Chronicle of Forgotten Legends. Thunder Ax. Akop Nagabedyan

stood tall and the light shone through the foliage, creating magical patterns on the ground.

      – «It’s amazing how nature can be alive,» Lortar whispered as they passed beautiful flowering bushes, ’it’s almost magical!

      Burk, laughing, shouted:

      – «I hope there will be such beauties on our way to Axe! We can’t afford to spend too much time on the beauty of nature while villains terrorize our kingdom!

      Elfin holds back a laugh:

      – Your optimism has always been second to none, Burk! But don’t forget that with your jokes, you can also distract your enemies!

      The journey continued, and soon they were on a narrow path leading into the uncharted depths of the forest. Each step reminded them that the unknown lay ahead, and at the same time, that each of them was ready to make history.

      – So, what will our plan be? – Lorthar asked as they stopped on a small hill, watching the scenery. – When we get there, we must be ready for anything.

      Elfin squinted his eyes:

      – I can use my magical abilities for reconnaissance, to determine how to cross dangerous places. But we must proceed with caution and be prepared for the possibility of traps waiting for us.

      Burk supported him enthusiastically:

      – And if things don’t go as planned, I’m relying on your abilities! You need only let me know when I can offer my jokes to distract the opponents!

      Laughing, they continued on their way, feeling the eagerness growing in their hearts as they approached the challenge. Each step filled them with new emotions – anxiety, joy, and hope.

      – We will have many challenges along the way,» Lortar said.

      With the borders of the forest approaching and the adventure ahead of them, Lortar, Elfin, and Burk decided to make a brief stop on a hill overlooking their home village. The wind swayed the grass lightly, and the sun illuminated the familiar houses glistening under its rays.

      – Here is our house,» Lorthar said, relying on his own thoughts. – I never thought saying goodbye to it would be so difficult.

      Elfin stepped closer to the edge of the hill, his eyes filling with tears:

      – Yes, this place has always been a source of joy and warmth for us. This is where we grew up, this is where we learned to be who we are now.

      – Every street, every gesture of kindness…“ Burke said thoughtfully, „all of it makes me feel attached to this place. We leave, but we must remember what we protect.

      Lorthar looked at his friends, sensing the significance of the moment. He realized that their journey was not just a journey to Axe, but an attempt to preserve what they valued most.

      – We are leaving for the future,» he said, trying to comfort himself and his friends. – If it were not for our endeavor, this place might be in danger. We must bring it back to safety.

      – I know,“ Elfin nodded. – „But even so, it’s hard to leave everything you love.

      Burke, understanding his friends’ feelings, added:

      – But remember: adventure isn’t just about what we leave behind. It’s about what we create ahead. We have the opportunity to change the world, and that makes us stronger!

      As he thought about it, Lortar noticed a simple tree – the same one he loved to sit under as a child and dream of faraway wanderings.

      – I have often dreamed that I was setting out on a journey, marking a new beginning. Now that dream is becoming a reality,“ he said with a smile. – „I must take some of this house with me so that I may have a source of strength on the road.

      Elfin and Burk nodded understandingly. They knew that each of them found comfort in their attachment to the house.

      – Yes,“ Elfin said, „let’s do something to remind us of our homeland. Shall we cut a branch from this tree, or take some earth with us?

      Burke soon went to the tree and began to pick out a small branch that had brightly colored flowers blooming on it.

      – This will be a reminder of our home,» he said enthusiastically as he showed the branch to his friends. – May this beauty be with us always!

      Lortar and Elfin agreed, and for a moment all the heaviness of parting was replaced by a sense of hope and determination. They gathered small keepsake items that would become part of their adventure – symbols of their connection to their home.

      When they were done with their goodbyes, Lortar rose to his feet, took a deep breath, and said:

      – We must go. Every step is a step toward securing the future. We will be going back, and when we do, our village will be as prosperous as it has always been!

      Elfin and Burke nodded.

      With one last look at their home village and with hope in their eyes, the heroes began their journey down the hill.

      Chapter 2

      Lortar, Elfin, and Burk moved steadily deeper into the forest, skirting dense thickets and traversing small streams. The first few hours proved to be fairly quiet and peaceful, and it seemed as if the forest was guarding them. Soon, however, they came upon their first real obstacle.

      The path they had been following suddenly dropped off in front of a deep ravine. At the bottom they could clearly see a raging river rushing forcefully downstream.

      – How are we going to get through this? – Burk asked, looking over the edge of the cliff. – We can’t swim across, and the bridge doesn’t look safe at all.

      – A bridge? – Elfin asked, pointing to an old, moss-covered wooden bridge that didn’t seem to have seen a man in a long time. – Yes, but it looks completely unstable. We could be risking our safety.

      Lortar squinted his eyes and assessed the current situation. He noticed that several planks on one side of the bridge had clearly weakened, and he wasn’t sure if the weight of the three travelers could support it.

      – It might not be as easy as we thought,» he said, trying to gather his thoughts. – We’ll have to find another way.

      But just as they began to look for a way around, they heard a noise – loud shouts and stomping feet in the forest. Between heaven and earth, they realized that this was not just a barrier; it could be the beginning of a real challenge.

      – We have to decide quickly,» Burke said, his voice sounding slightly anxious. – If we don’t find a way through this place, we could be a target!

      Elfin, with his intuitive ability for magic and sensitivity to his surroundings, searched for a way to utilize his powers. He instantly focused and cast a spell to see if they had a way around the ravine.

      – We can use magical energies to create something,» he said. – But we’ll need help and a sense of teamwork.

      – I can try to make the elements reinforce the bridge! – Burk offered, as his eyes lit up with eagerness. – And you, Lortar, can test it to see how it will behave. If anything goes wrong, I’ll run to your aid!

      – Good! – Lortar nodded. – We have to do this very carefully. Here’s what we’ll do,» he began to explain the strategy, explaining how they would proceed on the count of three.

      Gathering themselves together, they began to fulfill their roles. Elfin focused his magical powers, channeling them into the old planks of the bridge to strengthen them. Burk was diligently displaying his power, creating protective runes that helped to rally the wooden structures.

      Lorthar,