Бесплатный фрагмент - The Secrets of the Lost Forest

Copyright © 2024 Dariana Bliss

All rights reserved.

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Introduction

Have you ever felt the world around you change? As if something mysterious is lurking just around the corner, in the shadow of an old tree, or behind the door at the end of a hallway, waiting to be discovered? Our heroes, Vera, Lena, Andrei, and Kostya, certainly didn’t expect their ordinary day to turn into the most incredible adventure of their lives.

They had known each other since childhood and were always inseparable. But what they are about to face will test their friendship to the limit. In a mysterious forest that seemed like just another abandoned place, ancient secrets and dangers were hidden — dangers they could never have imagined.

But it’s not that simple. This forest isn’t just a spot on a map — it’s a gateway to another world, where every step could be their last, and every decision could be fateful. Only the bravest and most determined will be able to pass through all the trials while preserving their loyalty and courage.

Prepare yourself for a journey that will change everything. On these pages, you will find a story of friendship, courage, and the magic that lies within each of us. Sometimes, to find yourself, you just need to take a step into the unknown.

Forward, reader! The forest awaits…

Chapter 1: The Mysterious Whisper of the Forest

Summer in the small town of Tumanyer was always quiet and hot. The days dragged on slowly, and it seemed as if the sun hung in the sky forever. But this year, something was different. The locals noticed strange occurrences: unnaturally thick fogs rose over the forest at night, and in the morning, dry leaves fell from the trees, despite June being in full swing.

Four friends — Vera, Andrei, Lena, and Kostya — were spending the summer as they always did, exploring the surroundings. They knew every path, every hidden spot in the forest that stretched behind their homes. But even they felt that something had changed. The forest, which had always felt like home, suddenly became different, foreign, as if it was hiding a secret that no one was meant to discover.

One evening, as the sun was setting, the friends decided to venture to the farthest edge of the forest, a place they usually avoided. Vera, the youngest but the bravest among them, was the first to suggest the idea. Her bright green eyes sparkled with curiosity, and no one could refuse her the adventure.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” asked Andrei, a tall boy with a serious look. He was always the most cautious of the group.

“Of course!” Vera replied, unable to hide her excitement. “Something tells me we’ll find something extraordinary there.”

Lena, who always believed in Vera’s instincts, supported her: “I think Vera’s right. We should go and see. After all, it’s just a forest, and we know it better than anyone.”

Kostya, a quiet and reserved boy, simply nodded. He was always the one to support the group’s plans, even if he had doubts.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, the light began to fade, and the shadows grew longer. The fog, which had previously only covered the lowlands, now rose, wrapping the trees in a white haze. The air became damp and cool, despite the summer warmth. The forest seemed to come alive, and every rustle, every sound, seemed louder and more ominous.

“Do you hear that?” Lena suddenly whispered, stopping in her tracks. She listened, and the others followed her lead.

The silence of the forest was suddenly broken by a strange whisper. It came from everywhere and nowhere at once. It seemed as if the trees themselves were whispering to each other, discussing something important, something that concerned the children who had entered their domain.

“Is that… the trees?” Andrei barely whispered, peering into the dense undergrowth.

Vera stepped forward, her heart pounding. She felt that the forest wanted to tell them something, that this whisper was not just a sound but a warning or a call. Vera approached one of the old oaks, its trunk covered in moss and vines.

“What do you want to tell us?” she quietly asked, feeling a strange excitement.

Then the wind suddenly picked up, the leaves rustled, and the whisper became clearer. These were not just sounds but words, difficult to make out. But Vera caught something that sounded like “get lost… find…”.

“What does it mean?” Lena asked, clutching Vera’s hand tightly. “Get lost? But why?”

“Maybe it’s just the wind,” Kostya mumbled, though even he felt that wasn’t true.

“We need to find that place,” Vera suddenly said firmly, letting go of Lena’s hand. “The forest wants us to find something. I’m sure this is no coincidence.”

The friends looked at each other, and without saying another word, they headed deeper into the forest, following the whisper that grew ever clearer.

