Ever since Pipette had taken her first step into the portal,
The workshop seemed to be filled with a new energy.
The human objects vibrated gently.
The candle of Saint Lucia gave off a constant glow.
Even the Dutch wind had become calmer.
But that night…
Something changed.
Very slowly.
Almost imperceptibly.
Like a breath fading away.
Pipette saw it first.
The luminous cap – the very first object to come from the human world –
It no longer blinked.
Its tiny lights barely flickered,
like a tired heart.
— “That’s strange… He’s never been so weak,” she murmured.
Groubelin consulted the Magic Compass.
The needle was trembling.
Not with panic.
Hesitantly.
As if she no longer knew where to point.
Ludo gritted his teeth.
— “The gate… it’s losing its light!”
Indeed :
amber, silver, pink…
all the colors had faded.
The halo was still shining,
but like a star hidden behind an overly heavy cloud.
Rudolf stood straight,
but its red muzzle was wobbling.
A first.
A heavy worry clouded her eyes.
— “Human magic is waning,” he murmured.
"Perhaps the night is too long for them."
Or that they forgot… just for a moment.
— “Forgot what?” asked Pipette, out of breath.
— “Where does the light come from?” replied Rudolf.
"Sometimes all it takes is a breath of fatigue,
of a day that was too dark,
and even humans can lose the luster of their traditions.
Then the light hesitates.
Even here.
Suddenly,
Saint Lucia's candle went out.
As if blown by an invisible hand.
A heavy silence fell over the workshop.
The night seemed total.
Complete.
As if she wanted to cover everything.
Ludo whispered:
— “If the light of humanity is extinguished…”
How will we find Santa's hat?
Rudolf did not reply.
For the first time,
Even the reindeer didn't know anymore.