Smile

First-time here? 👋 Welcome to the Kozy Hive!
(A regular - 👋 Welcome back! Glad to have you here for another story! - The story starts after the picture below ⬇️😉)

Here I write cozy short stories 📖 for your enjoyment after we’ve been busy for so long.

Need something to help you have a break? Well I’ve got the story! So grab yourself a treat, go to your favorite spot, get cozy, and enjoy!

Need an idea 💡 for a cozy spot? - Check out some of our posts on 📸 Instagram 📸
@kozyhive

My personal favorite is a quiet cafe; ordering a coffee ☕, and a small snack 🍪 - then just enjoy the surroundings for a moment, settle in, and start to read.

Little Sofia was overjoyed. She woke bright and early; Saturday morning, her favorite time of the week. She scurried to find her favorite outfit; a flowing white dress covered in several charming yellow sunflowers, accompanied by a pair of loose brown trousers. She thrust the curtains to the end of their rails. A cloudless day of cerulean skies. Her excitement bubbled up for the warm, spring day ahead before running to the kitchen.

“Mama? Papa? Are you ready, can we go and see him? I want to be early to get a good place to stand!”

The mother turned, giving a warm, gentle smile back, “Hang on sweetheart, start with some breakfast, we still have some time before he will even be there.”

Sofia groaned, “But mama… If we don’t get there soon, I won’t be able to see him up close.”

The father handed Sofia a plate as she hopped up to the dining room table, “Don’t worry little darling, I promise we’ll make it on time.”

After a delicious breakfast they packed what they needed for the day into a backpack and headed out. Sofia’s parents knew this to be Sofia’s favorite routine weekly outing, so it was just as important to them as it was to her. After the country’s victory in the war last year; they, among many other families were grateful to have someone who took the time to entertain the fortunate children who could still live in the city.

Today was the first anniversary of the end of the war, and the city was finally safe enough for people to wander the streets without fear. The family walked to one of the public Aetherwing Transit stops, where they waited patiently for a few minutes before the flying orange aetherwing shuttle arrived. Aetherwing shuttles were inspired from dragonflies. They were the length and size of an articulated bus with six wings. The membrane-akin wings were made from semi-corporeal, translucent blue light. Each wing protruded from the middle of a thick wheel-like pipe that was larger than the aetherwing shuttle’s height and was filled with the same blue light. As the double-doors opened, Sofia raced on board and sat in the closest window seat, eagerly waiting for her parents to catch up. She loved the aetherwing shuttles and was grateful that it took a bit of time to get to the city centre so she could enjoy the view on the way.

Before long, they arrived at the city centre stop. The family exited and walked a few minutes before arriving at the Main Square. Before them stood a breathtaking white clock tower that miraculously survived the horrors of the war. It stood proudly while surrounded by freshly mown grass, and cobblestone paths interwoven with pink-flowering trees. This had been their Saturday routine for the last two months. As the parents looked around the city while holding Sofia’s hand, they noticed, that while a lot of the city was still being repaired, there was still much work to be done. Some buildings had not been touched, others were being demolished and rebuilt, and a select few were being restored due to historical significance.

 The family were scarred after the terrors of the war. However, they recognized that they were some of the lucky ones, ones that still had a home, and a family. Others were not so fortunate; the enchanted barriers that protected many areas couldn’t handle the strain from the enemies’ barrage of attacks before shattering, allowing a harrowing amount of destruction. However, while memories lingered; many horrors were replaced with the joy and excitement that the parents saw in Sofia’s eyes when they got to take her to the show.

As usual, Sofia and her family were among the first of an emerging crowd. Sofia tugged on her mother’s pants and asked politely if she could go up front while there were was space available. Her mother nodded, gave her a small mat from the backpack to sit on, and told her to run along. Sofia, filled with delight, darted like a rabbit to the very front. She was ready to see him again, the mysterious man and his wondrous performance. He was known as: Arcanis.

