Ludo's friend blinked. "Why do you say that?"
Will crossed his arms. "Something about your vibe. It feels the same."
Kite scratched his head. "Well, that's interesting. Maybe it's just a coincidence."
Ludo chuckled, giving his brother a playful nudge. "Will, you always have the strangest dreams. Maybe you should write them down."
Will shrugged, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Maybe I will. Anyway, what have you all found so far?"
Liliana excitedly showed Will the shell Kite had discovered. "Look at this! Isn't it amazing?"
Will examined the shell, nodding appreciatively. "It is. You guys have been busy."
Darian, with Tomas still clinging to his leg, approached the group. "We were just about to explore more of the tide pools and see if we can find any starfish. Want to join us, Will?"
Will's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "Sure, Uncle. It sounds like fun."
"Be sure to eat, son," Cat said, pointing at the basket.
Will nodded and sat down beside his siblings.
Skyla offered him a sandwich from the basket, smiling brightly. "Here, Will. You need energy for exploring!"
Will took the sandwich with a grateful nod. "Thanks, Skyla. I guess I did skip breakfast."
As Will ate, Kite and the others continued sharing their finds and discussing their plans for the rest of the day. The excitement in the air was palpable, each child eager to discover more about the mysterious ruins and the bay.
After a few minutes, Will finished his sandwich and stood up, brushing the crumbs off his pants. "Alright, I'm ready. Let's go find those starfish."
With everyone now ready, the group split into smaller clusters again. Kite, Sylvana, Liliana, and Will headed towards the tide pools, while Elian and Ludo decided to explore the cliffs further. Darian and Elara stayed with Tomas, keeping a watchful eye on the younger children.
As they walked, Kite glanced at Will, still curious about his earlier comment. "So, Will, tell me more about this dream you had. You said I remind you of someone in it?"
Will shrugged, looking thoughtful. "Yeah, it was strange. There was this guy with purple hair and a weird sword, and he had this aura about him. Kind of enigmatic. You give me that vibe too. One of sealed, hidden power."
Kite blinked.
Sylvana tilted her head, intrigued. "Dreams can be pretty mysterious. Sometimes they feel like they're trying to tell us something."
Liliana nodded enthusiastically. "Maybe it's a sign! Maybe we're meant to find something important today."
Kite smiled at his friends' encouragement. "Well, whatever it means, let's make the most of our trip here."
They reached the tide pools and immediately began searching for starfish and other marine life. The pools were teeming with activity, small fish darting about and crabs scuttling across the rocks. The children carefully lifted stones and peered into crevices, their eyes wide with wonder.
Will pointed excitedly. "Look, there's a starfish!"
The group gathered around to see the bright orange starfish clinging to a rock. Liliana gently touched it, her face lighting up with delight. "It's so pretty!"
Sylvana took out her sketchbook and began drawing the starfish, capturing its intricate details. "This will be a great addition to my nature journal."
As they continued exploring, Will saw Kite drawn to a particularly deep pool. The mysterious leaned over, trying to see what lay beneath the surface. Suddenly, something glinted in the sunlight, catching his eye.
"Hey, I think I found something!" Kite called out, his voice filled with excitement.
The others hurried over, peering into the pool. At the bottom, partially buried in the sand, was a small ornate box. The worn out intricate designs on its surface hinted at its ancient origin.
Ludo's eyes widened. "That looks like it could be from the ruins!"
Kite carefully reached into the pool, his fingers closing around the box. But he couldn't reach.
"Allow me," Will said. He put his hand in and lifted it out, water dripping from its surface. The box was surprisingly light. The designs on it shimmer in the sunlight, appearing to be made using gold leaf.
Liliana clapped her hands in excitement. "This is amazing! We have to show everyone!"
They quickly made their way back to the picnic spot, where the rest of the group was waiting. Kite held up the box, his face beaming with pride. "Look what we found!"
Everyone gathered around, their eyes wide with amazement. Darian examined the box closely, his expression thoughtful. "This definitely looks like it could be from the ruins. We should open it and see what's inside."
With bated breath, Kite carefully opened the box. Inside, they found a collection of small, ancient artifacts—a ring, a pendant, and a few coins. Each piece was intricately crafted, their designs matching those of the ruins.
Will's Grandma smiled. "These could give us more clues about the people who built the ruins. This is an incredible find!"
Will's Grandpa nodded, his voice filled with pride. "You've all done a wonderful job today. This discovery could be very important."
Cassia held her hands out and took one of the artifacts.
"Can you tell anything from its craftsmanship?" Ludo asked.
"Yeah, like when it might've been made!" Elian said, grinning.
Cassia held it up to the sun and squinted. "I'm not a jewelry expert. But I do know a bit from my mom. These designs are unique, definitely crafted with great skill. This could be from the same civilization that built the ruins, given it doesn't look like any from an already documented civilization. Granted, I am not history nerd."
Elian's eyes sparkled with excitement. "If these artifacts are connected to the ruins, maybe there's more to find. How about we try to locate the ruin entrance on this side? The one we heard about from the old maps?"
Will's Grandpa nodded thoughtfully. "It's worth a shot. Finding that entrance might reveal more about the ancient civilization."
The group quickly agreed to the plan, their curiosity piqued by the possibility of discovering more about the ruins. They gathered their supplies and set off towards the cliffs, where they believed the second entrance to the ruins might be.
Elian gently tapped the walls and pressed his ear against the cliff.
"What are you doing?" Cassia asked, giving him a funny look.
"I'm trying to hear the vibrations. They will make finding the entrance easier."
"Were the ruins built into the cliffs on this side?" Will asked.
Kite nodded. "Most likely. We reached the sea by foot when we went with Darian. Although we didn't find an exit from this end."
"Not that that was our goal at the time," Sylvana added.
Ludo nodded. "We found caverns with scrolls and one even had a statue of goddess that Kite recognized."
Will glanced at Kite. "You did?"
Kite turned away. "Yeah, it was of the Goddess of Light."
Will blinked. He had never heard of that goddess. A smile crossed his fsce. Just like he suspected, Kite wasn't an ordinary boy.