Diamond in the Rough
Once upon a time, in the bustling town of Avantor, there lived a scruffy scavenger named Jonas. He was an orphan, trying to get by on the streets. Despite his ragged appearance and harsh lifestyle, Jonas possessed a heart of gold.
One day, he stumbled upon a secret passage, while rummaging for food. As curiosity pushed him forward, he found a cave, lit by a soft, blue glow. Jonas noticed a stone, gleaming under the light, revealing a hidden beauty within. A diamond. He suddenly felt a surge of happiness and fear. A diamond could feed him for life, but surely its owner would seek it.
Disregarding the foreseeable dangers, he took the diamond. With the newfound wealth, he would no longer need to starve. However, he felt the obligation to find its rightful owner before exploiting it for his gains. This simple act of morality changed his life radically.
As Jonas returned to Avantor, the news regarding the mislaid diamond had already caused chaos. The diamond was an heirloom of the royal Lutharian family, a symbol of their divine right to rule. Their reign was in turmoil without the diamond. The King, an aged, ill man, had declared a quest. Whoever found the diamond would be rewarded greatly.
Courageously, Jonas took the diamond directly to the King, unaware of the immense consequence. In the King's presence, he presented the diamond. But instead of claiming the reward, he asked the King a question, 'Why should a gem determine your divine right? Isn’t a king’s worth proven by his actions?'
The King was taken aback. No one had ever presented such a philosophy. Intrigued, he dismissed his advisors, opting to listen to Jonas. The scavenger boy poured out stories of his struggles, the neglect of the rich towards people like him, and how the wealth of a kingdom does not reflect its prosperity.
The King understood. That day, he realized his rule had become a symbol of wealth, not welfare. He desired to correct his course. Impressively wise for his age, Jonas proposed a system of social welfare for struggling citizens, suggesting that the kingdom establish a food bank, build houses for the homeless, and invest in education for orphans.
The King initiated the systems Jonas had proposed, slowly witnessing the transformation of the ragged city into a bustling, prosperous, and happy one. The people no longer feared the royal family; instead, they saw them as their protectors. The citizens' happiness was the true jewel of Lutharia.
The King eventually adopted Jonas as his own and declared him his successor, which was welcomed by the kingdom with joy. When the King passed, Jonas took the throne and turned Lutharia into a kingdom that cared for its people. His rule was the golden age for Lutharia which came to symbolize justice and prosperity throughout the land.
That diamond, the catalyst of this change, was placed in a public museum, not as a symbol of the divine right, but as a symbol of a transformation brought about by a scavenger boy's philosophy. The tale of Jonas proved that a diamond's worth doesn't lie in its price, but in the change, it brings – a thought that echoes in Lutharia till date.