 Along with all the other children, Sofia and her friends were especially curious and desperate to know who this enigmatic figure could be. Everyone that attended his performances loved him and knew him to be a lithe, aristocratic, and yet a very kind man. He always arrived in the same outfit: a cherry red formal shirt covered by a dark chocolate brown suit with matching top hat, bowtie, polished shoes, cream-colored formal gloves and a similarly colored masquerade mask that only framed his eyes. For each show he would appear in a new, unexpected way. Sometimes, Arcanis would appear as a member of the crowd, other times, through a plume of smoke, and on one occasion, a child in disguise, before revealing himself to everyone.

Ten minutes passed and the crowd had grown to over two hundred. The bell in the clock tower chimed. Once. Twice. Thrice. The children swung their heads around expectantly, desperately searching, wondering where he would appear.

“Well, well, well.” Came a familiar, but friendly voice that all the kids knew, from somewhere to their left. All of them followed the sound of his voice.

It suddenly changed direction to the right, “What a wonderful crowd we have today! I will have to make today’s show extra special! Won’t I kids?”

The children swerved to the right, frantically searching for him, but he wasn’t there.

“My dear audience.” He paused; the voice now coming from both sides simultaneously, “Where are you looking? I’m right in front of you!” A gust of wind seemingly from all directions blew and focused on one point, creating a tall, but narrow tornado of dust that gradually transformed into white, red, and pink petals. Arcanis snapped his fingers from within. The petals all ascended suddenly revealing him in his usual guise. The wind ceased. As if by puppetry, the petals danced delicately down into a single woven open picnic basket. Not one petal hit the ground. The parents and children gave a big round of applause for such a grand opening.

Even as the clapping settled, Sofia was in awe, starstruck to see him again. Two large holographic screens emerged from behind him so all in the audience could see his performance. Arcanis brought the basket down in front of Sofia and some of the other kids so they could see all the petals within, then proceeded to show the rest of the audience, “Ah, this won’t do, no this won’t do at all will it?” He closed the lid and raised the basket high, “We need something lovely, for such a lovely young lady! Don’t you agree?”

The crowd cheered in agreement, “Yes!” They cried out.

“Well then.” He brought the basket down, and slowly opened the lid. Every last petal vanished, and in its place lay a bouquet of thornless white, pink, and red roses; all neatly tied together in bright blue paper and a white bow. He carefully brought it out and gave it to Sofia with an exaggerated, but respectful bow, “For you, my young lady.”

Sofia blushed in absolute delight. Doing a double-take, Sofia quickly turned to her parents, to ask with unspoken words if she could have it. Her mother nodded and gestured for her to go on. Sofia’s smile beamed as she grasped and clutched the bouquet before hugging Arcanis’s leg tightly, “Thank you! I’m always super happy to see you.”

The audience gasped in awe and wonder as Sofia sat back down on her mat; bouquet held tightly to her chest as the show began. Arcanis would come close to them and make objects disappear then reappear right before their eyes. Marvels going as far as hearing a cat talk for the first time, levitating, making illusions and copies of himself or other children, and pulling impossibly large or long props from some unknown other dimension hidden away in his sleeve, all this and more at the magician’s bidding.

This was Arcanis’s pleasure; each Saturday, putting on a show for the kids in the large open Main square. The parents had learned to stay at the back to let the kids be part of and central to the performance. Many of them chatted among themselves over how such magic could be done in such an open area. There was nowhere for wires to hang, or for someone to provide outside assistance. The only consistency in each of his acts was that it was always at mid-morning at the same place on Saturdays.

Suddenly, in the middle of a trick; a loud horn boomed. A stentorian voice interrupted the show, “Citizens, your war hero, the Commander has arrived!” Everyone shifted their focus to see the unexpected arrival of a parade. An ever-growing number of people began to swarm the streets. Stores abruptly closed, and the people were eagerly gathering to get a glimpse of the Commander.

 The kids switched their gaze to the parade. Many parents called their children back, giving Arcanis an apologetic nod. As Arcanis’s audience started to disperse, he could not help but feel a little disheartened. He worked hard, and today he had made many children and their parents smile, so that made it worthwhile. Plus, he knew his show was not more important than giving respect to the woman who had so famously led the country to victory. So, he acquiesced, “Well, everyone, I’m sorry, but I think that’s all we have time for today. We need to go and show our gratitude and respect to the Commander; her heroic actions have saved our city and our country.”

