TRAILS OF THE HEART
It all began in a small and gentle town called Walsvile.
This was before Mr. Grant had arrived. Back then, life in the town was peaceful. Every weekend, families gathered together to feast, laugh, and share stories beneath warm lantern lights. Everyone knew everyone, and no one ever felt alone.
My two best friends were Lora Rose and Tiffany Watts.
Rose always dreamed of traveling far beyond Walsvile. She wanted to visit distant towns and countries, to learn about their cultures and traditions. She loved to cook and paint, spending most afternoons experimenting with new recipes or filling her sketchbook with colorful designs.
Tiffany was more of a dreamer.
She would often laugh and say that one day we would all marry rich men, attend each other's weddings, and remain best friends forever. In her mind, the future was always grand and beautiful.
I, on the other hand, preferred books.
Stories fascinated me. Every page felt like a doorway into another world, and sometimes I imagined ways to bring those ideas into real life.
We were three young women with completely different dreams, but our friendship was what held us together.
Most evenings, we met near Wals Lake, the wide body of water that divided Walsvile from the neighboring city known as Shadowvile.
We never knew much about that city. Our parents strictly forbade us from visiting it—or even speaking about it too much.
All we were told was that Shadowvile was filled with powerful and dangerous people. Long ago, rumors spread that warriors from the city had tried to take the resources from Walsvile. Some believed there had once been a war between the two places, though no one could say for certain if it had truly happened.
After our usual walks along the river bay, my friends and I would head to the library to study for our final college exams.
We were bright students, and we treasured every moment we spent together. It often felt as though we were sisters—bound not by blood, but by fate.
Rose had blonde hair that was always curly and tangled, though it somehow made her look even prettier. She was the tallest of us, with warm brown eyes that shone whenever she talked about art or baking. She dreamed of becoming both a designer and a baker someday.
Her father worked at an oil factory, but her mother had never been seen since the day they first arrived in Walsvile.
Tiffany had ginger hair—straight, silky, and a beautiful shade of copper. Her blue eyes were rare in our town, and her personality was just as bold. She loved music and stories about royalty, often joking that she would become a princess or a wealthy queen someday.
Tiffany's parents were extremely wealthy. Sometimes she arrived at school in a car, but most days she chose to walk or take the bus with us instead. I admired that about her—she never bragged about her family's wealth and always remained humble.
As for me…
My name is Luna Blake.
I had short black hair, brown eyes, and a personality that preferred staying out of trouble. Books and research were my passions. I spent most of my time studying ways to protect our town's resources and preserve the peaceful life we had always known.
My parents were not rich, but they provided food, a home, and paid for my education.
To me, that was more than enough.
Together, the three of us were known as the Tri-Sisters.
We stood by one another no matter what happened.
And if anyone ever tried to harm one of us—
They would have to face all three.