slik crouched low behind a tall stack of encyclopedias, his eyes locked on the luminous lantern. Next to him, stevio adjusted his glasses, curiosity tugging at his features, while stolon lingered with a finger trailing along mysterious runes carved into the lantern’s base.
"What do you think it is? It doesn’t look like anything I’ve seen in chemistry class,"
"Maybe it’s magic," slik whispered, mesmerized by the flickering lights.
"Or a puzzle waiting to be solved," stolon added, his voice filled with excitement.
stevio stepped forward first, feeling a magnetic pull from the portal. The air behind the doorway shimmered with blues and pinks, and the silhouettes of floating cities hovered above lush forests where animals seemed to talk in animated chatter. The trio exchanged wide-eyed glances.
"We have to go through. Imagine the stories we’ll have to tell,"
"As long as we stick together," stolon insisted, gripping slik’s sleeve.
slik marveled at the floating buildings, each shaped like an open book. stevio laughed as a wise old owl perched on his shoulder, whispering riddles, while stolon tried to solve a puzzle etched on a golden archway.
"These riddles are harder than anything in math class," stolon said, squinting at the symbols.
"Let’s work together. Maybe the answer is something we all know,"
slik faced a wall of mirrors reflecting his fears—doubt, loneliness, and shadows from his past. stevio encountered talking statues that questioned his courage, while stolon stood before a gate locked by a puzzle only teamwork could solve.
"I don’t want to be alone. I need my friends," slik called out, his voice trembling.
"We’re stronger together! Don’t give up!" echoed stevio from beyond the maze.
The three friends rushed into a joyful embrace, the world around them alight with celebration. The owl swooped overhead, dropping a feather that sparkled with magic, while raccoons played music on crystal instruments. United, they realized the lantern’s true power: it reflected their friendship and courage.
"We did it—together," stolon grinned, wiping away a tear.
"Maybe that’s the real magic of the lantern,"
stevio glanced at the lantern, now ordinary but somehow changed. The library seemed brighter, the air filled with possibility. The trio knew that, with friendship and teamwork, even the strangest puzzles could be solved.
"Let’s keep exploring—there’s a whole world out there, and we have each other,"
"And who knows? Maybe the lantern will shine again,"
