Silent Witness

An illustrated stories story from Wonder Books — free to read, with narration.

Silent Witness — an illustrated stories story. 20 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Silent Witness — book cover — Wonder Books
Silent Witness — an illustrated stories story. 20 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Page 1

The island of Ignis pulsed with a heat felt even through heavy boots. Rivers of molten rock snaked through valleys, illuminating bizarre, bioluminescent flora.
The island of Ignis pulsed with a heat felt even through heavy boots. Rivers of molten rock snaked through valleys, illuminating bizarre, bioluminescent flora. Here, amidst the fire-flowers, lived Kai, a detective with a reputation for finding answers where others saw only ash.

The island of Ignis pulsed with a heat felt even through heavy boots. Rivers of molten rock snaked through valleys, illuminating bizarre, bioluminescent flora. Here, amidst the fire-flowers, lived Kai, a detective with a reputation for finding answers where others saw only ash.

Page 2

Kai squinted against the thermal glare, his face etched with grim determination. His trench coat, scorched but stubbornly intact, billowed in the hot wind.
Kai squinted against the thermal glare, his face etched with grim determination. His trench coat, scorched but stubbornly intact, billowed in the hot wind. He was here for a reason: a body, found petrified amongst the fire-flowers, and a village desperate for justice.

Kai squinted against the thermal glare, his face etched with grim determination. His trench coat, scorched but stubbornly intact, billowed in the hot wind. He was here for a reason: a body, found petrified amongst the fire-flowers, and a village desperate for justice.

Page 3

"Detective, you came," a voice rasped. Elder Hana, wizened and frail, hobbled forward, leaning on a staff carved from volcanic rock.
"Detective, you came," a voice rasped. Elder Hana, wizened and frail, hobbled forward, leaning on a staff carved from volcanic rock. "The council fears a dark omen. The petrified one...he was one of us." Kai nodded, his gaze sweeping the small crowd. "Tell me everything, Elder."

"Detective, you came," a voice rasped. Elder Hana, wizened and frail, hobbled forward, leaning on a staff carved from volcanic rock. "The council fears a dark omen. The petrified one...he was one of us." Kai nodded, his gaze sweeping the small crowd. "Tell me everything, Elder."

Page 4

The story unfolded: a ritual gone wrong, a surge of uncontrolled volcanic energy, a body turned to stone. But something didn't add up.
The story unfolded: a ritual gone wrong, a surge of uncontrolled volcanic energy, a body turned to stone. But something didn't add up. The petrification was too clean, too precise. It stank of magic...dark magic.

The story unfolded: a ritual gone wrong, a surge of uncontrolled volcanic energy, a body turned to stone. But something didn't add up. The petrification was too clean, too precise. It stank of magic...dark magic.

Page 5

Kai knelt, examining the petrified body. No signs of struggle, no defensive wounds. The victim, a young man named Ren, looked almost peaceful.
Kai knelt, examining the petrified body. No signs of struggle, no defensive wounds. The victim, a young man named Ren, looked almost peaceful. Too peaceful, Kai thought. Like he knew it was coming.

Kai knelt, examining the petrified body. No signs of struggle, no defensive wounds. The victim, a young man named Ren, looked almost peaceful. Too peaceful, Kai thought. Like he knew it was coming.

Page 6

"Elder, was Ren involved in anything unusual lately? Any disputes?" Hana shook her head, her eyes filled with sorrow. "He was quiet, studious.
"Elder, was Ren involved in anything unusual lately? Any disputes?" Hana shook her head, her eyes filled with sorrow. "He was quiet, studious. Always reading ancient texts. Said he was searching for...truth."

"Elder, was Ren involved in anything unusual lately? Any disputes?" Hana shook her head, her eyes filled with sorrow. "He was quiet, studious. Always reading ancient texts. Said he was searching for...truth."

Page 7

"Truth? What kind of truth?" Kai pressed. Hana sighed. "He believed the volcanic rituals were losing their power. That we needed to reconnect with the old ways.
"Truth? What kind of truth?" Kai pressed. Hana sighed. "He believed the volcanic rituals were losing their power. That we needed to reconnect with the old ways. He found something...a hidden chamber beneath the volcano."

"Truth? What kind of truth?" Kai pressed. Hana sighed. "He believed the volcanic rituals were losing their power. That we needed to reconnect with the old ways. He found something...a hidden chamber beneath the volcano."

Page 8

Beneath the volcano, in a chamber pulsating with geothermal energy, Kai found it: a forbidden scroll. It detailed a ritual of petrification, not for punishment…
Beneath the volcano, in a chamber pulsating with geothermal energy, Kai found it: a forbidden scroll. It detailed a ritual of petrification, not for punishment, but for...preservation. A way to cheat death.

Beneath the volcano, in a chamber pulsating with geothermal energy, Kai found it: a forbidden scroll. It detailed a ritual of petrification, not for punishment, but for...preservation. A way to cheat death.

Page 9

The scroll also revealed a shocking truth: Ren wasn't the victim, he was the accomplice. He sought immortality, but someone else performed the ritual.
The scroll also revealed a shocking truth: Ren wasn't the victim, he was the accomplice. He sought immortality, but someone else performed the ritual. Someone who wanted Ren silenced.

The scroll also revealed a shocking truth: Ren wasn't the victim, he was the accomplice. He sought immortality, but someone else performed the ritual. Someone who wanted Ren silenced.

