The Time Keeper of Serlen
Once upon a time in a kingdom far away, there was a beautiful little town called 'Serlen' sitting quiet and serene by the shimmering lake. The people of Serlen were peaceful, known far and wide for their outstanding skills in crafting exquisite pieces of jewellery. Yet, the most exceptional thing in the town was a magnificent, grand clock tower, ticking away the time while watching over the town.
The clock tower was no ordinary monument but a magical place where the town's history interweaved with its present and future in a unique way. This was the secret the townsfolk held dear — that every full moon, a single chosen individual could enter the tower to linger in any moment of their past or peek into the future.
A young and talented artisan named Liam lived in Serlen. His eyes glowed with passion while his gifted hands crafted marvels. He had a heart full of aspirations, fueled by the fascinating tales of those who ventured into the tower’s embrace. Liam yearned to experience his particular journey into the past or future. Thus, his name found its place in the wishful list of those waiting to enter the clock tower.
One fateful full moon night, as the universe wove its magical design, the town's elders pulled out the chit from the lottery box. It was Liam's. His heart raced, as he desperately hoped to see his future, desperately hoped to know whether his ambitions would come true or not.
Clad in ceremonial clothes, Liam entered the clock tower at midnight under the gaze of the sparkling full moon. A mystical yet warm aura gripped him as the hands of the tower began to rotate anticlockwise, transporting him to his future.
He was suddenly in the town square where an ecstatic crowd cheered. There in the centre, he saw a variant of himself, unveiling a majestic masterpiece, a sculpture with unparalleled beauty that the town had never seen before. The vision filled Liam with immense joy and confidence. His ambitions, his hopes, his dreams were becoming a reality.
But, just as the moments of joys filled him, the scene changed. He caught glimpses of his failure, of wasted years and his spirit breaking gradually. He felt his heart sinking, his dreams crumbling. He saw himself growing old, his hands losing the skills, and a feeling of regret enveloping him.
Overwhelmed with emotions, scared of the failures that lay ahead, Liam found himself back in the clock tower. As the hands of the tower returned to their original place, he felt a new truth settling in his heart. It wasn't just about success or failure; it was about the journey. He realized he didn't want to know his future anymore. The roller coaster he was supposed to embark upon was what he was going to cherish; crafting masterpieces, failing, learning, and succeeding.
After witnessing his future, Liam found his life's path enlightened. Instead of fearing the unknown, he embraced it with an open heart. He left the clock tower that night, quietly promising himself to live the journey he was destined to, to embrace failures as heartily as successes, and to shape his future one present moment at a time.
The tale of Liam became a cherished story that the elders of Serlen taled the kids about. It served as a reminder that more than the past or future, it was the present we should cherish, shaping it with every beat of our heart. And thus, Serlen's clock tower remained, chiming away every hour, existing as the keeper of human aspirations and lessons passed down across generations.