The Last Key Keeper🔊

There was an ancient city perched atop the steepest mountains in the world, secluded from the rest of civilization. The city was called Seraphton, named after the first key keeper, but its glorious splendor lay in a peculiar secret - the colossal Golden Door nestled in the city center. The city's lore whispered that the Golden Door hid an unrivaled treasure, and the only evidence supporting this claim was the fantastic prosperity the city enjoyed, despite its isolation. The keeper of the City's Golden Door held not just its key but the prosperity of the entire city in his hands.

The protagonist of our story, Abrax, was born and raised in Seraphton, adeptly maneuvering its narrow winding lanes and steep inclines like only a true native can. Abrax was a simple toymaker known for his intricate wooden carvings. Yet, despite his ordinary life, he bore an extraordinary destiny unbeknownst to him.

One windy afternoon, as the bells from the city's central tower chimed, there was a sharp knock on Abrax's door. When he opened it, an old man, haggard and out of breath, introduced himself as Calidon, the current Key Keeper. He appeared weary, with lines of worry etched deep into his face but his eyes held an urgent glint. 'I have been watching you, Abrax,' he said, a strange mix of urgency and calm etched in his voice ‘It is time to pass the key and its responsibilities.'

Abrax was confused. He was a toymaker, not a Kernel guard. But Calidon believed that the principles that made a good toymaker were the same that would make a good key Keeper aboard dedication, precision, and patience. After a prolonged sullen silence, Abrax hesitantly accepted the key, not quite understanding the gravity it entailed.

As Abrax became the Key Keeper and learned about the lore that surrounded his city and the golden door, he realized the keys' true significance. The golden door was not an object but a metaphor. Behind the door was a force field that kept the city hidden from the outside world, preserving its people and culture.

The following years turned Abrax's life into a solitude journey where he had to ensure the force field's stability. He no longer had the leisure to carve toys and became the shadowy protector of Seraphton. It was a taxing job that wore down even the resilient Abrax but his initial reluctance gave way to a sense of duty and pride, binding him to his role.

However, life in Seraphton started changing. The isolated city slowly began to reel under overpopulation. People now succeeded at climbing the treacherous mountains to infiltrate Seraphton, compromising the force field. The Golden Door was threatened.

One fateful evening, the force field fell into a dangerous fluctuation. With fear gnawing his heart, Abrax rushed to the city center. He inserted the key into the Golden Door, his trembling hands turning it with the same precision he once used to carve toys. The Door responded, and Abrax could feel its power thrumming at his fingertips, energy crackling around him.

He pushed the force field out, pouring all his will into restoring its strength. The minutes turned into hours, and Abrax felt his strength waning, but determination burned in his eyes. Finally, with a last maddening push, the force field stabilized. Abrax collapsed with a sigh, a weary smile on his face. He had saved his city.

The chill of dawn visited Seraphton as the Golden Door gleamed brightly under its first rays. The city found their Key Keeper slumped against the Door, forever locked in the tranquility of his eternal sleep. He had given up his life force to save the city.

Time passed, and Abrax was remembered as the epitome of selfless valor, the Key Keeper who held the city's well-being over his life. Seraphton remained the prosperous city, the golden light of the Golden Door its eternal beacon. Behind the Golden Door, the legend of the Last Key Keeper lived on.