The Legend of the Forgotten Sea🔊

Once upon a time, in the distant city of Nauticas, perched perfectly on the edge of the giant Bosporus Sea, lived a ship-maker named Fergus. Fergus was no ordinary craftsman. His ships weren't made from wood, nails, or cloth, but from destiny, belief, and magic, woven together like an intricate tapestry of dreams and possibilities. Yet, his eccentricity and his unique creations were feared and scorned by the Nautican populace, leading him to lead a life of isolation.

While the sun adorned the city with its bright rays, Fergus worked discreetly in his rundown workshop – the erstwhile boathouse of a long-gone sailor – making ships from the stories the wind whispered to him when it danced over the mighty Bosporus. Every ship had an identity of its own. Some were kingly, towering high and covered with emerald sails. Others were dainty as a lily, gliding over the water, leaving a trail of glitters. Each ship held a story – tales of brave sailors, heartbroken mermaids, or cruel pirates.

One day, as he deciphered stories from the gales of a storm, a new tale swirled around him brought in by the savage winds of the sea. It was the legend of the Forgotten Sea, a mystical place where time danced in circles, and a giant beast guarded an immense treasure hidden within its depths. Plunged under the spell of this lore, Fergus started crafting a ship that could lead its sailor to the enigmatic sea.

The vessel he created was a marvel – gold-burnished hull reflecting sunbeams in an array of colors, violet sails fluttering boldly against the wind, and an ebony mast standing upright, like a sentinel in the night. Months of toil and thought resulted in 'Aquila', a ship destined for an attempt to find the elusive Forgotten Sea. But alas, the task remained – the ship was still unsailed.

Among those who spurned Fergus lived a boy named Islas, poor and dreamy, with eyes that held more stars than the night sky. A boy who saw beyond Fergus’s eccentricities and believed in his magic. When Fergus told Islas about Aquila and the Forgotten Sea's legend, his heart swelled with curiosity and courage. He offered to sail Aquila, and so it was decided. Islas would sail and find this metaphysical wonder.

On the day of departure, the citizens of Nauticas gathered, not out of reverence but sneering curiosity, to see this impossible journey commence. But the scorn of the world did nothing to this duo ignited by a shared dream. Fergus and Islas bid each other farewell, a lonely shipmaker and a brave boy entering the unknown sea – a sight that would later become a legend.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Every night, Fergus would stand on the shore, staring at the melancholy, infinite sea, praying for Islas's safe return. Despite the growing fear, the city waited for its testament of belief, or ridicule, depending on who you'd ask. Until one day, in the distant horizon, an alien silhouette appeared, sailing towards the city. It was Aquila, glowing under the clear sky, and at its helm stood Islas, victorious and unharmed.

As Aquila entered the harbor, the city fell silent, their jeering faces replaced by gaping mouths, their slandering voices lost in the wind. Islas, with his head held high, emptied his sack in front of the dumbfounded crowd. Pearls, as translucent as dewdrops, spilled out, glistening, scattering rays across the harbor. Surely, they were treasures from the Forgotten Sea!

And just like that, the legend lived up to its promise. The city that once spurned Fergus and Islas granted them heroism. The Lonely Ship-Maker and the Star-Eyed Boy became sages of the sea, their story echoing in every wave and gust of wind.

To this day, the story goes...that once a year, the Bosporus Sea shines under the moon in brilliant colors, a silent commemoration of a tale that dared to defy conventional wisdom to seek out and capture the impossible – the Forgotten Sea.