Chapter 1 – In Pursuit of Forbidden Knowledge
The narrow streets of Cologne had grown even quieter as night fell. The air was cold, the rain just having stopped, leaving the sidewalks still wet. The city's oldest library, with its large windows casting pale yellow light, greeted those who entered with the scent of old books.
Three children stood in front of the library's massive wooden door. Meric paused, his hand on the door handle.
Meric: "What do you think we'll find here tonight?"
Lina: (Thoughtfully) "Maybe we'll finally learn what the old man is up to. If he really knows something interesting…"
Marlon: (Crossing his arms) "I don't know, an old man flipping through dusty books doesn't seem that mysterious."
Lina: "If that's really the case, at least we'll know for sure."
Meric opened the door, and a faint smell of books and aged wood filled the air. The library was nearly empty, with only a few students working at a table piled with books. But what caught their attention was the old man sitting in the corner of the room.
His long gray beard spilled onto the table, his fingers absentmindedly spinning an old medallion. The strange symbols on it glowed in the candlelight. But the oddest thing was that as soon as they entered, he looked up with a faint smile.
Old Man: "Three of you… just as it should be."
The three children exchanged bewildered glances. It felt strange, as if the old man had been expecting them. Meric furrowed his brow and pulled out a chair to sit. Lina moved closer, studying the old man's face carefully. Marlon hesitated, looking around uneasily, but eventually sat down as well.
The old man clasped his hands together and leaned forward over the table.
Old Man: "Do you believe in legends?"
Meric: (Leaning in) "What kind of legends?"
Old Man: "Some… may have been true."
Lina: (Frowning) "How do you know that?"
The old man reached into his coat and pulled out a small, ancient medallion. When he placed it on the table, the light revealed the symbols engraved on it.
Old Man: "This… might be the key to a secret hidden beneath the Cologne Cathedral."
Marlon shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
Marlon: (Crossing his arms) "How can we know these things are real? It could just be an old story."
The old man chuckled softly. There was an eerie echo in his laugh, as if it had been lost among the library's shelves.
Old Man: "Some truths are only visible to those brave enough to search for them."
He stood up and walked toward a dim corner of the library. The children exchanged quick glances before following him. In the corner, there was a dusty old shelf, and when the man pulled a book from it, a small compartment opened behind it. Inside was an ancient scroll.
Lina carefully reached for the scroll. The writing was faint, almost unreadable, but in the center, a symbol caught their attention: a detailed engraving of the Cologne Cathedral.
Meric: (Whispering) "What does this mean?"
The old man squinted his eyes.
Old Man: "Beneath the Cologne Cathedral, there is a crypt. And inside… lies a forgotten book. Only those with the right strength can find it."
The children exchanged a look, their hearts racing. The only sound in the room was the faint creaking of the old wooden shelves.
Meric: (Excitedly) "Let's go!"
Lina: (Taking a deep breath) "If this is true, we need to find proof."
Marlon: (Sighing) "This is madness…" (Shakes his head) "But I'm not leaving you alone."
The old man smiled faintly, as if something long-awaited had finally begun.
Old Man: "Then… let your journey begin."
End of Chapter 1