The Painter of Tangala
Once upon a time, in a small city named Tangala, lived an old man named Daku. Tangala was famous for its simplicity and artistic culture. Plying his trade, Daku was a unique painter, known for his capability to bring inanimate objects to life with his paintings. Despite his outstanding gift, he lived a life of insignificance and meagerness. His art was not understood by the ordinary citizens of Tangala, and Daku, disheartened, was on the brink of giving up his passion.
One day, a young woman named Lyra wandered into Daku’s unauthorized display corner in the city square. Lyra, unlike others, was entranced by one particular painting of a ring. The splashes of colours and blend of emotions radiating from that canvas stole her heart. She felt inexplicably drawn to the allure of Daku's art. Lost in the depths of the painted ring, she failed to notice the arrival of Daku himself, who was delighted to see her admiration for his designs.
Daku broke his resolve of silence, and they started conversing about the paintings. He decided to reveal his secret gift to Lyra, which no one had known about before. He touched one of his paintings, a fiery red apple, and it magically morphed into a real, juicy apple. Startled and mesmerized, Lyra was overwhelmed by this supernatural phenomenon. Daku confided in her about his fear of being perceived as a wizard or sorcerer, but Lyra, astonished and thrilled, persuaded him to share his incredible talent with the world.
The next day, with Lyra’s encouragement, Daku decided to exhibit his talent in the city square. As he performed his artistic miracles, transforming painted grapes into real ones, or making a flower blossom from a framed canvas, the crowd watched in awe. Slowly, word about his unique skill spread throughout Tangala, and Daku became an overnight sensation.
People from neighbouring cities started visiting Tangala, interested in the old painter's marvelous masterpieces. Tangala prospered as never before. However, this also attracted the attention of the sinister Prince Mordo, from a neighbouring kingdom. Prince Mordo was known for his insatiable thirst for power and rare arts. When he learned about Daku's spectacular talent, he plotted to seize it for himself.
One dark night, Prince Mordo's guards kidnapped Daku, compelling him to paint golden treasures and invaluable jewels. However, Daku, a humble and honest man, refused to misuse his art for personal gains or to feed someone's greed. As a consequence, he was imprisoned and starved.
Back in Tangala, people became alarmed at Daku's sudden disappearance, and Lyra led the rescue mission. Through her relentless investigation, she discovered Prince Mordo's evil conspiracy. Gathering the men and women of Tangala, she devised a plan to rescue Daku. Lyra, being a skilful archer, and the bravest of the bunch, infiltrated the enemy's castle, and after a fierce battle against Mordo's guards, they successfully freed Daku.
Upon their return, Daku decided to share his knowledge with the people of Tangala. He didn't want his art to die with him or to witness the potential of it being misused like it almost had been in Mordo's hands. As he started teaching, the city grew in creativity and prosperity, marking a new chapter of growth. Thanks to Lyra's courage, and Daku's rare abilities, Tangala became known as the city of living art, forever cherished and respected across lands far and wide.