The Vault & the Key

The War was over. The dust had settled, and with it a sense of calm and peace rested across the land. Time moved ever onwards. Mortals soon forgot the war, and in place of the memories, the dust began to swirl once more. Most of mankind seemed to think all was well, but fear began to swell within the Locksmith. He looked upon his people, saw smiling, innocent faces, and the thirst for bloodshed that hid just beneath the surface. He knew that the Merchant’s weapons still lived across the land, all but forgotten after peace was enforced. He knew the devastation they could wreak, the hatred they could sow. He knew that one must act to avoid the inevitable. And so, he acted. His family set about roaming the earth, searching high and low for the Merchant’s weapons. Meanwhile, he began to build; build the safest, most secure, most secluded vault that he hoped the world would never see. He worked tirelessly, day in and day out for weeks, months, years, until finally, the vault was complete. Finally, he could rest, knowing the only way to even find the vault’s entrance, and the only way to open the vault door, was with one, singular, key.
With the vault prepared, and the family having gathered such terrible weapons, he saw to it that the world could finally, and unknowingly, sleep peacefully once more. For decades he protected that vault, that key, that doorway, with his life until one day, he had no more life left to give. It is said that when he passed, he gave the key to his youngest child, with his one wish to be that the vault remained, forever locked.

Spread

A folktale of unknown age and origin, often passed over in mythology books.

Date of First Recording

Unknown

Date of Setting

Unknown