It all started at the Lyceum of Eleftheroupolis, a morning that seemed ordinary, but was ultimately destined to become unforgettable. The day was cloudy. A gray veil spread over the city and a thin fog covered the surrounding slopes of Pangaios. It was neither cold nor hot. One of those days when you don't know whether you should wear a jacket or not.
The school library was almost empty. Only a few students were sitting scattered at the tables, some reading, others leafing through bored books. The smell of paper and dust filled the space, while the old clock on the wall made a monotonous, reassuring sound.
Elpida, Christina, Rania and Kostas were gathered at a large wooden table near the window. Their history teacher, Mrs. Mavridou, had assigned them a project on the history of the region and specifically Mount Pangaeos. None of them were particularly enthusiastic at first.
"Couldn't we just do a project on Ancient Greece like all the other classes?" Kostas grumbled, resting his head on a thick book.
"Stop complaining," Christina said. "I find it interesting."
Elpida smiled. Of all the group, she was the most enthusiastic about such topics. She liked the stories of her place, the old secrets and legends that had grown up with the mountain.
"If we look carefully, we might find some really cool stuff," she said optimistically.
She got up from the table and began to wander among the shelves. She was running her fingers over the spines of the books, reading titles. Suddenly, something caught her attention. An old, slightly faded book with gold lettering:
"The True Gold of Mount Pangaeos."
She pulled it out carefully.
"Strange title…" she thought.
She opened it and began to leaf through it. It didn't look like an ordinary school book. It was more like an old study or someone's personal research.
Suddenly she felt something hard on the back of the cover.
She turned to the last page and noticed a small pocket, almost hidden.
Her heart started beating a little faster.
"Guys, I think you should see this!" she shouted.
Her friends approached her, bored.
"Did you find any boring encyclopedias?" Kostas asked.
"I think I found something much better," she replied.
She carefully opened the case and pulled out a folded, yellowed piece of paper.
She spread it out on the table.
A handwritten map of Pangaeus!
"What is this?" Rania asked in surprise.
"What does it look like to you?" Kostas said ironically.
Elpida ignored the comments and began to examine it carefully.
"It shows a route… signs… symbols…" she murmured.
Suddenly she raised her head.
"Kids… I think it's a treasure map!"
For a few seconds there was complete silence.
Then Kostas burst out laughing.
"Yes, right! A treasure map in the school library?"
But Elpida was serious.
"I don't know what it is exactly, but it's definitely not something ordinary."
Her eyes were shining.
"We just figured out what to do for my birthday!"