The Fading Kingdom
消えゆく王国
For weeks, strange news has been spreading across the kingdom of Eldermere.
Whole villages have been vanishing quietly from every map in the land.
Roads that people have walked for years now lead into empty grey .
The old maps are being changed by a force that no one understands.
Finn was called to the great hall, where the elders had gathered.
Elder Alden, a tall man with silver hair, studied him for a while.
"Our kingdom has been disappearing, little by little, for many months," he said.
"Each week, another piece of Eldermere is erased from the world."
Finn had heard the rumours, but he had not believed them before.
Now the truth was being spoken by the wisest man he knew.
"The land is threatened by an that eats our borders," Alden said.
"No sword and no army can fight a thing that has no shape."
The elder turned his tired eyes toward the frightened young apprentice.
"For years, we have been searching for someone with a rare gift."
"Your maps do not follow the world; the world follows your maps."
Finn's throat felt dry as the meaning of these words grew clear.
He had always been told that his imagination was a foolish habit.
Now his strange power was being called the last hope of a kingdom.
"If the is not stopped, nothing of us will remain," Alden warned.
Finn looked down at his ink-stained hands and felt their weight.
He has never wanted such a heavy placed upon his shoulders.
Yet the faces around him were full of fear and quiet hope.
"I do not know if I am strong enough," he whispered honestly.
"None of us is," the elder replied, "but the map must be redrawn."