In the Valley of Time
Once upon a time, nestled at the heart of the Himalayas was a valley, forever shrouded with an ethereal mist, hence named Karma Valley. The people of Karma Valley had a unique folklore. They believed that time was a flexible element and could be manipulated, a gift from the celestial gods. The central tale revolved around a timeless temple said to exist at the highest point in the valley.
In Karma Valley lived a young curate, Samarth. He was kind-hearted, diligent, and devoted to the welfare of all beings. Samarth had an insatiable curiosity about the age-old legends of his homeland, especially the timeless temple's tale. It bewitched him to the extent that he decided to scale the mountains to unravel the truth for himself.
The journey was far from easy. It required crossing treacherous terrains, freezing cold, and lethal wildlife. Samarth, adorned with his undying determination, started his ascend towards the mystical temple. Weeks turned into months, the harsh journey was a test of Samarth’s courage and will. Despite the weight of extreme conditions, Samarth did not falter. He climbed, maintaining his faith in the divinity of his mission.
Finally, one frosty morning, with the first rays of the sun shimmering over the colossal mountains, he reached the top. Ahead lay a quaint temple, partially hidden by a swirling lace of mist, imbued with an otherworldly glow. Elated, Samarth stepped inside and was greeted by an elderly sage, the 'Guardian of Time.' Without any preamble, Samarth asked his burning question – 'Can time truly be manipulated here?'
The sage, unblinking, pointed towards a giant hourglass resting at the heart of the temple. 'This is Dharam, the Timekeeper. One flip, and you leap forward in time. But, remember, time is impartial, it provides neither a correction facility nor an undo button. Use it wisely,' narrated the sage, his voice echoed in the vast chamber.
Samarth, thoughtful, returned to his village. He took it upon himself to use the time-altering ability for the betterment of his people. Whenever a calamity struck, he would climb to the temple, flip Dharam, jump forth in time, and returned after the catastrophe subsided. He helped his people leapfrog over harsh winters, pestilence, and crop-failures. Years passed by, and Samarth's name echoed with reverence in Karma Valley.
One day, a horrible plague descended, its wrath unbeknownst to the people of Karma Valley. The affliction spread like wildfire. Samarth hurried to Dharam and leaped a year ahead, hoping that the plague would have subsided. To his shock, the pandemic had only grown in intensity.
Not able to bear the suffering of his people, Samarth decided to make another leap. This time, he aimed for a leap of five years but unfortunately landed in a time where human existence in Karma Valley had ceased. Everything he held dear was reduced to ash, nature reclaiming its territory. Samarth fell to his knees, helpless and despondent.
He retraced his steps to the timeless temple, his heart heavy with guilt and eyes welled with tears. Arriving at the temple, he pleaded for a chance to undo his mistake. The sage looked at Samarth and gravely shook his head. 'All actions have consequences, and time waits for none. It’s the supreme power of nature. One must endure, persevere, and fight rather than trying to bypass the hardships,' the sage advised.
Samarth, burdened with regret and wisdom too late, understood the true meaning of the sage's words. Time was not meant to be tampered with but cherished, lived, and learned from. He was now the lone courier of humanity's existence, a tale to be told when enlightened beings pass by the echoes of what once was known as Karma Valley.