The Archer and The Swift
Once upon a time, in a far-off village named Seras, nestled at the foot of a mountain range, lived a skilled archer named Leon. He was not the tallest nor the stoutest among the men, but he was respected for his rare talent in archery and his courage that set him apart. Years of practice had honed his skills so much so that he began to pride himself on never missing his mark. The village relied on him for their security and sustenance, and he basked in their praise and reverence.
His story began to change when a stranger, Swift, came to the village. Swift was a quiet, pleasant man who hailed from a distant land and intrigued everyone with his tales of adventure. He claimed to be a traveler, looking for shelter and food in exchange for his tales and minor chores. The villagers happily agreed, for his delightful stories made their evenings more interesting. Swift quickly became a part of the community and admired for his wisdom and experience.
One afternoon, while the men were practicing archery, Swift stepped forward and asked if he could participate. Leon, in his arrogance, laughed and permitted him, thinking the stranger stood no chance against his unparalleled skill. The villagers watched with bated breath as Swift notched his arrow, took aim, and let loose. The arrow whizzed through the air and lodged deeply into the bullseye. The entire village stood in awe, for no one had ever seen an arrow hit the bullseye so effortlessly.
Leon, now with a bruised ego, threw an open challenge to Swift, to meet him for a competition of archery three days hence. Swift graciously accepted. Preparations began in full swing, and the upcoming spectacle became the talk of the village. The ground was prepared, and the stage was set. The day of the competition arrived. Leon and Swift stepped onto the ground amid a flurry of whistles and cheers. The competition's rules were simple: both would aim for the bulls-eye in turns, and he who missed would lose.
The contest commenced. The first two rounds were a draw. Both demonstrated exceptional skill and precision. It was clear that Leon had met a worthy opponent in Swift. Yet, Leon was confident for he had saved his secret weapon for the last round. He had a special arrow, lighter and sharper than any other in his quiver, which he called his 'thunderbolt.' His belief was so strong in this arrow that he felt it would never miss its mark.
However, in the final round, the calculations went amiss. Swift shot first and scored a perfect bullseye. Pressure fell upon Leon. He took his thunderbolt, breathed deeply, took aim, and released it. The arrow swished through the air, seeming to travel unerringly towards the target - but at the last moment, it missed the bullseye by a hair's breadth.
The crowd gasped. Leon had lost. He stumbled back in disbelief. Swift won but showed no signs of triumph, only respect towards his opponent. Swift’s victory wasn't celebrated with dances and cheers, but thoughtful silence filled the air. That silence was a lesson for everyone: A reminder for Leon and others that overconfidence could be one's downfall.
After that competition, Swift left the village of Seras, leaving behind a story: A story that folks told their children, a humble tale of a stranger who taught their best archer, and them, a lesson in humility. Leon, once the pride of Seras, was humbled, but with time, he steeled his resolve and became a better man, a wiser protector and another story told in the village of Seras - a story about the fallible nature of all men, the dangers of hubris, and the redemption found in humility.
To this day, the legend of Leon and Swift is passed down from one generation to another, serving as an enduring reminder of the values of humility and wisdom in the face of pride and arrogance