The Prism of Time
Once upon a time in the kingdom of Shenando, nestled on the edge of the world, lived a benevolent ruler, King Ezra. He had one child, Princess Liana, who carried the strength of her father and the wisdom of her mother. Though she was admired for her beauty and intellect, what made Liana truly exceptional was her inherent ability to see time differently than others.
One fine spring morning, Princess Liana wandered to the forbidden part of the Shenando forest, where she encountered a curious structure that was unlike any she had seen before. It was an obelisk, standing tall amid the overgrowth, its surface gleaming ethereally. Engraved on it was an inscription that translated to 'The Prism of Time.'
Upon touching the obelisk, she found herself transported to the past. She saw her parents' wedding, her own birth, and events that had happened ten, twenty, and even hundreds of years old. She also saw her own future - her marriage, the birth of her children, and the passing of her father. Liana realized that with the obelisk, she could see every moment, past, present, and future.
The princess found herself visiting the obelisk often, grasping its power and using it to affect her kingdom positively. Famine and wars were avoided, happiness in her kingdom flourished, yet Princess Liana herself was miserable. Seeing how time would unfold disallowed her the pleasures of surprises, the thrill of uncertainty, the joy of achievements earned through hardships. She saw, loved ones die before their time. The more she used the obelisk, the more she realized that knowledge of the future could be a curse.
One day, Princess Liana proclaimed to her kingdom that she would journey and not return until she understood the true essence of time. Her king father did not understand, but he gave his blessing. She left Shenando, leaving behind her royal duties and the overpowering vision of the obelisk. On her journey, she interacted with many; mighty, lowly, learned, and naive. She saw how they lived in the moment, not knowing what the morrow would bring, but strived regardless. There was hope rather than despair at work here.
After years of traveling, she found herself at the home of a wise old oracle, who lived atop the snowy peaks of the Nyx mountains. The oracle saw the princess's quandary and smiled, 'The beauty of time lies not in its foreknowledge, but in its mystery,' she told Liana. 'By knowing the future, you lose the essence of the present, as the present becomes your past.'
The confirmation of her realization brought Princess Liana immense relief. She returned to Shenando and covered the obelisk forever. She taught her people about cherishing the present, preparing for the future but never trying to unravel it.
Princess Liana went on to rule Shenando after her father, leading it prosperously into its future. She remained a figure of strength and wisdom, a timeless reminder of the importance of living in the moment and embracing uncertainties.
The Prism of Time, even though covered, remains in the forbidden part of Shenando forest. It continues to tell tales about the princess who understood the true essence of time - a tale about not chasing the future but living in the present whole-heartedly