18th Apr 2025
In a quiet village between the hills, there lived a curious boy named Alaa. He loved reading books filled with strange creatures, hidden worlds, and wild adventures. But deep down, he wished to live a real adventure of his own. One afternoon, while wandering through the market, Alaa spotted a tiny shop tucked between two buildings. Its windows were dusty, and a golden glow shimmered from inside. He stepped in. Behind the counter stood an old man with a long white beard and kind eyes. He smiled as if he had been waiting forever. “Welcome, Alaa,” the old man said. Alaa blinked. “How do you know my name?”
Alaa’s eyes lit up when he saw the old man pull out a small, glowing hourglass. Its sand sparkled like stars. “This,” said the man, “is a magic hourglass. When you flip it, a door will open — a door to another world. But be careful. You only have one hour. When the sand runs out, the door closes.” Alaa held the hourglass tightly. With a flip — whoosh! — a swirling green portal opened! Without thinking, he stepped through. A moment later, he stood in a talking forest! The trees whispered stories, and colorful animals walked around carrying books. A tiny blue bird wearing glasses flew down. “My name is Zirr,” chirped the bird. “You’re the Chosen Reader! We must find the Golden Book before the Shadow Beast does!”