The Castle in the Forest

Here is a story in both Spanish and English about three friends who find a castle hidden in the forest. The English version of the story is shown beside the Spanish version to help your understanding of the story. The aim of the story is to improve your reading comprehension in Spanish and increase your Spanish vocabulary. Don't worry about understanding every word in the story. The more you read the story, the better your comprehension will become.

The Castle in the Forest

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El Castillo en el Bosque	The Castle in the Forest
Había una vez, en un pequeño pueblo enclavado entre las montañas, vivían tres amigos - Jack, Lily y Max. Eran espíritus aventureros, siempre buscando nuevas emociones y experiencias. Un día, decidieron explorar el denso bosque que se encontraba en las afueras de su pueblo.	Once upon a time, in a small town nestled between the mountains, lived three friends - Jack, Lily, and Max. They were adventurous spirits, always seeking new thrills and experiences. One day, they decided to explore the dense woods that lay on the outskirts of their town.
A medida que se adentraban en el bosque, se dieron cuenta de que habían perdido el camino. Los árboles se alzaban sobre ellos, bloqueando la luz del sol, y el camino que habían seguido había desaparecido. Justo cuando estaban a punto de entrar en pánico, vieron un castillo en ruinas a lo lejos. Sus altas torres y muros de piedra desgastados destacaban contra el telón de fondo del denso bosque.	As they ventured deeper into the woods, they realized they had lost their way. The trees towered over them, blocking the sunlight, and the path they had followed had disappeared. Just when panic was about to set in, they spotted a run-down castle in the distance. Its tall towers and weathered stone walls stood out against the backdrop of the dense forest.
Cuando se acercaron al castillo, notaron un grupo de goblins que se acercaban. Los goblins eran pequeños, con piel verde y dientes afilados, y llevaban armas rudimentarias. El miedo se apoderó de los amigos, y corrieron hacia el castillo, esperando encontrar un lugar donde esconderse.	As they approached the castle, they noticed a group of goblins emerging from the undergrowth. The goblins were small, with green skin and sharp teeth, carrying crude weapons. Fear gripped the friends, and they sprinted towards the castle, hoping to find a place to hide.
Se precipitaron a través de las puertas de madera del castillo y las barricaron con una barra de hierro oxidada. Mientras recuperaban el aliento, notaron una puerta peculiar al final del gran salón del castillo. Era diferente a todas las demás en el castillo - hecha de plata brillante con intrincados grabados.	They dashed through the castle's creaky wooden doors and barricaded them with a rusty iron rod. As they caught their breath, they noticed a peculiar door at the far end of the castle's grand hall. It was unlike any other in the castle - made of shimmering silver with intricate carvings.
Con los goblins arañando y golpeando las puertas del castillo, los amigos decidieron probar suerte con la misteriosa puerta. Al atravesarla, se encontraron en otro mundo.	With the goblins scratching and banging on the castle doors, the friends decided to take their chances with the mysterious door. As they stepped through, they found themselves in another world.
Este mundo era un contraste total con el oscuro bosque y el castillo en ruinas que acababan de dejar. Era una tierra llena de luz y color. Hermosos prados se extendían hasta donde alcanzaba la vista, y un río tranquilo fluía a través de todo. El aire estaba lleno del dulce aroma de las flores, y el cielo era de un azul brillante.	This world was a stark contrast to the dark woods and the dilapidated castle they had just left. It was a land filled with light and color. Beautiful meadows stretched as far as the eye could see, and a calm river flowed through the heart of it all. The air was filled with the sweet scent of flowers, and the sky was a brilliant blue.
Su miedo fue reemplazado por asombro y maravilla. Se dieron cuenta de que perderse en el bosque no era una desgracia, sino un camino hacia una nueva aventura. En este nuevo mundo, hicieron nuevos amigos, enfrentaron nuevos desafíos y aprendieron más sobre sí mismos.	Their fear was replaced with awe and wonder. They realized that getting lost in the woods was not a misfortune but a path to a new adventure. In this new world, they made new friends, faced new challenges, and learned more about themselves.
Y así, los tres amigos continuaron su aventura, sus espíritus indomables, sus lazos fortalecidos y sus corazones llenos de la alegría de la exploración. El castillo, los goblins y la puerta ya no eran símbolos de miedo, sino de aventura y la mágica inesperada que se encuentra en lo desconocido.	And so, the three friends continued their adventure, their spirits undeterred, their bonds strengthened, and their hearts filled with the joy of exploration. The castle, the goblins, and the door were no longer symbols of fear, but of adventure and the unexpected magic that lay in the unknown.