The Mountain Path

Nolan kicked a small stone as he walked down the winding mountain path toward Glimmerfall. The afternoon sun cast long shadows between the oak trees, and he could smell the salt from the sea below.

"Just another boring walk home," he muttered, adjusting his admiral blue chemise.

Then he stopped. Two figures moved ahead on the path—a man and woman dressed in clothes that looked expensive. The man wore a tailored gray coat despite the warm weather, and the woman's shoes gleamed like they'd never touched dirt before.

Nolan ducked behind an oak tree, his upturned blue eyes following their movements. They weren't heading toward the village. Instead, they turned off the main path toward the old cave entrance that most people avoided.

"Why would fancy people like that go into a creepy cave?" Nolan whispered to himself.

His curiosity won over caution. He crept forward, staying hidden among the trees, determined to see what they were up to.

The Blue Glow

Nolan crept closer to the cave entrance, his heart beating fast. The wealthy couple had disappeared inside, their voices echoing from somewhere deep within.

He pressed himself against the rocky wall and peered into the darkness. Strange blue light flickered from deeper in the cave, unlike anything he'd ever seen.

"Should I go in?" he whispered to himself.

A small sparrow landed on a branch near the cave entrance, chirping loudly. The sound made Nolan jump, and his foot knocked against a loose stone. It clattered down the rocky slope with a terrible racket.

The voices inside the cave stopped talking.

Nolan's eyes went wide. He held his breath, pressing closer to the wall. After what felt like forever, the man's voice started up again, but quieter now.

Taking a deep breath, Nolan stepped into the cave. The air felt cooler, and that strange blue glow grew brighter with each step. His admiral blue chemise seemed to glow in the odd light.

As he rounded a bend, he gasped. Scattered across the cave floor were dozens of blue diamonds, sparkling like captured starlight. Next to them lay a folded piece of paper and a small wooden box.