🌌 The Whispering StonesEpisode 1: The Boy Who Heard the EarthThe wind howled through the sleeping village of Elmsworth, whispering secrets down chimney stacks and across cobbled streets. Everyone was asleep — everyone but Kael, a seventeen-year-old boy who sat by the old stone well at the village square, his ear pressed gently to the cold rock.There it was again. The whisper. Faint… trembling… almost like breath.“He’s coming.”Kael jerked back. His heart thundered in his chest. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard the stones speak, but it was the first time they had sounded… afraid.He glanced around. The village was silent, the lanterns dim. The only movement was the wind tugging at the branches of the sleeping elm trees.Kael stood, brushing off his worn coat. The stone’s voice still echoed in his ears. He didn’t know who “he” was — but the stones had never lied.At home, his grandmother sat beside the fireplace, her face lined like old bark and her shawl pulled tight.“You were at the well again, weren’t you?” she asked without looking up.Kael hesitated. “Yes.”She gave a tired sigh. “I warned your mother not to pass that curse on to you.”“It’s not a curse,” Kael said. “It’s a gift.”“No, child,” she said, her voice a dry whisper. “It’s a danger.”Kael opened his mouth to argue, but the old woman raised a trembling hand. “Enough. Get some sleep. Tomorrow, you’ll forget this nonsense.”But Kael knew he wouldn’t. Something was calling him. And it was coming closer............

The rhythmic clop of the black, shimmering horse’s hooves — tak… tak… tak… — filled the silence. She tightened the reins and began to appreciate the view of nature all around her. As far as her eyes could reach, there was a rich green carpet — a testament to nature’s magic. To her left was a forest full of trees, where birds rested in their nests, unfazed by worries, singing and fluttering their wings in peace. To her right flowed a clear, blue stream, making its own path and quenching everything in its wake. Beyond that, there was more green — green upon green. She saw her reflection in the mirror-like stream of water, and then her gaze turned upward toward the sky, a canvas rendered by its creator. The sky was a riot of color — a shimmering gold wave, a deep blue hidden behind clouds, a pure blue in some places, a rich purple in others — a beautiful picture forged by its master’s skill.She dismounted from her horse, held its rein, and walked toward the stream.“What do you think, Bebrak… How was all this made?”She was conversing with her horse — a creature close to God’s artistry.“Do you know… Whenever I come here, I feel God is angry with me… Do you think he is…? Is He really… angry with me?”Her eyes filled with tears.“Let's go… It’s getting late. We need to reach home before it gets dark, or my maid will scold me.”“Good evening, my maid.”She tied her horse to a tree and addressed her mother, who was already waiting outside.(She had called her “maid” since childhood — her mother’s name was “Maid” — and because she performed all the duties a maid normally would in a home).“How many times have I told you to come back before it gets dark?”“That’s true… I’m sorry I’m late.”“You should realize I’m all you have. Your dad left us… and now you...”Her voice faltered.“Okay… please, don’t get emotional… I’m here. Let’s go inside.”They entered through the two-step doorway. Inside was a TV lounge with a few decoration pieces and sofas placed alongside a glass table. There were two rooms — the first directly in view was Alex’s room, and the second, to its left, was her mother’s.“Freshen up. We’ll eat afterwards.”Saying this, the mother went into the kitchen, which was located to the right, behind a wall.Across the restaurant, steam rose from every table as people ate, laughing and talking. At a table, a solitary girl with soulful, creamy-brown eyes — a mixture of happiness and a quest for the truth — sat quietly. She was wearing a pair of coat shoes, dark-blue jeans, a grey shirt, and a light-brown hat resting upon her thick locks of hair. A brown leather bag, its zipper opened, hung over her right shoulder.“May I sit here?”He placed his black-colored bag down — its zipper also opened — and gracefully sat down at the seat across from Alex.“Now tell me… What’s troubling you?”Alex turned away.“I don’t know.”He pressed, “Look, Alex… How can I solve your problems if you don't tell me?”“What should I tell you, Abdullah? What should I say? I feel I’m strayed… I feel I’ve gone down the path of confusion… Do you know… there’s a forest near our home… with tall trees… when I step upon their fallen leaves, they seem to cry… the forest feels it’s begging for refuge… everything there disregards me… when I look up at the sky, it turns away… when I reach down to the stream, it rushes forward, avoiding me… everything signals to me… that I’m strayed… I’m truly strayed… tell me… who am I… for God’s sake, Abdullah… tell me… or I’ll lose my mind…”Abdullah quietly gazed at her tears for a moment and then said,“Believe, Alex… say the testimony of faith (Kalma)… Accept that our religion is true… Accept that our Prophet is true… Accept that there are four holy books… Accept that the angels exist… Accept that after death, we will be resurrected… Accept that God is real… God is true… Then you will see — everything will greet you… everything will celebrate for you… everything…”There was a moment’s silence.“No! Absolutely not! Do you hear me?”She screamed — then got up and rushed outside.“Dinner is ready. Come on, Alex!”She rose with a heavy body and made her way toward the dining table.“What’s the matter? Are you feeling all right?” Her maid placed a hand upon Alex’s forehead.“Oh, you have a fever… What’s the matter, my darling?”“It’s nothing… I’m just going outside for a while… Okay… but please don’t go far.”“All right…” Alex draped a shawl over her shoulders and went outside to sit on the steps by the doorway.The vast, clear sky was adorned with the shimmering glow of the full moon and countless twinkling stars. Whenever Alex gazed upward, she fell into a state of awe — a moment when the universe seemed to speak to her. She would lose herself in its magnificence. It was a moment when a voice — a voice not meant for everyone’s ears — began to reach her.“He who created the seven heavens, one above another; you will not find any inconsistency in the creation of the Lord of Mercy. Look again — do you see any rift? Look again, repeatedly —........