Lena had always believed that her small town was the most ordinary place in the world. Nestled between rolling green hills and dense forests, it seemed like any other quiet community where everyone knew each other’s names and stories. But Lena’s perspective started to shift one cool autumn afternoon when she discovered an old, mysterious box tucked away behind her grandmother’s attic. It was a weathered wooden chest, covered in intricate carvings of stars, moons, and strange symbols. Lena’s curiosity was instantly piqued. She gently pried open the rusty latch, her heart pounding with excitement. Inside, she found a collection of strange objects: a faded leather-bound journal, a shimmering feather, and a tiny glass vial filled with a bright blue liquid. Lena’s grandmother, who was sitting nearby, noticed her interest. “That was my grandmother’s,” she explained softly. “It’s been in our family for generations. No one really knows what all of it means anymore.” Lena carefully opened the journal, its pages yellowed and fragile. The handwriting was elegant but hurried, filled with sketches and notes about stars, strange lights, and mysterious symbols. She read about a secret society that believed in a hidden world beyond what the eye could see—a world of magic and wonder. According to the journal, the symbols on the chest were part of a map that could lead to a portal, a gateway to that extraordinary realm. As Lena examined the objects, she felt a strange tingling sensation in her fingertips, as if the items buzzed with quiet energy. She held the feather close and noticed it shimmered faintly in the sunlight, almost alive. The vial’s blue liquid sparkled like liquid sapphire. Her mind raced with questions—was this real? Could it be possible that her town was hiding something magical all along? That evening, Lena couldn’t sleep. She kept thinking about the journal and the symbols. She remembered her grandmother’s words about believing in the unseen, about courage and curiosity guiding explorers to discover new worlds. Lena decided she would follow the clues and see where they led her. Over the next few days, Lena studied the symbols, comparing them with old maps and stories she found in her town’s library. She noticed that some symbols matched constellations, and others seemed to point toward specific locations around her town—an ancient oak tree, the abandoned train station, and the old water mill. Each spot seemed to hold a piece of the puzzle. One chilly morning, Lena set out with her backpack, the journal, and the mysterious objects. Her first stop was the ancient oak tree in the town park, where she found a faint mark carved into the bark that matched one of the symbols in the journal. She carefully traced it with her finger, feeling a strange warmth spread through her. Next, she visited the old train station, now a forgotten relic. There, she discovered a hidden compartment behind a loose brick. Inside was a small, glowing stone that matched the symbols from the journal. With each discovery, Lena’s excitement grew. She was uncovering secrets that had been hidden for generations. That night, as she sat under the starlit sky, Lena held the feather and closed her eyes. She whispered a silent prayer of courage and wonder. Suddenly, she felt a gentle breeze and a shimmer in the air around her. The symbols on the objects seemed to glow softly, and Lena realized she might be close to unlocking the mystery. Though she didn’t know exactly what lay ahead, Lena understood that her journey had only just begun. Her small town was no longer just a place of quiet streets and familiar faces. It was a gateway to a world of magic waiting to be explored, and Lena was ready to discover what secrets still remained hidden in its shadows.

Answer the following questions based on the passage above.