Each step became more difficult, the fog thicker, and soon they could no longer see each other, holding hands to avoid getting lost. But the whisper continued to call them forward, into the heart of the forest, where their first trial awaited — a trial that would test their friendship and courage, though they didn’t yet know it.

Thus began their great adventure, full of mysteries, dangers, and discoveries. And even if the forest kept its secrets, it knew that these four children were chosen for a great task — a task that would change them forever.

Chapter 2: Entering the Unknown

The forest grew increasingly mysterious and unwelcoming as the children ventured deeper into its depths. The fog thickened, obscuring the paths and turning them into a labyrinth. Each step became more difficult, and the whispering grew louder, as if the forest was pushing them toward something important that they couldn’t yet understand.

They moved in silence, carefully making their way through the dense undergrowth and tangled branches. The trees seemed taller and more imposing, their roots spreading across the ground, intertwining in complex patterns that resembled ancient runes or symbols, barely discernible through the fog.

“We’ve gone too far,” Andrei finally said, stopping and looking around. “Maybe we should turn back?”

“No, we can’t stop now,” Vera countered, her voice firm, though she felt a slight chill of fear inside. “The forest led us here for a reason. We have to keep going.”

Lena nodded silently, supporting Vera. She believed that her friend’s intuition wouldn’t lead them astray, just as it hadn’t many times before. Kostya only sighed quietly, checked his shoes, and continued, trying not to lag behind.

Soon they arrived at an unusual place. Right in front of them, amidst the dense fog, a large clearing suddenly appeared, surrounded by towering trees. In the center of the clearing stood a strange stone circle, made up of massive, ancient-looking stones. Each stone was covered in strange symbols that glowed with a faint bluish light.

“What is this place?” Lena whispered, gazing at the circle with a mix of curiosity and fear.

“I don’t know,” Andrei replied, approaching the stones. “But it’s clearly something ancient.”

“Maybe this is what we’re supposed to find?” Vera suggested, stepping closer. She carefully touched one of the stones and suddenly felt a slight tingling sensation in her fingers, as if the stone was alive.

At that moment, the fog around them began to move, as if it were alive, enveloping the children and the stone circle. The forest fell silent; even the wind stopped. It seemed as if the entire world had paused, waiting for what would happen next.

“Do you hear that?” Lena spoke again, her voice barely audible. “That whisper… it’s clearer now.”

Indeed, the whisper, which had previously been just background noise, was now forming words. The children listened closely and caught the words: “Enter… be tested…”

“What does it mean?” Kostya asked, looking around as if trying to find the source of the sound.

“It seems we need to enter this circle,” Andrei suggested, trying to conceal his unease. “Maybe it’s some kind of test or a passage to another place?”

Without hesitation, Vera took a step forward. She felt that this circle had not appeared on their path by chance, that this was where their real adventure began. The others followed her lead, though doubt and fear were evident in their eyes.

As they all stood inside the stone circle, the whispering around them intensified, and the light from the symbols on the stones grew brighter. Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet began to tremble, and the circle filled with a blinding light. The children closed their eyes but felt no fear — only a strange sense of calm and anticipation of something great.

And then, as the light became unbearably bright, they felt their bodies start to lose weight, as if they were becoming weightless. The sensation of flight filled them, and in the next moment, they felt the solid ground disappear beneath their feet, and they were falling into the void.

The forest, the fog, the stone circle — all vanished, leaving only light and the sensation of movement. They didn’t know where this strange passage was leading them, but they instinctively felt that the place they were about to reach would change them forever.

As the light began to fade, the children found themselves on the other side. They stood on the edge of a vast forest gorge, surrounded by towering cliffs and trees whose tops disappeared into the clouds. Ahead stretched a new, unexplored world, full of mysteries and dangers. The forest of Tumanyer was behind them, and ahead lay a new challenge — and a new great adventure.

Chapter 3: The Secrets of the Forest Gorge

The children stood on the edge of the Forest Gorge, awestruck by the grandeur of the scene before them. The gorge stretched for miles ahead, its walls towering like stone giants guarding their ancient secrets. Far below, hidden beneath the thick canopy of trees, a river flowed, its sound reaching them as a distant murmur.

“What is this place?” Lena whispered, unable to take her eyes off the panorama before them.

