The Forgotten Woods🔊

A young man named Sam lived in a small, uneventful village of Parmount. Life was pretty mundane until he found a map in the attic of his forbear's house. The old, torn parchment hinted towards the Forgotten Woods, the mystical forest that the elders of his village always spoke warily about.

Curiosity piqued and gnawing intensely at him, Sam decided to explore what lay beyond. The villagers cautioned him. The roads were perilous, the creatures of the night unsympathetic. Not one to be deterred, Sam began his otherworldly endeavor at dawn.

The Forgotten Woods were shrouded in perpetual twilight. The trees towered ominously over him, veiling the path ahead in shadow. Sam was humbled by the pitiless gaze of nature. Armed with a rusty sword and an undying spirit of adventure, he treaded softly, listening to the whispers the forest breathed out.

Legend had it that the woods were home to an ancient wizard, Merlin. With magical prowess that bound mortal comprehension, Merlin was said to have disappeared hundreds of years ago, casting a haunting veil over the woods. Sam's fascination with this legend far overpowered his fear. On a moonlit night, he stumbled upon the remains of a castle, crumbling with the weight of its own stories. The air sparked with residues of arcane magic and the wizard's presence seemed far from historical.

Engraved in a worn-out tombstone nearby, he read a riddle. 'He who seeks, yet does not see, holds the key to set me free'. Intrigued, Sam set to solve the riddle. After tracing his steps back and forth, an epiphany struck. The phrase was literal, the seeker was himself, but the ability to see beyond the visible was what he lacked.

Venturing deeper within the castle, he found a magical mirror. He stared into it, not just at his reflection but moreover what lay beyond. In the mirror's depth, he saw an aged, kind-eyed man, trapped. It was Merlin, just as the legends portrayed. Nothing separated them but the gossamer veil of the enchantment. It dawned upon Sam; the riddle meant stowing away his initial skepticism and embracing the mystical.

With courage burning brightly in his chest, he recited words etched onto the mirror's frame. 'We seek the lost, yet unseen. Release him from the in-between'. His surroundings buzzed with unleased energy, the castle's walls trembled and the mirror shattered, leaving behind a bewildered but unscathed wizard.

Merlin looked upon Sam with gratitude, 'Your courage and wisdom have freed me from this century-long curse. In return for your brave act, I grant you one wish.' Sam, who was awed by the turn of events, asked for nothing more than his village's safety and prosperity. Merlin, impressed by his selflessness, granted his wish, bringing forth an era of prosperity within Parmount.

On his triumphant return, greeted by his jubilant kin, Sam realized he was not the same man who had started the journey. His eyes twinkled with newfound wisdom and his heart hummed the songs of courage. His tale spread far and wide, inspiring many and Sam himself lived a life of contentment, proud of the storm he had weathered.

Sometimes, the forgotten corners of the world hold the keys to the grandest adventures, and only the bravest ones dare to uncover them. In our own way, we all are destined for a quest. It's only a matter of when the journey begins, leaving us forever transformed.