The Secrets of the Lost Forest. Dariana Bliss

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ 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 СКАЧАТЬ