“It seems like we haven’t just crossed into another part of the forest,” Andrei replied, gazing into the distance. “This is something else… It’s like we’re in another world.”

“Look!” Vera exclaimed, pointing to the far edge of the gorge. There, against the backdrop of a horizon disappearing into the clouds, were the ruins of an ancient castle. Lights flickered within its walls, as if someone or something inhabited it.

“That must be our next destination,” Kostya said, trying to figure out how they could reach the castle. “But how will we cross this gorge?”

They looked around, searching for a way down. Climbing down the sheer cliffs was dangerous, and the trees growing on the edges seemed too fragile to support even one person’s weight. But ahead, to their right, the children noticed a narrow path leading down along the edge of the gorge.

“This is our only way,” Andrei said, taking the first cautious step onto the path. “We’ll have to move slowly and carefully.”

The others followed him, trying not to look down. The path was narrow and winding; each step could be their last, but the children pressed on, supporting one another. Every now and then, one of them would stumble, but there was always someone else to lend a shoulder and help them stay on their feet.

The lower they descended, the darker it became. The sun barely penetrated here, and everything was shrouded in twilight. But something strange was happening in this place. As they descended, they began to notice that the trees around them started to change. Their trunks were covered with moss that glowed faintly green, and the leaves whispered, as if the trees were communicating with one another.

“This place is alive,” Lena observed, feeling the trunk of one of the trees. “It’s not just a forest… There’s something magical here.”

“Maybe this light will help us find our way,” Vera suggested, pointing to the glowing moss. “Let’s follow it.”

So they did, using the glowing moss as their guide. After a while, they noticed that the path widened, and they found themselves in a small clearing surrounded by tall trees. In the center of the clearing was an old, long-abandoned well, from which a faint light emanated.

“What is this place?” Kostya asked, cautiously approaching the well.

“It seems this well is more than just a well,” Andrei replied, studying it closely. The stones of the well were carved with the same symbols they had seen on the stone circle they passed through in the previous chapter.

Vera carefully peered inside. At the bottom, she saw a shimmering light emanating from the water. But there was something unusual about this light, as if it was trying to convey some kind of information.

“It feels like this light is calling us,” she said, her gaze fixed on the water. “But what does it want to tell us?”

“Maybe it’s some kind of magical source?” Lena suggested. “Maybe it will show us the way or reveal something important?”

“Let’s try to use it,” Kostya proposed, taking a small stone from his pocket and tossing it into the water. As soon as the stone touched the surface, the light intensified, and images began to appear on the water.

On the water’s surface, the image of the ancient castle they had seen from the edge of the gorge emerged. But now they could see it in detail: the castle was surrounded by walls, behind which were narrow passageways and gloomy halls. In one of the halls, they noticed a glowing artifact emitting a powerful light.

“That’s what we need to find,” Vera said, as if hearing confirmation in her mind. “This artifact will help us unravel the secrets of this world and find our way home.”

“But how will we get there?” Andrei wondered. “That castle looks impregnable, and the path to it is full of dangers.”

At that moment, the light in the well suddenly disappeared, and a wind rose over the clearing, filling the air with the whisper of trees. In their sounds, the words: “The trial has begun…” slipped through again.

“It seems the forest is testing us once more,” Kostya said, clenching his fists. “But we have no choice. We have to pass this test.”

“We’ll do it together,” Vera said firmly, looking at her friends. “We’ll make it, as always, because we have each other.”

With these words, they left the clearing, following the glowing moss that led them further down the path. They knew that new trials and dangers awaited them ahead, but they believed that friendship and courage would help them overcome all obstacles.

Their journey to the castle was just beginning, and each minute of this adventure brought them closer to unraveling the great mystery hidden in the heart of this strange, magical world.

Chapter 4: The Labyrinth of Shadows

The path, illuminated by glowing moss, led the friends deeper into the dark depths of the Forest Gorge. The surroundings grew darker, and soon they found themselves in a place where the light vanished, leaving them alone with the dense, almost tangible darkness. The trees stood so close to each other that their branches intertwined, forming a thick canopy through which not a single ray of light penetrated.

