The Petrova Family Legacy

The days passed, and the family returned to the simple routines that gave them a sense of normality. Roger, always diligent, cleaned the house meticulously, his experienced hands taking care of every detail. Zoe walked through the orchard, carefully picking ripe fruits, smelling the sweet aroma of fresh fruit filling the air. Leo was in the stable, feeding and taking care of the horse, which they themselves had helped Roger build.

The stable had been a project that brought them even closer. Leo and Zoe worked side by side with Roger, raising the structure and preparing the space for the horse. Each hammer blow, each board put in place, was a way to deal with the pain of loss, a reminder that together, they could face anything.

These simple tasks helped keep their minds occupied and provided temporary relief from the pain. Each completed task gave them the feeling of regaining some control over their lives, which had been shaken by tragedy. The routine offered a refuge, a brief moment of peace amid the emotional chaos.

The sound of work filled the house and its surroundings, creating a symphony of normality. Roger wiped the floor, hearing the soft creak of the wooden boards under his feet. Zoe felt the warm sun on her skin as she picked the fruits, the basket in her arms growing heavier. Leo smiled as he watched the horse eat, the rhythmic movement of the animal's teeth being a comforting reminder of constancy in a world that seemed to be always changing.

As they carried out their tasks, the house seemed to come to life again. Each act, no matter how simple, was a step towards healing, a symbol of resilience and strength. And so, day after day, they found small victories amid the sadness.

Roger, noticing that his nephews seemed much lighter in spirit, decided to go to the room and get that black book with golden details, along with the two necklaces that were hidden in a safe place. He remembered the promise he made to Victor: "If something happens, give this to them." Roger murmured to himself: "What was happening for him to give me this?"

His thoughts were interrupted by Leo's voice saying: "Wait, go slow!" and Zoe's laughter. The sounds came from outside, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of a horse's gallop: clop-clop-clop-clop.

"Zoe! Stop laughing and help me stop this horse!" shouted Leo, his voice a mixture of urgency and fun.

Roger went to the bedroom window, holding the book and the two necklaces in his hands. He stopped when he saw the scene outside. His eyes lit up as he watched Leo and Zoe having fun with the horse.

Leo was riding the horse, galloping at full speed across the field. He was holding the reins tightly but seemed to be having trouble controlling the animal. Zoe, outside, was laughing uncontrollably at her brother's situation, enjoying the clumsy way he was trying to stop the horse.

Roger opened the window for a better view, still smiling at the scene.

Zoe continued laughing, unable to contain herself as she saw Leo swaying from side to side. However, the fun soon turned to worry when the horse stopped abruptly. Leo lost his balance and fell safely to the ground, but was disoriented.

Roger watched with a sigh of relief. Despite the fall, Leo seemed fine, just a little confused. Zoe ran to her brother, the concern now evident on her face. She reached out to help him up while Leo tried to regain his balance.

"Are you okay, Leo?" Zoe asked, still breathless from laughing so much.

Leo nodded, rubbing his head. "I'm fine, just a little dizzy. I guess I need more practice with the horse."

Roger smiled as he saw the affection and care between the two.

Roger: "Hey, you two, come here. I need to talk about something important with you."

Zoe (shouting): "We're coming!"

Leo: "What does he want to talk about with us?"

Zoe: "I don't know either, but when he talks like that, it's really important."

Leo went to the horse and guided it to the stable, while Zoe followed her brother, taking the opportunity to put more feed for the horse.

Leo watched Zoe filling the feed bucket for the horse and let out a soft laugh.

"Zoe, you're feeding this horse so much that he'll end up turning into an elephant," Leo said in a playful tone.

Zoe looked at him and shook her head disapprovingly. "No, Leo. He needs to eat well to stay strong and healthy. Besides, he's working hard too."

Leo rolled his eyes, still smiling. "But at this rate, he'll end up so heavy he won't be able to move."

