The Tale of Orphius and the Forgotten Realm
Orphius was not your typical boy. Born in the quaint village of Beninville, his abilities differed greatly from the common folk. The Elders continually described him as, 'The one walking in two worlds.' As Orphius hit his teenage years, he understood the true meaning behind it.
He possessed the rare ability to see through the veil separating their world from the hidden realm of magic, the Mystic Glade. As he grew, so too did his enchanting power, enabling him to ink marvelous depictions of the mystical beings on the canvases.
One day, while Orphius was sketching an unusual creature he saw in the Mystic Glade, an elderly man named Narrid appeared before him. Narrid revealed that he was a wizard from the elusive magical realm, assigned to help Orphius nurture his power. Under his tutelage, they travelled through enchanting forests, crossed treacherous mountains and learned the language of the creatures inhabiting the Mystic Glade. Orphius soon became the bridge between the human world and the fantasy realm.
While humans were oblivious to the magical world, the inhabitants of Mystic Glade knew everything about the people. Unbeknownst to Orphius, an ancient prophecy depicted him freeing the inhabitants of Mystic Glade from a ferocious monster, the Karkadan, who trapped their magical energy for its self-sustenance.
The Karkadan grew stronger each day, its hold on Mystic Glade tightening. Anxious, Narrid revealed the prophecy to Orphius. Although the burden was colossal, Orphius took it upon himself, his newfound abilities, unwavering courage, and a keen desire to vanquish the Karkadan, fuelling his determination.
After weeks of preparation under the wizard’s guidance, they journeyed into the heart of the Mystic Glade. It was a night of the new moon—the only window when Karkadan’s powers slightly waned. They carefully traversed to its lair, a catacomb filled with dark magic.
The Karkadan sensed their presence and attacked without hesitation. Its strength surpassed anything Orphius had prepared for. But, this human-creature confrontation was unlike any other. Orphius’s mortal blood allowed him to resist the Karkadan’s magic and he drew on this advantage as much as possible.
Orphius struck with vigor, while the Karkadan retaliated by sucking the magic straight from the forest, leaving lifeless plants and creatures in its wake. The fight seemed endless.
In the final decisive moment, Orphius slashed with Narrid's magic staff, a charm enchanted into it turning the Karkadan's energy back onto itself. With a monumental roar, Karkadan unleashed all its stolen magic in a single desperate attack—only for it to bounce back, crippling it. The stolen magic spread back into the Mystic Glade, restoring life everywhere.
Victorious yet exhausted, Orphius returned to his regular world but kept his responsibilities toward the Mystic Glade. He remained the keeper of the magical world, preserving balance, and peace.
The story of Orphius, the young boy who was destined to become a hero, was passed down through generations, woven into legends. Orphius continued living in the pages of those legends, a boy with an artistic gift who transformed into a champion. The story serves to remind us that heroes come in all shapes and sizes, sometimes from the most ordinary places.