The friends gathered around the pedestal, the fading light casting long shadows across the glade. The riddle inscribed on the stone read:
"To find what you seek, look to the sky,
Where the sun meets the earth and the stars lie.
Through the eyes of the past, the future you’ll see,
Unlock the gate with nature’s key."
Tom, always analytical, furrowed his brow as he studied the
riddle. “It’s metaphorical,” he mused. “The ‘eyes of the past’ could refer to
something historical or old.”
Max, ever the practical one, looked around the glade for
clues. “Maybe it’s something here, in the glade itself,” he suggested, his eyes
scanning the area for anything unusual.
Lila, with her artist’s intuition, closed her eyes and tried
to feel the essence of the place. “Nature’s key…” she whispered, opening her
eyes and gazing up at the canopy above. “The sun and stars… What if it’s about
the natural elements around us?”
As they pondered the riddle, a sudden gust of wind rustled
the leaves, drawing their attention to an ancient oak tree at the edge of the
glade. Its massive branches stretched skyward, and at its base, they noticed an
unusual marking that resembled an eye. Intrigued, they approached the tree.
Tom ran his fingers over the carving. “This could be the
‘eyes of the past’ mentioned in the riddle,” he said. “But what about ‘nature’s
key’?”
Lila examined the ground around the tree and found a small,
heart-shaped stone partially buried in the soil. “Look at this!” she exclaimed,
holding up the stone. “It looks like it could fit into something.”
Max took the stone and inspected the tree. “Maybe there’s a
hidden compartment or a keyhole,” he suggested. After a few minutes of
searching, they found a small, concealed niche in the trunk. Max inserted the
stone, and with a soft click, the niche opened to reveal a second map fragment.
Excitement surged through the group as they carefully
unfolded the new piece. It showed a different section of the Whispering Forest,
marked with more symbols and notations. The friends realized they were now one
step closer to uncovering the entire Hidden Map.
But before they could celebrate, they heard rustling from
the bushes nearby. Instinctively, they froze and listened. To their relief, a
friendly face emerged—it was Old Man Harrow, the forest’s caretaker and a
beloved figure in Eldoria. With his long, white beard and twinkling eyes, he
looked like he belonged to the forest.
“Ah, I see you’ve
found one of Blackthorn’s secrets,” he said with a knowing smile. “The
Enchanted Glade is just the beginning. The rest of the map pieces are hidden in
places connected to the elements—earth, water, fire, and air. Each will test
your courage, wisdom, and heart.”
Grateful for his guidance, the friends thanked Old Man
Harrow and asked if he had any advice for their next step. “Follow the path of
the Whispering Stream,” he advised. “It will lead you to the Cave of Echoes,
where the next piece lies. But beware, the cave holds many dangers and
illusions. Trust in your bond and your instincts.”
With renewed determination, Lila, Tom, and Max set off along
the path indicated by Old Man Harrow. As they followed the gentle babbling of
the stream, they felt a sense of unity and purpose. They knew the journey ahead
would be challenging, but with each other, they were ready to face whatever
trials awaited them.