It was a serene night on campus, the kind that made the world feel like a dream. The lake shimmered under the moonlight, reflecting the stars scattered across the sky like diamonds. Jake leaned back on the grass, his hands clasped behind his head, and watched the constellations dance above him. As he stared up, he thought about Emily, the girl who had captured his heart since their first year together. They had shared countless laughs in class, studied together late into the night, and now, they were here, in this perfect moment, under the starry sky. ‘Hey, Jake!’ Emily called out, her voice breaking through his reverie. She appeared by his side, her hair glowing softly in the dim light. ‘What are you thinking about?’ ‘Just the stars,’ he replied, smiling. ‘It’s beautiful out here, isn’t it?’ Emily sat down beside him, tucking her knees under her chin. ‘It really is. Sometimes I wish we could stay like this forever, just you and me, away from everything else.’ Jake’s heart raced at her words. He glanced at her, his thoughts racing. ‘What if we could? Just for tonight?’ he suggested, his voice barely above a whisper. They talked about their dreams and fears, the future stretching out before them like the endless sky above. As the conversation flowed, Jake felt an overwhelming urge to tell her how he felt. But what if she didn’t feel the same? Emily shared her dreams of traveling the world, her eyes sparkling with excitement. ‘I want to see the Northern Lights one day,’ she said, her voice filled with wonder. ‘What about you?’ Jake thought for a moment. ‘I’ve always wanted to explore the mountains. There’s something about being surrounded by nature that makes me feel alive.’ The night deepened, and the air was filled with laughter and soft confessions. The stars twinkled like tiny beacons, and the sounds of crickets created a symphony of nature. Finally, gathering his courage, Jake took a deep breath. ‘Emily, I need to tell you something.’ He paused, searching her eyes for any sign of what she might be feeling. ‘What is it?’ she asked, her voice gentle yet curious. He hesitated for a moment, then blurted it out. ‘I really like you, Emily. More than just a friend.’ Silence hung in the air, heavy with anticipation. Jake’s heart pounded in his chest as he awaited her response. The world around them faded, leaving only the two of them and the shimmering stars. Finally, a smile broke across her face. ‘I’m so glad you said that. I’ve been feeling the same way, but I didn’t know how to tell you!’ Relief washed over him, and they both burst into laughter, the tension breaking like the dawn. Under the blanket of stars, they shared their first kiss, the world fading away until it was just the two of them—two hearts finding their place in the universe. As they pulled away, Jake looked up at the sky, grateful for the moment they had created. ‘This night is perfect,’ he said, his heart full. ‘It is,’ Emily replied, resting her head on his shoulder as they watched the stars twinkle above them. They sat in comfortable silence, the weight of unspoken words and newfound feelings hanging in the air. Jake broke the silence again. ‘You know, I never believed in fate, but tonight feels like it was meant to be.’ Emily nodded, her eyes shining with understanding. ‘Sometimes, the universe has a way of bringing people together at just the right moment. I feel like we were always supposed to end up here.’ The sounds of the night wrapped around them like a warm embrace, and for a moment, everything felt right. The future was uncertain, but together, they felt invincible. As the stars began to fade into the dawn, Jake took Emily's hand, intertwining their fingers. ‘No matter what happens after tonight, I want you to know that you mean a lot to me.’ With a content smile, Emily replied, ‘And you mean the world to me, Jake. Let’s make the most of our time together.’ With that promise, they began to plan their adventures, their laughter echoing into the night as they created a bond that would last a lifetime. They knew that this starry night was only the beginning of their journey together, filled with love, dreams, and the magic of the universe.

