The Paradise of Lost Shadows🔊

Once upon a time, in the mundane city of Greyville where no flowers bloomed and the sun rarely shone, there was a young boy named Peter with an extraordinary gift. He was blessed with the ability to see and converse with shadows, connect with them on a level no ordinary human could imagine.

From his infancy, Peter's closest friend was his own shadow, whom he named 'Midnight'. They shared endless conversations, breaking the boundaries between daylight and darkness, and right before the stroke of midnight, his shadow would tell him stories from a place called 'The Paradise of Lost Shadows'.

One day, Peter pled, 'Midnight, I wish to see this paradise. Can I?' Midnight paused and solemnly revealed, 'Peter, to reach that place, you must lose your shadow. That's a price you might not want to pay.' Peter's eyes glazed with determination, he implored, scribing his fate.

The next morning, Greyville was darker than ever, and Peter woke up to find his shadow missing. Panic set Heartovan trembling, but there was a letter on his bedside table, which read, 'Seek the neon-daisy in the Grim woods to the north, there you will find the first clue to the Paradise'.

Unfazed by the grim tales of the Grim woods, he embarked on his journey. After days of meandering through the woods, he came across the field of neon-daisies. Millions of them, glowing in the dark, a sight to behold! In the center was one lure-lit daisy, on its petals was inscribed, 'The second clue lies with the silver-fish in Leaden Sea.'

Heading east towards the Leaden Sea, Peter treaded with resilience. The waves were monstrous, hurling themselves ferociously at the shore and amidst the tumultuous sea, he saw a silver-fish leaping over the waves. Battling the fury of the waves, Peter finally managed to reach the silver-fish who divulged a riddle, 'To reach paradise, south you must ride, to a place where the sun & rain coincide, there lies a door to the other side.'

Peter journeyed south to the lands of seldom sunshine and rare showers, and on a fortunate day when the sun and rain danced together, he saw a rainbow form, leading to a hidden door. Without second thoughts, Peter followed the rainbow-path and miraculously stepped into an unparalleled realm.

The Paradise of Lost Shadows was a land where darkness shimmered and light whispered melodious tunes. Shadows roamed free, casting their luminous aura. A sense of calmness instantly washed over him, this was the realm of peace his shadow spoke of. He immediately spotted Midnight who greeted him with cheer, 'Peter! You braved many challenges, embodying courage and hope, to restore vibrancy to this Paradise. Your journey moved shadows from all over, reigniting their light. To honor you, I return your shadow, for you deserve to live in both worlds.'

Upon his return, his exceptional story stirred Greyville. The town, once known for its monotony, began bubbling with vibrancy. Intriguingly, neon-daisies sprouted, leaping silver-fishes could be spotted in the river stream, and sometimes, when the sun and rain made merry, rainbows would form. Greyville was no longer grey.

Peter's audacious journey transformed not only his life but also inspired an entire city. The Paradise of Lost Shadows was no longer a myth but a beacon of hope. Peter remained the exceptional boy who danced between light and shadow, living the extraordinary in the heart of the ordinary.