THE SILENT CITY

Once upon a time, in a far away land, there was a city of silence. The city was built on a mountain, surrounded by lush green forests and majestic snow-capped peaks. The city was always quiet, never disturbed by the hustle and bustle of the outside world.

People in the city went about their lives in peace, never needing to raise their voices or make too much noise. Even animals in the city were quiet, with only the occasional bird song or rustle of leaves to break the silence.

One day, a traveler came to the city. He was a strange man, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a long, flowing coat. He had no name, and spoke only in whispers.

The traveler was fascinated by the city, and he began to explore its streets and alleys. Everywhere he went, the silence was absolute. He asked the locals what the secret of the city was, but they only smiled and shook their heads.

Finally, the traveler reached the center of the city. There, he found a small temple, dedicated to an unknown deity. He stepped inside and was immediately struck by a strange smell. It was a smell he had never encountered before, and it filled his senses with warmth and comfort.

The traveler looked around, and noticed that the temple was filled with statues and symbols of the unknown deity. He saw a statue of a man with a staff, and another of a woman with a staff. He also saw strange symbols inscribed on the walls.

Suddenly, the traveler heard a voice. It was deep and solemn, and spoke slowly and calmly. “Welcome,” said the voice. “This is the temple of the Silent City. Here, you will find the secret of our silence.”

The traveler was amazed. He asked, “What is the secret of the Silent City?”

The voice replied, “It is simple. We do not speak. We listen. We listen to the sounds of nature and the whispers of the wind. We listen to the stories of our ancestors, and the stories of our future. We listen to the heartbeats of our loved ones, and the music of a distant land. We listen, and in listening, we find peace.”

The traveler thanked the voice, and left the temple. He had found the secret of the Silent City, and he knew he would never forget it.

The traveler, filled with curiosity, decided to explore further and see what other secrets the Silent City had to offer. He ventured into the forests, where he encountered many different kinds of animals and plants. He noticed that the animals and plants were very quiet, almost as if they were whispering secrets to each other.

The traveler continued to explore and eventually, he came across a small cabin deep in the forest. He knocked on the door and a voice from inside said, “Come in, traveler. I have been expecting you.”

The traveler entered the cabin and found an old woman sitting in a rocking chair. She smiled and said, “Welcome, traveler. I am the keeper of the secrets of the Silent City.” The traveler was intrigued and asked the old woman what the secret was.

The old woman smiled again and said, “The secret of the Silent City is that it is a place of peace and harmony. Here, we all listen to one another, and in listening, we find understanding. We do not need to speak or make noise in order to communicate. We understand each other through our actions, and through the things that we do not say.”

The traveler thanked the old woman and left the cabin, his head filled with thoughts of the Silent City. He returned home, but kept the secret of the Silent City close to his heart. He knew that if others could learn to listen and understand one another, the world would be a much better place.