Matteo Vistani's Arc

Chapter 3 of 3

Matteo walked through the Hidden Realm until he found a stone building he hadn't seen before. The entrance stood open, inviting him inside. He stepped through and saw shelves stacked with bottles, herbs hanging from hooks, and tools he didn't recognize. This was an apothecary—a place where people mixed remedies and potions. The smell of dried plants filled the air. He moved between the shelves, reading labels on jars. Some ingredients were for healing. Others sharpened the mind or calmed bad dreams. Matteo picked up a small bottle filled with silver liquid. The label said it helped with clarity during visions. He set it back down carefully. This place could give him what he needed to understand his gift better. If he learned to control his visions, he could explain them to someone without seeming broken. He could show that what he saw was real and useful. Matteo looked around the apothecary one more time before leaving. He knew where to come now when he needed help preparing for the future he'd been dreaming of. Outside, the path led him to a clearing he hadn't noticed before. A tall pole made of black wood stood in the center, wrapped with ribbons that glowed like captured starlight. Flowers at its base gave off a soft blue light, and fireflies circled the structure in slow patterns. Matteo stopped and stared. The pole felt important, like it meant something to the people here. He stepped closer and saw where the ribbons had been tied together—two different colors woven into one. This was how people in the Hidden Realm showed they belonged together. That their community accepted them both. Matteo touched one of the glowing ribbons and felt warmth spread through his fingers. Someday he would stand here with someone who understood his visions. They would tie their own ribbons to a pole like this, and everyone would see that he wasn't alone anymore. He pulled his hand back and looked at the fireflies dancing in the air. The Hidden Realm had everything he needed—places to learn, ways to grow, and proof that acceptance was real. He just had to keep moving forward until he found the person who would choose to stay. As evening fell, Matteo followed voices down another path. A tent appeared ahead, its dark fabric covered in string lights and glowing lamps. The entrance flaps were tied back, showing cushioned seats and small tables inside. People sat in pairs, talking quietly over cups of tea. Matteo stepped inside and felt the warmth from the lamps on his face. This was a place for people to meet and talk without the noise of the larger gathering halls. A woman near the back laughed at something her companion said. Two men by the entrance leaned close, sharing stories. Matteo found an empty seat and sat down. Someone would notice him here eventually. Someone would ask about his life, his visions, his dreams. And maybe that person would be the one who stayed. He watched the lamplight flicker across the tent walls and waited. The Hidden Realm kept showing him spaces where connection could happen. Now he just needed to be ready when it did. Morning came with a new idea forming in his mind. If he wanted someone to find him, he needed to let them know where to look. Matteo walked until he found a willow tree with bark that showed every color he could name. String lights hung from its branches, glowing even in daylight. He pulled paper from his pocket and wrote about what he offered—guidance through visions, help seeing what might come. He pinned the paper to the trunk where travelers would see it. Other papers already hung there, each telling what someone needed or could give. His words joined them now. People searching for answers would read his message and know where to find him. They would come to his dwelling and ask their questions. And one of them might be the person he'd been waiting for. Matteo stepped back and looked at the tree with its rainbow bark and lights. The Hidden Realm had given him everything—knowledge, gathering places, and now a way to be seen. His life here was taking shape, one piece at a time.