The captivated kids moaned with disappointment at the abrupt end of the show. The parents gave thankful nods of appreciation for his understanding; knowing that they didn’t actually want to pull their kids away. As Arcanis packed the last of his equipment, putting impossibly large items into a backpack of his own, he felt a tug on his leg. It was the little girl he had given the bouquet to at the start of the show, tears in her eyes, “I don’t care about the mean old lady, I want to see you!”

He gave a warm comforting smile and knelt down as her parents approached. Sofia’s mother stood in front of them, “Come on Sofia, let’s go. It’s important we show respect to those who fought and won for us.” She raised her head slightly to address Arcanis, eye contact now made between them, “Thank you for the lovely bouquet, it really made our daughter’s day. I’m sorry that the show had to-”

Sofia interjected, “No! I’m not going! Arcanis is my hero!” She exclaimed while gripping Arcanis’s leg even tighter.

Arcanis gave an appreciative and grateful expression back, “It’s really no problem, I’m glad people get to enjoy this little hobby of mine. I like being able to make kids smile with this magic.” He shifted his focus back to the little girl, “What’s your name?” He asked, as he saw her tears spill onto his trouser leg.

“S-Sofia.” She blubbered.

“Sofia, it was lovely to meet you, and you know, just for you –” He paused and brought a hand up to his mask.

Sofia saw what he was going to do. She suddenly let go and grabbed his arm with her free hand, “No! Don’t take your mask off!” She said staring straight into his dark eyes.

He was caught off guard, “What? Why not?”

Sofia wasn’t sure herself why and couldn’t give a straight answer, “Just don’t.” She stopped mid-sentence, “Please just don’t.”

Arcanis honored her wish and brought his hand down, leaving the mask on, “Alright, I understand, we’ll see each other again soon, ok?”

“O-ok.” Sofia murmured as she let go. She took hold of her parents’ hands and they walked towards the parade. Just before taking part of the swarm of people, Sofia turned back and saw Arcanis, smiling, and waving goodbye. He waited until she spun back around and disappeared amongst the crowd.

Trumpets bellowed as the army of soldiers appeared. The soldiers wore thick black Kevlar style armor under official dark military jackets with medals on their left breast pockets, ornate ties, berets, and wide white sashes worn like belts with the ends extending down to the right knee. They marched in perfect unison down the wide street towards the main square. Every soldier armed with a long, wrapped scroll on their back, and their sashes holding eight different thin wooden slabs the size of bookmarks, each with a series of strange black symbols on them.

Those of higher ranks: the officers, sergeants, and other similar officials sat on saddles with reins on spectacular Jeweled Sabrefangs – lion-like creatures with curved ram horns covered in small shimmering black scales that refracted light in different colors. Each Sabrefang had two long, thick white canines that protruded from the top of the jaw to the bottom of the chin. The dense, black, furry manes around the neck of each Sabrefang possessed the same shimmering quality as the scales, except that it extended down the spine to the end of a long serpent-like tail that finished in a black plume akin to a mid-winter fox-tail.

 Sofia and her parents squeezed through to the front where a multi-hexagonal barrier made of a semi-transparent white hard material similar to the aetherwing shuttle wings floated gently in the air. The barrier was longer than it was tall; framed by bright thin white beams of light projecting from six black cubes at each corner, preventing them from going any further. Each barrier being taller than Sofia, but at the waist height of most adults. Unlike the citizens, Sofia was unenthusiastic as she clutched her bouquet, still only thinking about Arcanis.

As the parade marched on, there were flagbearers, drummers, and musicians playing all sorts of instruments that many had never seen or heard before. But they played in a symphonic harmony, akin to an orchestra. The music was pleasant, and uplifting to everyone as confetti filled the air, and the people celebrated joyfully at the victorious army’s parade.

The mood hastily shifted, and the crowd roared with more excitement. On a giant rare Behemoth Sabrefang, that could have easily fit four people, sat the Commander on a lustrous red saddle. She was a middle-aged woman who wore a white uniform adorned with medals. As she sat astride her impressive beast, she waved politely and genuinely to everyone, grateful for her welcome.

