Mrs. Hodgins stood by the fireplace, her silhouette flickering in the amber glow.
"You don't have to decide now," she said, her voice soft but heavy. "Think about it. Wishes are powerful. But they're also… permanent."
Anne nodded slowly, her thoughts swirling. The idea of rewriting history, of undoing pain—it was tempting. Dangerous. Beautiful.
Zahir didn't speak. His jaw was tight, his eyes unreadable.
Hodgins smiled faintly. "Take a walk. See the world you've stepped into. It might help you understand what's at stake."
They left the cottage and stepped into the realm.
It was dusk here—always dusk. The sky was painted in hues of violet and gold, and the trees swayed gently, their leaves whispering secrets in a language Anne couldn't quite understand.
The ground beneath their feet was soft, like moss and memory. Flowers bloomed in impossible colors—blue fire lilies, silver-petaled roses, vines that pulsed with light.
Anne walked slowly, her fingers brushing against the petals.
"This place is… surreal," she murmured.
Zahir nodded. "It's a memory loop. A realm built from fragments of time and emotion. It's beautiful, but it's not real."
Anne glanced at him. "But it feels real."
Zahir stopped beside a small pond, its surface reflecting stars that didn't exist. "That's the danger."
They wandered through the forest, past trees that hummed with energy and stones carved with symbols Anne didn't recognize. At one point, they found a swing hanging from a branch—perfectly still despite the breeze.
Anne sat on it, gently rocking.
"Do you think she's telling the truth?" she asked.
Zahir leaned against the tree. "About her past? Yes. About what she wants? I'm not sure."
Anne looked up. "She knew you."
Zahir's expression darkened. "Too well."
Anne hesitated. "What did she mean by 'rewrite history'?"
Zahir sighed. "Some witches can bend time. Not travel through it, but… reshape it. Like clay. But it comes at a cost."
Anne's grip tightened on the swing ropes. "What kind of cost?"
Zahir looked at her. "You."
They walked in silence for a while, the realm shifting subtly around them. The trees grew taller. The air grew warmer. The stars began to pulse.
Anne stopped near a clearing where a circle of stones glowed faintly.
"She said to think about it," Anne whispered.
Zahir stepped beside her. "Just promise me you won't wish for something you don't understand."
Anne turned to him. "I want to help her. I want to help Leo. I want to fix things."
Zahir's voice was quiet. "Then be careful. Because sometimes… fixing things breaks something else."
Back at the cottage, Mrs. Hodgins sat in her rocking chair, watching the fire.
She smiled.
"They'll come around," she whispered.
Outside, the wind carried her words into the trees.
And the realm listened.