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n the bustling atrium of the Herttoniemi mall, preparations for the annual Halloween festival were in full swing. Suspended high above the shoppers, a massive, smiling pumpkin balloon, affectionately named ‘Jack’, bobbed gently. Below, a young woman named Elara, dressed in a slightly frayed witch’s costume, was preparing her small booth for the “Magic SA”…

Mark was humming a tune, totally engrossed in his Saturday morning ritual of cleaning his ears. He wasn’t particularly “playful” in nature; in fact, he was quite a serious fellow. As he gently guided the cotton swab into his left ear canal, he felt an unexpected, sharp jolt. He froze. Suddenly, a tiny, glowing, blue…

Elias adjusted the grip on his worn leather suitcase, the afternoon sun casting long shadows as he turned for one last wave. His parents, standing in front of their quaint, brick home, waved back enthusiastically. A smile touched his lips, but his heart felt heavy. He was finally leaving for the city, for a new…