Written by Naphula.
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Far from the tower, on the other side of the world, there was a small village nestled deep within a vast forest. In this village lived a boy. He was young, curious, determined beyond measure and he was living a lie. His name was Kael.
He was the son of an ordinary seamstress. Not a prince from a neighboring kingdom, nor a brave knight. Just a simple youth who was good at climbing trees and had an unquenchable thirst for exploration. Though he had no noble blood, no one doubted that he had a great heart.
Keal thought he was very fortunate. He had a loving mother and many people in the village knew him. Kael's mother was a seamstress and worked a lot. He would often tell his mother that he wished she had more time to play with him. He didn't understand why his mother had to work so much. Everyday they had food on the table and he could eat as much as he wanted. He knew his mother wasn't a big eater, so he ate his fill. And sometimes the baker would even bring them the leftover bread, if there was any. He liked the baker, it was a friend of his mother, even if he was a lot older than her. Kael decided that when he was older he would make sure to earn a lot of money so his mother never had to work again. Then they would have lots of time to play and didn't need to take the leftover bread from the baker anymore.
Kael often dreamt about his dad, Robin. His mother had told him many stories about his dad. She told him how his dad was an adventurer and a thief. His dad would steal from the wealthy and then bring his acquired fortune to the people. That's how he and his mother had originally met. Mis mother would tell him: "Long ago, when I was a beautiful young woman I would often go for a walk in the forest. One day, I
met a man. I saw him coming towards me on his white horse, his robes flying in the wind. He looked like a knight ready for a battle, so when I first saw him, I quickly hid behind a large tree. He had already seen me and came up to me. I was filled with fear when I heard a soft voice; "Excuse me, may I ask you the way to the village? I've come to bring gold to the people." His voice was comforting and I felt a strange kind of trust. I came out of my hiding place and guided him to the city, where he stayed for a while. I saw him often and we started to fall in love. After a while he would often leave to help other village's but he always came back to me. Before he left for the last time, he said that he was going to find a fortune for his son. And that when he would return, he would build us a big house and make sure we can dine like ak king every day.
*
There was a legend whispered from mouth to mouth in the village. It spoke of a tower that reached toward the heavens, hidden deep within impenetrable forests in distant lands. In that tower, isolated from the world, guarded by a fearsome witch, a girl lived, decked out in gold. No one who had ever set out to find the tower had returned
Kael believed this legend. For years, he listened to the stories of those who had gone searching for the tower, studied maps, and thought of ways to reach the forest. What had begun as a childish dream gradually became his purpose. Kael had always wanted to learn more, to see the tower that touched the stars, to uncover its secrets and take home the prize. He believed, with unwavering certainty, that one day, he would find it. One day, he would find the golden girl.
And finally, when he turned eighteen, he had made his decision.
One morning, he packed only the essentials in his backpack. He had no sword, no armor. Just a few provisions; a sturdy rope, a compass and some bags to fill, given to him by the baker, to prevent him from losing his way.
He'd also made some bets with the other villagers. If he returned within a year with his golden girl he would have a life supply of flour from the miller. He would also get a cow from the farmer and the butcher offered to slaughter it for free. A local musician also offered to make a song about his victory. Keal gladly accepted the offer. If he did not return the miller would get his leather winter coat, the farmer his mattress in which he hid his savings, the butchers his hunting knives and the musician his home made guitar. He thought it was best not to tell his mother about all that.
His mother had begged him not to go, but Kael had already made up his mind. "It's just a fairy tale!" She had screamed. "Those who seek that tower never return! Why would you be any different?"
But Kael had only smiled. "Because I will return. And when I return I will make sure you never have to work again. Just like my father promised! He'd said, his smile bitter.
After that day, he did not look back. Only one thought filled his mind: "I have to find that tower!"
