layout: book_post book_id: “00119” lang: en title: “Pusat and the Light of Conscience” categories: [“age_10_12”, “children_books”] tags: [“Ages 10-12”, “Children’s Books”, “Conscience”, “Choices”] typo: [] date: 2026-02-12 10:00:00 +0300 last_modified_at: 2026-02-12 10:00:00 +0300 excerpt: “Pusat finds a strange compass left by his grandfather; it points toward the right decision. In time he learns that the true guide is his own conscience.” version: 1 thumbnail: thumbnail.webp slug: /pusat-and-the-light-of-conscience video: false en_images: true book: cover: front_image: cover.webp back_image: cover.webp title: “Pusat and the Light of Conscience” subtitle: “” pages: - text: “Pusat was rummaging through old belongings in the attic, where dusty beams of sunlight filtered through the small window. Among the memories left by his grandfather, a heavy, ornate chest forgotten in the corner caught his eye. He struggled to lift the lid, and inside, tucked within a velvet pouch, he found a gleaming metal object. It was unlike any compass he had ever seen; instead of directions, it featured strange symbols and a small crystal in the center that constantly shifted colors.” image: 1.webp - text: “When Pusat took the compass in his hand, he noticed the crystal flickering with a soft blue light. Instead of pointing North, the needle moved according to Pusat’s thoughts at that moment. "Is this a time compass?" he wondered aloud. But the device showed neither the time nor the direction. An ancient inscription appeared on the lid: "To find your way, do not look outward, but inward. This compass only illuminates the path to the right decision." He turned the compass over, feeling its weight and the intricate carvings. The metal felt warm, almost alive. He realized it was a legacy from his grandfather, meant to guide him through growing up. He tucked it safely into his pocket.” image: 2.webp - text: “The next day at school, Pusat faced a difficult choice. His best friend, Elif, was very upset because she hadn’t been able to finish her math project. She sat at her desk, her head in her hands. Pusat had finished his own project and was looking forward to his afternoon of gaming, but seeing Elif so discouraged made him hesitate. He felt the compass in his pocket grow warm. He reached in and secretly glanced at it. The needle was pointing firmly and steadily toward Elif’s desk.” image: 3.webp - text: “Pusat spent the entire afternoon explaining the math problems to Elif. Though his gaming plans were canceled, seeing the relief and the grateful smile on Elif’s face filled him with a strange sense of peace. The compass in his pocket vibrated gently, as if nodding in approval. At that moment, Pusat understood that this device was far more than a toy; it was a mirror of his own character.” image: 4.webp - text: “A few days later, while walking through the empty school corridor, Pusat spotted a white envelope on the floor. It had been dropped by Mr. Ahmet, the school cafeteria manager. Inside was a large amount of cash collected for the cafeteria. There was no one around, and Pusat realized this money could easily buy the new bicycle he had been dreaming of. He pulled out the compass, and his heart sank. The needle was trembling restlessly, and the crystal had turned a warning, fiery red. It pointed directly toward the corridor where Mr. Ahmet’s office was located.” image: 5.webp - text: “Nearby, Mr. Ahmet was frantically searching his pockets, his face pale with worry. Pusat took a deep breath. The warning from the compass was just a reflection of the whisper in his own soul. He picked up the envelope and walked straight to Mr. Ahmet. When he handed it over, Mr. Ahmet was so relieved that he thanked Pusat over and over, telling him that such honesty was worth more than any bicycle. As Pusat walked away, he saw the compass glowing with a soft, steady green light.” image: 6.webp - text: “As the days went by, Pusat began to rely on the compass for every decision. Which book should he read? Who should he make peace with? When should he do his homework? But one morning, he woke up to find the crystal had gone completely dark. The needle didn’t move at all; it sat there like a lifeless piece of scrap metal. Pusat panicked. Without the compass, how would he ever know what was right?” image: 7.webp - text: “That afternoon was the final of the big school chess tournament. Pusat had made it all the way to the end, and his opponent was Elif. The game was intense. At a critical moment, Elif made a tiny mistake—one so small that only Pusat noticed. She moved her rook to the wrong square. If Pusat stayed silent, he would win the championship trophy easily. He reached into his pocket, hoping for a sign, but the compass remained cold and dark.” image: 8.webp - text: “Pusat was on his own. He looked at the trophy on the table, then at his friend. Winning by taking advantage of a mistake didn’t feel like a victory; it felt like a burden. He closed his eyes and listened to the silence. He didn’t need a light to tell him what his heart already knew. "Elif," Pusat said quietly, "you made a mistake with your rook just now. You can take the move back if you want."” image: 9.webp - text: “Elif corrected her move, and the game continued. Eventually, Elif won, but Pusat wasn’t sad. He felt a warmth in his pocket. He pulled out the compass, and the crystal burst into a brilliant, dazzling white light. The needle didn’t point anywhere else; it pointed straight at Pusat’s heart.” image: 10.webp - text: “Pusat finally understood. The compass was a teacher, a guide to help him find his own way. But the courage and virtue to walk that path had been inside him all along. The compass had gone dark because he no longer needed it. The power to tell right from wrong was not in the compass’s crystal but in his own conscience.” image: 11.webp - text: “When he got home, Pusat placed the compass back in its velvet pouch and put it in the chest in the attic. Perhaps years later another child who needed that guide would find it. He locked the chest and went downstairs. From then on, he trusted not the compass but the voice of his heart. He knew that the truest compass of all is a person’s conscience.” image: 12.webp