Unsung Melody of Kritia
There was once a shepherd boy in the picturesque landscapes of Kritia, a tiny hamlet nestled in the lap of Greek mountains. Every day, the young boy would take his sheep to the hilltop pastures, his melodious flute tunes echoing through the velvety silence of the peaks.
Down in the peaceful valleys of Kritia, lived a mantis named Manteia. Fascinated by the boy's melodies, Manteia would often climb to the hilltops, entranced by the music. Over time, an unlikely bond developed between the shepherd boy and the mantis, transcending the barriers of language and species.
Meanwhile, an ageing King Midas ruled Kritia with his heavy heart burdened by regrets. Legend whispered that long ago, a misguided wish to a mystical spirit blessed everything he touched to turn into gold. At first, it was paradise; fruits, flowers, and even pebbles gleamed with golden splendour. But the euphoria faded as he discovered the isolation his cursed Touch brought. His food, drink, and even his daughter turned into lifeless effigies of gold.
Upon hearing the tale of the cursed king, the boy and Manteia decided to aid King Midas. They believed compassion could ease the king’s suffering. The shepherd boy began to play his flute by the royal palace every sunset, hoping the music would bring solace to the king's heart. Manteia, on the other hand, researched about the mystical spirit that could change King Midas's fate.
Days turned into weeks, months, then years. The lullabies of the shepherd's flute became a routine, offering fleeting consolation to the king. The shepherd boy and Manteia were not just commoners anymore. They were loved and celebrated, hailed as the Golden Song Duo of Kritia.
As time passed, Manteia discovered the spirit's secret in an ancient prophecy: a selfless deed done with a golden heart could break the curse. Sharing this revelation with the shepherd boy, they realized that they've unknowingly started the journey already.
The shepherd boy decided to offer his most treasured possession, his golden flute gifted by his late mother, to King Midas. The king was moved, realizing the value of the shepherd's gift. Hesitant, he reached for the flute. But as he touched, instead of turning it into gold, a sparkling golden whirlwind appeared. Amidst the whirlwind appeared the same mystical spirit who had cursed him before. Appreciating their selfless act, the spirit decided to break the king’s curse.
The flute turned back to its original form, and the life in the palace and the kingdom restored. King Midas, finally free of his curse, rewarded the shepherd with abundant riches but he turned them down gracefully. The boy merely wanted his flute back, treasures of his heart.
In the following years, Kritia flourished with growth and happiness with the shepherd boy's tunes and Manteia's wisdom, guiding it towards prosperity. Their tale continues to be passed down through generations, teaching the profoundness of selfless deeds and the beauty of unspoken friendships.
The shepherd boy and Manteia, two ordinary souls, with their golden hearts, had rewritten the destiny of their land, proving that true gold lies not in materialistic wealth but in acts of love, kindness, and selflessness.