The Quest of Vanishing Shadows
In an era long past, in the lush green kingdom of Aegle, ruled a king named Horace. A strong and fair king, he was admired for his wisdom and bravery. He had a daughter, Princess Adele, who was known for her beauty and kind heart. The princess had a peculiar gift, a touch that could heal any ailment. However, one day, Princess Adele’s gift had vanished. With no clues as to what happened, King Horace called upon the kingdom’s sorceress, Faye.
Faye was a divine creature, gifted with the talent of reading the cosmos and weaving magic. On examining the princess, she suggested, 'Her gift is not lost but trapped in her shadow. The magic used to do this is unknown to me, but the ancient scrolls of Thule mention the ‘Forgotten Woods’, home to the elusive 'Mother of Shadows'. You must seek her aid.'
Caught in despair, King Horace decided to offer a quest to every brave soul of Aegle, 'Whosoever brings back the princess’s gift will be rewarded with half of my kingdom and her hand in marriage.'
The quest was taken by many; knights, princes, thieves, all hoping to succeed and win the magnificent reward. Among them was a blacksmith's son, Zephyr, not driven by greed but the longing to ease his princess's suffering.
Zephyr, unlike others, didn’t rush towards the Forgotten Woods. Instead, he spent days studying the scrolls of Thule, trying to understand the magic that led to this catastrophe. One particular scroll mentioned a prophecy speaking about the 'vanishing shadows'. Intrigued and armed with new knowledge, Zephyr set his path to the Forgotten Woods.
The Forgotten Woods were known to be a labyrinth of illusions and despair. Many had entered, but few returned. Still, Zephyr ventured ahead. Days turned into nights, and what had to come, came. Trapped in illusions, Zephyr did lose hope but then remembered the prophecy, 'When lost, embrace the vanishing shadows and light will guide your way.' Puzzling at first, he then realized it meant to move against the shadows. From there, Zephyr devised his path, and finally, he found what he sought - 'The Mother of Shadows.'
The Mother of Shadows, an ethereal creature, was a manifestation of both darkness and light. Zephyr, with all his courage, shared with her the sorrow of Princess Adele. Moved by his determination and honesty, the Mother of Shadows revealed the truth. Princess Adele’s affectionate heart had upset a malevolent sorcerer, who spellbound her gift in her shadow, and only a pure-hearted person could break the spell.
Returning to Aegle, Zephyr found the kingdom, still in gloom. Zephyr was ridiculed for returning empty-handed. Undeterred by the mockery, he approached Princess Adele. With no possession of magical powers, he only carried his sincerity. In the presence of the king, the queen, and the kingdom, Zephyr extended his hand towards the princess's shadow and whispered, 'In you, lies the power.'
Miraculously, Princess Adele’s shadow began glowing and her gift returned. She healed her ailing father, King Horace, and the kingdom restored its joy. Zephyr was hailed as a hero, not for his bravery alone but for his heart that was the purest. Keeping his promise, King Horace offered him half of his kingdom and proposed his daughter's hand in marriage. However, Zephyr refused the kingdom and only accepted Princess Adele’s companionship. Thus, it was not the gift but love that healed a kingdom and aligned a destined pair.