Lost City of the Sun
Once upon a time, in the ancient world, there existed a kingdom shrouded in beauty and mystery. Legends spoke of its grandeur, a place where the sun kissed the earth every dawn, blanketing it in golden hues. This was Atzlan, the city of gold, the lost city of the sun.
King Adom, a wise and noble ruler, was the guardian of this glorious city. King Adom was well-loved by his people, for he was impervious to the allures of power, and immersed in maintaining the peace and prosperity of his kingdom.
Atzlan was a city unlike any other—the walls that circumscribed it glittered with gold, and the streets were adorned with gems of every kind. Its greatest treasure, however, lied at the heart of the city - a towering temple, adorned with resplendent jewels, where the Sunstone was housed.
The Sunstone was no ordinary gem. It was a celestial artifact that bore the power of the sun. According to legend, it was gifted to King Adom's ancestors by the sun god Apollus himself, to protect Atzlan. Under its influence, the city flourished, and its people thrived.
Despite its utopian appearance, Atzlan wasn't devoid of turbulence. The neighboring ruler, King Zosimus, coveted the Sunstone and its celestial power. Overcome by avarice and ambition, Zosimus assembled an army to invade Atzlan.
One ominous night, a sentinel appeared before King Adom, bearing news of Zosimus's approaching army. Grim but undeterred, King Adom convened his council.
'We are the guardians of the Sunstone, and we will protect it till our last breath,' King Adom declared, his eyes burning with determination. His council echoed his sentiment, vowing to defend Atzlan from the impending peril.
The battle began on a cold, misty dawn, as an enormous army emerged from the fog, their armor glinting menacingly under the weak morning sun. King Zosimus, himself at the helm, seeking victory.
King Adom's army was smaller, but the brave warriors fought with the noble aim to protect their city, their homes. The sky was soon filled with the sounds of clashing swords, and the air tinged with the acrid smell of smoke.
In the midst of the terrifying combat, King Adom confronted King Zosimus. Their swords clashed in a ferocious dance of death, each warrior aiming to bring the other to his knees. King Adom, however, was imbued with the strength and courage of his people's faith in him. With one final thrust, he defeated Zosimus, offering a resounding victory to Atzlan.
Despite the victory, King Adom was gravely injured. He knew his end was near. On his deathbed, he summoned his council, entrusting them with the protection of the Sunstone. With his last breath, he made them swear to keep Atzlan forever safe and prosperous.
The council, heartbroken yet resolved, vowed to honour their deceased King's wish. They hid the Sunstone in the deepest bowels of the temple, concealed from prying eyes. In time, the city of Atzlan faded into obscurity, becoming a tale told across generations, a legend lost in time.
Today, Atzlan is no longer found in maps or manuscripts, but it rests in the hearts of those who still believe in its existence. The city continues to live, in the guise of warmth on a cold day, in the brilliance of a golden dawn. It exists as the Lost City of the Sun, a symbol of unyielding courage and profound love, waiting for its tales to be discovered anew.