The Lost City of Zanthia
A long time ago, nestled between the unyielding emerald and sapphire crests of the Shanara mountains, there existed the city of Zanthia. It was renowned for its rich and enchanting history. It was the only city that inhabited the arcane species known as the Zanths, famous for their extraordinary abilities and infinite wisdom.
The intriguing narrative of the city began with its founder, the intrepid King Dorace. He derived the city's name Zanthia after his beautiful wife Zanthia, who was known for her sage advice and extraordinary intelligence.
The Zanths were magical beings with remarkable powers. Their most astonishing ability was to make things grow instantaneously —from the tiniest seeds to the most splendid of trees, from intricate flowers to the grandest of edifices. Zanthia flourished under their watch, becoming a place of spiritual growth, astute knowledge, and thriving biodiversity.
The Shanara mountains protecting Zanthia were meant to keep the city's magic latent from the rest of the world. However, its prodigious wealth and prosperity attracted countless intruders. Attempting to conquer Zanthia to harness the magical powers of the Zanths.
To keep their city safe, King Dorace and his wise counselors devised an ingenious plan. Under a full moon, all the Zanths channeled their powers into one colossal spell, rendering the city invisible to outsiders. Meanwhile, they built a gigantic maze around the city, guarded by monstrous beasts and deadly traps, making it impossible to penetrate.
Zanthia thrived in secrecy for centuries, its existence slowly became a myth, no longer a real place, but a fable told to wide-eyed children. The outside world forgot about them, just as the Zanths had planned.
However, intrepid adventurers, blinded by the promise of endless riches, power, and eternal life swarmed Shanara Mountains, piece by piece, completing the intricate pattern and revealing a sliver of the once-great city tantalizing their hearts and dreams.
Among them, one young explorer named Elias, driven by curiosity and a pure heart, rather than greed, began his perilous journey into the belly of the Shanara mountains. Encouraged by the shared tales of fellow explorers, Elias ventured into the maze. Armed with his wit and courage, he overcame numerous perilous challenges, dodged vicious beasts, and navigated through the grueling maze.
Upon reaching the city, Elias was awe-struck by its majesty. The city was more splendid than any folktale he had ever heard. Its magic alive, strong, and absolutely breathtaking. Elias could only stare at the marvelous city that lay before his eyes. He was enveloped by an inherent peace, a strange sensation of having come home.
It wasn’t long before the Zanths discovered Elias. Their initial reaction was mistrust, but sensing his benign intentions and pure heart, they welcomed him. Elias spent several years amongst the Zanths, absorbing their teachings, wisdom, and the essence of their abilities.
The day arrived when Elias had to depart. He pledged to keep their secret and took an oath of silence. The Zanths, in honor of his decency and respect for their world, made him their ambassador in the external world, aiding humans but never revealing the city's location.
The Zanths believed that if one day virtue could dominate the human heart, their city need not hide. Laughter, love, and wisdom, the cornerstones of Zanthian magic, should be the world's nature.
Elias left the Zanths with a heavy heart, but he knew the knowledge he had acquired—about the magic of kindness, wisdom, and respect for nature—were treasures more precious than any material wealth. He returned to his world, where he used his knowledge to heal, teach, and spread love.
Thus the story of The Lost City of Zanthia—a story of magic, courage, wisdom, and the eternal struggle between greed and virtue—became a beacon of hope for a better world.