*
Like many young men, Kael had grown up and chosen his own path. But his path was no ordinary journey. He was setting out to discover the truth hidden behind the legends. As he quickened his steps toward the depths of the forest and the traces of a forgotten time, his determination only grew stronger. Though the people of his village called him a "dreamer," Kael knew that with every step he took, he was drawing closer to his own truth. He was determined to learn more than just fairy tales, to uncover the hidden secrets of the world.
For weeks, he traveled toward the forest. He crossed mountains and rivers. Along the way, he met many people, stopped in towns, and stayed in inns. Sometimes, he was so exhausted he could barely stand, other times, his stomach growled from hunger. But every day, he pressed on.
Those he met mocked his dream. "Don't waste your time chasing myths!" they said. "That tower isn't even real!"
But Kael's eyes shone with belief. "I will be the one to find out if it's real or not."
There were times when he traveled alongside merchants and adventurers who, like him, were on their own journeys. But as the days passed, their paths diverged. Most chose safer, easier roads. Kael, step by step, found himself alone.
And finally, he reached the edge of the great forest. The Impenetrable Forest
Kael stood before the towering trees, their dense green canopy blotting out the sky. Inside, sunlight barely pierced through. Even the wind carried a different whisper between these trees.
For the first time, he questioned himself. "What if this tower is just a story? What if it's all a lie? Hasn't my whole life been a lie?" But in the depths of his heart, a voice whispered: "What if it's real?"
Keal thought of his father. When he was young, he still believed his father would return. He often asked his mother and the other people in the village about him. The older he got, the shorter the answers. After a while he stopped asking all together. He figured he'd rather not know the truth. One of his child fairy tales had been crushed, but the tower, that one, was still standing. He wanted it to, he needed it to.
He clenched his fists, lifted his head, and took his first step forward. The journey would be difficult, but Kael was prepared to face it. A mysterious tower and the fearsome witch guarding it. The more he thought about it, the more his thirst for adventure grew. He had to find that tower.
*
The forest was quieter than he had expected. It was as if it had a breath of its own, as if it had noticed his presence. There was no path before him, only thick trees, massive vines, and fallen branches blocking his way.
After making his way through the forest (the movements he had to make to avoid stepping in thorny bushes, cannot be classified as walking) for a while, he realized he had lost his sense of direction. He was at the end of his map and even his compass wavered due to the forest's magnetic pull. He had no idea which way to go.
Fighting off panic, he steadied his breathing. "Stay calm. You've come this far. You are not turning back. I actually don't know which way is back. Okay, I might be turning back, or going forward. I'll just walk, it doesn't matter."
Moving through the forest grew increasingly difficult. The ground was nearly impassable; roots, branches, and thorns barred his way. He walked for what must have been hours. The forest was dark and had a distinct sound. A sort of ruffling and an occasional bird cheerp. But after hours it had become even darker and it was quiet. "It must be night," he said to himself. He stopped, scanning his surroundings.
He could barely see ahead. He decides that it would be unsafe to move forward.
When he was a kid he'd considered himself to be a survival expert. He would read books about great adventures, planning to one day join his father on a thrilling adventure. He knew all the edible plants growing near the village, he could make a campfire and studied knots. He decided to make camp. On the forest ground he could not lay, it would take a day to clear the ground. He decided on sleeping high above the ground. Gripping a sturdy branch, he climbed swiftly. Having spent his childhood climbing trees, this was second nature to him. He sat down on a big branch and with his rope, tied himself to the tree trunk. He rested his head against the big tree and fell asleep.
When he woke up, he took in the endless sea of green stretching before him. In the distance he saw a huge waterfall, rainbows beaming across it. He heard the happy chatter of birds and saw some colorful parrots flying over the trees. He could have never imagined the beauty that the dark forest held. He thought about his life, how it had led him on this journey, to this beautiful place. He wishes his mother could have seen this, he wished his father had seen this.
But then, far in the distance, he saw it. Covered by trees and fines, stretching toward the sky, merging with the stars, was a tower.
And so, the wheels of fate began to turn, in a way that could not be undone.
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