Kitabı oku: «The Secrets of the Lost Forest», sayfa 2

“Who are you?” Lena asked, barely breathing from the tension.

The figure slowly raised its head, and the hall filled with the same voice they had heard in the corridors:

“I am the guardian of this castle. I am here to pass on the knowledge that will help you on your journey.”

“What is this knowledge?” Andrei asked, feeling the tension in the air intensify.

“Knowledge of the past that is connected to you,” the guardian replied, his voice deep and heavy. “You didn’t end up here by chance. Your destiny is tied to this world, and you must uncover its secrets to find your way home.”

Vera, clutching the book, took a step forward:

“How can we learn these secrets?”

The guardian raised his hand, and in his palm appeared an ancient map depicting the lands surrounding the castle. Several points on the map glowed, indicating locations where artifacts were hidden – the keys to unlocking the mysteries of this world.

“You must find these artifacts,” the guardian said. “Each one contains a piece of knowledge that will help you understand what happened here many centuries ago and why you ended up in this world.”

The children studied the map carefully. Each point on it was surrounded by symbols they had seen earlier in the castle.

“This is our path,” Vera whispered, realizing that their adventure was only beginning.

The guardian slowly rose from the throne and approached them. He handed the map to Vera and said:

“Be prepared. This path will not be easy. You will face many dangers and puzzles. But only by completing it can you find your way home.”

With these words, he disappeared, leaving behind only a faint scent of incense and the feeling that they had received an important message.

The children stood in the hall, realizing what lay ahead. The map in Vera’s hands had become their guide, and now they had a mission – to find the artifacts and unravel the mystery of this world.

“We must do this together,” Kostya said, looking at his friends. “Nothing will stop us.”

They gripped the map and the book tightly, understanding that a new journey full of trials and discoveries awaited them. But they were ready for anything because they knew it was their only chance to return home.

Chapter 7: The Mystery of the First Artifact

With the map in hand and determination in their hearts, the children left the throne room and found themselves once again in the dark corridors of the castle. The flickering light from the torches that lit their way swayed with each of their steps, casting long shadows on the ancient walls. This time, they moved with more confidence – they knew that another trial awaited them ahead, and they were determined to overcome it.

“There are several points marked on the map,” Andrei said, studying it closely. “But one of them is the closest. I think we should start there.”

“Yes,” Vera agreed, carefully examining the symbols on the map. “It looks like this place is near the castle, in the forest beyond the gorge.”

“But how do we get there?” Lena wondered. “The castle is locked, and we need to find a way out.”

They moved forward, trying to stay on the designated path. Each step echoed through the silent corridors, and it seemed as if the castle itself was watching them, studying their movements. After some time, they reached massive doors adorned with ancient reliefs depicting scenes from the past.

“This looks like the exit,” Kostya said, approaching the doors and placing his hand on them. They gave way surprisingly easily, swinging open with a soft creak.

Outside, they were greeted by fresh air and bright sunlight, which was unexpectedly warm after the darkness of the castle. They found themselves on a wide terrace overlooking the forest and the gorge. In the distance, among the trees, a tall hill was visible, with something shimmering at its peak, catching their attention.

“There it is!” Lena exclaimed, pointing to the hill. “Do you see it? Something is shining on the top.”

“It might be the artifact,” Andrei said, comparing it to the map. “Or something that will help us find it.”

They hurried down the stone steps leading from the terrace to a narrow path winding through tall trees. The forest around them was quiet and peaceful, but the children felt that this calm was deceptive. Every tree seemed alive, watching them, and a light breeze carried strange, barely perceptible sounds.

The path gradually ascended, leading them closer to the hill. Soon the trees began to thin out, and a grassy clearing opened up before them, swaying in the wind like a green sea.

In the center of this clearing stood the hill, and on its summit, something was indeed shimmering, as if glowing from within.

“We’re almost there,” Kostya said, quickening his pace. “But stay alert. We don’t know what’s waiting for us.”

When they reached the foot of the hill, they saw an old staircase leading up. The steps were carved directly into the rock, covered with moss and entwined with ivy, making the climb difficult.

“It seems this is the only way up,” Lena noted, carefully stepping onto the first step. “Be careful, it’s slippery.”

