The Unseen Knight
Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Veridon, nestled between the mighty mountains and bright blue sea, there lived a wise and just king named Othello. Veridon was a land of brave knights, cunning huntsmen, and wise sages. But amidst all of them stood a humble stable boy named Alistair. Alistair was called 'The Ghost' for his ability to remain unseen, unheard unless desired.
One day, a dark sorcerer named Moros declared war on Veridon. The earth quaked, the skies darkened, and fear flowed through the veins of Veridon's bravest men. King Othello proclaimed a grand tournament offering, a chance for his kingdom's bravest to stand against the sorcerer. Knights from every corner flocked to participate, but not Alistair. He was just a stable boy, bound by his duties, shackled by the invisibility he was accustomed to.
As the moon took over the sky, and the castle was asleep, Alistair would retreat to a clearing in the forest. It was his escape. He often held an old, rusted sword, practicing maneuvers under the watchful eyes of the moon, dreaming, wishing to be a brave knight.
He watched the tournament from the shadows. The knights showcased their bravery, strength, and valor. But none could shoot the enchanted golden apple on a tree top, a final task set by the king to choose Veridon's bravest. They used their fiercest arrows, strongest bows, but the apple remained untouched.
The crowd dispersed in disappointment, the eve was filled with silence, but one hopeful heart pounded with thrill. Alistair decided to try his odds. He had no shining armor, no mighty horse, no cheering crowd, only a worn-out bow and a quiver of hopes. Aiming at the moonlit apple, inhaling, hoping, he released the arrow. It soared and hit the target, making the magical apple burst into a brilliant golden flare. The castle lit up; the king was alerted.
King Othello followed the flare, reaching the forest clearing. The sight before him was baffling - a stable boy with a humble bow and an overwhelming determination in his eyes. Alistair stepped forward, confessing his deed. The king, intrigued and impressed, knighted Alistair — the unseen knight.
Alistair faced the sorcerer bravely, but Moros was stronger. Alistair relied on his ordinary skills: his unyielding will and his learnt swiftness that rendered him 'unseen'. The fight was brutal. Just when the kingdom thought their hope was lost, Alistair saw an opening. He aimed and released his arrow; it found its mark, hitting right into the sorcerer's heart. Moros fell, his magic began to crumble, and the sky lightened. The unseen stable boy had saved the kingdom.
Alistair returned a knight; the entire kingdom cheered for him. From being the unnoticed ghost, he became the beacon of Veridon's hope. He proved that bravery doesn't require an audience, greatness doesn’t need applause, and a true knight isn't identified by his shiny armor but by the strength of his character, the readiness to stand even when standing alone.
That night, Veridon celebrated its truest knight, their guardian, their unseen knight, who returned to his stables not as a ghost but as their hero, etching his story into the hearts of Veridon forever. Thus marked the tale of 'The Unseen Knight', a beacon in the dark, a testament to all those seemingly invisible beings waiting for destiny's spark to ignite their hidden fires.