The Lost City of Zanira (Part II)

Salar got no sleep that night. His head filled with tales from the gold book. The kings of bright stars, ships that sailed the skies with no wings, and a flower that lived for a long life—it all seemed like a dream. But the book was real. It felt big in his hands. Full of real tales.

He went through bright pages till his eyes hurt. At the end, he saw a thing he had not seen—a new map.

The next day, Amina knock his window.

"Did you read it all?" she asked.

"Not all," Salar said. "But there's a new map at the end."

"A new town?"

"Perhaps. Or more."

The Secret Map

This map had no red X, but a mark like an eye. It was in deep hills, far from Zanira. Below it was words in the old form:

"Where the Watchers sleep, the stars will rise once more."

"What do you think it means?" Amina asked.

"That Zanira was just the start," Salar replied.

They chose to wait a few days—get food & tools, read the book more, and plan with care. But odd things began right away.

Whispers in the Wind

At night, Salar heard whispers by his window. The air seemed to call him by name.

Salar… come…

One night, he saw a shape on the hill—tall, still, in a black cloak. When he blinked, it was gone.

Then the gold book started to change.

New pages showed up on their own.

The ink moved.

One night, a line was bright:

"The Watchers are up. Be fast."

Salar met Amina by the old mill the next day. The wind was cold.

"It’s time," he said.

Amina nodded; a bit scared—but bold. "Let’s go."

Into the Deep Hills

They left by first light.

Past the stone gate of Zanira.

Past the golden town, now soft in the dawn.

No one stopped them this time. Just quiet.

The map led them on a thin path in the hills. Trees got sparse. Birds did not sing. The air got colder as they went on.

Then they saw it.

A tower—down, broken, half under vines. Its stones were cracked, its top long gone.

And by it, hid by brush, was a stone stair, going down into the earth.

Salar held his light strong. "Ready?"

"Not much," Amina said. "But let’s do this.”

The stair went to a big, dark room. The walls were high and smooth. Tall shapes stood in rows—quiet, with no face. Only their big carved eyes saw the room.

"The Watchers," Salar said soft.

As they moved, the eyes lit up.

Then the floor broke—light shot up—and the room shook.

From the back, something moved.

Not a shape.

Something that breathed.

"Run!" Amina said.

But Salar stood still.

"No. Wait."

The Test of the Watchers

A voice like loud noise filled the hall.

"Do you seek the stars... or grab them?"

Salar’s heart hit fast.

"We seek truth. Just truth."

"Will you give up your way home to know what’s beyond?"

Salar looked at Amina. Her eyes were big. She looked scared, but gave a nod.

"We will," Salar said.

The room got calm. The ground shut. The light turned to soft blue.

Then a stone flew in the air—shaped like a star.

"Take this," the voice said. "One step more. But mind—others now chase."

Salar took the stone. It buzzed in his hand, hot and odd.

The shapes were still once more.

The Return

They climbed out; the day light hit their faces like a warm hug.

The woods had changed once more. The wind was soft. Birds sang in the trees.

They got home by the dark. Back in Salar’s room, they put the star key by the gold book.

Amina sat on the floor.

Salar opened the book. New words came up, bright:

"The star key is here. One more to find. Then the Gate of Skies will open."

Salar looked at Amina.

"Set for part three?"

She grinned.

"Always."