LOGINA year passed. Slowly. And yet, far too quickly.--- The forest remained.--- The paths remained.--- The houses were still standing.--- But they had changed.--- Or perhaps it was the people.--- Aren didn’t know.--- Some changes couldn’t be measured.--- You could only feel them.--- And that was exactly how it was with Eichenruh.--- The house still stood among the trees.--- But the doors no longer slammed shut on their own.--- The clocks no longer ticked.--- And the hallways no longer felt like places waiting for someone.--- For the first time, Eichenruh was simply a house.--- An old house.--- A quiet house.--- A peaceful house.--- Aren visited it anyway.--- Not every day.--- Not even every month.--- But often enough.--- Because some places became part of a person.--- Just as some people became part of a story.--- He wasn’t alone that morning.--- Mira was there.--- And Jonas.--- Kai.--- Elio.--- Even Leon.--- They stood in fron
Elias disappeared. Not in a flash. Not in a storm of magic. Not in a dramatic resolution of light.He was just there.And then no more.As if the forest had taken a deep breath.And gently carried him away.The door was closed.The black key was restless in the castle.The ruins of the tower stood still.No more light.No votes.No whisper.Just wind.An ordinary wind.For the first time in a long time.Nobody spoke.The group was on the spotlight.And stared at the place where Elias had stood.Aren didn't know how long they stayed there.Minutes.Maybe hours.Time suddenly felt different.Calm down.Lighter.Then Leon came forward.He slowly went to the door.Put a hand on the cold stone.And closed the eyes.“Thank you.” he whispered.Nobody asked if he spoke to Elias.Or forgetting.Or his brother.Maybe with everyone.Then something strange happened.A little noise.Very quiet.Like paper in the wind.Aren looked down.There was a leaf between the stones.It wasn't there befor
Elias went on. Slow down. Easy. With the black key in the hand.No one stopped him.No one called his name.Nobody tried to convince him.Because trust sometimes meant that:Let someone decide.The forest was now filled with golden light.The trees seemed like shadows.The world seemed ineffective.Like they're between two stories.The old one.And the new one.Elias reached the glow in front of the tower.Or what was left of him.There were stones everywhere.Broken walls.Weathered columns.Centuries of history that became dust.And in the middle of it stood the door.Open.Waiting.The millions of voices behind it continued to whisper.Not loud.Not demanding.An endless marble.Like rain.Like wind.Like memories.The group stayed a few meters back.Only Leon came closer.Not next to Elias.Behind him.As a companion.Not as a guard.That was an important difference.Elias noticed.And smiled weakly.“You really trust me.”Leon nodded.‘Yes.’“Why?”The answer came immediately.
‘Elias.’ The name remained in the room.Not like a spell. Not like a prophecy.Just like a name.And that's why he was so important.Because names made people from stories.And from loneliness someone you could talk to.Elias.For the first time, the being had not only millions of memories.For the first time it had its own.His.Outside the forest changed.The lights moved more slowly.Calm down.No more aimless.Not looking anymore.Like they felt something had happened.Something significant.Something that even understood the tower.For even though further stones fell down, his lamp seemed different.Softer.Warmer.Almost peaceful.Leon joined Elias.The two stood on the window.The man who had been waiting for decades.And the being that had waited for decades.“I hated you.” said Elias quietly.Leon nodded.“I know.”‘Very long.’“I know.”“Sometimes I imagined how to force you to stay with me.”Silence.Leon didn't answer.Because honesty didn't need defense.Then Elias smi
The being looked at the photo. Long. Very long.His fingers carefully glided over the yellowed paper.It's like it's afraid to damage the memory.Or maybe the person on it.The room was quiet.Even the quake of the tower seemed to be further away for a moment.“That was your brother.”Leon nodded.‘Yes.’The being looked at the picture again.“You remember him.”‘Every day.’The answer came without hesitation.Without thinking.No doubt.And something changed in the face of the being.Not much.Just a little piece.But Aren noticed.Because suddenly it seemed less like a collection of strange memories.And more like someone.“I don’t understand.” whispered the being.“What?”“Why do you even remember?”The question surprised everyone.Because she wasn't philosophical.Not profound.She was honest.Like a child's question.Leon smiled sadly.“Because people are important.”“Even if they are gone?”“Just then.”Silence.The being looked back on the photo.Then out the window.To the
The tower broke further. Stone for stone. Wall for wall.Golden light flowed out of the cracks.The forest was now brighter than the sky.And in the midst of this ineffective shine, the being stood on the window.Not like a ruler.Not like an enemy.Like someone waiting for an answer.An answer that never came.Maybe for centuries.Maybe longer.“What happens when the tower falls?” asked Mira.Leon answered immediately.“Then the border disappears.”“And the door?”‘Always open.’Silence.The being closed the eyes.Like it's been a thousand times.“No one will forget that.”“And no one else heal.” said Leon.The being shunned.Because that was true.The truth had an unpleasant characteristic today:Everyone had a piece of it.And no one all.Then suddenly sounded a sound.A quiet ringing.Almost inaudible.Aren wrinkled the forehead.Again.Kling.Kling.Kling.Not from the tower.Not from the forest.From his jacket pocket.He was confused.His phone.No reception.For hours.And







