The Forest of Illusions🔊

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far far away, there was a vast enchanted forest that grew just beyond the castle blue. This was no regular forest, it was known as the Forest of Illusions. It had the magical ability to change its appearance according to the deepest fears of the person who ventured into it.

The king of the kingdom, King Artherion, was a wise and brave ruler, highly respected by his subjects. The one unresolved issue that troubled him was the Forest of Illusions. He planned to forge a route through it to enable faster trade with the neighbouring kingdom. However, every knight he sent in would return terrified, recounting tales of monstrous creatures and deep chasms. Frustrated yet intrigued, the king decided to tackle the forest himself.

King Artherion was prepared to face his worst fear. What he wasn't prepared for, was the sight that met his eyes as he stepped into the mysterious realm of green and brown. Instead of a belligerent owlbear or a squad of goblins that he expected, he found himself standing on the battlefront from twenty years ago, facing a familiar enemy soldier, his brother.

His brother had turned rogue, building an army of his own to overthrow the kingdom. In the battle that ensued, his brother lost his life at Artherion’s hands. The forest was playing tricks on him, manifesting his guilt and his unresolved feelings about his brother's death.

He found his brother smirking at him, sword in hand. The illusion was so realistic it sent chills down Artherion's spine. But he knew he had to overcome his fear. He bravely stepped forward, armed with his sword and his willpower, ready to face his past.

The battle between the brothers was gruelling, echoing their past encounter. It was an emotional battle that made the King confront his guilt and remorse. After a long struggle, he finally managed to let go of his guilt.

Suddenly, the illusion faltered, his brother's form flickered and he vanished into thin air. The king looked around. The forest had returned to its normal state, a simple forest with the gentle rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds. His heart was lighter, he walked through the rest of the forest without encountering any other illusion.

When King Artherion emerged from the Forest of Illusions, he was not the same man who walked in. He was wiser, lighter, and had a newfound understanding of himself. He realised that sometimes the worst fears come not from the external world, but from within us.

He successfully built a route through the Forest of Illusions using the path he had followed, knighted 'Artherion's Path'. To pass through the forest, two things were needed: knowledge of one's deepest fear and the strength to overcome it.

Ever since that day, the Forest of Illusions lost its ominous reputation and turned into a rite of passage for knights seeking to prove their bravery. It stood as a testament to bravery and the power of personal battles, bearing witness to countless journeys of self-discovery and growth.

King Artherion lived to be a wise and just king, remembered for his bravery and his journey through the Forest of Illusions. The kingdom flourished under his reign and the trade route benefitted his people immensely.