Hannah's POV
It's about 10 PM — the time of night when normal people are in bed and not, say, sneaking through the woods with a girl who may or may not be going through a full emotional collapse. But here we are.
Me and Abigail — my surprise sidekick in this bizarre magical side quest — are creeping past the river, past Marnie's place, toward the Wizard's tower. It's quiet. Too quiet. The frogs croak like they're narrating a horror movie, and every now and then, I hear Abigail sniffle beside me. I don't ask. She hasn't volunteered. And honestly, I'm not brave enough to poke the bear right now.
I'm starting to question every decision that led to this moment — especially the one where I agreed to let her tag along. But there was something in her voice earlier, a kind of raw determination that even the Wizard's weird forest magic wouldn't dare argue with.
As we climb the rickety wooden steps to the tower, the air thickens. The cobblestones are slick with moss, darker than I remember. The whole place feels... heavier. Like the tower itself is holding its breath.
Then — just before I knock — Abigail suddenly grabs my arm.
I flinch.
"Sorry," she mumbles, her voice barely holding together.
"It's okay," I whisper back. Though, to be honest, my pulse is doing laps around my body. I don't know if she's scared or if she feels it too — that eerie magnetic pull trying to shove us the other way.
The door creaks open — and it's not the Wizard.
It's Caroline.
"Mom?" Abigail spits, voice sharp enough to slice through stone.
Behind her, I spot the Wizard sitting in the corner, palms pressed against his temples like he just took psychic damage from a group text.
"I expected her," Caroline says, gesturing at Abigail, "but you, Hannah? Really?"
Okay, rude. I'm the only one here who was actually invited. The rest of them just showed up like this is some cosmic open house.
I step past Caroline and make my way to the Wizard, satchel in hand.
"I brought the jade," I say, attempting to smile.
He doesn't return it. Instead, his eyes slide to Abigail. "And you brought... something else."
"She wasn't exactly optional," I mutter, placing the satchel on the table. "She was gonna follow me anyway, and I really didn't want to be responsible for leading a teen rebellion. Also, do you have any idea what I went through to get that jade? Two days in the mines. I was attacked by slimes. That is not a metaphor."
The Wizard stands, slowly, like his bones are tired of everyone's drama.
Then, Abigail speaks.
"So... when exactly were you two planning to tell me you're my father?"
The room freezes.
I blink. "I'm sorry — your what now?"
The Wizard exhales through his nose. "Well, Caroline?"
"Don't you dare put this all on me, Razmodius!" Caroline snaps. "I did everything I was supposed to do."
And there I am — standing awkwardly in the corner, feeling like I just walked into a magical version of Maury.
"Clearly," Razmodius says dryly, gesturing toward Abigail, "that plan's going well."
"Oh please," Caroline bites back. "Who just leaves an old photo in a chest like it's not going to spark a full-blown identity crisis?"
"I didn't think my daughter would break into my home with her friends and go digging through my personal artifacts!"
"Guys," I cut in, "maybe yell less in the spooky tower that may or may not be bugged by evil magic?"
"Enough!" Abigail shouts. "You're fighting about who lied to me better. Just stop."
Oof.
That one hits the room like a cold slap. Caroline looks gutted. Razmodius presses his fingers to his forehead like he's aged five years in the last five minutes.
"We always knew this day might come—" Caroline begins.
"I didn't," Razmodius interjects, completely unhelpfully.
"—but we did it to protect you," she finishes.
"Protect me, yeah okay" Abigail sighs.
My ears perk up. Plot twist incoming.
"The witch Abigail ," Caroline says. "His ex-wife."
"Wait... you have an ex-wife?" I ask Razmodius. "That's kind of wild."
"Not the point," he mutters.
"She's dangerous," Caroline explains. "We kept everything hidden because if she ever found out about Abigail—"
"She'd curse me," Abigail finishes. "Cool. Awesome. Love that for me."
Caroline turns to me. "Hannah, maybe it's best if you—"
"No," Abigail cuts in, grabbing my arm. "She stays. Hannah barely knows me and still brought me here. I trust her more than either of you."
Damn. That one hurt. Caroline winces like Abigail just tore something out of her.
"The witch lives outside of Stardew," Razmodius explains. "I sealed her lair years ago with a talisman... but it's broken."
Caroline gasps. "Broken?"
Abigail groans. "It was Sam, wasn't it? Of course it was Sam."
"There is a second talisman," the Wizard says, "but unfortunately... it's in her lair."
"Of course it is," I mutter.
"Abigail," he says gently, "you were never a mistake. We made choices — bad ones — but not you."
Abigail's face crumbles. "Don't. You told me to leave. You wanted nothing to do with me. Now you love me?"
"Staying away was the only way I could protect you," he says. "I've sealed your home. No entity can enter."
Caroline panics. "What happens if she leaves?"
"There are loopholes," Razmodius admits. "But the witch doesn't know she exists. That's our best protection right now."
"So what, we lock her in the house like Rapunzel?" I ask.
"Absolutely not," Abigail snaps. "This is not my problem."
"I'll go," I blurt. "To get the talisman. If it helps."
Everyone turns to stare at me.
"Hannah, you're just a farmer," Caroline protests.
"She was just a farmer," Razmodius corrects. "But the Junimos chose her."
"Wait — the what now?" I ask, my brain melting.
"The scrolls you found. Only you can see them," he says. "Only you can see the writings, well and I can, but I can see everything through the arcane, that is why I am the crazy guy who lives alone in his tower."
Okay. No pressure or anything.
"You're not crazy, Razmodius." Caroline adds gently.
"Oh, I think all of you are insane," Abigail says flatly. "What a beautiful family reunion."
"I'm sorry," Caroline says again, her voice cracking.
"I don't want to hear it," Abigail says, turning to the Wizard. "Tell us what we need to do to get the talisman."
"I'll contact Hannah when it's time," the Wizard says calmly. "But for now, Abigail... stay away from this tower. Too many visits raise suspicion."
Abigail clenches her fists, then storms out, slamming the door behind her so hard I'm surprised the building didn't collapse.
Caroline stares at the floor like it has answers.
"Thank you for the jade," Razmodius says, placing a surprisingly warm hand on my shoulder. "Watch her."
His eyes — the same color as Abigail's — meet mine. I swallow hard, then nod and head after her, knowing this is only the beginning.
And I still haven't even unloaded my crops
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