Sofia had seen this important woman many times on the news. Commander Josefina, but she couldn’t quite say her name correctly and called her Jofina instead. Josefina had achieved great renown as the woman who single-handedly out-maneuvered, and outclassed the enemy armies with her strategies. Sofia, however, stared at her bouquet, then glanced back at the Commander, unimpressed by her interruption. She repeated this back and forth between the bouquet and the approaching commander several times. She decided. Enough was enough. She snuck a quick look back at her parents. They were distracted by their awe of Josefina. Seizing the opportunity, Sofia scrambled under the barrier with the bouquet, and the light that framed the barrier enchantment in place left a warm tingling sensation down her spine.

Sofia sprinted across to the side of the parade, bringing the proceeding to an alarming halt. She didn’t know what overcame her. The crowd at first didn’t take notice until the entire army came to a standstill. All eyes glared at her. The symbols on the wooden tablets of the soldiers’ belts started to glow faintly.

Sofia jabbed a finger out at Josefina, “Hey! Grumpy Jofina!” She called out, “You aren’t the hero here; my hero is Arcanis!”

The crowd, including the parents were stunned into a shocked silence – almost disbelief at what they just saw and heard.

The Behemoth Sabrefang turned its enormous head to the little girl. He snarled menacingly generating a low pitch growl that could be felt as much as it was heard. It shifted to a slightly wider stance, muscles tensed. The hairs of its mane started to rise. Commander Josefina immediately sensed the beast’s instinct. She had to take control. However, she had traversed far worse situations than that of one upset little girl, so she barely flinched at such a minor altercation, “Everyone. Stand down!” She patted her Sabrefang reassuringly. But it was as if it was ignoring her, believing that this loud child to be a threat. She stared at the little girl intensely. She was just standing there, out of place, finger pointed at her accusatorily. The little one was not going to back down.

Sofia stood her ground, terror gripping and stiffening her whole body as she faced the enormous creature. As the beast’s pupils narrowed, Sofia felt a familiar embrace from a breeze that seemingly surrounded her. This time was different. It centered on her. She heard a voice, as if carried on the wind, “Stay still Sofia.” It said in a gentle, serious tone. It was Arcanis. The tightly held bouquet erupted into an innumerable number of petals again, surrounding her as if it was a tall spiraling tower. The Sabrefang maintained its position. It was waiting for the moment to cease. The petals stopped jarringly, as if frozen in time. Then the petals softly fell into a perfect circle of red, white, and pink, revealing Arcanis standing between Sofia and the Behemoth Sabrefang. A wave of Arcanis’s hand saw the petals regather and reform as Sofia’s bouquet. Sofia grasped it tightly again, “Thank you. I knew you’d come. You’re my hero.”

Arcanis faced the Behemoth Sabrefang and the Commander. He was lost for words. Petrified. Forced to stand his ground. He wouldn’t let anything happen to Sofia. But he knew he was in the wrong. It was never his intent to undermine Josefina in order to protect Sofia, but he could not tell how she might interpret this. His intent as Arcanis, was to make the kids smile. He felt his breathing intensify, but hid it beneath an illusion of inner strength and calm for Sofia. He knew he couldn’t perform the same stunt again.

Josefina scratched behind the ear of the Behemoth Sabrefang. It shifted from its threatening stance, returning to a resolute posture of apparent nobility. Its head was raised, but it ensured that it kept them both in its line of sight. An empty void-like pupil slit set in an eye more wondrous than any topaz. Josefina raised the back of her hand to her mouth and giggled, “Jofina? And who is that my dear?” The Commander said to address Sofia. The guards all turned to her, and she responded, “Maintain positions.” She swung herself over and elegantly slid down the side of the Sabrefang in a single fluid motion, landing gracefully, “Do you know who I am?” She queried.

Sofia shuffled out from behind Arcanis and stood next to him; still afraid, but nevertheless willing to speak, “Yes, you’re Josina… Er… I mean, Josefa, Josefna. No, it’s Jofina!”

Josefina realized the issue. The child couldn’t pronounce her name, so not an intentional disrespect. She knelt down on one knee, “You’re a very brave girl,” She switched her gaze to the man in the white masquerade mask, “And you I take it, must be Arcanis, the ‘hero’ to this young lady?” She said this to test him. Josefina had become a leader for a good reason, and she reconciled that this incident could be transformed from perceived antagonism, to a more favorable and widely remembered event for all.

