In the quiet town of Everdale, nestling among rolling hills and golden fields, lived a young mysterious girl named Avery shrouded in silence. Unlike others in the bustling city, from an early age, Avery's voice failed her. She wasn't mute; she simply chose silence as her voice. However, her soul spoke far more profound through her art. 

    When Avery was six, her mother, a renowned artist went missing without a trace. Her last work remained unfinished in the workshop covered with a white cloth. Since that day, Avery has been locked in a silence that no word could break. 

    Her words, instead, were manifested with every brushstroke in the vivid colours she painted. Avery spent her days with a palette of vibrant hues, turning blank canvases into symphonies of colour.

One morning, while she was digging in her mother's old workshop, she discovered a small wooden box with a complex pattern of colours and symbols. Avery felt a shiver run through her back. These colors seemed alive, as if they contained an energy that she didn't understand yet.  

    While others chattered endlessly about their dreams, Avery painted hers -- a soaring bird of freedom, a fiery sun for courage, a tranquil lake for peace. Her art was her language, but not everyone understood it. Avery became both a mystery and a misunderstood figure.

Avery's silence often sparked curiosity among children and skepticism among adults who wondered why she never speaks and assumed that she had nothing to say.

    Their words didn't bother Avery. 

    She poured her emotions into her most cherished piece, her canvas, convinced that her colors could speak louder than any words could.  

    One day, a local town-wide art contest was announced, inviting artists to contribute to painting a mural to the town square that would represent the spirit of Everdale. The winner would not only have their artwork displayed but would also receive a scholarship to the prestigious Aurora Academy of Arts.    

*** Chapter 1 - The Contest ***

    The town buzzed with excitement. Artists of all ages prepared their sketches, each eager to claim the prize. Avery hesitated. 

    "What if they don't understand me?" she thought. "What if my silence speaks too softly?". She wondered if her arts would be enough. 

    In the meanwhile, Avery's childhood best friend has always been impressed with her art and she knew she could make it. She encouraged her to take the leap: "Your colours can transform this town!", she said, her eyes gleaming with conviction and love.  

    However, as she watched the sunset bathe the fields in gold and amber, she felt a spark of determination. "This is my chance to show them that silence can be beautiful", she decided. In the meanwile, she saw a double opportunity: not only to prove that silence could be powerful, but also wishing to discover the truth about her mother. She hoped to find hidden clues in her own memories or in Everdale's story. The contest became a journey of self-discovery. Avery worked hard, each stroke of her brush blending with mixed of deep colors.

    For weeks, Avery sketched tirelessly. She sought inspiration in the world around her--the laughter of children, the rustle of leaves, the way the moonlight danced on the river. Yet, something was missing. Her paintings felt incomplete. Each stroke of the brush seemed to awaken fragments from the past. She remembered walking with her mother and hear her soft voice talking to her. 

*** Chapter 2 - The Journey Within ***

One evening, Avery climbed to her favorite hill overlooking the town. She sat in silence, staring at the stars. Slowly, a realization dawned on her.

"I've been painting what I see", she thought. "But what if I painted what I feel?"

    With a newfound vision, she returned home. Her brush danced across the canvas like never before. She painted not the town but its soul--the hopes, fears, and dreams of its people. The mural began to take shape- Everdale as a phoenix, rising from the ashes of its struggles and soaring above a cascade of symbols, represents hope and resilience toward its aspirations. Avery used a special colour that only her mother used, a vibrant mix of blue and gold. 

*** Chapter 3 - The Unveiling ***

    The day of the contest has arrived. The town square was alive with chatter as each artist unveiled their mural. When it was Avery's turn, a hush fell over the crowd. Her mural was unlike anything they had seen. As the cloth was removed, the crowd gazed  awestruck by the complex masterpiece in front of them. The phoenix seemed to leap from the wall, its colours radiating warmth and strength. Avery stood proudly beside her work. Children, as well as, adults were all marvelled and moved while contemplating its beauty. 

    At the centre was the phoenix, its wings shimmering with the hues of dawn. Around it, swirled symbols--a child holding a star, a farmer tilling golden soil, a musician playing a melody of light, etc. It was the spirit of Everdale, captured in silence yet speaking volumes.

*** Chapter 4 - The Voice of Color ***

        For a moment, the crowd was still. Then, applause erupted like a thunderstorm. 

    Avery's mural won the contest. But more than that, it won the hearts of the townspeople. They began to see her silence not as emptiness but as a powerful form of expression. The mural turned to be more than a piece of art. It united the crowd with harmony and understanding of the town of Everdale. 

    The mayor stood to congratulate her. "Avery", he said, "your art has shown us something profound. You've taught us that silence is not the absence of a voice but the presence of something deeper". 

    Avery smiled, her eyes shining with gratitude. For the first time, she felt truly heard--not through words but through the language of her art. 

    The unspoken power of art served as a reminder that even in the absence of words, there is a profound beauty.

    Avery went on to study at Aurora Academy, where her work inspired countless others. However, she always returned to Everdale, her hometown, to paint the stories of its people. Her murals became a testament to the beauty of listening--not just with ears, but within the heart. And so, the girl who spoke in silence taught the world to hear the colors of life.

    Avery's studio flourished, filled with new artworks that continued to tell stories without uttering a single word. Her journey inspired others to see the world through her colors, proving that silence has also a voice.

    Every painting she made told stories of courage, love and truth, touching hearts as no word could. And in the silence of her workshop, Avery continued to find colours that only attentive souls could hear. 

    Journalists and art critics began to flock to the small town to admire her work. An acclaimed art critic, Madame Leclerc, fascinated by the work, stated in an interview: "This mural is not a simple representation of the city, it's a window on something greater, a truth that only the artist knows. Who is this young prodigy, Avery, and what is her secret?"

   *** Chapter 5 - An index in the past ***

    Avery has been invited to a prestigious exhibition held by "Aurora Gallery", an opportunity that could change her life. When collecting her paintings for the exhibition, she decided to add a small canvas that she had always kept hidden: an incomplete reproduction of the work left by her mother before she disappeared. 

    At the exhibition, the painting caught the attention of an elderly man who seemed troubled. He approached Avery with hesitation and murmured: "This technique... these colors, I only saw them once, years ago. They belonged to an extraordinary artist named Elena. Was that... your mother?" - Avery affirmed without saying a word. The man presented himself as a gallery owner who had collaborated with Elena in the past. He revealed that Elena had gone on a mysterious journey after finishing a painting entitled: "the gates of light" for a foreign collector. Unfortunately, this painting was never found.

*** Chapter 6 - The quest to find Elena ***

    With this new lead, Avery decided to use her art to try to find her mother. In each exhibition, she incorporated subtle elements inspired by her memories with her mum: a shooting star that they watched together, a flower pattern that her mother loved to paint etc. 

    Avery's works began to reach a wider audience. Each painting contained a universal story that resonated deeply with the audience.     During an exhibition in Paris, a spectator recognised one of Elena's motifs in an old painting in a gallery in Vienna.  

Despite growing success, Avery felt that she was still a long way from finding her mother. When she returned to the workshop, she took out the magic box that she has sworn not to use.