The children began to climb, staying close to each other. The staircase was longer than it had seemed at first, and each step became increasingly difficult. But at last, they reached the top, where they were met with an unusual sight.

At the very summit of the hill stood an ancient altar, covered with mysterious runes and adorned with symbols the children had seen before. On the altar lay a small but brightly glowing object – the first artifact they were searching for.

“There it is,” Vera said, approaching it. The light from the artifact was warm and soft, filling her with a sense of peace and confidence. “But how do we take it?”

“Be careful,” Andrei warned, watching her closely. “It might be protected by some kind of spell.”

Vera carefully reached out to the artifact, feeling a gentle warmth emanating from it. As soon as her fingers touched the glowing object, she felt a light vibration passing through her body. The artifact was a small crystal, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow, but it seemed to contain immense power.

At that moment, the ground beneath their feet began to tremble, and the children realized that something had awakened. The forest seemed to come alive – the trees began to move, their branches reaching out toward the children like giant hands.

“Run!” Kostya shouted, grabbing Vera by the hand and pulling her away from the altar.

They ran down the hill, trying to avoid the branches that were trying to grab them. The staircase they had climbed now seemed even more dangerous – the moss and ivy had grown thicker, and every step was on the verge of a fall.

When they finally reached the foot of the hill, the forest around them calmed down again, as if nothing had happened. The children, breathing heavily, stopped to catch their breath and make sense of what had just occurred.

“We did it,” Lena gasped, glancing back at the hill, which now seemed as quiet as before.

“But what was that?” Andrei asked, still holding Vera’s hand. “Why did the forest try to stop us?”

“I don’t know,” Vera replied, clutching the artifact tightly. “But now we have the first artifact. It might hold the key to unlocking the secrets of this world.”

“And we have to be ready for anything,” Kostya added. “This place is full of mysteries and dangers, and it won’t let us go so easily.”

With these words, they headed back to the castle, where new trials and secrets awaited them. Now, with the artifact in hand, they were one step closer to unraveling the great mystery hidden in this enigmatic world.

Chapter 8: The Call of the Ancient Lake

After the tense return to the castle with the first artifact in hand, the children felt both relief and anxiety. Their journey had only just begun, and they knew that many more trials lay ahead. The crystal found on the hilltop now quietly glowed in Vera’s hands, emitting a faint, calming light.

“We’ve taken the first step,” Andrei said as they once again found themselves in the castle hall. “But what’s next?”

“The map shows the next location,” Vera replied, spreading the map on the ancient table in the center of the room. Her fingers traced the points until they stopped at one deep in the forest, near a large lake. “It should be here.”

“A lake… But for some reason, I feel it will be just as dangerous as the hill,” Kostya noted, carefully examining the map. “There are too many strange symbols around this point.”

“We have to be ready for anything,” Lena said, sitting down next to the map. “But we have no choice. This artifact is only part of the puzzle. We need the others to understand how it all connects.”

“We’ve faced challenges before, and we’ll face them again,” Vera added confidently, putting the map in her pocket. “Let’s head to the lake.”

With that, they left the castle and ventured into the forest again, following the map’s directions. The road to the lake was long and winding, and the further they went, the more the surrounding nature changed. The trees grew taller and darker, their canopies blocking out most of the light, leaving the children in semi-darkness.

The sense of unease grew with each step, but they didn’t stop. Ahead, beyond the thick undergrowth, they heard the quiet splash of water, filtering through the trees. Lena was the first to notice the gleam of water between the trunks and pointed it out.

“We’re close,” she whispered, indicating the path. “But be careful. This place feels… strange.”

As they approached the lake’s shore, they were greeted by the sight of a calm, almost mirror-like surface. The lake was surrounded by high stone cliffs, which seemed to protect it from the outside world. The water was so clear that they could see the bottom, covered in small pebbles and a thin layer of green algae.

But what caught their attention the most was a small island in the middle of the lake. On it stood an ancient, half-ruined tower, the only one of its kind. At the top of the tower, just like on the hill, something was shimmering, drawing their attention.

“There it is,” Vera said, pointing to the tower. “We need to get there.”

