The Clever Princess and the Sorcerer

 


The Clever Princess and the Sorcerer

Once upon a time, in the heart of Afghanistan, there was a beautiful and prosperous kingdom ruled by a wise and just king. His only child, a daughter named Shirin, was as intelligent as she was kind. Shirin was admired by all, not only for her beauty but also for her sharp mind and keen sense of justice. She would often spend her days learning from scholars and helping the poor and needy.

However, despite her many virtues, Shirin’s life was far from peaceful. There was an evil sorcerer named Zalzar, who lived in the dark mountains on the outskirts of the kingdom. Zalzar was known for his dark magic, and his jealousy of the king’s prosperous rule and Shirin’s beauty led him to hatch a wicked plan.

One day, Zalzar cast a powerful spell, causing a terrible drought to strike the kingdom. The rivers dried up, the crops withered, and the people began to suffer. Desperate, the king summoned his advisors to find a solution, but no one knew how to break the curse.

Shirin, who had been listening from a distance, stepped forward and said, “Father, I will go to Zalzar’s mountain and break his curse. I will not let our people suffer any longer.”

The king, both worried and proud of his daughter’s bravery, tried to stop her, saying, “The journey is treacherous, and Zalzar is a sorcerer of great power. You must not go alone.”

But Shirin was resolute. “I have learned much from the scholars of our kingdom. I will face him with wisdom and courage.”

Before she set out, the wise elders of the kingdom gave her a small, enchanted mirror. “This mirror,” they said, “will show you the truth, even when you cannot see it with your own eyes. Use it wisely.”

Shirin journeyed for many days, crossing barren lands and treacherous mountains. Finally, she reached Zalzar’s dark castle, where the sorcerer awaited her, sitting upon a throne made of shadows.

“I knew you would come, Princess Shirin,” Zalzar said with a wicked smile. “But you are too late. The drought is only the beginning. Soon, your kingdom will crumble, and nothing will remain of it.”

Shirin stood tall, holding the enchanted mirror in her hand. “I will not let you harm my people, Zalzar,” she said. “I have come to stop you.”

Zalzar laughed. “Do you think you can defeat me, child? I am a master of magic, and you are just a girl. The drought is only the first of many trials. You will never succeed.”

But Shirin was not afraid. She lifted the mirror, and the surface began to shimmer with a strange light. The mirror showed the sorcerer’s true nature—his heart filled with darkness and envy. Zalzar, seeing his own reflection, was momentarily stunned.

In that moment of weakness, Shirin spoke with great wisdom: “Zalzar, your power comes from your hatred and fear. But power built on such things is fragile. The love and compassion that bind our people together are far stronger than your magic.”

The sorcerer sneered. “You are foolish, Princess. You cannot defeat me with words alone.”

Shirin then used the mirror to reveal the source of Zalzar’s magic—an ancient crystal hidden deep within the castle. The crystal had been feeding his dark powers, and without it, he was vulnerable.

In one swift move, Shirin shattered the crystal with the mirror’s light. Zalzar screamed in fury, his magic unraveling as the drought lifted, and the rivers began to flow once more. The sky cleared, and the crops began to grow again. Zalzar, now powerless, fled into the mountains, never to be seen again.

Shirin returned to her kingdom, where the people rejoiced at the end of the drought. The king, proud of his daughter, declared that she would rule the kingdom in his place, for she had shown not only great courage but also wisdom beyond her years.

Moral of the Story:

This Afghan fairy tale teaches that wisdom and courage are the true sources of strength, and that good will always triumph over evil when led by love and truth. It also emphasizes the importance of using intellect and kindness to overcome obstacles, rather than relying solely on brute force or magic. Shirin’s victory reminds us that the power of goodness is always stronger than the forces of darkness.

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