Read the book: «The Secrets of the Old Town»
© Marina Britikova, 2026
ISBN 978-5-0071-4438-4
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
«The Secrets of the Old Town»
Every city has its own history, its own legends. This one was no exception. Legends lived on its streets, alleyways, reflected in shop windows, whispered their stories to passersby…
Through the dark alleyways of the old town, an atmosphere of mystery and ancient history lingered. Ancient stone houses, like guardians of time, stood tall, their silent windows observing those who passed by. Facades made of weathered bricks and time-carved stones spoke of the long journey traversed within these walls.
Roofs adorned with antique tile slabs, hinting at the secrets held within. It seemed that each roof carried its own story — of rains weathered, of sunny days with the shadows of old tree leaves falling upon them.
The streets, like tangled threads of time, wound between the buildings, inviting on a captivating journey through history. The cobblestone pavement, worn down by countless generations, paid attention to every rustle, echoing echoes of the past.
Old lanterns, which cast their picturesque reflections on the narrow waters of stone-paved streams during the night, added a special romantic atmosphere to the city. Their soft light accentuated the details of the houses and created a sensation as if time had slowed down here.
Branches of old trees bent over houses and streets, as if harboring the secrets of countless stories and conversations they had heard over the centuries. Spring flowers and leaves brought vibrant colors to the city, breaking the gray tones of antiquity.
This old part of the city, like a book filled with pages of time, narrated the past and provided a sense of connection to roots and ancestors. In every corner of this old town, a story was hidden, waiting to be uncovered by new seekers and adventurers.
In this old city lived a boy named Artemiy, with curly dark hair and sapphire blue eyes, twelve years old. Artemiy loved fairy tales and legends very much. He wanted to become an archaeologist or, in the worst case, a detective like Sherlock Holmes or Monsieur Poirot. He never fully decided.
But at his age, he knew more ancient legends than any adult. In his eyes, there shone an unwavering determination to uncover the secrets of the ancient streets and alleys, to discover something new and unexplored.
Story One
The Secret of a Ghost
Chapter 1
Mysterious Events: The Appearance of Enigmatic Phenomena
On that day, when the rays of the setting sun bathed the ancient houses in a golden light, an aura of mystery began to envelop the old town. Residents noticed strange sounds that seemed to emanate from the very past. The antique clocks on the main square started striking at an incomprehensible time, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, as if following a nonexistent rhythm.
Meanwhile, things began to disappear without any announcement. Clocks, jewelry, even old books from the library vanished without a trace. The inhabitants of the old town were perplexed; their houses and streets seemed imbued with an unexplainable magic. At night, the air grew still along the narrow alleyways, and winds carried whispers of unknown words. Mysterious shadows slid across the walls, leaving behind the feeling that they could only be seen out of the corner of one’s eye. Even the moon seemed to mysteriously illuminate the city, as if trying to tell its own story.
Artemiy, sensing that the city was speaking to him in its unique language, decided to take on the role of deciphering this eerie mystery. He was determined to solve it and prove to everyone that he was a great detective. Enlisting the help of his friend and classmate Vovka, the boys embarked on an investigation.
First, they questioned everyone they could about what they had lost. It turned out that there was no logic to the missing items at all: alongside precious gems, gold coins, and books, various trinkets vanished from the residents — vases, jewelry boxes, scarves, and even a shovel…
«Why would anyone need all this junk?» Artemiy pondered, sitting with Vovka in his room. «A real thief would rob a bank and be done with it.»
«That’s the thing,» his friend added, «it’s an unusual thief. And there’s something mystical going on here.»
Vovka, a boy with red hair and freckles, was fascinated by everything supernatural. He loved reading scary stories and aspired to become an alchemist in the future, to finally invent the Philosopher’s Stone.
«Maybe you’re right,» Artemiy agreed, «but something still doesn’t add up. We need a lead.»
Suddenly, a ringing sound echoed in the room, and a crystal vase fell from the shelf to the floor, shattering into tiny fragments. Startled, the boys climbed onto a table and began examining what or who knocked over the vase.
«Let’s take a look,» Artemiy suggested.
«I’m scared,» Vovka admitted honestly.
«Me too.»
«Then let’s do it together.»
The boys pushed a chair against the wall, and with Artemiy climbing onto it, he peered at the shelf from which the vase had just fallen. In the farthest corner, huddled and trembling with fear, sat a tiny fairy.
«Don’t be afraid,» Artemiy said, extending his hand, «we won’t harm you.»
The fairy looked at them with her intelligent, perceptive eyes and blinked her eyelashes.
«I’m not scared,» she declared and flew to the writing desk.
It was a little girl with thick, sparkling hair that changed color from a soft green to deep blue, reflecting her mood. She had transparent wings, big blue eyes, a pink dress with matching shoes. Her name was Elina, and she had lived here for a long time. However, she had never shown herself or behaved anything but quietly. But due to recent events, she was forced to introduce herself to the boys. After all, this mystery troubled her as well.
«And besides,» Elina said, «her personal belongings also disappeared. That’s why she wants to help, but in exchange, the boys must never reveal the secret of her existence to anyone, ever.»
The boys gave their word, and all three of them set out to solve this strange enigma.
Chapter 2
Artemiy Initiates the Investigation of Mysterious Events
Every day, the kids wandered through the city in search of any leads or clues. They stopped by old houses, walked along ancient streets and alleyways. Elina possessed magical abilities that allowed her to slip into corners where no regular boy could fit and eavesdrop on conversations.
The boys diligently recorded everything in a notebook: hints, events, stories from the residents. Then, together, they tried to analyze what was happening.
«Something doesn’t add up,» Vovka said once again, «there’s no logic to it. Look, the baker’s rolling pin disappeared, the artist’s brush, and from the bank, just ten gold coins…»
«Yeah, it’s all very strange…» Artemiy agreed.
«But what if the thief isn’t from your world, but from ours?» Elina suddenly suggested.
«How’s that?» the boys exclaimed in unison.
«Well, think about it: there’s complete chaos in the items that have disappeared. Most of them aren’t valuable at all. They’re just trinkets — no valuable paintings, no diamonds. There’s a rolling pin, a brush, and only 10 gold coins, even though there are a lot more in the bank…»
«There’s something to that,» Vovka picked up.
«And how do we find out who in your world could be doing this?» Artemiy asked.
«I suggest we wait for the night and ask the old oak tree on the outskirts of the city. It knows everything…»
Everyone agreed and began to wait for the night…
Chapter 3
Who is the Old Oak? And Why Go to It?
«Who is this old oak?» Vovka asked Elina as they walked through the dark streets towards the city gates.
«The old oak isn’t just a tree,» Elina explained. «It’s a living witness of time, standing on this land for centuries. Every scar on its bark is like a page in a great book, recording the events that have taken place around it. When you touch its wrinkled surface, it’s like reading the lines of that book. This oak has witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations, it has heard the song of the wind carrying tales of distant lands and adventures. It knows how the world changes around it and how we change ourselves under the influence of time. In its roots lives my old friend, the elf Liren. I hope he will help us.»
«Phew, and I thought we’d be talking to a tree,» Vovka said.
«In my world, that’s entirely possible,» Elina laughed, and they continued on their way to the old oak.
