The Mage's Riddle
Amid a market bustling with lively chatter, there stood a storyteller. She was celebrated for her captivating stories that enraptured audiences of all ages. And on this particular morning, as a throng of eager faces awaited her words, she began her tale...
"Nestled amongst the rolling hills lay a cottage," she said. "Its walls were draped in ivy and wildflowers. And a wise woman lived in that cottage. It just so happened, a young villlage girl was captivated by fantastical stories about that wise woman. On a clear, starlit night, she summoned her courage. And so she made her way through the meandering paths to hear one of the legendary tales for herself. The air was thick with magic as she approached the door, and her heart beat faster with each step… boom-pa-pit-boom-pa-pit…”
The storyteller's voice now softened as she took on the persona of the wise woman,
"Many moons ago," said the wise woman, "I embarked on a journey to a mysterious land. There, I encountered an ancient forest mage. His skin was as weathered and gnarled as the most ancient trees. He bent low in greeting and shared with me a tale of old. A tale that had been passed down for generations in these enchanted woods."
The storyteller's voice dropped even lower and deeper, now weaving the mage's tale.
"In a realm cloaked in fog and mystery, there was a king. He possessed the gift of understanding the language of animals. One day, he overheard a conversation between two birds…tweep-ta-tweep-tweep-ta-tweep…This conversation revealed the location of a hidden treasure. But this was no ordinary treasure," the storyteller continued. “It was protected by a powerful enchantment. And that enchantment could only be unlocked by solving a cryptic puzzle."
The market crowd leaned in closer, hanging on every word.
The storyteller continued,
"The mage said, 'Dear Wise Woman, the king's puzzle was, 'I fly without wings, I cry without eyes. Wherever I go, darkness follows. What am I?' And so the wise woman thought long and hard about this."
The storyteller's eyes twinkled as she came to the end of her tale. Whispers rustled through the crowd as they pondered the riddle.
And so, now I ask you, Dear Reader - What was the answer to the mage's riddle?