Arcanis locked eyes with Josefina. In respect, he doffed his hat. His knees shook, but he already knew that he would do anything to protect Sofia. Both the crowd and the army were uneasy, eyes fixed on this man who just inexplicably managed to appear as if out of thin air. He had to say something to ease the growing palpable tension. He gulped, and started, “I am just an entertainer. I never claimed to be any kind of-”

“But you’re my hero!” Sofia interrupted, tugging on his leg again.

He endured the moment as if awaiting judgment. However, several other children started to gather and stood by him. Sofia took another brave step forward, “This man kept us smiling, not you.” Sofia said sternly.

Josefina was impressed and rose to her feet; happy to see how this was going to play out, “Well done… Arcanis, was it?” She asked with a grin. Arcanis began to stutter and took his hand up to the mask again to demonstrate he was no threat, but Josefina raised a hand for him to stop, “No need for that. But if you can keep this many children happy and smiling; would you and the little girl, be willing to stand by me throughout the rest of this…” She gave an almost painful sigh, “Ordeal. To put it politely. You can walk next to my charming friend here.” She said stroking the side of the Behemoth Sabrefang’s mane, “Don’t worry, he’s actually very gentle.”

Josefina started to walk back up to her saddle as if there was an invisible staircase before taking her seat again. The gathered kids dispersed back into the crowd, while Sofia and Arcanis withstood the moment together. Quickly shaking his head to snap himself out, he offered his hand to Sofia, “Well, shall we?” He asked.

She turned shyly and smiled, “O-Ok.”

The two joined the parade until it ended at a large stage in the centre of Tranquility Park. Sofia ran back to her very anxious parents, but Josefina asked Arcanis to stay behind as she took the stage to give a speech. The people, now more than a few thousand local residents in the huge park, listened reverentially as she thanked everyone for their bravery and support. A round of applause followed her concluding statement, and she waited for silence again before going off-script, “Thank you loyal citizens. However, there is another I would like to honour, and that is your local entertainer, Arcanis.” She gestured for him to stand next to her on stage. He did so somewhere between reluctantly, and knowing that it would be more disrespectful not to obey. Josefina continued as he hid his nervousness taking a place next to her, “While I have been out defending our land, he brought smiles, hope, and laughter to the children even in the aftermath. I cannot emphasize the importance of such people in these troubled times of rebuilding. So please join me and honour him with a round of applause, to thank him for his effort to keep everyone, and especially our children smiling.”

Commander Josefina took a step away from the podium, turned, and began to give him a round of applause. The crowd swiftly followed suit, cheering, and clapping, all in previously overlooked gratitude for his efforts. Sofia was at the very front, so happy to see her hero getting praised. More than most, Josefina understood and appreciated that those who used their own gifts and talents to help support their communities through difficult times were some of the most valuable people to have.

A figure cloaked in shadow appears before you as you sit at a barstool. A male adult black cat dyrfolk – species with human structure and proportions, but with the features of animals, finishes the tale. Clad in a white formal shirt with a khaki waistcoat, bowtie, and formal pants, the dyrfolk plays with a thornless rose of red, white, and pink petals. “And, so you see, my dear reader, it’s not always the rich, famous, powerful, or most brilliant that are the most impressive heroes. More often than not, you’ll find it in the everyday, with those who simply want to help others. Perhaps they are not always called heroes, but not all heroes exist by title. Anyone can be a hero, if they’re just willing enough to be the one who can see a need and fill it. It can even be as small as giving someone else a reason to smile.

And that’s it for this edition of the KozyHive short story series! Hope you enjoyed it, and don’t worry, there are more stories on the way! I will continue to be writing these for you to enjoy!

Looking for some cozy ideas? Maybe want to try something a bit different?

Check-out 👉 the Instagram page 👈 - I really enjoy being able to go to cozy places and find areas that can help people just get away from the busy-ness of life - a place where they can just breathe, relax, and recover for a while…

If you’re looking for other cozy recommendations, e.g. books, TV series, and movies, check out hour website at:

www.kozyhive.com