The Retired Librarian and The Tale of Lost Times
Once upon a time in the city of Maralia, in a petite brick house lived a melancholic old man, Albert. Albert was a retired librarian, who lived all by himself. He had never married, and his life revolved around his library and books. He was the walking-talking encyclopedia of Maralia, a man of profound knowledge and wisdom.
The old man had a whimsical routine; he used to wake up at sunrise, make a cup of strong coffee, walk to his beloved library, browsing through books and losing himself in the captivating world of literature. He was well-known and respected in the town for his intellect, yet silence was his preferred language.
One day, while sipping his coffee, he found an unfamiliar book at his doorstep, 'The Tale of Lost Times'. Intrigued, he picked it up, and the door to a secret realm opened. The book was no ordinary tome but a passage to another world, filled with legendary creatures and magical elements.
The book took him to the land of Ethosia where he met a benevolent dragon named Zephyr and a wise sphinx named Hermion. He learned that Ethosia was in dire need of help as the evil sorcerer named Morosus had captured their time crystal. The crystal was a symbol of the continuity of time in Ethosia. Due to its absence, Ethosia was stuck in a perpetual loop, day and night lost their meaning, and the inhabitants lived in continuous despair.
Albert's reticence turned into courage; he desired to help the magical creatures of Ethosia. Guided by Zephyr and Hermion, he devised a plan to sneak into the dark castle of Morosus to retrieve the time crystal. The castle was a labyrinth situated atop the Hailstorm Mountain. But Albert had his strongest armors - wisdom and experience.
On the D-day, Albert, Zephyr, and Hermion embarked on their treacherous journey. They navigated through dense forests, steep cliffs, and eventually reached the menacing castle. They stealthily entered. As they explored the castle, they encountered numerous tricks and traps set up by Morosus. But overcoming each hurdle, slowly and steadily, they were approaching the chamber where the time crystal was kept.
As they reached, they found Morosus guarding the crystal. A battle was inevitable. With Albert's quick thinking, Zephyr's mighty fire, and Hermion's enigmatic riddles, they managed to confuse and defeat Morosus, restoring the time crystal back to its rightful place.
The moment the time crystal was put back, Ethosia dawned into day, and dusk fell into night. The lives of Ethosians were restored to normalcy, and they celebrated their freedom with great enthusiasm. A grand feast was organized where beverages flowed and music echoed. Albert was hailed as the hero of Ethosia and given the title of 'The Time Savior'.
As the celebrations settled, Albert felt a pull towards his home, his normality. The book brought him back to his petite house in Maralia. As he opened his eyes, the magical land faded like a dream. The town clock struck 6 AM. Unwilling to believe it was a mere dream, he started his day, wondering if it was real or Illusory. Albert was no more a gloomy man but a retired librarian with an intriguing secret life, filled with cheerfulness and hope.
From then on, whenever Albert felt the monotony of his life creeping in, he would open 'The Tale of Lost Times' and step into Ethosia, the land where he was not an old man but a hero, a savior.