It was supposed to be a simple farewell party before college ended—a last night for the boys to unwind. But from the moment they cracked open beers at 3 pm, everything spun out of control. By 5 pm, drinks were downed like water, and with each passing minute, the laughter got louder, the stories crazier. Around 8 pm, a bizarre challenge took over the room: jumping into the nearby lake in only their boxers. Laughing, they ran out the door, diving into the freezing water, shouting, splashing, and racing each other back to shore. They returned to the villa soaked but exhilarated, with only one objective: to keep the chaos going. At 10 pm, karaoke came into play, but it wasn’t long before the house was filled with random props they’d stolen from around the villa—one guy wore a lampshade on his head, another had fashioned a mop into a ‘rockstar’ guitar, and a third somehow ended up with a garbage can on his head. The singing turned into off-key screaming, each of them taking turns to outdo each other’s crazy antics. By 11 pm, someone remembered they had fireworks left over from New Year’s. One genius decided they’d shoot them from a beer bottle in their hand. Against all sense, they took turns lighting firecrackers and sprinting out of the way just in time. In a ‘brilliant’ twist, one of them wore sunglasses to look ‘cooler’ while lighting them up, as sparks flew just inches away. Just when things couldn’t get crazier, one friend—already too drunk—decided to raid the neighbors’ chicken coop. By midnight, they were back at the villa, passing around a live chicken like a trophy, convinced it was the night’s ultimate achievement. At 1 am, they hit the road for some ice cream, somehow managing to cram ten people into a beat-up car and a barely functioning scooty. Their over-drunk friend, still clutching the chicken, stuck his head out the window and periodically lost his balance, much to everyone’s hysterics. They pulled over to get ice cream, only for the over-drunk friend to loudly proclaim he was adopting the chicken as his ‘spirit animal.’ Returning to the villa, the poker game began, but it quickly evolved into a game of ‘truth or dare poker’—a wrong move meant having to run around the villa wearing someone else’s shirt as pants or calling up their ex to sing ‘I Will Survive’ with full passion. At 4 am, the ultimate idea struck: hire a dancer for the night. Within minutes, they were out the door again, with three of them on a single scooty and the others crammed into the car, still holding the chicken. However, their escapade got the attention of the police, who pulled them over. Somehow, they talked their way out of it by claiming they were taking the chicken to the vet. With adrenaline high, they peeled off, zooming 10-12 km in under 10 minutes, blasting music and shouting over it. In the middle of nowhere, they found themselves in a street race with an Audi. The car roared down empty roads, with the chicken clucking loudly in the backseat as they hollered lyrics to their favorite songs, lost in the thrill of the chase. As the sun crept up, they finally pulled over, miles from where they started. They sat on the hood of the car, silent for the first time all night, knowing this was the kind of story they’d tell for years: the night that defied logic, sanity, and everything else—and bonded them like never before.

Dear Friend, I hope this letter finds you like the first light of dawn breaking over the forest—hidden and soft, yet promising a bright day. It has been many full moons since I left our village to seek the Wise Alchemist, and I miss everything—the mornings filled with birdsong, the warmth of the sun, and the lake near your home. Tonight, I am sitting in a forest of ancient trees with pink and white leaves, under the shade of the oldest tree, writing to share my journey with you. The path has been long. I have crossed dense woods and forded rivers, some like those near our home, but others were unlike anything we have seen. One river seemed endless, with no opposite shore visible. Its waters were alive with strange fish I had never seen. At dusk, the sun would sink into its depths, and the sky would turn the colors of embers—orange and pink. As the sun disappeared, the moon and stars would rise to light the world, their reflections rippling in the river. It was so beautiful that I stayed for many days on a cliff overlooking the scene, wondering about its secrets. The endless river made me think about alchemy—the sun, like the Alchemist, seems to turn light into gold before sinking away. When it was time to move on, I thought of our village. It must have been the season when we begin to till the soil for greens and roots. I knew snow would soon blanket the land. A few nights later, guided by the brightest star, I came to a village covered in white powder. The people there wore cloaks of fur from great white bears to stay warm. They told me the powder was called 'snow,' soft and cold like the breath of the gods. Snow melts into water when held to the flame, they said, and though it makes the land barren, it is also a blessing that protects and purifies. I stayed there through the winter, learning their ways. They could not grow crops as we do, so they hunted for food. On full moon nights, the villagers gathered around a great fire to tell stories and sing songs of their ancestors. I loved this tradition and thought we could do something similar when I return, inviting our neighbors to join in the storytelling. One night, they spoke of a sacred tradition. On the longest night of winter, they travel to a holy site blessed by the gods, where they pray for strength to endure the cold. I joined them, walking for many nights under the stars. When we arrived, the sun was setting, painting the snow-covered mountains in fiery hues. As the sky darkened, something magical appeared. Lights of green, purple, and red danced in the heavens, rippling like the waves of a river. It was unlike anything I had ever seen—like the gods themselves were celebrating. I prayed for our village that night, asking the gods to protect us and bless our fields. As the snow began to melt and flowers bloomed, I knew it was time to continue my journey. Before I left, I wrote down stories to share with the children of the village—stories I will bring back home, too. I will soon find the Alchemist and learn the secrets of their craft. I hope to bring not just prosperity but also the wonders of this journey to our people. Until then, take care of yourself. With the warmth of the sun on a cold night, Tanmay