Lucian hurried over and sat beside her.
"There was once a traveler—a mage—who came to this great mountain. His sole purpose was to find a legendary staff.
"According to the tales, this staff was forged from a legendary beast: a dragon. The dragon had created the staff to help him govern his own power; he was a young dragon then, and his massive strength was still wild and untamed. With the staff, he could finally bend his magic to his will.
"Eons passed. The dragon grew old, and despite the long lifespan of his kind, he could not escape the reach of death.
"With his final breath, he poured his remaining strength and his very soul into the staff. When the light left his eyes, the dragon was gone.
"But the staff, now imbued with his spirit, moved on its own. It raised the earth to create this very mountain: The Great Mountain, Varos Keep. Then, the staff hid itself within the peaks, waiting for a new master.
"The traveler held onto this tale with desperate hope. Like the young dragon, he struggled to control his own magic and believed the staff was his only salvation. He wandered the mountain for years, but found nothing. Not a single clue, not even a whisper of its existence. Eventually, his patience broke. Exhausted, starving, and sleepless, he finally gave up. He thought, 'All that hard work for nothing. If I haven't found it by now, it isn't here.'
"He slumped down at the mountain's peak, his knees hitting the dirt. He looked up at the dark sky, watching the stars blink at one another. He noticed a cluster of stars lining up from right to left, leading his eyes toward the moon, which glowed brighter than all the rest.
"But his hope was gone. He assumed the universe was simply mocking him. Ignoring the celestial display, he began his descent. He decided he would return to town, give up magic, and live as an ordinary citizen.
"He walked for hours, aimless and hollow, letting his feet lead the way.
"Suddenly, he stumbled upon a sight of breathtaking beauty: a river fed by a waterfall that flowed like silken hair blowing in the wind. The water was so clear it reflected the moonlight like a silver mirror. He stood there, blinded by its grace.
"Then, a voice echoed in his mind—soft, majestic, and feminine. It said excitedly, 'You're finally here! I've been waiting for you! You've no idea how boring it is here!'
"Startled and defensive, the mage shouted, 'Who's there? Where are you? Are you here to laugh at me? To mock my failure? Show yourself!'
"The majestic voice giggled. 'No, no, no. It is I—the one you've been searching for! Come, enter my humble abode so I can explain everything!'
"With those words, the silken waterfall split in two, revealing a grand and wondrous cave—"
The mother stopped. "And that's the end."
"That's it?!" Lucian cried. "What happened next?"
His mother chuckled. "The purpose of a story like this, my son, is for the listener to create their own ending. So, tell me, what ending do you want?"
"Uhh... Hmmm... I can't really think of one," Lucian admitted, trailing off.
"That's alright," she said softly. "You're still young. Perhaps one day you'll experience the ending for yourself. But for now, I'll tell you mine.
"In my ending, the traveler didn't accept the staff. Instead, he spoke to the voice. He said, 'So it's true... the legend was real. But I can no longer accept this gift. My will is spent. I arrived too late, and the magic I cannot control has already begun to consume my spirit. It will be the end of me soon.'
"'However,' the mage continued, 'I have a proposal. In the future, one of my descendants will come here. Test him as you have tested me. If he succeeds, give him a message.'
"The voice replied, 'I see. You won't stay to keep me company? What a pity. But... I accept your proposal.'
"The man took a letter from his pocket and left it for the voice. He then left the mountain and lived out his days as a normal man. He started a family and died happy, knowing the legends were true."
"What a great ending!" Lucian beamed. "I hope I'm that descendant!"
His mother laughed. "Haha, wouldn't that be something?"
...
In the present, Lucian snapped out of the memory. He paced back and forth, his thoughts racing.
"Mirror-like water... hair-like waterfall..." he whispered. "Isn't that the exact place where I always take my shower?!"