The Secret of Spellshadow Manor 5 by Bella Forrest (book series for 10 year olds .TXT) 📕

to protect valuable artifacts. However, he questioned where all these precious objects had come from, and who they had belonged to before. The pagoda itself didn’t seem to belong to the usual style of the royals; it wouldn’t surprise him if they were prone to taking from others and using these sites and belongings for their own purposes. Alex was particularly curious about the book itself—had it belonged to the Spellbreakers, considering what lay within its pages? If it had, then he knew it was a stolen artifact, procured by the royals and buried somewhere beyond the ornately carved door. The idea didn’t sit well with him. What else had the royals taken that wasn’t theirs?

“What if we change our minds and want to come back?” Lintz asked.

“Impossible, I’m afraid. Once through this door, you can only move forward. You cannot come back out this way,” Hadrian explained.

“Do I have to go through alone?” Alex asked, his mind racing.

“No, which I suppose is the one b-blessing in all of this,” said Hadrian. “The tasks are designed to ensure that only the worthiest of h-heroes can attain the book, but in doing so, teamwork and loyalty must be t-tested too. If you are still intent on retrieving the book, you must go through with others, to assist in the tasks.”

“How come the book is here?” Ellabell asked, voicing Alex’s own question.

Hadrian crossed his arms. “The book was taken from the home of Leander Wyvern, and has b-been here ever since. There are many valuable creations locked away in this vault, but only one g-group has run the gauntlet of what lies ahead, in pursuit of the book you seek.”

“Was the Head one of that group?” said Aamir thoughtfully.

“If you mean my cousin Virgil, then yes. He was the last to undertake these t-tasks, with two others m-making up the n-numbers, though that was many decades ago now.”

“But Virgil didn’t manage to do the spell—why is the book still here?” Alex asked.

“The book will return itself to the v-vault after three failed attempts, by all accounts. That is how it was b-before,” Hadrian stated. “And the book must be physically present in order for one to perform any spell, so it cannot be a case of writing it down and l-leaving it here. I know that much.”

Alex realized that Alypia must have been planning for him to complete these tasks, in order to retrieve the book. No doubt she would have forced him using one of his friends as collateral, or something equally cold and calculated. In hearing Hadrian’s explanation, Alex was also surer than ever that Virgil had intentionally flubbed the spell. Even if the Head had been coerced into memorizing it, that didn’t mean he had followed the instructions to the letter. It was likely, Alex knew, that Virgil had tried to weasel his way out using any loophole at his disposal. This time, Alex would ensure that the intricate workings of the incantation, or whatever it was, were obeyed down to the last detail.

“So the others have to come with me?” Alex asked.

Hadrian nodded. “There must be a g-group of at least three, yes. As a quartet, you may f-find it easier, or you may not… I couldn’t say.”

Alex thought the white-haired man could say, but was bound by something that prevented him. It wouldn’t be the first time. Glancing around at the others, he saw their anxious expressions, and felt a wave of guilt ripple through him, at having brought them here.

“I don’t expect you all to come with me,” he said quietly.

“We have come this far, Alex Webber. We are not giving up now!” Lintz boomed.

Aamir murmured in agreement. “You can’t get rid of us now. Our choice was made before we even stepped through the portal from Kingstone.”

“We’re not leaving your side,” added Ellabell, grasping his hand.

Their confidence reassured him, and yet he wished he didn’t have to drag them all through the dangers that lay ahead; there had already been so much peril, and he hated that he was adding to it. However, he knew his friends well enough by now to know that there was no way of changing their stubborn minds.

“Then, I guess we’re all going through,” he said, turning to Hadrian for further instruction.

Hadrian bowed his head. “Very well, though I would not w-wish it upon any of you. It is never p-pleasant to see such fine young people heading into unknown dangers.”

“I’m glad you think I’m young!” Lintz chuckled, lightening the somber mood.

Hadrian grinned. “There’s still life in the old dog yet, am I right?”

“You bet! I’m as lively as a spring chick,” said Lintz, punching the air with unexpected enthusiasm.

“In that case, I would ask that each of you s-step up to the disc you see before you, place your palm flat against it, and feed a small amount of your respective energies into the golden plate,” Hadrian instructed. “Once the last person has stepped up, you must wait for the d-disc to flash a bright orange. Only then will the door open.”

“Why is that?” Alex asked.

“It reads your abilities, to get a b-better sense of the tasks it needs to set.” Hadrian gave a reluctant shrug. “You may find that certain aspects of your magical powers become limited within some of the tests, forcing you to rely on other means. You will understand once you are inside, but I can say no more on the s-subject… Please forgive me,” he added, sighing heavily. “I dearly wish you did not have to d-do this.”

Alex met the man’s gaze. “We need that book, Hadrian. There is no other option.”

“I see I cannot change your m-minds,” said Hadrian sadly, once again scratching at his chin. “Then I suppose there is nothing more to say—step up and see what the v-vault has in store for you.”

They did as instructed. Alex went first, placing his palm flat against the cold metal plate, before feeding strands of silver and black into the disc. It shone