Salendar sits at his desk, exuding an air of anticipation. The shirt is crisply ironed, the tie meticulously knotted, and the dark rings under his eyes have faded completely. The script is elegantly written, and a fresh cup of coffee steams gently beside a vase of oddly-shaped flowers.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD MORNING, Ladies, Gentlemen, and viewers of every variety in between! My name is Salendar, and I'll be your host for today’s episode of Bright Side News! As you can see, the studio is back in order after last week’s mishap, one that the editing team swears blind will never happen again. The flowers to my right here are an apology from them, and although we can’t afford to give out flowers to every single BSN viewer, you can see them here on my desk whenever we air an episode.
Deep in the heart of Nullore, where travellers seek rest and dreams go to die, a new coffee shop by the name of "Thanks A Latte" has opened its doors. What makes this place unique? Certainly not the name. Well, the barista happens to be a skilled sorcerer, none other than Raldok Korlson, court magician of the Monotos! With a flick of a wand and a sprinkle of magic, he brews up more than your typical cup of coffee. From levitating mugs to summoning caffeine spirits, the coffee experience here is truly enchanting. But as the word spreads, so does the queue, and some wonder if the wait times are worth even the most exquisite coffee… they aren’t. Seriously, we’ve written, what, 26 stories since I died last time, and how many of them happen in Nullore? By the time next month rolls around, some new magical dining experience will be all the rage, and guess what? Thanks A Latte will have no queue! My recommendation is to wait until everyone else moves on. Only carrion eaters don’t have to hunt for a meal.
Yet another strange Nullore landmark, the Whispering Forest, renowned as the location for secret meetings and clandestine pacts made throughout the ages. The trees have begun to actually whisper, making the name hilariously more accurate as they share secrets of the past, present, and possible futures with those who dare to listen. Locals believe it's a gift from the ancient spirits of the woods, while sceptics suspect a mischievous druid at play. As curious adventurers venture in, they find themselves entwined in tales that range from heartwarming to downright eerie. The forest's secrets beckon, but not everyone is prepared for what they might uncover! So of course, eager to know every little thing about your lives, I went in to investigate! I… I learned a lot, mostly about myself. I don’t want to talk about it.
Now a story *not* based in Nullore! In the quaint workshop of Elkshorn's most renowned mirror maker, two peculiar discoveries have been made. One, the Elkshorn mirror industry is surprisingly competitive. Two, when crafted with a secret incantation, mirrors can reveal glimpses of potential futures. People see reflections of themselves navigating different paths, making choices that lead to varied destinies, and facing unforeseen possibilities. The citizens are captivated, and the mirror maker is inundated with requests. Now, I’ve visited the future before, and trust me. You. Don’t. Want. To. Know. I can’t tell you much, but… if you have dogs, I advise you to start being incredibly polite to them.
And with that, we wrap up another episode of Bright Side News! Shout out to Steven, the guy who broke the printer! We figured out it was you and oh buddy, we are going to have words next time I see you in this office. To those of my audience with longer life expectancies than Steve, if you have any tales of your own to share, reach out to us at 0800-notmyproblem-1701. Until next week, thank you for listening to Bright Side News, where the glass is always one-tenth full!
