The mists of morning floated lazily over the ruins of Altharion, an ancient city hidden among the whispers of the damp forest. Aedreth, a tall figure with tousled hair and a falcon eye, was awakened by a light breeze coming through the open window of the long-abandoned library. On the first floor, still dozing with a book on his face, lay Irin-the friend he had known since childhood. Outside the house, on an overgrown path, an old box waited. No one knew where it had come from. Its brass fittings shone invitingly, and a soft amber glow emanated from the tattered padlock. Aedreth descended the steep stairs and Irin followed, tripping over her own vitae of green leaves that clung to her clothes. - 'Did you see that? - whispered Irin, approaching the chest. Aedreth touched the lid. His fingers glided over the old runes carved by the hand of the former master. The runes trembled under their touch, and the world around seemed to quiet, as if Altharion had held his breath for a moment. Nearby, a deep murmur sounded from a thicket of dense ferns. The startled gazes of the children met for a split second, then Irin boldly lifted the lid. Inside, instead of the expected old parchments, lay a map. It was covered with silver lines that moved like vivid streams of light. Next to the map rested a fragment of a golden key and a letter written in an unknown language. - 'Look... this must lead somewhere under the city,' whispered Irin. - But where? Aedreth lifted the map and the light reflected off its surface, casting on the ground the image of a bridge suspended over a dark river. The bridge shone like a freshly forged golden sword. The river led to something their eyes could not grasp. Unexpectedly, the library behind them shook, as if something deeply hidden beneath the stone foundations had been awakened. A chill began to seep from the cracks in the floor, and the light outside the window dimmed. Aedreth slipped the map and key into his bag, and Irin tightened her fingers on the leaves. - Do we dare to go down? - she asked quietly. Louder and louder footsteps could be heard in the distance, approaching inexorably towards their hiding place. At that moment the door to the library creaked open, as if someone or something was trying to get inside....