Read the story till the end. It will help to improve reading and listening skills. Use audio file to listen the story. Listen and read at time.
Title: The Secret of the Fireflies
On the edge of a small village, surrounded by thick forests, lived a young boy named Aran. Every evening, just as the sun dipped below the horizon, the forest would come alive with glowing fireflies. The villagers would marvel at the sight from afar, but none dared to enter the woods after dark. There was a long-standing legend about the forest—that deep within, there was an ancient secret known only to the fireflies.
One warm summer night, Aran, full of curiosity, decided to venture into the forest. His grandmother had always told him stories about the fireflies, saying they were the keepers of the forest’s mysteries. With a lantern in hand, he followed the flickering lights, which seemed to guide him deeper into the woods.
As Aran walked, he noticed the fireflies forming patterns in the air, like they were showing him a path. The further he went, the brighter they glowed, until he found himself in a clearing he had never seen before. In the middle of the clearing stood a towering, ancient tree, its roots sprawling out like giant arms. The fireflies gathered around the tree, their light illuminating a small, hidden door at the base of the trunk.
Heart pounding with excitement, Aran hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open. Inside, he found a spiraling staircase leading down into the earth. The fireflies, still surrounding him, lit his way as he descended. At the bottom, Aran stepped into a cavern filled with shimmering stones, reflecting the light of the fireflies like stars.
In the center of the cavern sat an old man, his long beard as white as the moonlight. He smiled kindly at Aran and motioned for him to come closer. “You’ve found the secret of the fireflies,” the old man said in a voice as soft as the wind. “They are not just lights in the night; they are the guardians of time, protecting the memories of the forest.”
Aran listened in awe as the old man explained that the fireflies carried the stories of the trees, the animals, and even the villagers from long ago. They preserved the wisdom of the forest, passing it from one generation to the next, but only those pure of heart could discover their secret.
“Now, you are part of their story,” the old man said, placing a glowing stone in Aran’s hand. “Take this with you, and whenever you need guidance, the fireflies will light your way.”
With that, the old man and the cavern faded away, and Aran found himself back in the clearing, the ancient tree standing tall in the moonlight. The fireflies danced around him, their soft glow leading him safely home.
From that night on, Aran knew he carried the wisdom of the forest with him. And though he never told anyone what he had seen, he would often return to the edge of the woods, where the fireflies gathered, silently thanking them for their secret and the guidance they had given him.
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