“But how? We can’t swim to the island,” Andrei noted, looking at the water, which seemed deep and unwelcoming.

“Maybe there’s another way,” Kostya suggested, scanning the surroundings. His gaze settled on an old wooden bridge connecting the shore to the island. But the bridge looked fragile and decrepit, as if it couldn’t support the weight of even a small animal, let alone people.

“We have to try,” Lena decided, heading toward the bridge. “But let’s go one at a time, or it might collapse.”

Vera went first, carefully stepping on the rotting boards. Each step elicited a creak, but the bridge held her weight. She reached the middle, then continued forward until she arrived on the island. The others followed her example, and soon all four were standing at the base of the tower.

The tower was old, its stone walls covered in moss and cracks, but inside, it was strangely quiet and calm. The staircase leading to the top looked so rickety that each step could be their last.

“We’ll have to climb up,” Vera said, carefully examining the stairs. “But be careful, it could collapse at any moment.”

They began their ascent, stepping as lightly as possible, trying not to look down. The stairs creaked under their weight, but despite this, they slowly made their way up. When they finally reached the top, they found a small room dimly lit by light filtering through narrow windows.

In the center of the room, on a pedestal, rested the second artifact – a small cube made of transparent material, inside of which light shimmered as if it were trapped forever. Around the cube were carved symbols that reminded the children of those they had seen in the book.

“This is it,” Lena whispered, cautiously approaching the artifact. “But how do we take it?”

“We need to be careful,” Andrei suggested. “We don’t know what traps might be here.”

Vera reached out to the cube, and as soon as her fingers touched it, the room began to shake. A rumbling noise came from outside, and the children realized that the tower was beginning to collapse.

“We need to get out of here!” Kostya shouted, grabbing Vera’s hand and pulling her toward the stairs.

They dashed down, trying to escape the crumbling tower as quickly as possible. The stairs beneath them were collapsing, and the children barely managed to reach the exit before the last piece of stone crashed to the ground with a thunderous noise.

On the bridge, they paused, looking back. The tower, which had stood for centuries, was now buried under piles of rubble. But in Vera’s hands, the second artifact glowed softly, emitting a warm light.

“We did it,” she said, breathing heavily but with relief in her voice.

“But we need to keep moving,” Andrei added, glancing at the lake, which now seemed even more ominous. “This world isn’t going to let us go so easily.”

They quickly crossed the bridge and returned to the shore, where the forest once again surrounded them. Now, with two artifacts in hand, they felt closer to unraveling the great mystery. But each new step was becoming more difficult, and they understood that even more dangerous trials awaited them ahead.

With this thought, they continued their journey, full of determination and courage, knowing that each new artifact brought them closer to returning home, but also increased the dangers they would face.

Chapter 9: The Underground Labyrinth

After returning to the castle with two artifacts, the children felt that their journey was becoming increasingly dangerous and complex. Each new step led them to even more challenging trials, and the tension grew with every moment. But they knew they had to keep going despite all the difficulties.

This time, the map pointed to a new location – deep beneath the castle. It was marked as the “Underground Labyrinth,” and the mere thought of this place was unsettling. Labyrinths had already proven to be serious challenges, but now they had to descend into its darkest depths.

“It seems our next artifact is hidden in this labyrinth,” Andrei said, studying the map carefully. “But how do we get there?”

“There must be an entrance somewhere,” Vera mused, scanning the old castle walls. “Maybe in one of the dungeons or hidden rooms.”

They began searching the castle, trying to find a hidden passage leading to the underground. The castle itself seemed to push them toward the search, as if it was awakening its secrets under their presence. Soon, in one of the dark corners of the castle, behind a large tapestry, Lena noticed an old stone door hidden from plain sight.

“Here!” she exclaimed, carefully moving the tapestry aside. Behind it, they found a massive door covered in dust and cobwebs. The door was carved with ancient symbols they had seen before – signs that hinted at the upcoming trials.

“This is the entrance,” Kostya confirmed, reading the runes on the door. “It looks like it leads straight to the labyrinth.”

They gathered at the door, feeling a slight unease before the upcoming challenge. Vera gently pushed the door, and with a loud creak, it began to open, revealing a narrow stone corridor leading downward.

