Rahim and Karim walked deeper into the forest. The trees were tall and close to each other. Very little sunlight could come inside.
The air felt heavy and quiet.
Karim said softly, "Rahim… I think someone is still following us."
Rahim looked around carefully.
"Yes. I feel the same," he said.
Both boys became more careful.
They walked slowly and tried to make less noise.
Rahim held the crystal tightly.
The crystal was glowing softly in his hand.
Karim said, "The crystal is still showing the path."
Rahim nodded.
"Yes. We must follow it."
They walked for some time.
Suddenly, they heard a loud sound from the bushes.
Both boys stopped.
Karim whispered, "What was that?"
Rahim did not answer.
They looked at the bushes.
After a moment, a wild animal jumped out.
It was a deer.
Karim took a deep breath.
"It's just a deer," he said.
Rahim smiled a little.
"Yes. But we must stay alert."
They continued walking.
The forest became darker.
The path became harder to see.
Rahim looked at the crystal.
The light became a little brighter.
Karim said, "It is guiding us."
Rahim nodded.
"Yes. Without this, we would be lost."
After some time, they reached a narrow path between two big rocks.
Karim said, "Should we go through this?"
Rahim checked the map.
"Yes. This is the way."
They slowly passed through the narrow path.
On the other side, they saw something surprising.
There was an old broken bridge over a deep valley.
Karim looked shocked.
"How will we cross this?" he asked.
Rahim looked at the bridge.
It looked weak and dangerous.
But the glowing path was going across it.
Rahim said, "We have no choice."
Karim looked nervous.
"This is risky."
Rahim said, "We will go slowly."
Karim nodded.
"Okay."
Rahim stepped on the bridge first.
The wood made a creaking sound.
Karim followed him carefully.
The bridge moved a little.
The valley below was very deep.
Karim said, "Don't look down."
Rahim said, "Just focus ahead."
Step by step, they moved forward.
Suddenly, a piece of wood broke.
Karim almost slipped.
Rahim quickly held his hand.
"Be careful!" Rahim said.
Karim nodded.
"I'm okay."
They continued slowly.
After a few tense moments, they finally reached the other side.
Karim sat down and took a deep breath.
"That was scary," he said.
Rahim smiled.
"Yes. But we did it."
They stood up and continued walking.
The forest started to change.
The trees became smaller.
The ground became rocky.
Karim said, "This place looks different."
Rahim looked at the map.
"Yes. We are getting closer to the mountains."
Suddenly, they heard footsteps behind them.
This time it was clear.
Someone was coming.
Karim whispered, "Rahim… he is here."
Rahim turned around.
From behind the trees, Mr. Roy came out.
He smiled.
"You cannot escape from me," he said.
Karim stepped back.
Rahim stood in front.
"Why are you following us?" Rahim asked.
Mr. Roy said, "Because you are leading me to the hidden city."
Karim said, "We will not let you go there."
Mr. Roy laughed.
"You don't have a choice."
He stepped closer.
Rahim held the crystal tightly.
The crystal started glowing brighter.
Suddenly, the ground shook slightly.
Mr. Roy stopped.
"What is happening?" he said.
The crystal's light spread on the ground.
A new glowing path appeared.
It led toward the mountains.
Karim said, "Rahim, look!"
Rahim nodded.
"Yes. This is the next path."
Mr. Roy looked excited.
"Yes… this is it," he said.
He tried to move forward.
But Rahim blocked his way.
"You will not go first," Rahim said.
Mr. Roy looked angry.
"You cannot stop me forever."
Suddenly, a loud sound came from the mountains.
All three looked up.
A small landslide started.
Stones rolled down the hill.
Karim shouted, "Run!"
Rahim grabbed Karim's hand.
They ran quickly.
Mr. Roy also moved back.
The stones fell where they were standing before.
After a few moments, everything became quiet again.
Karim was breathing fast.
"That was close," he said.
Rahim nodded.
"Yes. The path is becoming more dangerous."
Mr. Roy looked at them.
"This journey is not easy," he said.
Rahim said, "We know."
Karim added, "And we will still go forward."
Mr. Roy smiled.
"We will see."
The three of them stood there.
The hidden city was getting closer.
But so was the danger.
Rahim looked at the crystal.
"We must keep moving," he said.
Karim nodded.
"Yes."
They started walking again.
The mountains were now clearly visible.
The next part of their journey had begun.