The Lantern Maker's Secret

An old lantern maker named Elyas resided in the busy town of Lumora, where bright lanterns of all shapes and colors illuminated every street. His works were remarkable; each lantern appeared to radiate a brightness that went beyond fire. The locals frequently murmured that Elyas's lamps were secret, that they guided lost souls in addition as lighting the streets.

A youthful apprentice named Kael showed up to Elyas's business one day, keen to learn. Despite his talent, Kael was impatient. His goal was to become proficient at lantern-making as soon as possible in order to become wealthy and well-known. "Lantern-making is not just about shaping glass and metal," Elyas cautioned, but he agreed to educate him. It has to do with comprehending light itself.

Under Elyas's careful supervision, Kael labored diligently for weeks, creating lanterns. Even though his designs were exquisite, something was lacking. Although the lanterns were burning, their light was unremarkable and lacked the enigmatic warmth of Elyas's inventions. Kael asked in frustration, "What's the secret? How come my lanterns don't glow the way yours do?

With a smile, Elyas gave Kael a plain lantern that was not lit. Bring this into the forest's darkest area and light it. Remain there until you realize what really makes the light sparkle.

Kael complied reluctantly. He went far into the forest, where the trees were so dense that there was no light coming through. When he ignited the lantern, the shadows were hardly driven back by its faint glow. Kael became restless as the hours went by. The lantern's light remained faint despite his attempts to adjust the wick and add extra oil.

Kael was on the verge of giving up when he heard a faint sound—soft sobbing. He followed the sound and discovered a small girl sitting by herself with tears streaming down her cheeks. She had lost her way after wandering into the jungle.

“This will help us find our way back here,” Kael added, holding out his lantern to her.

He saw something odd as they strolled. With every stride, the lantern's light got brighter. The woodland sparkled as gloriously and warmly as one of Elyas's creations by the time they arrived at its edge.

The girl was safely reunited with her family when Kael returned to the business. After setting the now-luminous lantern on the workbench, he turned to face Elyas, who gave him a knowing nod. "You have figured out the secret," Elyas remarked.

The light in Elyas's lanterns wasn't just fire, Kael knew. It resulted from their motivation. The real function of a lantern was to assist, lead, and comfort people rather than to shine for its own sake.

Kael changed the way he viewed his craft after that day. His lights started to glow with an almost living light, just like Elyas's. Even though he was never the richest lantern maker, Kael gained the greatest admiration since his lanterns illuminated hearts as well as streets.