Chapter 2 THE CARTOGRAPHER'S SECRET

Maria's words of caution echoed in my mind as I made my way through the bustling streets of our small village. I had decided to seek out the wisdom of the village cartographer, a man named Thorne who was rumored to know more about the unknown than anyone else.

As I entered Thorne's small shop, the air was thick with the scent of parchment and ink. Shelves lined the walls, stacked high with maps and scrolls. Thorne himself sat hunched over a desk, his eyes squinting as he worked on a new map.

"Ah, young adventurer," he said, looking up as I approached. "I've been expecting you."

Thorne's words took me by surprise, but I tried to compose myself. "Expecting me?"

Thorne nodded, his eyes glinting with a knowing light. "Yes, I've been watching you. I know of your desire to explore beyond the edge."

I leaned in, my heart racing with excitement. "Do you know what lies beyond?"

Thorne smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Ah, but that's the question, isn't it? What lies beyond the edge of our little world?"

He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together. "I can show you," he said, his voice low and mysterious. "But you must first prove yourself worthy."

And with that, Thorne handed me a small, intricately drawn map. "Solve the riddle of the map," he said, his eyes glinting with challenge. "And I will reveal to you the secrets of the unknown."