“Stay alert,” Andrei warned as they started the descent. The corridor was dark and damp, and the walls seemed to close in around them, creating a feeling of claustrophobia.

The descent seemed endless. Soon, they found themselves deep within the castle, where the air was cold and stale, and the darkness grew even thicker. There were no torches, only the faint glow from the crystals they carried, allowing them to see at least something.

“This must be the entrance to the labyrinth,” Kostya said as they entered a small room with several doors. Each door was covered in runes that looked more complex and confusing than those they had seen before.

“We need to choose the right door,” Vera pondered, looking around. “But how do we know which one leads to the artifact?”

They approached the first door, then the second, but nothing indicated which one was the right choice. Suddenly, Lena noticed a strange mark on the floor – a circle with an arrow pointing toward one of the doors.

“Look! Maybe this is a clue,” she exclaimed, pointing to the mark.

“Let’s try it,” Andrei suggested, and without hesitation, he opened the door the arrow pointed to.

Beyond the door was a narrow corridor leading to the labyrinth. As they entered, the door behind them slammed shut, leaving them in complete darkness. Only the faint glow from their artifacts lit the way.

“We must stick together,” Vera said, trying to stay calm. “This labyrinth could be full of traps.”

They began to move cautiously forward, trying not to lose sight of each other. The labyrinth was cold and damp, its walls covered in moss and lichens, and it seemed to have existed here for centuries, waiting for new visitors.

The turns were sudden and confusing. Sometimes they encountered dead ends, sometimes rooms that looked identical, causing them anxiety and doubts about the right path. From time to time, they thought they heard whispers coming from the walls, but when they stopped to listen, everything went silent again.

Finally, they entered a large chamber with a pedestal in the center. On it lay the third artifact – a glowing sphere emitting a soft blue light. But this time, they didn’t rush to grab it.

“This could be a trap,” Kostya noted, cautiously approaching the pedestal. “We need to be careful.”

“Something feels off,” Lena added, looking around. “It’s too quiet.”

Vera stepped closer and noticed that a strange symbol was carved on the floor before the pedestal – a serpent biting its own tail.

“That’s the symbol of infinity,” she whispered, trying to understand its meaning. “But what does it signify in this place?”

Andrei, feeling that time was pressing, cautiously reached out for the artifact. As soon as his fingers touched the sphere, the ground beneath them began to shake, and shadows started emerging from the walls, filling the room.

“It’s a trap!” Lena shouted, stepping back. “We need to get out of here!”

But the labyrinth had already begun to close in on them. The corridors that led them here were disappearing, and the walls were moving, forcing them to find a new way out.

“We need to find a new path!” Kostya exclaimed, holding the sphere. “This artifact might be the key.”

Vera, looking at the symbol of the serpent, realized they needed to move in a circle, returning to where they had come from. She pointed out the symbol to her friends and suggested they retrace their steps.

Following her advice, they began to move back, sticking together. Although the labyrinth tried to confuse them, it gradually began to release its hold. The shadows retreated, and soon they saw the very door through which they had entered.

“We did it!” Lena exclaimed with relief as they exited the labyrinth, finding themselves back in the dungeon.

Now, with the third artifact in hand, the children felt they were one step closer to the solution. The labyrinth had shown them that sometimes the right choice is to return to the beginning.

They emerged from the dungeon and returned to the castle, realizing that each new artifact brought them closer to the final challenge. But with this realization came the understanding that even more dangers and mysteries awaited them ahead, ones they would need to unravel.

Chapter 10: Ghosts of the Past

After escaping the underground labyrinth, the children felt a sense of relief, but it was short-lived. They now had three artifacts in their possession, but with each step, they felt the weight of this world pressing down on their shoulders more heavily. The castle seemed to know they were getting closer to the truth and was preparing for the final trial.

Vera, Lena, Andrei, and Kostya sat in the castle’s grand hall, discussing their next steps. The artifacts lying on the table before them glowed softly, creating a mysterious atmosphere in the room.

“We’ve already found three artifacts,” Andrei began, looking at the glowing objects. “But I feel that it’s not enough. The map shows there’s still one more important place ahead.”

