My Silver Lover

Chapter 7: A Tour Beyond Expectations

With the dawn of the next day, everyone gathered around the breakfast table in the spacious wooden kitchen. Sunlight streamed through the old windows, reflecting off the dishes and breaking the chill of the early morning, while the surrounding forest seemed present… silent, yet watchful.

Leo stirred his coffee cup between his hands and said,

"Just yesterday, we realized something important… this village isn’t abandoned as we imagined."

Carly lifted her eyes from her plate and nodded.

"On the contrary, it’s far more advanced than I expected. A modern train station, paved roads, public services, organized buildings… this doesn’t feel like a forgotten place at all."

Their mother, Mary, interjected with a calm smile:

"I told you before, the village relies on seasonal tourism. It seems they invest the income wisely—not just to attract visitors, but to improve the living standards for the residents themselves."

Anderson placed the newspaper aside and added:

"That explains the balance of this place. It’s neither a noisy city nor a village left behind by time. A perfect choice… especially for Stephanie."

Stephanie lifted her head at the mention of her name, a calmness more pronounced than ever showing on her face.

"I feel that the place… is organized, yet it retains its soul. It doesn’t feel artificial."

Suddenly, Leo’s eyes brightened, and he said enthusiastically:

"And that’s why we decided to give the village its due. Yesterday’s tour wasn’t enough. Today, we’ll explore it more thoroughly."

Carly looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze.

"But carefully. We’ll split the tour and start with the library."

Stephanie’s eyes widened slightly, and a small smile appeared on her lips.

"The library?"

Leo laughed:

"See? I knew you’d get excited."

After breakfast, the three siblings stepped out, and the village seemed livelier than it had the day before. Shops were open, a few residents exchanged words, and distant sounds of the train reached their ears—a silent reminder that the place was connected to the outside world.

Carly, jotting notes quickly, said:

"The school is over there… the hospital is across the street. Nothing is missing."

Leo adjusted his camera and added:

"Clearly, they’re not developing the place for tourists alone; they want to live here genuinely."

Stephanie walked a few steps behind, her eyes observing everything. She didn’t feel out of place… rather, a cautious sense of familiarity.

Reaching the library didn’t take long. The building stood tall, its stone facade commanding respect, with high windows reflecting the place’s grandeur.

Stephanie stopped in front of it without realizing.

"It’s… bigger than I imagined."

Carly said:

"I was told it holds tens of thousands of books. Not just a library… it’s a landmark in itself."

Inside, a cool breeze carried the scent of old paper and aged wood. Silence immediately filled the space—not unsettling, nor comforting, but demanding attention.

The three separated naturally, each drawn to a different corner.

Stephanie paused by a distant section, where towering shelves held books long untouched. She reached for a thick volume, its dark cover faded, and felt something strange as her fingers touched it, as if a faint pulse ran through her fingertips.

Carly flipped through books on the history of the village, old maps, and ancient records untouched by dust.

Leo sat on a wooden bench, examining the journals of past travelers, occasionally smiling and muttering softly:

"Seems many have come here… but not everyone left."

Carly approached Leo and whispered:

"I’ve been thinking about something."

He looked at her.

"Ian."

She spoke the name plainly.

Leo exhaled slowly.

"Yes… perhaps having him here will be good for her."

They both glanced at Stephanie, immersed in the books, lost to everything else.

Carly added:

"We’ll handle it behind her back. She won’t notice."

Leo nodded silently.

Hours passed quickly inside the library, and as noon approached, they realized one or two days would never be enough to explore everything.

Stephanie slowly closed her book:

"We’ll need more time…"

Carly smiled:

"And that’s exactly what we’ll do. Not now though—after all, there’s camping to think about."

Yet despite the calm and order, Stephanie couldn’t shake that strange feeling… a sense that the village, with all its life and advancement,

was hiding something deeper…

something whose time had not yet come.

Afternoon

After finishing their tour inside the vast library—which had exceeded all their expectations in both organization and modernity of content—the siblings stepped back onto the village’s main street.

The sun had begun to tilt slightly westward, casting a warm glow on the clean stone facades and carefully paved roads. The village no longer looked like the abandoned or forgotten place they had imagined upon arrival; it was alive, orderly, as if operating under its own system… a system that tolerated no chaos.

Leo glanced around and said,

"It seems the tour isn’t over yet."

Stephanie nodded in agreement, while one of her sisters suggested they pause for a light snack. The small supermarket was not far—a neat building with a glass frontage, surprisingly well-stocked.

They bought some quick bites and drinks, then sat on the wooden benches nearby, eating quietly while observing the few passersby.

As they did, the voices of two women nearby reached their ears.

The first spoke in a low, astonished tone:

"Strange… why are they coming now? Don’t they know the rules?"

The second replied:

"It seems they know nothing. No guide with them, no tourist permit. Clearly, they don’t realize that tourism here is allowed only nine months a year."

She paused, then added more seriously:

"During the remaining three months, even the villagers and people from nearby towns aren’t allowed to host any tourists."

Leo’s attention was piqued, and he exchanged a quick glance with Stephanie, while the first woman continued, lowering her voice further:

"Shh… be quiet, they might hear you."

She leaned slightly toward her companion and whispered:

"Honestly… I don’t think they’re tourists."

"What do you mean?"

"I feel they’re new residents. They don’t look like tourists, and I’ve seen them here for more than three days. They live in the Anderson family home."

The second woman froze for a moment, then said with clear surprise:

"Anderson…?"

The reply came calm but firm:

"Yes. They’re long-time residents of the village."

A brief silence fell between the two women.

The siblings had completely stopped eating. The words echoed in their minds, carrying more than what was spoken…

Unspoken rules, forbidden seasons, and long-time residents suddenly appearing.

Stephanie lifted her gaze slowly and felt, for the first time, that the village—despite its beauty and development—harbored secrets beneath its calm surface،

The siblings moved a little away from Stephanie as they ate, making sure she was completely absorbed in her books and unaware of their conversation.

Carly whispered quietly,

“Leo… I think it’s the right time to tell Ian.”

Leo nodded and pulled out his phone, typing softly:

“Ian, there’s something important… Stephanie has recently developed asthma, and we’ve all moved to the old village. The place is nestled between the mountains and forests, perfect for camping… and she’ll have a wonderful time with us.”

Carly added cautiously,

“We want you to come and stay with us during the vacation. It’ll be good for you to be close to her, so you can help if she needs anything.”

Leo looked at his phone and continued the message,

“We’ll send you the address. Try to convince your parents—we know it may take some time, but we hope you can come as soon as possible.”

After a short while, they all relaxed a little, hoping Ian would be able to respond quickly.

Ian replied shortly afterward, his message clear:

“Thanks for letting me know… I’ll try my best to convince my parents. The place sounds amazing, and I won’t delay.”

Leo and Carly exchanged a small, relieved smile, then turned their attention back to Stephanie, who was still completely absorbed in her books, oblivious to the world around her.

Leo smiled lightly,

“It’s okay… we’ll make sure she’s safe and relaxed throughout her stay here.”