The Forgotten City of Glass
Once upon an epic period, nestled deep within the colossal curtain of the Himalayas, there existed a city like no other. This place, known to few and even fewer who dared to unveil its secrets, was the city of Liyi - the Forgotten City of Glass.
Made entirely of incandescent glass that mirrored the bright hues of rainbow when kissed by the sun, the city of Liyi was no short of a spectacle. It was said to have been built by the ancient celestial beings and hidden from the mortal worlds behind the highest peaks of the Himalayas.
One day, a young shepherd who was the adopted son of a widowed woodcutter, named Rajan, set foot on a daring journey. He had heard tales of the glass city from his father, who insisted they were merely legendary, and aimed to prove him wrong.
Rajan had taken with him, a sword gifted by his father on his 16th birthday, a blanket and enough food for only a couple of days. He faced numerous trials and tribulations during his journey, yet his unwavering resolve never flickered. He spent days climbing unchartered paths, nights in caves echoed with odd noises, but the thought of discovering the mythical city kept him going.
When he finally reached the city, he felt his breath hitch in his chest. The city, indeed, was crafted from glass. The frosty air had well-preserved the city; the crystal-like homes were spotless, reflecting the azure sky above. The city was everything he had dreamed of, yet it was eerily quiet and seemingly untouched by time.
In the heart of the city stood a palace, its dome made of iridescent glass, shimmering like a celestial abode. He entered it, drawn irresistibly towards a faint voice singing melodious tunes. The heart-wrenching voice belonged to a maiden penned in a glass tower.
Princess Amara, the last of her race, was trapped in an eternal curse. She was shackled within the tower until a mortal willingly chose to take on her curse. Enchanted by her beauty and the sorrow in her eyes, without thinking twice, Rajan agreed to trade places with her.
The princess warned him about the painful transformation and the solitude he'd have to face, but Rajan, smitten by the gazelle-eyed girl, didn't falter. As he promised to accept the curse, they both were engulfed in a bright light. Once his vision cleared, he found himself alone, behind the glass walls.
Princess Amara thanked Rajan for his noble sacrifice and set off to the outer world. However, as she passed through the city gates, the city began to tremble. A massive, glimmering dragon ascended from the central palace, swooping down to the fleeing maiden.
But before the dragon could reach her, Rajan's glass tower cracked open. Suddenly, he was transformed into a magnificent, radiant dragon. The curse didn't bind him, it empowered him. The shepherd boy was not meant to be a prisoner; he was destined to be the protector of the city of Liyi.
The two dragons spiralled upward, their hefty roars reverberating through the mountains. An intense battle ensued and ended with Rajan’s victory. The aura of the city brightened as the defeated dragon diminished into thin air.
Rajan returned to his human form, held Adara in his arms, and looked into her eyes. The curse was broken, the city was alive, and the once forgotten real legend came into being.
In the end, Rajan chose to stay with Amara as the protector of the Forgotten City of Glass, the city that he had once dreamt to unveil. Their tale echoed throughout the mountains, generations weaved it into their folklore, but Rajan and Amara’s love story lived on, alight, within the heart of the city.