“What is this place?” Lena asked, opening the map. One point stood out, located in the very center of the castle. “It must be here, in the castle.”

“Maybe it’s connected to its past,” Vera suggested. “The castle holds many secrets. But what exactly happened here? Why does it look so abandoned and gloomy?”

“I think we’ll find out soon,” Kostya said quietly, pointing to the map. “It seems that this place is the castle’s central hall. Maybe it’s the heart of the castle, its source of power.”

Deciding to head there, the children left the hall and made their way to the central part of the castle, where they believed the key to the mystery lay. They passed through several long corridors until they reached massive double doors leading to the main hall.

The huge doors opened with a loud creak, revealing a grand hall before them. In the center stood a tall stone pedestal, and around it, ancient portraits hung on the walls, depicting the castle’s previous owners. Everything here seemed infused with ancient magic and power that they did not yet understand.

“This must be the place,” Lena whispered, looking around. “But where do we find the artifact?”

They approached the pedestal, where an old book lay, covered in dust. Its cover was adorned with symbols they had seen in other parts of the castle.

“Maybe this book can help us,” Kostya suggested, carefully lifting it. But as soon as his fingers touched the cover, something strange began to happen.

Suddenly, a cold wind swept through the hall, making the children shiver. The candle flames flickered, and the shadows around them began to move as if the castle had come to life and was now watching them.

“What is this?” Andrei exclaimed, looking around. “Why is it so cold?”

And then they saw them – the ghosts. Translucent figures began to emerge from the walls, moving slowly and gracefully, as if reenacting long-forgotten scenes from the past. These were the castle’s former inhabitants, who once walked these corridors, laughed, and talked. Now they were only shadows of the past, trapped in this place forever.

“Ghosts!” Lena whispered, stepping back. “But why are they here?”

“They are tied to this place,” Vera guessed, looking at the book. “The castle holds their souls. Maybe they can help us understand what happened here.”

One of the ghosts, a tall man in ancient attire, approached them and began to speak, his voice soft and echoing through the hall:

“You have come seeking the truth, children. But know that the price of this truth is high.”

“What happened here?” Andrei asked resolutely. “Why is the castle abandoned? Why is there so much pain here?”

“The castle was cursed,” the ghost replied, his eyes seemingly piercing them. “Once, this place was full of life and joy. But one day, darkness came and destroyed everything. And now we, its inhabitants, are trapped here, finding no peace.”

“What is this darkness?” Vera asked, feeling a rising sense of dread inside her.

“The darkness came from outside, like a curse,” the ghost continued. “It engulfed this world and destroyed everything we loved. But you – you are our hope. You can break this curse if you gather all the artifacts and find the key to its destruction.”

“How can we do that?” Lena asked, her voice trembling. “What do we need to do?”

“The artifacts are keys to the power that sleeps within the castle,” the ghost said, his figure beginning to fade. “Gather them all and bring them to the center, where the source of this power sleeps. But be ready for the trials that await you.”

With these words, the ghost vanished, leaving the children in silence. The hall was once again engulfed in darkness, but now they knew that the greatest trial awaited them ahead.

“We need to find the remaining artifacts,” Vera said firmly, clutching the book. “And then we can break this curse and restore the castle to its former life.”

“But we must be careful,” Andrei warned. “The darkness is still here, and it won’t give up without a fight.”

The children knew that their journey was nearing its climax. The ghosts of the past had shown them that the castle was not just a structure but a living being, engulfed in a curse they had to break. And now they had to gather their strength to complete their mission and bring light back to this dark world.

Chapter 11: The Acquisition of the Fourth Artifact

After their encounter with the ghosts, the children felt as if time had sped up. They knew that each step brought them closer to the final trial. The castle’s ghosts had revealed part of the truth, but much remained to be discovered, and the artifacts were the key to it all.

With the map in hand and determination in their hearts, they set off for the next location marked on the ancient parchment. It lay outside the castle, in an old, abandoned garden that, according to legend, was once the most beautiful place in this world but had now fallen under the power of darkness.

“This must be it,” Andrei said as they stopped in front of the old gates leading into the garden. The gates were covered in rust, and the stone pillars that held them were adorned with carvings of fantastical creatures, now almost worn away by time.

