"Look!"
"Rio! Stop running around and get over here. Look at the screen."
Rio halted mid-step, sighing before leaning over his friend's shoulder to look at the computer.
"It's just an old temple, Filip."
Filip let out a frustrated groan. "No! Of course not. It's not just a temple. It's an unexplored one."
Rio rolled his eyes. He had known Filip since they were kids, long enough to understand exactly how naive—and how ridiculously enthusiastic—his friend could be.
Leaning back in his chair, Rio asked, "And how do you know no one's explored it before?"
A triumphant smile spread across Filip's face. "Because this time I checked everywhere. Online, in books, even asked the Professor. Nothing."
Rio stared at him with the same disbelief he always wore whenever Filip announced some new grand discovery.
"I know, I know," Filip added quickly. "It sounds too good to be true. But come on—do you have anything better to do this weekend?"
It didn't take long for Rio to decide. His alternatives were either trekking to the temple with Filip or spending the weekend doing garden work at home. The choice was easy.
Soon the two were deep in discussion about how to get through the forest, estimating how long the journey would take and making what Filip liked to call "a professional plan."
…
They had been walking for hours when Rio's patience began to unravel.
Leading the way, Rio turned back toward Filip. "How far is it actually?"
Filip only shook his head. "I don't know. But it should be close."
Rio let out a sharp sigh. "This is a scam. We've been walking for five hours. According to your math, we should've been there—and back—by now."
"Don't worry. We're almost—"
Before Filip could finish, the dense forest suddenly opened up, letting sunlight spill into a wide clearing. There, shimmering faintly through the trees, stood a triangular structure.
As they stepped closer, both of them froze.
It wasn't just a temple—it was gigantic. A towering pyramid, weathered by time yet still majestic. Scattered around it stood enormous statues, half-claimed by vines and moss. The carved shapes resembled some kind of animal, though age had eroded their features.
Rio stared, speechless. He had never seen anything like it.
Filip turned to him with a grin stretching from ear to ear. "We're here."
…
Exhausted from the trek, Rio collapsed onto the soft moss while Filip rummaged through his backpack. After a quick snack and a moment to breathe, they began examining the statues.
One statue, larger than the others, was cracked and broken by centuries of decay. Its pointed ears, four legs, and long tail made Rio think of a wolf—or something like it.
They shared their theories, each more unlikely than the last, before deciding to split up to search for the entrance.
…
After a while, they met again. Neither had found a doorway, but Filip had discovered a long staircase carved directly into the side of the pyramid.
They climbed together, passing row after row of strange runes etched into the stone. They couldn't read them, but their craftsmanship was unlike anything they had ever seen.
At the top stood a copper statue—perfectly preserved, every detail intact. Rio studied it, fascinated. It looked like a fox, elegant and almost alive.
Filip barely spared it a glance. He had already found something else: a spiral staircase leading straight down into the heart of the pyramid.
…
The descent was dull and uneventful, and Rio was just about to complain when the stairs abruptly ended.
A cavern opened before them—vast, silent, breathtaking.
In the center stood a towering statue more than six meters tall, made of gold and silver. It was shaped like a person, but with fox ears and a long, graceful tail. The armor covering the figure seemed forged entirely from pure gold.
Both boys froze, their minds racing.
Who had built this? Who was it supposed to represent? How much was it worth? How had no one discovered it until now?
Rio felt his breath catch. He was so mesmerized he momentarily forgot to breathe.
Filip, on the other hand, was overcome with ecstatic triumph. At last—proof that he could find something no one else had.
When they finally regained their composure, they stepped forward together.
As they approached, Rio noticed a medallion resting on a stone bench in front of the statue. Something about it pulled at him—an invisible force he couldn't explain.
He glanced at Filip and saw that his friend had noticed it too.
Rio's body trembled. Something deep inside him resisted getting any closer. But it was just a look, he told himself.
A look never hurt anyone…