To not clog up my blurb, I'll do it here. Quick disclaimers and stuff and for the peeps who like skipping through things like this, joke's on you.

This is an entry to the Open Novella Contest 2026, a Wattpad Ambassador-run event running from February to May. In a way, this is a standalone and will be understandable without reading any of my other works. However, I would greatly appreciate it if you checked my other works as well. They're found at the latter part of this story so watch out for that list!

Since this is an entry to the ONC, here are the prompts it is based on:

91 - In a kingdom where magic is bound to the changing seasons, one season suddenly disappears.

69 - The stars are disappearing one by one, and only you can hear their whispers.

10 - Every time you feel like you've failed at something, a flower appears in your yard. You now have the most spectacular flower garden in the neighborhood, yet all you want is grass.

114 - An immortal being, worn down by centuries and cursed so that anyone they touch dies, starts searching for a way to finally end their endless life. But Death, who has grown possessive and infatuated with them, refuses to let them go.

82 - You are in love with someone living and someone long dead. Neither one is willing to let you go.

115 - A prophecy claims you will love two people. One destined to save your life and the other destined to destroy it. The trouble is, you have no idea which is which.

16 - »And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.« (Quote by John Muir)

28 - Self-love often starts small, like planting a single seed. With time, patience, and a bit of light, it will blossom.

29 - You will meet many people in your life. Many will come and go, but some will leave footprints on your heart.

46 »We love broken, beautiful people. And it doesn't get more obviously broken and more classically beautiful than you.« (A slightly modified quote from »Daisy Jones & The Six« by Taylor Jenkins Reid)

This is an unedited draft. This is not line-edited so you'll see a lot of possible typos, some unflowy sentences, and most likely, some degree of bad phrasing. I see them all the time so don't worry, I'm way ahead of you there. No need to scream about it in my comments section.

This story is set in a fictional world. Everything comes from my imagination and should be treated as such. I do my research and take inspiration from anything and everything but if there's something you feel iffy about, some detail that you think should not be there, please tell me so we can sort things out immediately. I will appreciate it. <3

This is a story made from months of emotions and reflections—something close to my heart.

Tread lightly upon this garden of words, and together, we will find what we're looking for.