The horse, unaware of the conversation, continued eating the feed, indifferent to the siblings' jokes. His muzzle plunged into the bucket, chewing calmly, while his ears moved slightly, attentive to the sounds around him.

Zoe petted the horse, looking at Leo with a determined expression. "I know what I'm doing. He's in great hands."

Zoe stroked the horse, her fingers gently sliding over the soft fur. "If he's eating, it's because he's hungry," she said with certainty.

Leo rolled his eyes, still smiling. "Alright, you win. Just don't say I didn't warn you."

The horse continued to eat enthusiastically, chewing the feed with a calmness that contrasted with the agitation around him. Zoe watched the animal with admiration, feeling a special connection with him.

"You're a good boy," Zoe murmured to the horse, who lightly nodded in response.

With the task completed, the two siblings headed back to the house, where Roger was waiting. The laughter and lightness of the moment stayed with them, bringing a bit of normality amid the difficulties they faced.

As they entered the house, Roger was waiting for them in the living room, holding the book and the two necklaces. He looked at his nephews with a serious but welcoming expression.

"We need to talk about something important," Roger said, placing the book and the necklaces on the table.

Leo and Zoe sat in two chairs next to the table, while Roger observed them for a few seconds, pondering his words.

"First of all, I want to know which of you messed with my basement."

The siblings looked at each other, until Leo spoke: "It was me and Zoe. We found the basement while cleaning the house and got curious about what was inside. So we opened the basement and went in."

Roger nodded. "Alright, thank you for your honesty, Leo."

Zoe intervened: "But that was many days ago."

Roger continued: "Yes, do you remember Dr. Elias, right? He gave me this book, saying he found it in his room when we made that visit."

Leo tilted his head, curious: "But what exactly is this book? It's the same book Dad had, isn't it?"

Roger confirmed: "Yes, it's the same."

Leo frowned. "Dad never let us touch it."

Roger explained: "He didn't let you because this book is very valuable, and he didn't want to risk you damaging it."

Zoe asked, intrigued: "But why? What's the importance of this book?"

Roger took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the words he was about to say. "I have a long story to tell you about your family, our family."

Zoe looked at him, confused: "What do you mean?"

Roger began the narrative: "I, along with your parents, were great adventurers before you were born."

Zoe widened her eyes, imagining the possibilities. "You mean adventurers like in the stories? The kind that slayed monsters?"

Roger smiled slightly. "No, we were explorers. We visited all kinds of tombs, lost cities, ancient sites, and so on. But that's not the main point. You must have noticed that there are several ancient and rare relics in my basement, right?"

The siblings nodded, their curious minds brimming with questions.

Roger continued: "So, this book is an archaic book. It contains scriptures, but as you can see..." Roger flipped through the pages and showed them to the siblings. "The pages are blank."

Before Victor died, he handed me this book and these necklaces, saying that if anything happened, I should give them to you."

Zoe looked at Roger, intrigued: "Why did he give this to you?"

Leo interjected, realizing something: "Wait, if he gave this to you in advance, it means he knew something like this could happen, right?"

Roger nodded slowly: "Exactly, Leo. But I don't know the specific reason why he did this. However, I have a vague idea."

Zoe frowned, curious: "What idea is that?"

Roger explained: "Victor and I found this book in one of the tombs we explored. It concerns an ancient religion, but since the book is blank, we have no way of knowing what kind of religion it is."

Roger placed the book on the table and picked up the two necklaces. "These necklaces are magical objects. By spilling blood on them, they create a connection with the blood bearer, and the bearer can access some recorded memories of previous users. As you said, Leo, Victor already expected something might happen. So, he spilled his blood on these necklaces, which means his memories are stored here."

Zoe's eyes lit up with hope: "Then let's see! If Dad's memories are recorded in the necklace, we can finally find out who killed him and Mom."

Roger interrupted cautiously: "In a way, you're right, Zoe. But it's not that simple. There's a requirement to be able to see the memories."

