Chapter 4: The Hidden Message
Elara’s heart pounded with excitement. She knelt beside the flat stone, her fingers tracing the serpentine carving. It felt cool and smooth under her touch. Remembering her grandfather’s cryptic note – “Seek the whisper” – she carefully examined the coiled snake symbol.
She noticed a tiny, almost imperceptible crack along the edge of the stone, following the line of the snake’s tail. Curious, she pressed gently. With a soft click, a small section of the stone pivoted inwards, revealing a shallow, hidden compartment.
Inside, nestled on a bed of dried moss, was a small, ornate wooden box. It was intricately carved with patterns of leaves and vines, and on its lid, once again, was the coiled snake. Trembling slightly, Elara lifted the lid.
The box contained a single item: a polished, dark stone, smooth and cool to the touch. It wasn’t just any stone; it had a faint, iridescent shimmer, as if holding captured starlight. There was also another, much smaller, scroll of parchment, tied with a thin leather string. Elara carefully untied it and unrolled it. Written in her grandfather’s familiar, elegant handwriting, it read: “The true treasure is the journey, and the stone holds the starlight of forgotten stories. Listen closely, and it will guide you.”
Chapter 4 Exercise: Analysis and Prediction
Instructions: Answer the following questions thoughtfully.
- Why do you think Elara’s grandfather described the stone as holding “the starlight of forgotten stories”?
- What does the phrase “The true treasure is the journey” tell you about her grandfather’s values?
- What do you predict Elara might do next with the polished stone and the message?