As I stepped through the heavy wooden door, a musty scent filled the air, indicating that I had entered a place untouched by time. The room before me was vast, with shelves stretching to the ceiling, each filled with books of all shapes and sizes. Rays of sunlight streamed through stained glass windows, casting colorful patterns on the polished wooden floor.

Feeling a sense of excitement and curiosity, I began to explore the library. As I perused the shelves, my eyes caught sight of a particularly old book with a worn leather cover. Its title read, "The Enigma of Forgotten Tomes." Intrigued, I carefully removed it from its resting place.

As I opened the book, a small note slipped out and fell onto the floor. I picked it up, and it read:

"To progress through the seven doors, seeker of treasures, heed these riddles. Within these pages, seek the answers, and the path forward shall be revealed."

Excitedly, I turned my attention back to the book, flipping through its yellowed pages. In the margins, handwritten riddles accompanied passages of text. The first riddle caught my eye:

"I'm taken from a mine and shut in a wooden case. From far away, I'm admired by many, yet up close, I'm hidden in plain sight. What am I?"

Pondering the riddle, I racked my brain for an answer. Suddenly, it struck me like a bolt of lightning. The answer was obvious!

I quickly turned to the corresponding page and found a description of a statue of the answer to the riddle. It was said to be hidden within the library itself. Determined to find it, I began to search the shelves, my eyes scanning for any sign of a hidden statue.

After a few minutes, I spotted a peculiar shelf that seemed slightly out of place, as if it didn't quite fit with the others. Pushing it slightly, I heard a click, and the shelf swung open, revealing a hidden alcove.

Inside, I found the statue described in the book—a beautiful sculpture made of pure silver. It depicted a delicate butterfly resting on a flower. As I picked it up, a loud creaking noise echoed through the library, indicating that something had changed.

I hurriedly made my way back to the main area and saw that a new door had appeared, previously hidden behind a tapestry. It was ornately carved and had the number "2" engraved on its surface.

With the butterfly statue in hand, I approached the door, ready to face the challenges that awaited me beyond.

To be continued...

Chapter 3: The Enchanted Garden.