“We must be careful,” Andrei whispered, feeling the air around them grow colder and heavier. “Something isn’t right here.”

“This place… it seems to absorb light,” Lena noted, peering into the darkness. Her voice was restrained, as if she was afraid to break the silence that seemed to press down on them.

Vera, walking in front, stopped. She suddenly felt a strange sensation — as if someone was watching them. Her heart skipped a beat, and she turned to look at her friends.

“Do you feel that?” she asked, trying to see something in the darkness.

“Yes,” Kostya replied, his voice rough with tension. “It’s like… someone or something is watching us.”

At that moment, the silence was pierced by a strange sound. It came from somewhere deep in the forest — a rustling, as if someone was moving among the trees, trying to remain unnoticed.

“We’re not alone,” Lena whispered, gripping Vera’s hand tightly.

“We have to keep moving,” Andrei said firmly, though he felt his confidence beginning to waver. “Stopping here is the worst thing we could do.”

They continued their journey, trying to move faster but without losing caution. The further they went, the stronger the feeling grew that the darkness around them was alive, surrounding them, pushing them toward something.

Suddenly, they emerged into a small clearing, surrounded by high walls of black stone. In the center of the clearing stood an archway leading into a dark passage. The arch was covered with old runes, and a cold emanated from it, chilling them to the bone.

“Is this… a labyrinth?” Kostya asked, stepping closer and examining the arch. “It looks like this is the entrance.”

“Maybe this labyrinth leads to the castle,” Vera suggested. “But it seems like passing through it won’t be easy.”

“We’ll have to enter if we want to continue,” Andrei said, glancing at the others. “But we must be ready for whatever danger awaits inside.”

Lena took a deep breath and stepped forward first. “We’re together, and that’s what matters. We’ll make it.”

The others followed her, and soon all four were inside the labyrinth. As soon as they entered, the walls behind them closed, leaving them in complete darkness. Ahead lay only a long corridor winding into the unknown.

Their footsteps echoed in the silence, and the air around them grew heavier with each step. They felt the tension rising, and every sound was amplified, as if the labyrinth itself was a living being, reacting to their presence.

“We must stay together,” Lena whispered, trying not to get lost in the darkness. “This labyrinth could easily separate us.”

They moved slowly, trying not to panic. The labyrinth seemed endless, and each turn led them to new corridors, even darker and more confusing. But something about this place felt wrong. From time to time, they noticed that the corridors changed, as if the labyrinth was rearranging itself to confuse them even more.

“This isn’t just a labyrinth,” Andrei muttered as they came upon another dead end. “It’s alive… it’s playing with us.”

“We have to outsmart it,” Vera said, trying to remain calm. “Let’s try leaving something at each turn, so we know where we’ve been.”

Kostya took out a small piece of chalk from his pocket and began marking the walls. This gave them a bit of confidence, but soon they realized that even with the marks, their situation hadn’t improved. The labyrinth continued to change, and the marks started to disappear.

“This place is testing us,” Andrei said, stopping to gather his thoughts. “We need to find a way out of here.”

Just then, they heard a new sound — barely audible, but it was approaching. It was a soft rustling, as if something was moving through the labyrinth, drawing closer to them.

“What is that?” Lena whispered fearfully, her heart pounding faster.

“I don’t know,” Kostya replied, his voice tense. “But we need to move faster.”

They began to run, trying to find an exit, but the labyrinth seemed to give them no chance. The walls narrowed, the passages became tighter, and soon they found themselves in a small room with no exit.

“We’re trapped!” Lena exclaimed, looking around.

“Not quite,” Vera replied, noticing something on the wall. There, on the black stone, were carved symbols similar to those they had seen earlier. “This might be a clue.”

They approached the wall and began studying the symbols. Suddenly, Vera realized that these weren’t just patterns — they were a map. A map of the labyrinth.

“There it is!” she said, pointing to one of the symbols. “This is the way out.”

“But how will we follow it?” Kostya asked. “The labyrinth changes every time we take a step.”

“We have to act together, as one,” Vera said, looking at her friends. “If we move in sync, we might confuse it.”

