The Quest for The Crystal of Eternity
Once upon a time, in a kingdom far away, reigned a wise and just king named Leopold. King Leopold was renowned throughout the lands for his fairness and dedication to his subjects. It was not the wealth and power of royalty that fascinated him; rather, it was its potential to bring happiness and prosperity to his people.
In the third year of his reign, King Leopold discovered a frail, yellowed parchment while going through the ancient scrolls in the castle library. It was a map, barely legible due to time's wear, showing the location of
'The Crystal of Eternity', a mythical gem believed to grant eternal life to its possessor. Thinking about the endless possibilities, King Leopold became fascinated with the idea of attaining this Crystal.
The king gathered a group of his finest knights, scholars, and selected a lively, intelligent young man Will, a miner's son known for his courage and unique wisdom. Will did not possess the physical strength of a knight or the scholarly wisdom of the educated. Still, his unique combination of intuition, street-smart intelligence and bravery made him the ideal choice. So, along with the finest knights and scholars, Will became an unlikely member of this crucial quest.
Journeys to unknown territories were never smooth: it had dangerous beasts, perilous routes, and demonic entities obstructing their path at every step. They battled their way through thorny forests, crossed turbid rivers, and climbed massive mountains, facing every threat that came their way defiantly. Will's ingenuity shone particularly bright, often devising plans which not only saved them from imminent dangers but also helped overcome several challenging hurdles.
Finally, they reached the cavern where the crystal resided. However, crystal was guarded by a monstrous dragon, radiating heat like a ball of fire. Its mere presence filled the air with an ominous chill. The knights, strong but terrified, stepped back, but Will, despite being scared, stepped forward. He had observed that the dragon, despite its fierce appearance, had a melancholic look. Combining his instincts with reason, he approached the dragon not with a weapon, but with empathy.
Surprised by the human's courage, the dragon listened as Will spoke, 'Great creature, why do you seclude yourself in this desolation, guarding a gem while your world is out there?'
The dragon revealed that he was cursed to guard the crystal until someone brave enough could see past the beasts' terrifying exterior and converse heart to heart. Will's compassion broke the dragon's curse, who flew away, leaving behind the crystal.
Upon their return to the kingdom, they were hailed as heroes. But King Leopold, seeing the perils of eternal life disrupting the natural cycle of life and death, decided against using the crystal. Instead, he placed it as a monument, a symbol of their heroic journey and Will’s bravery and wisdom, reminding every generation about the simple power of empathy and courage.
Years later, the story of the miner's son, who became a hero, not by wielding a sword but by showing courage and kindness, became a legend, inspiring tales and songs, passed down generations.