Title: The Witch of Elmsworth

Level: Advanced (C1-C2)

#Story :

Elmsworth, a quiet, forgotten village surrounded by mist-shrouded forests, had always been a place where whispers of supernatural occurrences seemed to linger in the air. For centuries, stories circulated about a witch named Lira, who had once inhabited the village. Her power was both feared and revered, and some claimed she had vanished long ago, leaving behind a legacy of darkness.

Jonathan Vane, a young historian with a passion for uncovering the hidden truths of history, returned to Elmsworth after many years of absence. His family had once lived in the village, but they had left abruptly when Jonathan was just a boy. Now, as an adult, he sought to uncover the mystery behind his family’s sudden departure and to unravel the legend of the witch.

Upon arriving in Elmsworth, Jonathan found the village eerily quiet, its once-thriving streets now abandoned and overgrown. The homes, shrouded in ivy and moss, seemed to carry the weight of centuries of secrets. There was a palpable sense of dread in the air, as if the village itself held its breath, waiting for something to happen.

Jonathan’s first stop was the village inn, where he sought answers from the innkeeper, an elderly woman named Maud. She had known his family for years, and Jonathan hoped she might provide some insight into the village’s dark history.

“You’ve come back at a strange time,” Maud warned, her eyes filled with concern. “The rumors are starting again—rumors about the witch. Lira’s been seen near the edge of the forest, and people are talking about strange happenings.”

Jonathan raised an eyebrow. “Lira? I thought she was just a story.”

#Vocabulary :

Shrouded – Covered or hidden from view.
Eerie – Strange and frightening, creating a feeling of fear or discomfort.
Revered – Regarded with great respect and admiration.
Dread – Great fear or apprehension about something that might happen.
Manipulate – To control or influence someone or something cleverly or unfairly.

#Grammar Focus :

Past Perfect Tense: Used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past.
Example: "Jonathan had left the village many years ago, but now he had returned to uncover its secrets."
Relative Clauses: Used to give additional information about a noun in the sentence.
Example: "The villagers, who had long been wary of Lira, whispered tales of her dark powers."
Conditionals (Second Conditional): Used to talk about hypothetical situations and their possible outcomes.
Example: "If Jonathan had never left Elmsworth, he would have known more about the witch's true nature."

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210 | Advanced - Short Story: The Curse ...