The Mountain's Wisdom
It begins, as so many tales do, in a land of hardship and beauty, a place called Shepherd’s Hollow. A place where promises of adventure and hardships run as deep as the valley where it lies.
Shepherd’s Hollow was nestled in between the towering mountains, veiled under the emerald green carpet of trees. Its beauty was a well-kept secret, known to those who chose to endure her solitude. The only inhabitants were shepherds, their flock of wooly companions, and the tales and songs that echoed among the ancient stones.
The apple of our tale is an unlikely hero, a shepherd boy named Milo. Shy with a heart riddled with holes of curiosity, he had been an orphan since a baby, found wrapped in a woolen shawl abandoned at the entrance of the village.
Milo was always tuned into the whispers and stories floating through the village. He was fascinated with the stories of the great mountain, as the edifice on the edge of their village was called. It has remained unconquered, a mysterious terrain haunted by ancient tales.
Aged 16, his heart ached for a taste of the tapeworm of adventure. So, armed with nothing but a staff, a worn-out map left by an eccentric explorer a long time ago, and a heart fulled with courage, Milo decided to do the unthinkable, to climb the great mountain.
The villagers of Shepherd’s Hollow gasped at the absurdity of it. Yet, it was not the first implausible thing that Milo had done. He was known as a stubborn boy who did things his own way.
Milo began his strenuous journey with uneven steps, he stumbled, he fell, but he kept persisting. Blisters creased his feet, and every inch of his body screamed for respite, but he plowed on.
A week into the climb, Milo ran into a raveled old man perched on a stone. The stranger called himself 'Faolan', claimed to be a climber who had been trying to conquer the mountain for years, but the mountain kept him captive. He mumbled of treasures hidden deep within the mountain as well as a wrathful curse.
Faolan agreed to join Milo on his quest and be his guide. The aging man's tales about a curse heightened Milo's spirit, he was undeterred by the challenge. Together they braved the cursed path filled with treacherous crevices, biting wind, and howling storms.
Somewhere amidst the trials of fire and ice, Milo found wisdom. Faolan taught him to appreciate the mountain, the mystery, and what it stood for. Milo learned the language of the winds, the stories hidden in the crevices and to respect the mountain, every stone, every ruffle of the wind.
On a stormy night, they reached upon a cave entrance adorned with ancient carvings. Faolan whispered that this was the heart of the mountain where the hidden treasure promised power beyond anyone’s wildest imaginations. Milo’s heart raced as he stepped inside the cave, unsure of what awaited him.
As his foot touched the cold stone inside, his eyes laid on a remarkable sight. It wasn't gold, silver, gems that astounded him, but a library carved within the mountain heart with endless rows of books, scrolls, and documents. There was a pool of blue fire illuminating the carved ceiling with glowing constellations.
Milo realized that the true treasure was not material wealth but knowledge-the wisdom of the mountain, stored and preserved for thousands of years. He also learned the curse Faolan mentioned was a protective spell that encased the library, allowing only the pure of intent to enter.
Milo and Faolan returned to Shepherd's Hollow. They did not bring back chests of gold as villagers expected but tales of a magnificent library and wisdom beyond anyone's imagination.
Milo devoted the rest of his life sharing what he learned from that hidden mountain library, enriching Shepherd's Hollow with wisdom and knowledge. As for the mountain, it stayed untamed and unconquered, hiding its treasures waiting for the next worthy adventurer.