Truth of the Eternal Flame
Once upon a time, in the wonderful kingdom of Florin, there was a priest named Judah, renowned for his wisdom and, most tellingly, for his ability to speak with the kingdom's Eternal Flame. This Eternal Flame, a fluctuating tapestry of colours, was more than just a symbol; it dramatically influenced the prosperity of the kingdom. No one, apart from Judah, understood the cryptic language of the flame, and it was his interpretations that steered Florin towards glory.
The kingdom had never plotted its course without the Flame's guidance. When a bountiful harvest was predicted, it never failed, and when the Flame whispered warnings of dangers, they always materialized. Judah's interpretations of the Flame's messages were considered sacred and inviolable. He was respected and revered by all, including King Ethelred, who harboured immense gratitude towards him.
Judah, despite his power and status, held an aura of humility. He was an old man with a gaunt figure, deep-set eyes, and a calm demeanor. Time had etched wrinkles on his face, yet his eyes held an eternal glow, mimicking the eternal flame he conversed with.
One ordinary day, while Judah was communicating with the flame, something unusual happened. The Flame flickered ominously low and whispered warnings of an impending doom, a great calamity that would bring the kingdom to ruins. A dreaded plague was predicted to sweep across Florin, taking countless lives and causing despair.
Gathering his courage, Judah reported the prophecy to King Ethelred. The king, consumed by worry, asked Judah for a solution to dismantle the prophecy. Judah brooded over the Flame's warning and finally proposed a radical solution. They needed ‘The Elixir of Eriana’, a potion believed to cure anything, even the deadliest plagues.
However, the task of retrieving the elixir from the Last Forest was a perilous one. A young knight named Edgar was chosen. Edgar was known for his courage, skill, and respect for the kingdom. The journey wasn't easy, filled with encounters of roaring beasts and hissing serpents. But Edgar's courage remained unwavering, his determination unshaken.
After days of toil, he found the Elixir nestled within the forest, glistening mysteriously, and returned it triumphantly to Florin. Judah promptly poured the Elixir into the Eternal Flame, as a preventive measure against the plague. A dramatic explosion of colours followed, and the Flame soared higher, casting an unusual brilliance over the kingdom. And then, they waited.
Days turned to weeks, weeks to months, but the plague never came. The kingdom spent a year in the shadow of fear, but the predicted calamity never arrived. Doubts began to unfurl. Judah, plagued by invasive thoughts and confusions, consulted the Flame again. To his bewilderment, the Flame denied ever predicting a plague.
Everyone adored the Flame for its truth, and accusations instantly turned towards Judah. The people felt deceived, and the king felt betrayed. The kingdom demanded justice, and Judah was sentenced to solitude in the Last Forest, his reputation tarnished. He left the kingdom he had served decades with a sorrowful heart and a baffling question.
However, in the Last Forest, Judah found a hermit who was the guardian of the Elixir. Upon learning Judah's tale, the hermit revealed a powerful truth. The Elixir of Eriana was a test of truth. It amplified the eternal flame, revealing any deceit.
Judah realized, in dread and guilt, that he had erred not in his prophecy, but in his understanding of the message. The Flame had predicted not the arrival but the evasion of a plague. In his haste and fear, he had mistaken the message.
With a heavy heart, Judah returned to Florin and revealed the truth. Stricken by guilt, he confessed his mistake and King Ethelred, seeing his genuine remorse, forgave him. The kingdom learned that even the wisest could err. From then on, they took the Flame's messages with a pinch of caution, understanding that interpretation's susceptibility to error.
Yet, the Flame continued to guide Florin. Its tapestry of luminous colours still illuminates the kingdom, reminding everyone of the Truth of the Eternal Flame and a wise man's humbling mistake.