Chapter 2: The Whispering Woods
The next morning, Rohan woke up before the sun. The silver key was still warm under his pillow. He grabbed his backpack, some water, and the old map. Without waking anyone, he slipped out of the house and headed toward the "Forbidden Woods."
Villagers said the woods were haunted, but Rohan felt a strange pull. As soon as he stepped under the thick canopy of trees, the temperature dropped. The air felt heavy and smelled like ancient rain.
Suddenly, he heard a sound. It wasn't the wind. It was a soft, rhythmic whispering.
"The Guardian... he comes... the key has awakened..."
Rohan stopped, his heart racing. He looked around, but there was no one. The trees themselves seemed to be leaning toward him. The map in his hand began to glow with a faint green light, showing a path that wasn't there before—a trail of glowing moss leading deeper into the shadows.
"I have to be brave," Rohan whispered to himself. He gripped the silver key in his pocket and followed the glowing moss. He didn't know that from the high branches, a pair of bright blue eyes was watching his every move.