Edmund and the Cosmic Secret
Once upon a time, in the distant kingdom of Asteria, lived an ordinary boy named Edmund. He was as nondescript as any boy of his age, save for his extraordinary fascination with the night sky. Unlike most lads who spent their time playing in the fields or learning to wield a sword, Edmund was always found with his head up in the clouds, peering into the sky through a telescope under the moonlight. Behind the stars and the vast cosmos, Edmund was convinced lay profound secrets waiting to be discovered, and so, he endeavored to one day decipher the enigma.
However, Asteria was ruled by a selfish and tyrannical king who had banned all forms of scientific curiosity, fearing it threatened his reign. He dealt most severely with those who dared to disobey, and for this, the villagers ridiculed Edmund, calling him a dreamer and a fool. But our protagonist was resilient. He was willing to endure the laughing stocks and the King’s harsh decree. Edmund fervently believed that the mysteries of the cosmos were a gateway to something phenomenal.
One day, Edmund stumbled upon a celestial alignment that was to occur only once every thousand years. The date coincided with the following night. Excited yet anxious, he decided to share this precious discovery with the villagers, hoping that they would believe him.
As he announced his discovery, the villagers laughed at him, refusing to believe such “nonsense”. Discouraged, but not dissuaded, Edmund decided to watch the celestial event alone. That night, under the starlit sky, the planets aligned in a way that created a beam of ethereal light that hit a specific spot in the village, creating a shimmering portal. Edmund, with a heart full of curiosity and courage, decided to step into the portal.
The portal led him to an intergalcoholic location dotted with galaxies, nebulae, and wandering stars. Here, he met an ancient cosmic entity who introduced himself as Orionis. Orionis told Edmund that he was the Guardian of the Cosmos. Moved by Edmund's curiosity and determination, Orionis decided to teach him the language of the cosmos. In time, Edmund learned how to decipher the rhythmic dance of celestial bodies and their profound meanings.
Armed with this extraordinary knowledge, Edmund returned to Asteria. Although the King’s men were waiting to arrest him, Edmund spoke boldly, detailing his learning from the cosmic realm. When his predictions about a coming drought proved true, the villagers began to believe in him. In spite of the King’s strict edicts, they started turning to Edmund for guidance who used his cosmic knowledge to help them survive hard times and lead better lives.
Miffed by Edmund’s growing popularity, the King ordered his arrest. However, a surprise awaited the king as he discovered that Edmund could predict his future accurately too. Astounded, the king succumbed to the undeniable power of cosmic knowledge and freed Edmund. He ordained Edmund as his royal advisor, lifting the ban on scientific curiosity.
From an ordinary dreamer, Edmund had become the beacon of hope in Asteria. The tale of our unassuming hero ends with the kingdom thriving under his wise supervision, the once distant mysteries of the cosmos now closely entwined in the destiny of Asteria.