The Star In The Clouds
In a faraway land, hidden within the borders of the human reach, a kingdom sat nestled between the confluence of three rivers. This kingdom, known as Eberbalm, was a realm of incredible beauty. Its lush greenery, expansive mountains, and shimmering rivers portrayed an almost magical beauty.
King Regique, the ruler of the realm, was highly revered and loved by his people. He was known for his strong sense of justice, his sharp intellect, and his vast wisdom. However, King Regique was getting old. He had no children to pass on his crown to, and the kingdom grew gloomier as the king's health started to decline. There was an air of unease looming over the kingdom.
One day, King Regique, in his staggering frailty, had a vision of a great star, falling from the sky and vanishing in the depths of the largest of the three rivers. This vision was so vivid and stunning that it awakened the king from his decade-long sorrow. Instinctively, he gathered his courtiers and shared his rare vision.
The court astrologer listened intently and, after several hours of calculations, he deciphered the king's vision. 'It is a prophecy, my lord,' he announced with a gloomy face, 'The falling star you saw is not a real star, but a child. The depths of the river signify the depths of unexplored wonders. This child will be a blessing, a future king with the brilliance of a star.'
The king ordered every man in his kingdom to watch for this miraculous babe. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, with no sign of the prophesied child. Yet, hope remained, and it was this glimmer of hope that the fading king clung onto.
In the meantime, a humble fisherman and his wife resided on the banks of the great river. They lived a simple but difficult life. They were childless, and this had cast a pall of gloom on their otherwise serene lives. However, one fateful night, the fisherman heard an unusual splashing sound coming from the river. He immediately rushed to the source and was startled to see a tiny basket bobbing in the water. Inside was a beautiful baby boy with a birthmark shaped like a star on his forehead. Overjoyed, he took in the child as his own and named him Orion, signifying the constellation.
Orion grew up to be a remarkably intelligent and compassionate young man. His birthmark, a star on his forehead, served as a beacon, guiding him through the struggles of his life. Word of this humble youth, his intelligence and the star-shaped birthmark circulated through the kingdom, and one day, it reached King Regique's court. Curious to confirm if Orion was the child of the prophecy, the king summoned him. After several tests, the star-shaped birthmark confirmed Orion as the prophesied future king.
Orion, initially overwhelmed, accepted the king's offer. His humility and intelligence quickly won him the public's heart. The long-unanswered question of succession was pacified. The once fading flame of hope in the king's heart sparked again, healing his health, and making the kingdom joyful. Thus, Orion, the star of the prophecy, rose from the clouds to become a beacon of hope and the future king of Eberbalm.