Page 10

Kai's mind raced. Who benefitted from Ren's silence? Who knew about the forbidden ritual? Only one person came to mind: Elder Hana. But why?
Kai's mind raced. Who benefitted from Ren's silence? Who knew about the forbidden ritual? Only one person came to mind: Elder Hana. But why? Kai thought, what was her motive?.

Kai's mind raced. Who benefitted from Ren's silence? Who knew about the forbidden ritual? Only one person came to mind: Elder Hana. But why? Kai thought, what was her motive?.

Page 11

Kai confronted Hana. "You knew about the scroll, didn't you? You knew Ren was going to perform the ritual." Hana's face remained impassive.
Kai confronted Hana. "You knew about the scroll, didn't you? You knew Ren was going to perform the ritual." Hana's face remained impassive. "He meddled with forces he didn't understand. He threatened our traditions."

Kai confronted Hana. "You knew about the scroll, didn't you? You knew Ren was going to perform the ritual." Hana's face remained impassive. "He meddled with forces he didn't understand. He threatened our traditions."

Page 12

"So you silenced him?" Kai accused. Hana's eyes hardened. "He was a danger to our way of life. Sometimes, detective, the ends justify the means.
"So you silenced him?" Kai accused. Hana's eyes hardened. "He was a danger to our way of life. Sometimes, detective, the ends justify the means. As Machiavelli said, 'It is much safer to be feared than loved, when one of the two must be chosen.'"

"So you silenced him?" Kai accused. Hana's eyes hardened. "He was a danger to our way of life. Sometimes, detective, the ends justify the means. As Machiavelli said, 'It is much safer to be feared than loved, when one of the two must be chosen.'"

Page 13

Suddenly, the ground trembled. Volcanic energy surged through the hut. Hana raised her staff, chanting an ancient incantation.
Suddenly, the ground trembled. Volcanic energy surged through the hut. Hana raised her staff, chanting an ancient incantation. The fire-flowers blazed with blinding light.

Suddenly, the ground trembled. Volcanic energy surged through the hut. Hana raised her staff, chanting an ancient incantation. The fire-flowers blazed with blinding light.

Page 14

Kai dodged the blast, scrambling for cover. Hana's power was immense, fueled by the volcano itself. He needed to stop her, but how?
Kai dodged the blast, scrambling for cover. Hana's power was immense, fueled by the volcano itself. He needed to stop her, but how? He remembered Ren's research: a counter-ritual, hidden within the forbidden scroll.

Kai dodged the blast, scrambling for cover. Hana's power was immense, fueled by the volcano itself. He needed to stop her, but how? He remembered Ren's research: a counter-ritual, hidden within the forbidden scroll.

Page 15

With Hana distracted, Kai raced back to the geothermal chamber. He grabbed the scroll, desperately searching for the counter-ritual. Time was running out.
With Hana distracted, Kai raced back to the geothermal chamber. He grabbed the scroll, desperately searching for the counter-ritual. Time was running out. The village, the island, everything was at stake.

With Hana distracted, Kai raced back to the geothermal chamber. He grabbed the scroll, desperately searching for the counter-ritual. Time was running out. The village, the island, everything was at stake.

Page 16

He found it: a series of ancient runes, a specific sequence of chants. With shaking hands, Kai began to perform the counter-ritual, channeling his own energy…
He found it: a series of ancient runes, a specific sequence of chants. With shaking hands, Kai began to perform the counter-ritual, channeling his own energy into the volcanic flow.

He found it: a series of ancient runes, a specific sequence of chants. With shaking hands, Kai began to perform the counter-ritual, channeling his own energy into the volcanic flow.

Page 17

The volcano groaned. The geothermal energy shifted, flowing away from Hana and towards Kai. He focused, pushing his will against the ancient power.
The volcano groaned. The geothermal energy shifted, flowing away from Hana and towards Kai. He focused, pushing his will against the ancient power. This was it: the final stand.

The volcano groaned. The geothermal energy shifted, flowing away from Hana and towards Kai. He focused, pushing his will against the ancient power. This was it: the final stand.

Page 18

Back in the village, Hana screamed as her power waned. The fire-flowers dimmed. The volcanic energy that fueled her magic was gone, stolen by Kai's…
Back in the village, Hana screamed as her power waned. The fire-flowers dimmed. The volcanic energy that fueled her magic was gone, stolen by Kai's counter-ritual.

Back in the village, Hana screamed as her power waned. The fire-flowers dimmed. The volcanic energy that fueled her magic was gone, stolen by Kai's counter-ritual.

Page 19

Kai emerged from the geothermal chamber, exhausted but victorious. The volcanic energy had calmed. The fire-flowers bloomed anew, their light gentle and…
Kai emerged from the geothermal chamber, exhausted but victorious. The volcanic energy had calmed. The fire-flowers bloomed anew, their light gentle and reassuring. He had saved Ignis.

Kai emerged from the geothermal chamber, exhausted but victorious. The volcanic energy had calmed. The fire-flowers bloomed anew, their light gentle and reassuring. He had saved Ignis.

Page 20

Later, as the sun set over Ignis, Kai prepared to leave. The villagers were safe, but the darkness lingered. There were other islands, other mysteries.
Later, as the sun set over Ignis, Kai prepared to leave. The villagers were safe, but the darkness lingered. There were other islands, other mysteries. As Sherlock Holmes said, "Data! Data! Data! I can't make bricks without clay!", and Kai had much more clay to find.

Later, as the sun set over Ignis, Kai prepared to leave. The villagers were safe, but the darkness lingered. There were other islands, other mysteries. As Sherlock Holmes said, "Data! Data! Data! I can't make bricks without clay!", and Kai had much more clay to find.

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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