoughtful, a quiet luxury she hadn't anticipated.

She turned back toward the large window, where the view was something out of a dream.

The branches of a cherry tree stretched so close that she could almost touch them if she leaned forward. Its delicate blossoms quivered with the wind, a soft pink against the twilight sky .

A red squirrel skittered across the swaying branches, pausing briefly to twitch its tail before darting off again, disappearing into the leaves.

Seren exhaled slowly, pressing a hand to the windowsill.

It felt—peaceful.

The Oracle watched her from the doorway, her warm eyes twinkling.

"This is your space now. It used to belong to my daughter," the Oracle said, stepping aside. "No one will disturb you here."

Seren's throat felt tight.

Before she could thank her, the Oracle placed something in her hands.

A laptop.

Seren blinked. "You have internet?"

The Oracle chuckled. "We don't communicate with smoke signals, dear." She smiled, soft and knowing. "I thought you might want to see your mother's face."

The words hit harder than Seren expected.

Her fingers curled around the laptop, the weight of it unexpectedly grounding.

The Oracle sighed, brushing a stray strand of hair from Seren's face.

"Did you know I was going to stay with you?," she murmured.

"Well, my crystal ball told me. I had to go with it" the oracle replied, with a mischievous grin.

Seren didn't think.

She just stepped forward and hugged her again .

The Oracle didn't hesitate, her arms strong and steady, her warmth unwavering.

Seren swallowed past the lump in her throat.

"Thank you," she whispered.

When she finally pulled back, the Oracle smiled. "Your luggage has been delivered. Rest now, child."

Seren nodded, stepping toward the window.

The forest stretched out beyond the glass, endless and whispering.

For the first time since she had arrived—

She had a place to breathe.

Home.