Chapter 1 Rain drummed against the roof of the old ruins of Astermont Castle. On a cloudy November evening, grey clouds loomed over the valley. Lena and Kacper, siblings who had just moved to a small town in the foothills, never missed an opportunity for adventure. On this day, their curiosity led them to the mighty stone gate of the castle. Built hundreds of years ago, it had long since lost its majesty, but something about it still attracted gazes, like a magnet. Lena was fourteen years old and had short red hair. She always carried a sketchbook with her, in which she drew ordinary and extraordinary things. Kacper was a year younger than her, liked stories about old times and had an incredible sense of observation. If anyone was going to spot something out of the ordinary, it was him. - Do you think anyone still lives here? - Kacper asked, looking uncertainly around the overgrown courtyard. - 'Probably just ghosts or rats,' laughed Lena and pushed open the heavy door to one of the rooms. Inside, the air smelled of dust and damp. High arched windows let in pale light, showing reliefs on the walls depicting figures in long coats and strange headgear. Kacper stopped, fascinated: - Lena, look! It looks like... wizards? The girl came closer. Indeed, the figures were holding objects resembling wands or crystals in their hands. At one point, Lena accidentally touched one of the bas-reliefs. Something clicked. With a loud rasp, a section of the wall moved aside, revealing a staircase leading down into the darkness. The siblings looked at each other - for the first time, a slight anxiety, but also unbridled curiosity, overwhelmed them. Without a word, Lena pulled out a torch and Kacper reached for his phone to take pictures. They descended slowly down the stone, slippery steps. The deeper they descended, the more the smell of the air changed - instead of musty, they smelt the scent of herbs, as if they were in their grandmother's herb shop. Downstairs, a circular room, lit by a strange pale blue light, awaited them. In the middle stood a stone pedestal, and on it - a silver book. It was fastened with an elaborate brass clasp. However, they had not even had time to touch the cover when a quiet whisper rang out: - Not everyone is ready to know the world hidden from ordinary eyes.... Kacper squeezed the torch tighter, Lena felt her heart beating faster. A strange figure emerged from the gloom, tall and covered in a dark cloak. Her eyes shone with a blue light, and her voice sounded as if not only someone was talking to them.... but also something else. - If you really want to enter the Circle of Shadow and Light, you must answer my question. But remember: more depends on your choices than you think. As the figure approached slowly, Lena and Kacper held their breath. A silent anticipation hung in the air. All the world outside ceased to exist - all that mattered was this moment, the mysterious guard and the mysterious book....