Hello, dear children! Today I’m going to tell you an exciting story set in a time so ancient that hardly anyone can imagine how long ago it was. It was a time when there were no cars or machines yet. People lived simple lives, growing crops and hunting animals to survive. It could be a bit dangerous, because there were large wild animals and it was very cold.

  Our story begins in a small, peaceful village. The wooden houses with their smoking chimneys looked very cozy. In the village, children played in the snow, making snowballs and chasing each other around as they laughed.

  Surrounding the village was a vast, silent forest. A fox with light-colored fur crept through the bushes, searching for food. At the edge of the forest, deer stood and looked around curiously.

  On the outskirts of the village, near a frozen stream, stood a boy all by himself. He had serious, bright blue eyes, and in his hands he proudly held a fishing rod. This boy’s name was Bernhardt, and everyone in the village knew him for being an excellent fisherman. But Bernhardt’s story is much more than just that of a good angler. It’s a tale full of adventure, friendship, and the search for answers in a world brimming with wonder.

  Bernhardt held his fishing rod tightly. He watched the still water with wide eyes. Suddenly, something tugged hard on the line. It felt as though it might yank the rod right out of his hand. But Bernhardt was a skilled angler and had no trouble at all. With one smooth motion, he pulled a beautiful fish from the water. His heart pounded with excitement. Not only was the fish large—it also sparkled in the sun.

  Even though Bernhardt was still young, he was the best fisherman in the village. Because of his slender build and blond hair blowing across his face, some people underestimated him. But Bernhardt could catch even the trickiest fish. A few children in the village teased him and called him “beanpole.” Bernhardt didn’t like that, but he didn’t know what to do about it. So he often preferred to spend time by himself.

  After he packed up the fish and his belongings, Bernhardt headed home. He was so happy to show the fish to his Aunt Agatha. He imagined her smiling or even saying, “Very good, Bernhardt.” That thought almost made him break into a run as he passed the village’s snow-covered paths. He was already dreaming of a delicious dinner.

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  Bernhardt ran through the village so quickly that he barely even noticed the other children. He clutched a beautiful fish in his hands with pride. The fish made him so happy that he forgot the other kids’ mean remarks.

  When he reached the small, cozy house he shared with his Aunt Agatha, he could hardly contain his excitement. “Agatha! Look what I’ve caught!” he called out proudly. But Aunt Agatha’s response wasn’t what he had hoped for. She was busy in the kitchen and barely glanced up. “Good, good, just put it on the table,” she said, without realizing how special Bernhardt’s catch was. Bernhardt felt a pang of sadness—he didn’t even receive a smile or a kind word from her.

  With a soft thump, he set the fish on the kitchen table. His happiness vanished. “I thought you’d be pleased,” he mumbled, but it sounded as though his words simply faded away. Without another word, he turned and sprinted out of the house. He ran past startled neighbors and laughing children.

  He just wanted to get far away. He didn’t care about the villagers or his aunt anymore. He headed straight for the “Magic Forest”—the name he gave to the nearby woods—because it always stayed green and warm there, even when everything else was blanketed in snow and ice. Today, the path felt longer than usual. The children’s laughter and whispers hurt him. But as he left the village behind, he started to feel better. He could still hear Agatha’s voice, but he paid no attention. He just wanted to reach that warm forest. Five minutes later, he finally caught sight of the forest’s lush green branches.

  When Bernhardt entered the Magic Forest, he immediately felt much better. It was always pleasantly warm there, even though it was cold outside the forest. He didn’t know why that was, but he didn’t really care. In the forest, he felt at home. It was as if the woods welcomed him with open arms, even though wild animals lived there. Bernhardt made sure to watch out for himself and sometimes hid when a large creature came by. But most of the time, only gentle animals were around.

  Bernhardt was a special boy. The other children in the village didn’t understand why he liked being alone so much. They didn’t know why he preferred the forest’s quiet to their noisy games. Aunt Agatha looked after him and gave him a place to live, but she didn’t show much interest in him. And his parents? They had gone away, Aunt Agatha said, but Bernhardt believed there was more to that story.

  The deeper Bernhardt went into the Magic Forest, the more comfortable he felt. He saw how the animals lived together peacefully, and he thought that maybe he could find a new home here. In this place, he wasn’t the “strange boy” from the village.

  “Maybe they’re glad to be rid of me,” he said to a tiny beetle. In the forest, he never felt alone. The animals and trees seemed to speak to him, and the wind played with his hair. Here, Bernhardt could be himself without anyone bothering him. Occasionally, there was a large, spooky creature around, but he rarely saw it.

  With each step, Bernhardt wanted to stay in the Magic Forest more and more. Here, he found everything the village lacked: understanding, freedom, and a deep feeling of peace. “This is my home,” he said this time to a bird. He chose a spot beneath a tall, ancient tree and knew for certain: he would remain in the forest. Bernhardt was already looking forward to the many adventures that lay ahead of him.