The Legend of Arthur: Trial of Virtues
Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away, there lived a king named Alfred. King Alfred was loved and respected by everyone in his kingdom. He was known for his wisdom and kindness, however, he was exceptionally sad as he was childless for long. His greatest desire was to have an heir who could take care of his kingdom after him. Alfred and his queen, Amy, prayed constantly but their pleas remained unanswered.
In the neighboring kingdom, there was a witch named Morgana, who was known for her deep knowledge of magic and power to weave miracles. The king and queen heard about Morgana and hoped against hope that magic might do what all prayers could not. After much thought, King Alfred decided to invite Morgana to his castle.
Morgana agreed to help them, but there was a condition. She requested that on the child's sixteenth birthday, he must spend one day with her. Hesitant and desperate, the royal couple agreed. Not long after, the queen gave birth to a handsome baby boy named Arthur.
Arthur was the apple of everyone’s eye and loved dearly. As he grew, he showed great signs of intelligence and courage. His parents were proud of his rapidly developing abilities but were also constantly worried about the curse from Morgana. Despite trying their best to defy the inevitable, Arthur's sixteenth birthday arrived, and so did Morgana.
Morgana took Arthur with her on his sixteenth birthday. After crossing dense forests and high mountains, they reached a secluded grove hidden from human eyes. There, in the center, was a stone with a sword embedded in it. Morgana informed Arthur that if he could pull the sword, he would be proved as the true king. But she warned, it required true courage, kindness, and wisdom.
Arthur stood there, in front of the sword. He had witnessed his father’s wisdom, his mother’s kindness, and had showed courage time and time again. As he grabbed the hilt and prepared to pull, he could feel the pressure, the testing gaze of Morgana, but most of all, the weight of his parents' hopes.
He pulled the sword with all his might. The grounds shook, the heavens thundered and miraculously, the sword came out! With a smile, Morgana told Arthur that he had successfully completed the trial and was indeed a worthy king. She disappeared, leaving Arthur with a sense of fulfillment and a newfound determination of being a just king like his father.
In all this, everyone learned a vital truth - magic or no magic, it's one's virtues that define them. Arthur's story spread around all the kingdoms, people sang songs praising his courage, wisdom, and kindness. He became an inspiration for many and up to this day, the legend of Arthur and his magical trial is told and retold, serving as a beacon of hope and strength.
In time, Arthur grew up to be a greater king than his father, enforcing justice and peace in the kingdom. The joy of his parents knew no bounds. His story was a living testament that one's character truly shapes their destiny - and that was the most potent magic they had encountered.