In the new city, there was a single rule: residents had to strictly follow rules and regulations and discuss only these topics. Sophia and her parents had just moved in, and Sophia was exhausted, so she was sleeping. As they entered the city, two guards stopped them and emphasized the importance of adhering to the rules.
On her first day of school, Sophia was hesitant and worried about adjusting. She asked her father what she should do, and he replied sternly that she just needed to follow the rules. Sophia, who was usually talkative, became quiet and withdrawn.
At school, Sophia tried to make friends, but no one seemed to want to talk to her. This continued for a few days. One day, while returning from school, Sophia sat under a tree to rest. She noticed a boy sitting nearby, lost in thought. When he approached her, he said, "Always follow the rules and regulations." Sophia didn't understand, so she just nodded.
The next day, Sophia sat under the same tree, and the boy reappeared. When Sophia repeated the phrase about rules and regulations, the boy took her to the tree and repeated the phrase several times. Suddenly, the tree opened up, revealing a hidden space. The boy showed Sophia the contents and explained that the city's strict rules were in place due to a past incident.
Sophia asked why they could discuss other things in the tree's hidden space, and the boy replied that it was a safe zone.
As Sophia explored the hidden space, she noticed a large golden mask. She asked the boy about it and the past incident that led to the city's strict rules. The boy explained that, according to his parents, the rules were implemented after one of their ancestors jokingly removed a crown from someone's head. However, he wasn't sure if the story was true.
Sophia thought for a moment and then asked what would happen if someone didn't follow the rules. The boy replied that he wasn't sure, but his parents said that the punishment would be severe. Sophia wondered if breaking the rules just once would be a big deal, but she decided to follow them anyway.
The next day, Sophia broke one of the rules, and immediately, a siren blared. Two large men appeared and took her to a crowded room filled with people. There was barely any space to move. Sophia asked others what was happening, and one person replied that they must have broken the rules too.
Sophia asked how long she would have to stay there, and the person replied that there was a rule limiting punishment to one day. Sophia felt slightly relieved. She then asked how they could get out, and the person seemed unsure.
The person told Sophia that they didn't know how to escape, but there was one girl who might have information. Sophia asked who that was, and the person replied, "Mia." Sophia asked who Mia was, and the person explained that Mia was imprisoned in the same jail a year ago but had mysteriously disappeared. Her parents searched for her, but a rumor circulated that she was found near a tree called the "Heartwood Tree" in another city.
Sophia's eyes widened in surprise. "Let's go to Mia tomorrow," she said. However, the person informed her that the Heartwood Tree was located in a different city, which posed a problem since there seemed to be no way to leave their current city. Sophia wondered how Mia could have escaped, and the person speculated that perhaps Mia knew something about the "Asian time" that allowed her to find a way out.
The next day, Sophia left the detention center and resumed her normal life. One day, she decided to sit under the tree again, but this time, the boy wasn't there to help her. Sophia thought, "Why not try entering the tree myself?" She repeated the phrase three times, and to her surprise, she found herself transported to a different city. Initially, she felt disoriented, but then she reflected on how the boy had managed to enter the tree. She realized that he had closed his eyes while reciting the phrase, whereas she had kept hers open.
As Sophia pieced together the details, she began to understand how Mia might have escaped the city. Perhaps the key lay in the way the phrase was recited, with eyes closed. Sophia's curiosity was piqued, and she felt a sense of determination.
Sophia realized that the tree she had entered might actually be the Heartwood tree,which she had heard about earlier. She recalled that repeating the phrase three times had transported her to a different city. This epiphany sparked a new understanding, and Sophia's mind began to piece together the mystery.
AIR FORCE SCHOOL BAGDOGRA
- Laraib Laraib L
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