The morning sun crept through the tall windows, painting golden stripes on the cold stone floor. Sheenah woke with a start, the silver locket still clutched in her hand. Leah was already up, quietly brushing her hair at the small table.
"Did you have a good sleep?" Leah asked, her voice gentle.
"Not much," Sheenah replied, rubbing her eyes. "I kept thinking about the diagrams and the heart of the castle. I think we need to find it today."
Leah nodded. "I agree. Maybe that's where the answer is."
They dressed quickly and packed their things. Sheenah slipped the locket around her neck and tucked the midnight-blue book into her bag. Maya knocked softly and brought them breakfast—warm porridge and bread with honey.
"Be careful today," Maya whispered, glancing over her shoulder. "People are nervous. Some think you're making trouble."
"We're only trying to help," Leah said quietly.
Maya nodded and hurried away.
After breakfast, Captain Aldric arrived. He looked tired but determined. "Ready?" he asked.
"Yes," Sheenah said. "We want to look for the heart of the castle. We think it might be important."
Aldric raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. "I'll show you the oldest part of the castle. Most people stay away from there—it's cold and dark, and some say it's haunted."
They followed Aldric through twisting hallways and down a narrow stone staircase. The air grew colder as they descended. Their footsteps echoed on the ancient stones.
At the bottom, they entered a long hallway lined with faded tapestries. The walls were damp, and the air smelled of earth and old secrets. At the end of the hall stood a heavy wooden door, its surface carved with strange symbols.
"This is the oldest part," Aldric said. "No one goes in here anymore."
Sheenah reached out and touched the door. The locket around her neck grew warm. She glanced at Leah, who nodded encouragement.
Sheenah pressed the locket to the center of the door. There was a soft click, and the door creaked open.
Inside was a round chamber, lit only by a faint blue glow from the ceiling. In the center stood a stone pedestal, and above it, a small spring bubbled with clear water. The air hummed with quiet magic.
"This must be it," Leah whispered. "The heart of the castle."
Sheenah stepped forward, feeling the magic pulse under her feet. She placed the locket on the pedestal. The blue light grew brighter, casting dancing shadows on the walls.
Suddenly, a cold wind swept through the chamber. The door slammed shut. Sheenah and Leah spun around, hearts pounding.
A shadow moved in the corner—a tall, thin figure with sharp eyes. It was the old advisor from the council, the one who had always looked at them with suspicion.
"I warned you," he hissed. "Some secrets are better left buried."
"What do you want?" Sheenah asked, her voice steady.
"I want to protect the Duke," the advisor said. "The curse keeps him safe from worse things. If you break it, you'll bring ruin to us all."
"That's not true!" Sheenah said. "The curse is hurting him. It's hurting everyone." Leah seconded.
The advisor stepped closer, his shadow stretching across the floor. "You don't understand. The magic here is old—older than the Duke, older than this castle. If you disturb it, you might unleash something worse."
Sheenah shook her head. "We have to try. The Duke deserves a chance to be free and we also deserve to be free from here, to go back to our home."
The advisor raised his hand, and the blue light flickered. The room grew colder. Sheenah felt fear grip her, but she remembered the words from the letter: Trust is the key. Do not let the shadows win.
She reached for Leah's hand. "We're not alone," she whispered. "We have each other. That's how we break the curse."
The locket on the pedestal began to glow. The blue light pulsed, stronger and warmer. The shadow recoiled, shrinking away from the light.
"No!" the advisor cried. "You don't know what you're doing!"
But Sheenah and Leah stood firm, holding hands. The light grew brighter, filling the chamber with warmth. The spring bubbled faster, and the air filled with the scent of wildflowers.
A voice echoed in the chamber, soft and loving: "A heart that dares to love, even in the face of fear, can heal what hatred broke."
The shadow advisor screamed and vanished, leaving only a faint trace of darkness behind.
The blue light faded to a gentle glow. The locket's warmth spread through Sheenah's chest, filling her with hope. The curse's grip on the castle seemed to loosen—the air felt lighter, the magic less heavy.
Leah hugged Sheenah tightly. "We did it. At least, I think we did."
"We took the first step," Sheenah said. "But we have to tell the Duke. He needs to know the truth."
Aldric, who had watched everything in stunned silence, finally spoke. "I never believed in ancient magic until now. Come. His Grace must hear what you've done."
Aldric started to walk towards the door then suddenly stop, causing the two girls to stop also. "How come that do you have a magic?" The girls went silent because they don't know what to answer to the captain. Aldric stared at them then shrug, "Well, maybe you don't want to explain to me. I guess you want to go to the duke first. Let's go then."
They left the chamber, the heavy door closing behind them with a gentle thud. As they climbed the stairs, Sheenah felt a new strength in her heart. She wasn't just a visitor anymore—she was part of the castle's story.
When they reached the Duke's study, he was waiting, his eyes tired but alert. Sheenah told him everything—the hidden chamber, the spring, the shadow, and the light.
For a long moment, the Duke said nothing. Then, slowly, he smiled—a real, warm smile that reached his eyes.
"Thank you," he said. "For not giving up. For believing there was hope."
Sheenah smiled back, her heart light. "The story isn't finished yet. But I think we're finally on the right path."
Back in the main hall, the castle seemed brighter. Servants looked up as they passed, their faces curious and hopeful. The news of what happened in the heart of the castle would spread quickly.
As night fell, Sheenah sat by her window, looking out over the snowy grounds. The castle was still full of secrets, but now, she felt ready to face whatever came next—with Leah, with the Duke, and with hope shining in her heart. "I thought that we don't have any progress on our doings, it is just my thoughts then. At least we found the first step." Sheenah whispered to herself as she looks at the sleeping Leah.