The Village of Invisibles🔊

There was a tiny village nestled in the heart of an opaque forest, untouched by modern civilization. The village was like none other, and it was named Equila. The villagers had a unique trait; they could become invisible at will, thus the name The Village of Invisibles.

In the world outside their forest, they were deemed as legends, ghost stories, or fodder for fantasy tales. Their peaceful lives were quite idyllic. The substantial power of being invisible was passed down through generations and was regulated by a strict rule: 'The power of invisibility is to safeguard our village and our people, and never to exploit or harm others.'

Invisible themselves, the villagers could see each other clearly, creating a small world between just them, shielded from the rest of the world. However, they were not completely cut-off from the outside world. Equila had one outsider visitor, a human named Takoda, who inadvertently discovered their village during a hunting expedition.

Takoda, captivated by the extraordinary customs and the tranquility of Equila, decided to reside there. The villagers warm-heartedly welcomed him, sharing their homes and hearts. However, the council decided that until Takoda proved worthy, he could not be granted the immensely powerful invisibility.

Years passed and Takoda embraced Equila as his own, but he was still an outsider. Amidst the invisibles, he stood out as a painful reminder of his different world. His longing to assimilate led to a desire to err.

One day, he stumbled upon an ancient scripture containing the villagers' secret ritual of bestowing invisibility. Unaware of the consequences, Takoda decided to perform the ritual without the council's knowledge. He was hell-bent on shedding the tag of an outsider to become an invisible.

On the night of the new moon, he set forth to complete the ritual. As the ritual proceeded, a physical transformation was underway. Takoda was ecstatic; he took one last look at his visible form in the river and stepped into the new realm of invisibility.

Next morning, Equila was aghast to notice that they couldn't see Takoda anymore. He had become an invisible. The Council was alarmed and enraged. Takoda, in his wake, had disrupted the sacred equilibrium. The council contemplated a tough decision, the violation was a direct threat to their existence. With heavy hearts, the council exiled Takoda from the village, taking the secret of invisibility along with him.

Takoda, exiled and lost, wandered through the vast forest, unwanted, invisible. Nevertheless, he remembered the council's words when he left. 'Our invisibility is our strength and our bane. You have it now, but remember it's not a power but a responsibility. We hope you understand this one day.'

In his newfound invisibility, Takoda experienced the isolation brought upon by the power he so desired. It became a curse he could not escape. He experienced what the invisibles did for centuries - to be present yet unseen, to be strong yet unheard, to exist yet be forgotten.

With years, Takoda learned his lessons. He used his invisibility to protect the forest and its beautiful creatures, keeping poachers at bay. He became the unseen protector that the forest needed. The immense responsibility he bore with his power presented him with an understanding - the reason behind the Equila's code - power does not exploit; it protects.

Thus, the tale of the Village of Invisibles and its rogue outsider reverberated through the vast forest, reaching the human world as whispering winds, forever buried under the cloak of invisibility.