Under the luminous glow of the midnight moon, Amy crept into the library, her eyes searching for something to spark her adventurous spirit. It had been too long since she’d been on a quest, and the library, where her last adventure had ended, seemed the perfect place to rebuild that confidence.

Her eye caught a big, dusty book; its worn-out cover looked a hundred years old. Fascinated, she ran her finger across its surface. This was ancient, and it beckoned her to dive into the book. As it was heavy, Amy knelt down, placing it on her lap. As she flipped through its delicate pages, one image in particular caught her attention. A bold title showed its significance, and beneath it, a curious statue stood silently, its beauty captured.

Just as Amy was about to read the mysterious page, the sound of approaching footsteps sent a jolt of fear through her. She closed the book, tucked it into her bag, and disappeared into the night.

The next morning, Amy lay in bed, her mind replaying the events of the previous night. Upon returning home, she had dived deeper into the book, uncovering the truth: the statue was not just any statue but an artifact capable of granting any wish. And that wish, she knew, would be hers. But what she didn’t realize was that the wish was already half granted!

One day, as Amy was engrossed in the book, her fingers fumbled, and the heavy piece tumbled to the floor. As it landed, a piece of aged, rusted paper fluttered out, revealing itself to be a map. Without a moment’s hesitation, Amy packed her bags, ready to embark on the most unforgettable adventure of her life.

Equipped with a determined heart and a packed lunch, she set off, following the map’s direct instructions. Her first stop was Ever Shine Lake, which lay high atop a towering mountain. The path leading to the lake was overgrown, and thorny bushes bit at her clothes. Tree roots tripped her at every turn.

“Well,” Amy chuckled, “if the path is this overgrown, it means I’m the first one here in ages.” With happiness inside, she pressed on, her smile widening with each step. She was on the edge of an extraordinary journey, and she was ready to face it.

Amy’s smile faltered as she reached the top. The Ever Shine Lake was… well, not shining at all. It was a murky, stagnant pool, covered in mist. The air hung heavy, filled with the smell of damp earth and something else – something she could not place.

She scanned the area, her eyes searching for any sign of a clue. The map simply stated, “The first clue awaits at the heart of the lake.” But what did that even mean?

Suddenly, a glint of something caught her eye. It was a small, old metal box, half-buried in the mud at the edge of the lake. A thrill shot through Amy. Could this be it?

With trembling hands, she dug the box out. It was heavy. She pried open the lid, revealing a single, blackened silver coin. Etched onto its surface was a symbol, a swirling spiral with a sharp point at its center.

As Amy held the coin, a voice echoed in her mind, clear and bold. “Follow the spiral, find the point.”

The voice faded, leaving Amy bewildered and full of questions. She stared at the coin, the symbol burning into her memory. The lake, the voice, the coin – it was all so strange, so odd. But one thing was clear: her adventure was far from over.

With a deep breath, Amy tucked the coin into her pocket and turned to face the mountain. She had a long way to go and a lot to learn. The path unfolded, and she was ready to follow.

“The path unfolds. Follow the spiral, find the point,” the words repeated in her thoughts. Amy knew she had to continue on, to unravel the mystery that had drawn her to this remote and eerie place.

Taking one last look back at the lake, Amy turned and began the big climb up the mountain. The way was steep and winding, forcing her to pick her way carefully over the uneven path.

As she ascended higher, the air grew cooler. Amy couldn’t help but glance down every few minutes, marveling at the view of the lake growing smaller in the distance. Yet, her focus remained steady on the task, following wherever this spiral coin led her.

After what felt like hours of climbing, Amy reached a flat surface and paused to catch her breath. It was then that she noticed a faint marking on the rock face in front of her – another spiral symbol, this one etched into the stone. Excitement rising, she ran her fingers over the carving, tracing its swirling pattern.

“The point,” she murmured, recalling the cryptic words. Casting her gaze around, Amy searched for any other clues or indications of where she should go next. The mountain spread out before her, imposing and enigmatic.

But Amy was the kind of person who never gave up. She had come too far to turn back now. She continued onward, determined to uncover the secrets this journey had in store.

A few hours later, Amy saw it. She saw the statue from the book. She stopped to catch her breath, took the book out of her bag, and flipped to the page of the model. Sure enough, it was the same one. Summoning the last of her energy, she dropped her bag and sprinted as fast as she could to the statue.

As she got closer, she realized it was half-colored. She then slowed down to a halt and read the plaque that said, ‘Wish Half Granted’.

Then Amy did the most bizarre thing ever. Without hesitation, she completed the wish…

Authored By: 10-year-old Vihana Kothari from Hong Kong