My master's thesis focuses on alpine oral tradition—the traveling storytellers who keep mountain folklore alive. Matthias Kohler is the best. Charismatic, skilled, mesmerizing. When he performs, entire villages stop to listen. I'm supposed to be documenting his technique. Recording his performances. Analyzing his methods. Instead, I find myself sketching HIM. The way he moves. The expressions that cross his face. The intensity in his eyes when he catches me watching. "You're not studying folklore, Finn. You're studying me." He's right. And when he invites me to travel with him, to see performances across the mountain villages, I should maintain professional distance. But Matthias's voice in my ear is anything but professional. "Let me tell you a different kind of story, beautiful boy. One just for you." His hands teaching me. His voice guiding me. The way he looks at me like I'm the only audience that matters. We're supposed to be keeping folklore alive. Instead, we're creating our own story.