Hania and Kuba find an old green book in the school library and notice something strange hidden among the shelves.
In a small school beside the forest, the library was bright with sunlight, paper, and the faint smell of crayons. On Monday morning, Hania and Kuba came in with their class and settled down at the long wooden tables. Mrs Ela smiled and told everyone to choose a book for silent reading.
Hania reached for a book about dragons. Kuba picked one with dinosaurs on the cover. But then both of them stopped.
On a shelf between two picture books stood a very old green book. It was bigger than the others, and a golden castle shone on the front. Little swirls and stars curled around it, and the picture seemed to glimmer when Hania moved her hand.
"Look," Kuba whispered. "I've never seen that book before."
Hania touched the cover. It felt soft, almost like moss. When she opened it, the pages showed colourful trees, tiny fairytale people, and a map with a dotted line leading somewhere deep inside the library.
Before either of them could say a word, they heard a soft rustle.
It came from behind the shelves.
Hania and Kuba turned. One book was wobbling all by itself, and beside it, a little drawer they had never noticed was sliding slowly open.