Marek stál pred veľkolepým Bratislavským hradom.

Marek stood in front of the magnificent Bratislavský Castle.

Zima bola silná a sneh bielil kamenné hradby.

The winter was harsh, and snow whitened the stone walls.

Marek bol sprievodcom na hrade.

Marek was a guide at the castle.

Mal dobrú prácu, ale jeho srdce túžilo po archeológii.

He had a good job, but his heart longed for archaeology.

Snil o objavoch, o tajomstvách, o dávnej histórii skrytej pod hradnými múrmi.

He dreamed of discoveries, of mysteries, of ancient history hidden beneath the castle walls.

Jedného studeného zimného dňa viedol Marek ďalšiu skupinu turistov.

One cold winter day, Marek was leading another group of tourists.

Medzi nimi bola Zuzana a jej brat Jozef.

Among them were Zuzana and her brother Jozef.

Marek rozprával pútavé príbehy o kráľoch a hradných dámach, o vojnách a slávnych hostinách.

Marek told captivating stories about kings and castle ladies, about wars and famous feasts.

Ale v srdci len čakal, kým všetci odídu.

But in his heart, he just waited for everyone to leave.

Marek poznal jeden starý príbeh o tajnej chodbe.

Marek knew an old tale about a secret passage.

Riečica pohltená časom, prechádzajúca priamo pod hradom.

A corridor swallowed by time, passing directly under the castle.

Hovorilo sa, že tam môžu byť stratené poklady.

It was said there might be lost treasures.

Ale podľa hradných pravidiel bolo prísne zakázané ju hľadať.

But according to castle rules, it was strictly forbidden to search for it.

Keď sa večer poslední turisti rozlúčili, Marek sa rozhodol riskovať.

When the last tourists bid farewell in the evening, Marek decided to take the risk.

Vydal sa na miesto, kde mala chodba začínať.

He headed to the place where the passage was supposed to start.

S jeho srdcom pretekala vzrušenie, ale aj obava.

Excitement, but also apprehension, flowed through his heart.

Svetlo baterky osvetlilo úzke kamenné steny.

The flashlight illuminated the narrow stone walls.

Marek našiel starú železnú bránu, ťažkú a zanesenú prachom.

Marek found an old iron gate, heavy and covered in dust.

S veľkým úsilím ju otvoril a vstúpil do chodby.

With great effort, he opened it and stepped into the passage.

Ticho bolo husté, ale Marek pokračoval ďalej.

The silence was thick, but Marek continued onward.

Po niekoľkých minútach Marek uvidel niečo zvláštne v šere chodby.

After a few minutes, Marek saw something strange in the dim passage.

Starodávne zrkadlo, rukou tesané do kameňa.

An ancient mirror, hand-carved into the stone.

Bol to tajomný artefakt, niečo, čo by mohlo zmeniť históriu hradu.

It was a mysterious artifact, something that could change the castle's history.

Práve keď sa ho chcel dotknúť, ozval sa za jeho chrbtom ostrý hlas.

Just as he was about to touch it, a sharp voice sounded behind him.

"Marek, čo to robíte?

"Marek, what are you doing?"

" Marek sa otočil a uvidel hradného strážnika.

Marek turned and saw a castle guard.

Vedel, že je chytený.

He knew he was caught.

Ale namiesto hnevu a trestu strážnik zavolal riaditeľa múzea.

But instead of anger and punishment, the guard called the museum director.

Keď riaditeľ videl Marekov objav, jeho oči zasvietili.

When the director saw Marek's discovery, his eyes lit up.

Pochválil Mareka za odvážnosť a navrhol mu spoluprácu s archeológmi, ktorí mali prísť skúmať tieto starodávne chodby.

He praised Marek for his bravery and suggested collaborating with archaeologists who were to come to explore these ancient corridors.

Marek nemohol uveriť svojmu šťastiu.

Marek couldn't believe his luck.

Namiesto straty práce získal možnosť plniť si sen.

Instead of losing his job, he gained the chance to fulfill his dream.

Ďalšie dni trávil v znamení výborných nových začiatkov.

The following days were marked by excellent new beginnings.

Získal sebavedomie, o ktorom sa mu ani nesnívalo.

He gained confidence he had never even dreamed of.

Bratislavský hrad teraz nebol len jeho pracoviskom, ale miestom, kde si dokázal, že jeho túžby sú dosiahnuteľné.

Bratislavský Castle was now not just his workplace, but a place where he proved that his desires were achievable.