To Soar Above: The Tale of Albert the Blacksmith
Once upon a time, in the small but lively town of Elmsville, lived an ordinary blacksmith named Albert. He was renowned for his unmatched skills of moulding steel into whatever the townsfolk needed – from kitchen utensils to farming tools. Yet, what set him aside was not his blacksmithing abilities, but his deep-rooted dream of building a flying machine.
As a child, Albert would be captivated by the birds soaring freely in the azure sky. It became a dream; a fantasy he dearly wanted to turn into reality – to build a machine that could fly in the sky. Over time, his fascination grew into an obsession that ultimately became a laughing matter for the people of Elmsville.
Despite the scorn, Albert remained undeterred. The striking and heating of the metal in his forge was no longer just about shaping tools; it transformed into a mission. He spent his free time gathering knowledge about aerodynamics, wind currents –anything and everything that he thought could assist in the fulfilment of his dream.
One day, a stranger arrived in Elmsville. He introduced himself as Leonardo from the city of Pisa and claimed to be on a journey around the world. The townsfolk treated him kindly, and when he met with Albert, they shared their mutual interest in machines and flight. Leonardo left the town leaving Albert with a treasure – a cryptic diagram of a 'helical air screw'. It was a device Leonardo believed could fly if it had apt power and the right material.
Filled with newfound excitement, Albert invested his every minute and dime into understanding the diagram and creating an enormous flying machine. Years passed, Albert, being engrossed in his work, barely noticed his ageing, his financial condition deteriorating, and the townsfolk's growing ridicule.
However, things took another turn when the Mayor of Elmsville, Robert, decided that Albert's foolish fantasy had gone on for too long. He pronounced that Albert was to cease all activities related to his 'flying machine' as it was disrupting the town's decorum and was a waste of precious resources.
Despite his dream being on the brink of shattering, Albert managed to plead for one last chance and was given a week to prove his machine flight worthy.
When the said day dawned, the whole of Elmsville was gathered in the town square. With shaky hands and pounding heart, Albert climbed onto his machine that resembled a gigantic spiral staircase. Once he was securely fastened, he began turning the cranks that triggered the multiple 'helical screws,' and in a matter of seconds, to everyone's absolute disbelieve, Albert's machine began to lift off the ground.
The initial chaos turned into complete silence as they witnessed Albert flying higher and higher, circling around the enchanted crowd below. The flight lasted for good ten minutes before he safely landed back amidst an eruption of applause and cheers. The naysayers were silenced, and the little town of Elmsville made a special place in history as the site where mankind first conquered the skies.
Albert's dream turned to reality due to his persistent grit, determination, and unwavering belief in himself. His devotion taught the townspeople a valuable lesson: perceived impossibilities could become possible with unyielding spirit and a hunger to achieve.