Stage 1

The guardian of the crystal threads

Among the thick vegetation, trapped in time, Decimo spotted the entrance to a small cave. He approached it hesitantly and, with his heart filled with wonder and fear, peeked into the darkness. The walls were covered in dense, petrified cobwebs that sparkled in the dark like a crystal firmament. In the farthest corner, hidden in silence, was a small spider: it was Aranix, the forgotten guardian, trapped in his own web—an intricate labyrinth of petrified threads! Decimo bowed his head and carefully made his way through the webs. He heard a faint whisper…

Who are you, young one, who enters my lair,
Are you the one to break this enchantment?
Here time has stood still for so long,
All is suspended, and I am trapped!
Solve the first Witchspell to set me free,
Help me escape, take me away:
Move carefully, don’t make a sound,
And find the exit that breaks the numbness!

Help Aranix find the exit from the cave: the corresponding number will be the first clue! Write it down or keep it in mind, you will need it together with the others to solve the mystery. Now continue with stage no. 2! 

What to observe

This small cave opens up between outcrops of limestone rock, shaped over time by the action of water. Just beyond the entrance, along the ceiling, you can spot the fine threads of spider webs belonging to spiders of the genus Meta sp., known as cave or cellar spiders. They live in dark, humid places, where they silently wait for small prey like flies and mosquitoes to pass by.

If you look closely, you might also see their egg sacs: small cocoons hanging from the ceiling where the females keep their eggs. Invisible and discreet, these spiders are part of the cave’s hidden balance.