Balance Keepers #1: The Fires of Calderon by Lindsay Cummings

an old, stone bridge that arched to a high point in the middle, like the tip of a triangle. A glittering silver stream ran beneath it. Albert scanned the room. The streams jutted outward in different directions from a massive iron wheel that spun slowly in the very middle of the cave floor. The streams ran toward three doors, under which they seemed to disappear. Each of the doors had its own unique symbol embedded into it—like a symbol on a Tile, but these were far larger, far more ornate, as if they had been carved long ago by someone with very skilled hands.
    “The water is one of the many things you’ll love about the Core,” Trey said, noticing Albert’s eyes growing wide at the sight of two boys diving into the depths of a shimmering pool. Trey pointed out the three doors, right where each meandering stream ended and disappeared into the cave walls. “You’ll learn about what lies behind them, soon enough.”
    The same wide pipes they’d seen in the Path Hider’s room were scattered like vines across the walls and ceiling. Buttons and wheels and strange knobs were all over the walls.
    Trey started to lead Albert and his friends through the Core. Suddenly, some sort of giant creature ran past. Birdie let out a little shriek.
    It was an oversized black cat, and at the sound of Birdie’s voice, the creature turned. It stared at her with three yellow eyes the size of Ping-Pong balls. It started to purr, the sound so loud it reminded Albert of a motorcycle starting up in the city.
    “He’s Professor Asante’s companion creature,” Trey said. “Best not to touch him, or look into his eyes for too long. Cats can be unpredictable.”
    There was, it seemed, an endless array of fantastical things in the Core.
    “What’s that?” Albert heard himself ask, pointing at a strange cloud of blue dust that erupted when a girl threw something small and silver across the cave.
    “Are those monkeys hanging from the ceiling, or something else?” Leroy asked.
    “Is that a talking frog?” Birdie asked from Albert’s right.
    Trey shook his head and smiled.
    “All your questions will be answered in due time,” he said, herding the three of them along like lost children. He looked toward the high ceiling as if it might tell him the time. “It would be best not to show up late for your introduction. First impressions are only made once.”
    Albert fell in step with the rest of them and thought about what a strange day he’d had. The Core had been here all this time, with all these people, right under Herman . . . and Albert had never known about it. Judging by the looks on Leroy’s and Birdie’s faces, they hadn’t either. It was like discovering a hidden treasure in the attic of your own house—always there, but not quite visible unless you really looked .
    “This way, this way.” Trey’s voice pulled Albert back to attention.
    They headed down a long, barely lit tunnel, away from the noise of the people rushing about. Farnsworth appeared again, running past Albert’s untied shoelace, and stopped before a closed door.
    “Now listen carefully,” Trey said, bending down to scratch behind Farnsworth’s ears. The dog’s eyes lit up as he barked happily. “When you go in, show some respect. The Professor is always busy. But he’s set aside time just for you.”
    “Who’s the Professor?” Leroy asked, fixing his baseball cap just so on top of his head.
    Trey thought a moment before answering. “You might say he’s my boss. You’ll be learning quite a lot from him.”
    Oh, great, Albert thought. It’s summer, and we’re about to have professors?
    Trey turned away from them and knocked lightly on the door. Then he opened it just enough to slip inside, and left them standing in the tunnel alone.
    “Still think we made the right choice?” Leroy asked as the door closed behind Trey. Farnsworth yipped up at them, as if he’d understood the question.
    “Farnsworth thinks the place is all right,” Birdie