They joined hands and began moving together, following the map. Each step was carefully calculated, and they tried not to break the rhythm. The labyrinth resisted, but soon the children began to notice that the corridors stopped changing. They moved faster and faster until they reached an exit hidden deep in the darkness.

When they emerged into the light, their path was illuminated once again. They found themselves on the other side of the gorge, right in front of the ancient castle they had seen from the start.

“We did it!” Lena exclaimed with joy.

“But this is just the beginning,” Andrei replied, staring at the castle’s grim walls. “The hardest trial awaits us now.”

The friends stood on the threshold of a new adventure, ready for whatever this mysterious world had in store for them. Their friendship and determination had become the key to survival, and they knew that even more mysteries and challenges lay ahead.

Chapter 5: The Gates of the Ancient Castle

The castle loomed before the children as a dark, imposing structure, its walls covered in thick ivy, and its windows boarded up and dark, as if it had been waiting for its uninvited guests for centuries. The gray sky, as if matching the mood of the castle, was heavy with clouds, and a light breeze carried the scent of dampness and mustiness.

The friends stood before the massive iron gates, which seemed to have rusted over and hadn’t been opened in years. Vera, clutching the amulet she found in the labyrinth, stepped closer and cautiously touched one of the gate rings.

“We must go inside,” she said quietly, her voice filled with determination, though deep down she felt a slight tremor of fear.

“But how?” Andrei asked, examining the massive gates. “They look too heavy for us to open.”

Kostya, who had been silent all this time, scrutinized the gates and noticed ancient symbols carved into their surface. They resembled those they had seen in the labyrinth, but here they were larger and more distinct.

“These symbols mean something,” he said, running his hand over one of them. “Maybe they’re the key to opening the gates.”

Lena, intrigued by Kostya’s words, stepped closer and began studying the symbols with him. Her gaze suddenly fixed on one of them — a strange spiral that seemed brighter than the others.

“I saw this spiral in the labyrinth,” she said, drawing the others’ attention to the symbol. “Maybe if we all touch it at the same time, the gates will open?”

“Let’s try,” Andrei agreed, and all four reached out to touch the symbol.

As soon as their fingers touched the spiral, a low hum resonated through the air, and the gates began to slowly open, creaking and groaning as if resisting the movement. Inside the castle, a dark corridor leading into the depths of the fortress was revealed. A cold draft emanated from it, as if the castle itself was breathing icy air.

“We need to be careful,” Vera warned as she took the first step inside. Her heart was pounding, but she felt that this place held the answers to their questions.

The others followed her, and soon they found themselves inside the ancient castle. Inside, a deathly silence reigned, broken only by the echo of their footsteps on the stone floors. The high vaulted ceilings disappeared into darkness, and the corridors branching off in different directions seemed endless.

“We need to find the glowing artifact we saw in the well,” Andrei reminded them, carefully looking around. “It might be the key to unlocking all the mysteries.”

They moved cautiously forward, trying not to make any unnecessary noise. Each new turn brought them deeper into feelings of anxiety and uncertainty. It seemed as if the castle was watching them, testing their courage and resolve.

At one of the intersections, they stopped, unsure of which path to take. The corridors looked identical, but something in the air hinted that one of them led to their goal, while the others were traps.

“Which one?” Lena asked, peering into the darkness.

“We have to trust our instincts,” Kostya said, listening to his feelings. He suddenly felt a faint breeze coming from the left corridor and took a step in that direction. “This one.”

They turned left and soon entered a large room, dimly lit by a soft light emanating from something in the center of the room. All eyes were drawn to the massive altar on which rested the glowing artifact — a large ancient book emitting a gentle glow. Its pages were covered in golden runes, and it seemed as if the book had been waiting for their arrival.

“That’s it!” Vera exclaimed, approaching it. “This is the book from the vision in the well.”

“But why is it here?” Andrei wondered, hesitating to approach. “And what will happen if we take it?”

Kostya cautiously reached out to the book, but before he could touch it, the room suddenly filled with a strange sound. The air began to vibrate, and the light around them started to flicker, as if something was trying to stop them.

“Wait!” Lena exclaimed, looking around. “I think this is a trap.”

