The Forgotten Forest was strange and scary. The trees were silver and twisted, and fog covered the ground like a thick blanket. Darin walked close behind Mira, holding his wrench tightly. Strange sounds filled the air—whispers, creaks, and even soft laughter.
"Don't wander off," Mira said. "This forest is full of time magic. If you're not careful, you could get lost—even if you stand still."
Darin nodded. He didn't like this place at all.
As they walked, the fog got thicker. Mira pulled out a small lantern that glowed blue, helping them see a little better. But in the corners of Darin's eyes, he kept seeing shadows moving. Every time he turned to look, they were gone.
Suddenly—CRACK! Something snapped behind them.
Darin jumped and spun around. "What was that?!"
"Just a time echo," Mira said calmly. "It's like a leftover sound from the past—or maybe the future."
"That's creepy," Darin said.
Soon, they reached a clearing. In the middle stood a big stone clock. Its hands were stuck at midnight, and moss covered the base.
"This is a time anchor," Mira said. "The first shard should be nearby."
Darin took a step forward, but the ground gave way beneath him!
"Ahhh!" he shouted as he fell into a hole. But instead of hitting the ground hard, he landed on something soft—like moss.
When he sat up, he wasn't in the forest anymore. He was in a memory. He saw a younger version of himself sitting on the floor, crying.
"Wait... that's me," Darin whispered.
Then, a voice in the air said, "You must remember who you are."
Before he could ask anything, the memory faded, and Mira appeared above him.
"Grab my hand!" she said.
She pulled him up out of the hole. "What did you see?"
"A memory... from when I was a kid," Darin said.
Mira nodded. "This forest tests people. It wanted to know if you're ready."
Then, they both noticed a soft silver light glowing under the roots of the clock.
"There!" Mira pointed. "The Time Shard!"
Darin rushed over and picked it up. It was small, shiny, and shaped like part of a gear.
"We found it!" Darin said, smiling big.
"One down," Mira said. "But there are still more to find."