The Secrets of the Lost Forest

“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.