The Last Song of Hope
Once upon a time, in the magical kingdom of Amarilia, blessed with bountiful rivers, high mountain peaks, and lush green forests, everything was in perfect harmony, or so it appeared on the surface. Spectacular castles glittered under the radiant sun, the fields were alive with abundance, and laughter was the universal language. Ruling this kingdom was King Arlind, the fair, noble, and loved by all due to his compassion and wisdom. He was a beacon of hope, a promise of prosperity and enduring peace. However, a darkness was looming.
Complete calamity struck when King Arlind fell into a deep mysterious sleep, from which he couldn’t awaken. The kingdom was smeared in gloom. Royal doctors, wizards, and alchemists tried their best but their attempts yielded no results. They found out that the king is trapped in his own dreams by an ancient curse.
Rumors spread of a prophecy—a prophecy that said only the ‘purest voice of the kingdom could awaken the King.' This voice had to sing the 'Song of Hope' at the dawn of the fifth day after the Solstice Moon. Failing to do so, King Arlind would be lost in his dreamworld.
With the Solstice Moon approaching, festivities once filled with joy became eerily quiet. Princess Adelina, King Arlind's only child, was thoughtful. Her eyes, filled with determination and resolve, started her quest to find the 'Purest Voice'.
The first voice she heard was that of the Royal Bard, a voice trained for years to sing the kingdom's praises. But its refined tone conveyed ego and pride and lacked the purity of emotion, thus could not be the one to awaken the King.
Next, she heard the soft whispering of the monks up in the mountains. Their voice exuded peace and tranquility but lacked the warmth of human emotions, the essence of purity, thus was ineligible.
Adelina was on the brink of losing hope. Four days had passed and the Solstice Moon was at its peak. On her way back to the castle, she heard a feather-light lullaby wafting from a hut. She followed the sound to find a simple village woman singing her child to sleep. Her voice echoed the profound love for her child and the hopes for his well-being—a voice pure in its most raw and potent form.
Overwhelmed, Adelina reached out to the woman and explained her circumstances. The woman being of a kind heart agreed without hesitation. She was led to the king's chambers where she cradled her child and began to sing the 'Song of Hope' under the first rays of dawn.
As her lullaby echoed around the room, something magical happened. The air shimmered, the gloom receded, and a ray of intense light appeared and touched King Arlind. With the song's echoing notes, he stirred and eventually opened his eyes. The pure power of a mother's love, resonated in her voice, had broken the ancient curse.
The kingdom erupted in cheers, but the joy brought balance to Amarilia. The humble village woman returned to her usual life, her voice still carrying the weight of the miracle she performed—the purest melody, the embodiment of hope.
The story of Princess Adelina’s quest, the humble village woman, and the enchanted kingdom passed down generations, teaching the importance of purity, resilience, hope, and a mother’s undying love.