The Enchanted Forest of Silencio
Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Serenity, lay an enchanted forest named 'Silencio'. This forest was unlike any other, for it was rumoured that whoever traversed it could hear nothing but silence. No bird sang, no insect chirped, and whispers of wind through the trees were eerily non-existent. Hence, the forest drew its unique name due to its complete absence of sound.
King Albanus of Serenity was a just and fair king. He ruled his kingdom with grace, always showing wisdom beyond his years. However, the enchanted forest of Silencio troubled him greatly. His ancestors had warned him never to enter, yet curiosity twinkled in the king's heart. He made a royal proclamation, promising a hefty reward to anyone who could venture through the forest and return safely, describing its unheard wonders.
Many brave knights attempted the quest, but none managed to return. The families of the missing knights lamented their fate, filling the kingdom with sorrow. Yet, hope bloomed in the heart of a humble shepherd, named Oscar.
Oscar was as ordinary as one could get, living with his mother and tending sheep. He possessed no skills of a trained warrior, but his heart swelled with courage and determination. Despite his mother's pleas, Oscar decided to undertake the lethal journey through the enchanted forest of Silencio.
Armed with just a shepherd's staff, some bread, and cheese, Oscar stepped into the forest. The silence was indeed deafening. The usual comforting chirping of his flittering companions or the slight rustle of the leaves in the wind, which he took for granted, were replaced by an oppressive silence. The deeper he went, the stronger the silence, like an unseen force, pulling him into a vacuum.
Days turned into nights and back into days again. The feeling of isolation and bewilderment began creeping into Oscar's soul. However, he persisted, marking his path, and taking firm steps into the unknown. As days became weeks, Oscar discovered something unusual. He started to hear the forest. Not through familiar sounds, but through a language unknown to man. It was the language of the universe that seeped through the silence.
The whisper of the leaves told stories of the dead knights, the grinding stones spoke of the forest's age, the crunching grass beneath his feet hinted at the forest creatures' dramas, and so on. The forest of Silencio was not silent but simply spoke a language unheard before.
Mid-way through his journey, Oscar happened upon an ancient stone tablet nestled among the sturdy roots of an age-old tree. Written in the same forgotten language the forest spoke. By now, Oscar had learnt to listen to the silence, understand the unique signs.
Decoding the tablet, he discovered that the forest of Silencio was a guardian, protecting an ancient evil entity from reaching the outer world. The knights, with their hardened hearts and deafened minds, never understood the forest’s message. Their stubborn quest for glory had led to their grim fate.
Filled with newfound respect and terror, Oscar decided to retreat. The kingdom needs to understand, he thought, the forest was not a challenge to be conquered but a silent guardian.
Upon his return, Oscar, the shepherd boy, was hailed as a hero. He explained to King Albanus the truth about the enchanted forest of Silencio. The king, twilight tears welling in his eyes, ordered immediate withdrawal of the reward proclamation and decreed the forest as sacred, pardoned from human intervention.
As the years passed, King Albanus honoured Oscar's courageous journey by erecting a statue of him at the edge of Silencio. And from that point forward, whenever travellers passed the forest, they paused, admired the statue, and praised the tale of Oscar and the Enchanted Forest of Silencio.