At that moment, the walls of the room began to move. The stone blocks that had previously been part of the walls slowly slid down, revealing narrow passages from which shadows began to emerge. They were almost invisible, but their presence was felt on the skin — a cold that penetrated to the bones.

“These shadows… they’re alive!” Andrei shouted, stepping back. “We have to do something!”

“We need to work together!” Vera shouted, gripping the amulet in her hands. “If this book is here for us, then we can use it.”

She stepped forward and touched the book. As soon as her fingers made contact with the ancient cover, the light intensified, and the shadows began to retreat. The book opened by itself, its pages flipping rapidly, and suddenly the light spread through the room like a powerful wave, driving the shadows away.

The castle stilled, the walls returned to their place, and the shadows vanished as if they had never existed. The room was once again filled with silence, and the book remained in Vera’s hands, no longer glowing, but full of power and ancient knowledge.

“We did it,” Lena said with relief, looking at her friends. “But what now?”

“Now we have to decipher this book,” Kostya said, carefully studying the runes on the pages. “It might be the key to everything that’s happening in this world.”

“And we’ll figure it out,” Vera said firmly, closing the book and holding it close to her chest. “We’ll act together, and nothing will stop us.”

The friends understood that more challenges awaited them ahead, but they felt that they had found something important — the key to unlocking the secrets of this world and possibly finding their way home. And although the castle still held its mysteries, they were ready for new discoveries and adventures that awaited them behind the next doors.

Chapter 6: The Voice from the Past

When the children left the hall with the altar, they found themselves back in the gloomy corridors of the castle. The light from the book, which had previously illuminated their path, had faded, leaving them in a dim space lit only by flickering torches on the walls. Vera held the book tightly, feeling its strange warmth and weight, as if it were something alive.

“Where to now?” Kostya asked, glancing around. They were surrounded by doors and corridors, all identical, all seemingly leading deeper into the castle.

“I think the book can guide us,” Vera said, opening it and trying to understand the text on the pages. But the text was in an ancient language that none of them knew.

Lena looked closely at the pages and noticed that the text was periodically changing its symbols, as if trying to adapt to their perception.

“Look!” she exclaimed, pointing to the page. “The words are changing!”

Indeed, the text began to transform into something understandable. The pages of the book seemed to come to life, and clear symbols appeared on them, forming words and phrases the children could comprehend.

“It’s showing us the way,” Vera said, feeling the book grow lighter in her hands. “It says we must follow the light and listen to the voice.”

“The voice?” Andrei asked, trying to grasp the meaning. “What voice?”

He hadn’t finished speaking when a quiet, almost imperceptible whisper echoed around them. It was barely audible, as if coming from the very walls of the castle. The children froze, listening to this strange sound. The whisper grew clearer and finally formed words:

“Hear me… follow me…”

“That’s the voice,” Lena whispered, feeling a chill run down her spine. “But what does it mean?”

“We have to follow it,” Vera said firmly. “It will lead us to where we’ll learn more.”

They slowly moved forward, listening to the whisper that guided them through the winding corridors. The voice was strange — it sounded old, as if it belonged to someone from the distant past, but there was something familiar in it, something that inspired trust.

The path became increasingly confusing, with corridors crossing each other, creating the sensation that they were wandering in circles. But the voice continued to direct them, leading them deeper and deeper into the castle. Soon they found themselves before a massive door adorned with ancient carved patterns depicting scenes from old legends.

“We’re here,” Andrei said, carefully examining the door. “But how do we open it?”

Vera looked at the book again. On one of the pages, new symbols appeared, forming something like an incantation.

“It seems this door will open if we speak these words,” she suggested, pointing to the text.

The children gathered around, and holding the book before them, they recited the strange words, trying to pronounce each one correctly. As soon as the last word left their lips, the door slowly began to open, creaking with age.

Beyond the door was a vast hall, in the center of which stood a tall throne adorned with precious stones and intricate carvings. But the strangest thing was that a figure sat on the throne, covered in a long cloak, its face hidden under a hood. A strange glow emanated from the figure, and it seemed as though it had been there for a long time, waiting for their arrival.

“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.”