In a village perched on the edge of a vast desert, there lived an old woman named
Amara, known as the Weaver of Time. Amara was a master weaver, her tapestries
famous far beyond the village for their intricate designs and vibrant colours. But
what made her work truly remarkable was the rumour that her tapestries could tell
the future.
Her home was a small, humble dwelling, but its walls were lined with tapestries
that depicted scenes from all across time. Some showed great battles, others serene
landscapes, and a few even depicted events that had yet to happen. The villagers
often came to Amara seeking guidance, hoping to glimpse their future in her
threads.
One day, a young woman named Lira came to Amara's door. Lira was a wanderer,
passing through the village on her way to the great city beyond the desert. She had
heard of the Weaver of Time and was curious to see if the tales were true. When she
entered Amara’s home, she was immediately struck by the beauty of the tapestries.
Each one seemed to pulse with life, as if the threads were still moving, still
weaving the stories they held.
Amara, her hands worn but steady, greeted Lira with a warm smile. “What is it you
seek, child?” she asked in a voice as soft as the desert wind.
Lira hesitated. She had no great troubles, no burning questions, but the thought of
seeing her future, even just a glimpse, was irresistible. “I wish to know what lies
ahead on my journey,” she said finally.
Amara nodded and motioned for Lira to sit. She took out a loom, smaller than the
others in her home, and began to weave. Her hands moved with a speed and grace that
belied her age, the threads seeming to glow under her touch. As Lira watched, a
scene began to take shape—a winding road through the desert, with the city’s
towering walls in the distance.
But the scene did not stop there. As Amara continued to weave, the tapestry
revealed more. The road forked, one path leading to the city, the other to a dense
forest. Lira’s eyes widened as she saw herself standing at the crossroads,
uncertain which path to take. The tapestry then showed her choosing the forest
path, where she encountered strange creatures and ancient ruins, leading to a
hidden treasure deep within the woods.
When Amara finished, she handed the tapestry to Lira. “Your journey is not just to
the city,” she said. “There is more waiting for you, but the choice will be yours.”
Lira stared at the tapestry, her mind racing. She had always thought her goal was
to reach the city, but now, seeing the possibilities laid out before her, she felt
a pull towards the unknown path. She thanked Amara and left, the tapestry carefully
folded in her bag.
As Lira continued her journey, she couldn’t stop thinking about the crossroads.
Days later, when she finally reached the fork in the road, she paused. The city was
within sight, its tall spires glinting in the sunlight, but the forest path called
to her. Remembering the tapestry, she took a deep breath and turned towards the
forest.
The journey was as the tapestry had shown—challenging, filled with strange
creatures and hidden dangers. But it was also rewarding. Lira discovered ruins from
a forgotten era, learned secrets of the forest, and eventually, she found the
treasure—a collection of ancient texts that revealed lost knowledge.
When she returned to the village months later, she sought out Amara once more. The
old woman smiled when she saw Lira, her eyes twinkling with knowing. “You chose
well,” Amara said. “Your journey was your own, but sometimes, a glimpse of the
future can guide our steps.”
Lira nodded, understanding now that the tapestry had not just shown her a possible
future, but had given her the courage to choose the path less travelled. She left
the village once more, this time with a new purpose, knowing that her journey was
far from over and that she had the strength to face whatever lay ahead.
