The Wizard with a Star's Heart🔊

In a time lost to history, there lived an ambitious wizard named Jareth who resided in the mystic kingdom of Orlanth. Jareth was no ordinary wizard; he was born with a heart that once belonged to a star. It was a gift from the gods themselves, giving him unimaginable powers most could only dream of.

Known for his wisdom throughout the realm, Jareth served as the protector of Orlanth. However, he harboured a secret ambition. He yearned to become the supreme ruler of not just Orlanth, but all kingdoms beyond and beneath it. His heart, radiant and potent, craved the taste of absolute power.

In pursuit of this, Jareth forged a magical mirror. In its reflection, he could view the past, present, and future. This, he believed, was his path to eternal sovereignty. However, the gods, who saw his intentions, decided to teach him a lesson.

One day, as Jareth was peering into his mirror, his image began to warp. Suddenly, instead of his own reflection, a persona from Orlanth's toe-curling history appeared - Wraith, the malevolent sorcerer who once brought terror to the kingdom. Beside him stood Arthur, the noble prince who triumphed over Wraith and saved Orlanth.

Jareth watched in fascination as scenes from the past appeared before him. He saw young Arthur, no more than a knight, rise to the challenge and vanquish Wraith. He saw Wraith's efforts to seize control of the kingdom, the terror he inflicted, and his eventual downfall at Arthur's hands. Jareth saw the heavy price of pursuit of absolute power vividly and began to question his own ambitions.

Suddenly, the mirror flashed, and Jareth was now viewing the present - his time. He saw himself, seen through the eyes of the citizens of Orlanth. He saw fear, apprehension, and silence. Jareth was thunderstruck, had he already begun walking the same path as Wraith? Had his ambition changed him so much already that people were terrified of him?

Before Jareth could dwell on these thoughts, the mirror pulsed once more, showing him a potential future. His future. He saw Orlanth in ruins, its people living in fear, and him sitting on the royal throne, a figure both powerful and feared, but absolutely alone. The sight filled his heart with dread, dread of becoming someone like Wraith, dreaded at the thought of facing an adversary like Arthur. He saw himself walking down the path he wanted to avoid.

In all three scenarios, Jareth saw a constant - the pursuit of absolute power didn't bring happiness; it only brought destruction, terror, and solitude. Overwhelmed, Jareth shattered the mirror, his dreams of power crumbling along. He had seen the consequences and understood that his star-heart was a gift not to dominate but to protect and guide.

The following days saw a humbled Jareth, using his powers to ensure peace and prosperity. He came to understand and respect the powers bestowed upon him, learning that true power was not in ruling but in serving. His story as the Protector of Orlanth went down in history not as a feared ruler, but as a beloved guardian.

The tale of Jareth, the ambitious wizard with a star’s heart, serves as a stirring reminder that power truly lies in serving and protecting, not dominating. The recognition of this truth transformed Jareth into a wise leader, a compelling tale that would echo through the annals of history.