Zoe tilted her head, confused: "Requirement?"

Leo looked at Roger, intrigued: "What do you mean? What are the requirements?"

Roger pointed to the necklace, explaining: "As you can see, this necklace is shaped like a human eye. There's an ancient story about these necklaces that says these eyes belong to the Angels of High Guilt."

The siblings exchanged perplexed looks, seeking more information.

Roger continued: "The High Guilt Angels are statues of angels. In total, there are four statues, the four Angels of High Guilt. The story of these angels tells that they were corrupted by sin and greed. Therefore, they were condemned to remain stagnant, each in a different place, trapped in their own sinful thoughts. Over the millennia, they transformed into statues. However, their tears still fall from their faces, showing that they are in eternal guilt."

Leo: "But what does that have to do with the requirements?"

Roger: "To see the memories of the sins the angels committed and understand the cause of their condemnation, it was necessary to tear out the eyes of the statues and bathe them in their tears. Thus, the eyes would reveal their memories. I imagine you already understand the necessary requirement, right?"

The siblings exchanged looks, and Zoe was the first to speak, her voice a bit firmer than she felt inside: "We need to bathe the necklaces in the angels' tears."

Leo, still processing the information, added: "Not just that. If the tears come from the statues, then we have to find one of them, don't we?"

Roger nodded, his serious expression reflecting the complexity of the situation. "You're right. The problem is that, depending on how many memories are inside these necklaces, we will need to find the four High Guilt Statues to unlock all the memories and get the answers we want."

Zoe furrowed her brow, trying to piece together the puzzle. "And where does the book fit into all of this?"

Roger carefully picked up the book, as if holding something extremely precious. "There are rocks with ancient scriptures engraved on them. They are indecipherable, but the book can reveal them, making the scriptures readable. However, I don't know how to do this."

Leo looked at the book, fascinated: "So we just need to find the statues and bathe the necklaces in the tears. You must know where the statues are, don't you?"

Zoe leaned forward, hope growing in her heart: "That's right. If you and Dad were explorers of ancient knowledge, you must know where the statues are now, don't you?"

Roger sighed, feeling the weight of his nephews' expectations. "I'm sorry, kids, but I don't know where they are. Before we even started looking for the statues, Samantha got pregnant. Since then, we haven't gone on any more explorations. Victor decided he wanted to take a break from all of that to focus on taking care of you, and I respected his decision. It was, without a doubt, the best thing to do."

The three remained silent for a few moments, absorbing the magnitude of the situation. The room, filled with memories and a past full of adventures, now became the stage for a new challenge. Zoe and Leo looked at Roger, the determination in their eyes mixing with confusion and uncertainty.

"So, what do we do now?" Zoe asked, her voice trembling but full of courage.

Roger: "Listen, I need to know from you now. Do you really want to find out what happened? I can't stop you if that's what you want. After all, I promised your father that I would tell and explain everything if something happened. He trusted me and you to keep this information safe and do something with it. The life your parents and I led, doing this kind of thing, wasn't easy. But I can guarantee you will be safer and won't have to worry if you decide to stay here and leave the past behind. But..."

Zoe and Leo stared at their uncle with determination, courage, curiosity, and, above all, a sense of justice. They wanted to know what happened. Who killed their parents? What was the assassin's goal? Why them? What were their parents hiding? All these questions screamed in their minds. And, in perfect unison, they spoke:

"We want to know the truth!"

Roger smiled. He had already imagined that would be the answer. After all, they were Victor's children, and their eyes conveyed the same intensity. Roger felt as if he were looking at Victor while observing his nephews. "But I knew you would never accept the second option, right?"

Roger stood up and said: "Alright, if you really want to follow this path, you will have to dedicate yourselves to learning many things. We will have some lessons in the coming days and also in the coming years. Is that okay? Do you promise to fulfill all this?"

