Philip stared for a long moment at the dark blue gate that stood under the forest, at the very end of the moss-covered path. When he had received the invitation to the night's field game, he hadn't even suspected that the route would take him all the way here, to the very border of the city and the wild, unknown Echo Forest. By chance, his hand touched the cold surface of the gate. The material was unlike anything he knew - it was as smooth as glass and as soft as velvet at the same time. He looked behind him, wanting to see if he could see anyone from the rest of the team, but the other players had disappeared into the darkness somewhere. Philip felt his heart beating faster - was this part of the game, or had he already crossed the line? Suddenly the gate trembled and he heard a soft, melodious whisper coming from somewhere inside the wood: - Only those whose voice is true can pass on. Philip wasn't sure what that meant, but he didn't want to go back. He took a deep breath and said: - I am Philip. I want to go in. In response, a luminous sound swept through the gate. The wood parted, revealing a passage leading deep into the forest. Philip hesitated only a moment. On the other side there was a blue mist in which the outlines of the trees stood out like shadows on a canvas. Each of his steps echoed, but this echo was different - as if it was answering him in a different voice. As he went deeper, he saw crystal leaves hanging from the branches, which sounded at the lightest gust of air. The Echo Forest was no ordinary forest. In a forest clearing, he came across a girl, dressed in a cloak woven of shining fibres. She had silvery eyes and in her hands she held a strange instrument, resembling a cross between a harp and a shell. - I have been waiting for you,' she said. - Now you must decide whether you dare to play a note you have never heard. He noticed that around the clearing the shadows began to move, as if reacting to each syllable spoken. Philip felt that what happened next depended on this decision. He breathed deeply, and his hand slowly rose towards the instrument....