The Hidden Path to Aurora Valley (Story)

The Hidden Path to Aurora Valley

(Adventure – Past Simple – B1/B2 Level)

Mira always believed that every journey started with a

dream. Since childhood, she loved stories about explorers

who discovered lost lands and ancient cities. When she

grew up, she became an archaeologist — not for fame, but

for the excitement of learning something new every day.

One morning, while she worked in the museum, she found

an old leather notebook hidden behind a shelf. Its pages

were yellow, and its cover smelled like dust and history.

Inside, she saw hand-drawn maps, strange symbols, and

one sentence written in red ink:

> “The light of knowledge shines only in Aurora Valley.”

Mira’s hands trembled as she turned the pages. There was

no record of any “Aurora Valley” in Egypt or anywhere

nearby. But something about that name felt powerful —

full of promise. She decided to follow the trail.

She called her best friend Rami, a desert explorer who

helped her before.

“Rami,” she said, “I found something that could change

everything.”

He laughed. “You always say that, but fine. Where are we

going this time?”

“South,” she answered. “To find Aurora Valley.”

The next day, they packed their jeep with supplies —

water, food, tents, and maps — and drove into the desert.

The sun burned above them, but the wind was calm. As

the city disappeared behind them, Mira felt free, like the

sand carried her away from time itself.

Hours passed. They followed the map from the notebook,

but sometimes it didn’t make sense. The lines were faded,

and the landmarks were gone. Still, Mira never lost faith.

Every small discovery — a strange rock, a forgotten ruin,

an ancient carving — made her believe she was getting

closer.

That evening, they stopped near a group of tall cliffs. The

air cooled, and the stars appeared like diamonds in a black

sea. Mira sat beside the fire, reading the notebook again.

On one page, she noticed something new — when the

firelight hit the ink, a hidden message appeared:

> “When the dawn touches the western cliff, follow the

shadow.”

At sunrise, they waited. As the first rays of sunlight

touched the cliffs, a long shadow pointed toward a narrow

path between the rocks. Mira smiled. “That’s our

direction,” she said.

They followed the path for hours until they reached a wide

valley hidden behind the cliffs. The sand there was silver,

not gold, and small flowers grew near the stones. In the

center of the valley stood a crystal arch shining under the

sun.

Mira walked slowly toward it. “This must be Aurora

Valley,” she whispered.

Rami took photos and said, “It’s the most beautiful place

I’ve ever seen.”

They explored the valley carefully. The walls of the rocks

were covered with ancient writing — not warnings, but

messages of hope and wisdom. Phrases like “Light is

knowledge,” and “The brave find truth.”

At the top of the hill, they found a stone tablet. It

showed a symbol of an open eye with a star above it. Mira

traced the symbol gently with her fingers and felt a

strange warmth — not from magic, but from

understanding. She realized that Aurora Valley was not a

city of gold, but a city of ideas.

She smiled. “We didn’t find treasure,” she said, “we found

meaning.”

When they returned to Cairo, Mira wrote her report. It

didn’t make headlines, but her story inspired young

researchers everywhere. People started calling her “The

Explorer of Light.”

And sometimes, when she stood under the night sky, she

whispered to herself,

> “There’s always another valley waiting for those who

believe.”

Comprehension Questions (Past Simple)

1. What was Mira’s job?

a) A teacher b) A writer c) An archaeologist d) A pilot

2. Where did she find the leather notebook?

a) In a library b) Behind a shelf in the museum c) In the

desert d) In a box

3. What was written in red ink?

a) A warning b) A clue about Aurora Valley c) A

name d) A list of treasures

4. Who did Mira call for help?

a) Her brother b) Rami c) A professor d) A student

5. What did they pack for the trip?

a) Clothes only b) Cameras and phones c) Water, food,

tents, maps d) Gold and jewels

6. How did Mira feel as she left the city?

a) Nervous b) Free c) Sad d) Angry

7. What happened when she read the notebook near the

fire?

a) The ink disappeared b) She found a hidden message c)

The notebook burned d) She fell asleep

8. What did the sunrise reveal?

a) The direction to follow b) A mountain c) A storm d)

A village

9. What was special about the sand in Aurora Valley?

a) It was silver b) It was black c) It was red d) It was

blue

10. What did the writings on the rocks say?

a) Threats b) Warnings c) Messages of wisdom and

hope d) Ancient recipes

11. What symbol did they find on the stone tablet?

a) A moon b) A bird c) An open eye with a star d) A

mountain

12. What did Mira realize about Aurora Valley?

a) It was a place of knowledge b) It was full of gold c)

It was dangerous d) It was empty

13. What did people call Mira after her discovery?

a) The Explorer of Light b) The Queen of the Desert c)

The Map Reader d) The Sand Seeker

14. How does the story end?

a) Mira loses the notebook b) Mira sells the treasure c)

Mira inspires others d) Mira forgets everything

15. What does Mira believe at the end?

a) That there’s always another valley for dreamers b)

That knowledge is dangerous c) That treasure is

everything d) That she was wrong