A novice squire in Valletta, Matthew, unearths a code hidden by crusader knights, discovering ancient alliances and a legacy of hope.
In the sun-washed corridors of Valletta’s fort, Matthew swept dust from the stone floor, dreaming of one day becoming a knight. The fortress echoed with legends of the crusaders—brave, mysterious, sometimes tragic. One night, after a storm, Matthew stumbled upon a loose brick in the armory wall. Behind it, a small chest contained a scrap of parchment covered in cryptic symbols and the Maltese cross. With the help of wise Sister Agata from the old library, Matthew worked through riddles hidden in ancient church mosaics and whispered in Latin by the city’s fountains. Each clue led him deeper: a map behind an altar, a riddle in the shadow of the silent bell, and finally a tunnel beneath the city. There, beneath the city’s heartbeat, Matthew discovered the secret of the crusaders—not a cache of gold, but a message of unity left for future generations: 'Strength in honor, hope in the darkness.' Matthew emerged from the tunnels, no longer just a squire, but the bearer of a new legacy. He told the story to his companions, lighting candles in the cathedral. The secrets of Valletta’s knights would live on—not in treasures, but in the courage of those who dared to seek.