“This garden looks like no one has set foot here for centuries,” Lena noted, cautiously pushing the gate open. It creaked open with difficulty, releasing a cloud of dust and the smell of decay before them.

Beyond the gates lay a neglected garden, where once exotic plants had grown, but now everything was plunged into chaos. The trees stood as dark silhouettes, their branches tangled into eerie patterns, and the paths, once neatly paved with tiles, were now overgrown with thorny bushes and weeds.

“This place feels like the forest, only more sinister,” Vera whispered, looking around. Her heart tightened at the thought of what might have happened here.

“We need to be on guard,” Kostya warned, checking the map. “The artifact should be somewhere in the center of the garden.”

They began moving forward, pushing through the dense vegetation and avoiding the sharp thorns that seemed to reach out for them like hands trying to hold them back. With each step, they felt the garden come to life, as if it were a living entity resisting their presence.

“Look, there’s something over there,” Lena suddenly noticed, pointing to a small hill visible through the trees. At its summit, something gleamed among the overgrowth in the sunlight.

“That must be the artifact,” Vera said, heading towards the hill.

As they drew closer, it became clear that a small stone altar, adorned with ancient runes, stood atop the hill. On it lay the fourth artifact – a round medallion made of gold, set with a stone that glowed with a soft green light.

“This is it,” Kostya said, gazing at the artifact with admiration. “But why is it here, in this place?”

“Maybe this place is connected to the life that once flourished here,” Vera speculated. “Perhaps this garden was the heart of the castle, and its power sustained the life around it.”

“We need to take it, but be careful,” Andrei warned. “Every time we’ve found an artifact, something has happened.”

Lena cautiously reached out and took the medallion. As soon as her fingers touched it, the garden around them came to life. The ground beneath their feet began to tremble, the trees rustled, and the thorny bushes began to grow rapidly, striving to surround them.

“Run!” Andrei shouted, grabbing Vera’s hand and pulling her back towards the gate. But the bushes quickly filled the passage, cutting off their escape route.

“We’re trapped!” Lena cried out in panic, trying to find another way out.

“Don’t panic!” Kostya said, trying to read the map. “There must be another exit. This garden is a labyrinth, and we need to find the way out.”

The children began pushing through the thick undergrowth, trying to find a way back. But the garden seemed to be trying to confuse them – every turn led to new dead ends, and the sounds around them grew louder and more ominous.

“We need to work together!” Vera shouted, trying to stay calm. “Don’t let go of each other’s hands, we can find the way out.”

They continued moving, holding hands and keeping each other in sight. Soon, they noticed the sound of water coming from somewhere ahead.

“It might be a spring,” Andrei suggested. “It could be our way out.”

Following the sound, they emerged at a small lake hidden deep within the garden. In the middle of the lake stood an old stone bridge leading to the other side, where an open path could be seen.

“This is our way,” Lena said, pointing to the bridge. “We need to cross this lake.”

They began crossing the bridge, but at that moment, the water beneath them started to bubble. Soon, a massive shadow emerged from the depths of the lake, and the head of a giant serpent appeared on the surface. Its eyes burned with fierce light, and its mouth was filled with sharp teeth.

“Hurry!” Kostya shouted, pushing everyone forward.

The serpent lunged at them, but the children had already reached the other shore. As soon as they stepped onto solid ground, the bridge collapsed, and the serpent, with a roar, sank back into the depths of the lake.

“We did it,” Lena gasped, breathing heavily but feeling relieved. “We made it out of the garden.”

With the medallion in hand, they returned to the castle. The fourth artifact was now with them, and the children knew they were one step closer to solving the mystery and breaking the curse.

But one more trial awaited them, the hardest and most dangerous of all. The castle, which had remained a mystery until now, was beginning to reveal its final secrets. And now the children would have to use all their knowledge and courage to complete what they had started and save this world from darkness.

Chapter 12: Shadows in the Mirrors

After returning to the castle with the fourth artifact, the children felt the tension mounting. The castle seemed to resist them more strongly, as if it knew they were nearing the end. The walls trembled with their steps, and the air grew thicker and colder, as if the castle itself was preparing for a final battle.