Guardian of the Last Garden🔊

Once upon a time, in the farthest corner of our world, surrounded by a ring of mountains and a latticework of thorny brambles, lied the Last Garden - an Eden of sorts. The Last Garden was untouched by human hands, preserved in its natural state by its lone guardian, an old man known as Thaddeus.

Thaddeus was a curious figure, old and wrinkled, with a silvered beard that mirrored the snow-capped mountains surrounding the garden. He wasn't born as the guardian. Instead, on a fateful day, when he was still a boy, Thaddeus found himself lost, stumbled upon the garden, where he was chosen by the ancient spirits to protect it from mankind's destructive influence.

What intrigued Thaddeus the most about the garden was the Time Tree - a gigantic tree that stood at the very heart of the garden. The Time Tree bore golden leaves that, on falling, turned into small, delicate hourglasses, each carrying a different time, from a different world and epoch.

Time flowed differently in the Last Garden; days bled into nights, months into years, and yet, Thaddeus continued his watch faithfully, living far longer than any mortal ought to.

For years, he lived in solitude, his only companions being the diverse creatures, the rustle of leaves, the sweet songs of the birds, and the continuous ticking of the Time Tree. Thaddeus found solace in the garden, his heart twisting with the whims of mother nature, weathering storms, and bathing in sunlight.

However, the tranquility didn't last forever. One day, as Thaddeus was tending to the Time Tree, he felt a strange tremor. He looked around and saw a great army marching towards the garden. As the first platoon of men broke through the veil of brambles surrounding the garden, they stopped in awe of the sight before them. The golden leaves, vibrant flowers, and the ethereal beauty of the garden took their breath away.

Seeing the intruders in his sacred garden, Thaddeus stepped forward to face them. The army, led by a greedy king, aimed to harness the power of the Time Tree, hoping to manipulate time for his own end.

Thaddeus, rose to challenge them, declaring, 'This sanctuary is a repository of time and life. It must not fall into selfish hands.' An epic battle ensued. Thaddeus, aided by the spirits, fought valiantly, forcing the invaders back. However, there were too many. Just as he started faltering and it seemed all was lost, the Time Tree shed all its leaves at once.

The field froze with thousands of hourglasses embedded in the ground. The soldiers in the king's army found themselves entrapped in various moments in time, frozen in perpetuity. The final hourglass filled with sand was held by Thaddeus, representing the lost time of the Last Garden.

With the battle won, Thaddeus reclaimed his sanctuary. He declared to the frozen army, 'May this be a reminder that time is not for man to command.'

Thereafter, Thaddeus lived, no longer as a solitary guardian, but as a time-watcher against further invasions. He continued his vigil, preserving the sanctity of the Last Garden for generations to come. His story became a legend, an echo reminding humankind about the delicate relationship with nature - one not of domination but of coexistence.