The Ghost Key's Courage

Twelve-year-old Elias, a bright but anxious inventor, stood alone inside his workshop

as the rain hammered the rooftops of Gearfall City. Gears clicked softly around him,

but the one sound he longed for, the cheerful tap-tap of his apprentice

Leo, was missing. Leo had vanished three days ago during a routine

experiment, leaving behind only scattered tools and a faint scorch mark on the

stone floor. While cleaning Leo's workbench, Elias noticed something wedged behind a

cracked panel: a small, silver key etched with swirling patterns that looked

like they were moving. The moment he touched it, a chill rushed