The Tales of Lost Time
Once upon a time, in the distant lands of old Assyria, there lived a wise and diligent king named Amun. His kingdom was prosperous, his reign was just, and his wisdom, renowned across continents.
However, King Amun led a life of restlessness. Trapped in the confines of time, he yearned to unlock the mysteries of the universe. The King was obsessed with the concept of time and wished to control it. He dedicated countless hours to studying ancient scriptures, hoping to uncover the secret to manipulate time.
He relentlessly sought guidance from eminent scholars and seers, who in turn, guided him towards an ancient prophecy. It spoke of three celestial artifacts; the Sundial of the Heavens, the Hourglass of Eternity, and the Clock of Ages. These artifacts, when unified, supposedly had the power to control time. Illuminated by this newfound knowledge, King Amun decided to set forth on an unprecedented journey to obtain these artifacts.
He first embarked on the quest for the Sundial of the Heavens. His pursuit led him to the highest peak of the intimidating Mount Kishar. After a challenging ascent, overcoming treacherous terrains and deadly beasts, Amun laid his hands on the radiant Sundial. Looking upon it, the realization of his endeavor started taking shape.
Next was the Hourglass of Eternity, believed to be in the heart of the treacherous Dessarin desert. The journey was fraught with chilling winds, shifting dunes, and deadly mirages. The king, with his unfaltering determination, braved the harsh conditions and found the magnificent Hourglass, buried in an ancient tomb of sand.
The last among the artifacts was the Clock of Ages, rumoured to reside in the sapphire depths of the Serpent Sea. Undeterred by the countless stories of monstrous sea creatures and haunted shipwrecks, King Amun sailed through tumultuous storms and eerie calms. After a daunting underwater expedition, he finally retrieved the Clock amidst a ship wreck.
Returning to his kingdom with the three celestial artifacts, King Amun was hailed a hero. The time had finally come to unify the celestial articles and fulfil his desire to control time. Yet, as he united the artifacts, instead of the expected omniscient power, a grand celestial spirit appeared.
The spirit was the Keeper of Time. She thanked King Amun for reuniting her celestial artifacts, which had got scattered across the world due to a past cosmic calamity. The spirit explained that controlling time was beyond mortal capabilities and it could lead to chaotic consequences. Still, acknowledging Amun's relentless endeavor, will and courage, she granted him a boon; instead of changing time, he could relive any moment of his past.
Grateful for the wisdom he gained through his quest and acknowledging the potential menace of time manipulation, King Amun chose to relive the single moment when he ascended the throne to lead his people, promising him that he would remain a just, wise and benevolent king for as long as he lived.
The tale of King Amun and his quest for time ended as a story of wisdom, humility and realization. It wasn’t about conquest, but about acceptance of the fact that time is beyond control and what matters is the present where one can make a difference.
From then onwards, the words ‘The past is history, the future is a mystery, but today is a gift and that is why it is called the present’ echoed in the grand halls of the Assyrian kingdom and King Amun's story was told for generations to come, symbolizing wisdom and acceptance in the realms of time.