"We promise!" Zoe and Leo responded in unison, determination in their eyes.

Roger continued: "Then, we'll start with this." He took the necklaces and carefully placed one around each of their necks. "This belongs to you now. It's the last gift your parents left. Make sure to protect these necklaces and this book with your lives."

Zoe and Leo, still absorbing Roger's words, felt a wave of hope and a strong sense of responsibility spreading through their hearts. The revelation that their parents were explorers, like their uncle, brought a shine of admiration and respect to their eyes. They were amazed at the idea that their parents had lived a life of adventure, discovering ancient secrets and facing incredible challenges.

The weight of the necklaces around their necks served as a tangible reminder of their parents' legacy and the trust Victor had placed in them. Holding the necklaces, Zoe and Leo felt a connection with their father, a sense that he was still present, guiding them in spirit. The promise to protect these necklaces and the book with their lives filled them with determination.

As Roger spoke about the High Guilt Statues and the ancient scriptures, the siblings imagined the journeys ahead. The prospect of exploring mysterious places and uncovering hidden secrets filled them with an excitement they had never felt before. The questions that tormented them — who killed their parents, what was the assassin's goal, why were they targeted — now seemed to have a path to being answered.

The sense of responsibility grew within them, knowing they were closer to finding the culprit behind all this injustice. Their uncle's stories, combined with their determination to honor their parents' memory, ignited a sense of purpose in the siblings' hearts. They knew the journey would be arduous, full of dangers, but the hope and courage they felt overcame any doubt or fear.

With Roger by their side as an experienced and trustworthy guide, Zoe and Leo felt ready to face whatever came their way. Their bond strengthened, creating an unbreakable union in the pursuit of justice and truth. And so, as the sun set on the horizon, casting a golden light over the house, the siblings were ready to take the next step towards a new goal.

Zoe looked at her brother, determination reflected in her eyes. "Finally, Leo, let's go and find out who the scoundrel was that did all this."

The siblings looked at each other, and a smile formed on their faces. For the first time, they felt they could do something to change their situation. They would no longer be captives of frustration and helplessness. There was a path to follow, a mission to fulfill. With Roger by their side and the necklaces and the book as guides, Zoe and Leo were ready to face any obstacle in their quest.

The days passed quickly at Roger's house as Zoe and Leo delved deeply into learning about relics, artifacts, ancient stories, and magical knowledge. The house, which once seemed a sanctuary of painful memories, now buzzed with the energy of discovery and curiosity.

Roger devoted several hours a day to teaching his nephews. He showed them how to identify different types of artifacts, explaining the importance of each one and the stories they carried. Zoe and Leo listened attentively, absorbing every detail with fascination.

In the living room, Roger set up a small library with ancient books and scrolls, some of which he and Victor had collected over the years. Zoe spent hours reading about ancient cultures and forgotten religions, marveling at the vast knowledge the world offered. Leo, on the other hand, was interested in magical objects, trying to understand their functions.

Months later...

One morning, Roger brought an old wooden box and placed it on the table. "Today, we're going to study protective amulets," he said, opening the box and revealing a collection of amulets of different shapes and sizes. "These amulets were used to protect people from dangers and diseases. Each one has a specific meaning."

Zoe picked up one of the amulets, a small silver medallion with engraved symbols. "What does this one do?" she asked, curious.

"This medallion is used to ward off evil spirits," Roger explained. "It is said that the symbols engraved on it are ancient incantations designed to create a barrier, but I've never seen it work; perhaps it's more symbolic."

Leo, holding a jade amulet, asked: "And this one?"

"That is a good luck amulet," Roger replied. "It was used by travelers to ensure a safe and prosperous journey."

As months passed, the house filled with knowledge and discoveries. Zoe and Leo learned to read ancient inscriptions and decipher codes. Roger patiently guided them, answering all their questions and encouraging their curiosity.

And so, ten years passed.