"Radiant Peak" School

Backstory

"Radiant Peak" School is a prestigious educational institution located in an old building with a rich history. Once, it was the mansion of a famous industrialist who died under mysterious circumstances. Rumor has it that his ghost still roams the hallways. The school is known for its traditions, strict rules, and outstanding alumni. However, behind the facade of success and order lie secrets that students and teachers carefully guard.

The building that now houses "Radiant Peak" School was constructed in the late 19th century by a famous industrialist named Grigory Luchezarov. He was an ambitious and enigmatic man who amassed his fortune trading rare goods. Luchezarov was known for his love of art and science, so his mansion became a gathering place for the intellectuals of the time: artists, writers, scientists, and philosophers. The house often hosted balls where revolutionary ideas were discussed, and secret societies were formed.

However, in 1905, during one such gathering, a tragedy occurred. Grigory Luchezarov was found dead in his study. The official version claimed he had taken his own life due to financial difficulties, but rumors suggested otherwise. Some said he was murdered because of his ties to revolutionaries, while others claimed he had fallen victim to a family curse. After his death, the mansion passed to his only daughter, Anna Luchezarova, who, being young and inexperienced, was unable to manage the estate. The building gradually fell into disrepair.

In the 1920s, after the revolution, the mansion was nationalized. In 1935, it was decided to convert it into a school for gifted children. The school was named "Radiant Peak" in honor of its founder, though his name slowly faded into obscurity. The early years of the school were marred by strange incidents: students complained of eerie noises at night, and one of the teachers disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Over time, these events became part of the school’s legends.

The mansion’s basement had always been a place shrouded in mystery. During Luchezarov’s time, it housed rare artifacts brought from different countries, as well as archives of his personal records. After the building became a school, the basement was sealed off. Rumors persisted that old documents and items connected to Luchezarov were still stored there, but access was strictly forbidden. Some students claimed to hear strange sounds coming from beneath the ground, though the administration always dismissed it as their imagination.

In the 1980s, the school experienced its golden age. Its alumni became renowned scientists, artists, and politicians. However, in 1995, an incident shook the school to its core. An 11th-grade student, Dmitry Sokolov, died after falling down the staircase in the main hall. Officially, it was ruled an accident, but many suspected there was more to the story. Dmitry was a talented student, but his relationships with teachers and classmates were strained. Rumors spread that he had uncovered some secret about the school and was planning to expose it. After his death, the basement was permanently sealed, and all documents related to the case disappeared.

Since then, the school has been filled with stories about the ghost of Grigory Luchezarov, who supposedly roams the hallways in search of his lost treasures. Some students swore they saw a shadow on the staircase where Dmitry died, while others claimed to hear whispers from the basement. These legends became part of the school’s folklore, and every year, new students were told about the "Curse of Radiant Peak."

The modern events at the school are closely tied to its past. Olga Sergeevna, the literature teacher, was one of the few who knew the truth about Dmitry Sokolov’s death. She began her own investigation to uncover the secret, but it cost her her life. Her death became the catalyst that reopened old wounds and forced the characters to confront a past they had tried to forget.

Every year, the school hosts the "Radiant Ball," where senior students present their projects and compete for the main prize—a scholarship to study abroad. But this year, something went wrong...

Plot

A week before the ball, strange things start happening at the school: students' personal belongings go missing, threatening notes appear in the hallways, and one night, someone sets the principal's office on fire. Everyone brushes it off as pranks, but when the body of the literature teacher, Olga Sergeevna, is found on the eve of the ball, it becomes clear that this is more than just mischief.

Olga Sergeevna was a strict but fair teacher, respected and feared by many. Her death looks like a suicide, but some details suggest murder. The school principal hires a private detective to investigate without drawing too much attention.

Main Characters

1. Alexey "Lyosha" Volkov – an 11th-grade student, class president, and teachers' favorite. He seems like the perfect student, but in reality, he hides the fact that his family is on the verge of bankruptcy, and he desperately needs the scholarship.
2. Marina Sokolova – Lyosha’s classmate, a talented artist. She keeps to herself, but her drawings, which she leaves in the school library, are full of dark imagery. Marina knows more than she lets on.
3. Igor Petrov – the school’s deputy principal and a former student of "Radiant Peak." He is strict and demanding, but his past is shrouded in mystery. Rumors say he was involved in a scandal many years ago.
4. Anna "Anya" Kuznetsova – a 10th-grade student, Lyosha’s younger sister. She always stays in her brother’s shadow, but her diary, found in Olga Sergeevna’s office, contains strange entries about the "school’s secret."
5. Viktor Ivanovich – the school janitor, who has worked there for 30 years. He knows all the school’s secrets but prefers to stay silent.

Clues

1. A note in Olga Sergeevna’s office: "You know too much. Stay silent, or it will get worse."
2. Anya’s burned diary: it mentions the "old basement" and "a secret that must not be revealed."
3. The basement key: found in Olga Sergeevna’s pocket. The basement has been closed for years, and no one goes there.
4. Marina’s drawings: one depicts a person falling down the stairs, and another shows the old mansion with its windows on fire.
5. A letter from an unknown person: "If you want to know the truth, come to the basement at midnight."

Plot Development

The detective begins the investigation by interviewing students and teachers. Lyosha claims he knows nothing, but his nervousness gives him away. Marina refuses to talk about her drawings, but her behavior becomes increasingly suspicious. Igor Petrov insists it’s a suicide and tries to close the case.

Anya, frightened and confused, admits that Olga Sergeevna knew about her diary and wanted to help her uncover the "school’s secret." Viktor Ivanovich seems to know more than he lets on, but he refuses to cooperate.

At night, the detective decides to go down to the basement, where they find old documents related to the school’s history. It turns out that many years ago, a tragedy occurred here: a student died after falling down the stairs, and his death was covered up. Olga Sergeevna, who had just started working at the school back then, knew about it but remained silent.