Four Brothers of One World

Once upon a time, at the turn of the second millennium, there were four brothers. They lived a humble life in a children's home. Although they were well cared for and safe there, they missed their mom and dad. The oldest, Kája, always looked after his brothers whenever they got into trouble. The second-born, Mojmírek, often fought with other kids if he or any of his brothers were wronged, whether the offense was real or imagined. The younger brother, Váša, was a quiet boy who mostly spent his time reading books. The youngest, Tomík, always had a smile on his face and tried to be helpful to both his brothers and the other children.

As the century came to a close, the oldest brother, Kája, reached adulthood. He was now eighteen. Only his brothers called him Kája; everyone else referred to him as Karel. Karel decided to start his own company, offering insurance services to people. He wanted to secure a future for himself and his brothers in case they faced hardships in the world. Karel tried to visit his siblings in the children's home regularly, but as his business and employee responsibilities grew, he had less and less time for them.

A year later, when Moja also came of age, he preferred to be called Mojmír by others. Mojmír decided he wanted to pursue sports. He had a lot of pent-up anger, so he chose to participate in mixed martial arts tournaments. Occasionally, he worked as a day laborer on construction sites to earn money for food and gym fees. He became so passionate about fighting that he rarely saw his brothers.

Váša's time came as well, and he decided to go to university. Since he was interested in the meaning of life, he chose to study religious studies. Not wanting to rely on his brothers or the children’s home, Václav moved into a dormitory and worked internships to support himself.

The youngest, Tomík, also reached adulthood soon and left the safety of the children’s home. He worked for a while at Karel’s company. Although he appreciated that people there took him seriously as Tomáš, it wasn’t the job for him, and he decided to work as a caregiver at a retirement home instead. He enjoyed taking care of people and seeing their smiles when he did something for them. Additionally, he hoped to meet a kind and beautiful girl among his colleagues.

The four brothers managed through the early years of adulthood with both successes and setbacks. But something was missing in their lives, though they didn’t know what. Their parents had divorced when they were young. Their father had found another woman who became pregnant, and he had to choose between their mother, whom he no longer loved, and his pregnant mistress. After struggling to decide, he ultimately chose the latter. Their mother was devastated, unable to earn enough for rent and food for all of them. On top of that, she became severely ill, and doctors diagnosed her with cancer. Their father helped out when he realized their hardship. After a long struggle, their mother passed away. They thought they would live with their father, but his new wife wouldn't allow it. He promised to resolve things but, in the meantime, they had to live with their aunt and uncle. Then tragedy struck a second time when their father was hit by a car and couldn't be revived. The four brothers had to stay with their aunt and uncle, who were elderly and couldn’t handle four lively boys. There was little money, and the brothers often went hungry. When they complained, their uncle would beat them with a leather belt. The eldest, Karel, couldn’t bear to see his brothers suffer any longer, so he called social services. From that point on, the four brothers lived in a children's home. Something was missing from their lives, but they didn’t want to know what it was.

One freezing day, the eldest brother, Karel, was returning from work and came across an old shop in a dark alley. The sign above the door read: "Tailor of the Reflecting Eye." Upon entering, an old tailor greeted him and handed him a suit with a crescent moon embroidered on the back with silver thread, his expression mysterious. Karel tried to explain that he hadn’t ordered a suit and didn’t have the money to pay. The tailor only smiled and told him to try it on and that he could pay later. The suit fit Karel perfectly. It had a modern cut, and although he worried the moon embroidery might look odd, he liked it in the mirror. But when he turned around, he found himself outside, with no sign of the shop or tailor, only the suit remained. Since that unusual encounter, he occasionally saw a glimmer of moonlight.

That same day, Mojmír was practicing cold-water swimming in the river. While diving near the muddy bottom, he cut himself on something sharp. When he pulled it out, he found it was a Damascus steel knife with a silver handle glinting in the moonlight. Though he wiped his blood off, he still sensed the iron smell strongly. Since then, he always carried the knife, and when he smelled iron and sulfur in the air, he knew danger was near.

Meanwhile, Václav, shopping at an antiquarian bookstore under the moonlight near closing time, heard whispers in long-dead languages. Following the sound, he found a book bound in sewn leather, with silver ink letters. The cashier explained the book wasn’t theirs when he tried to pay. He opened the book, showing Václav his own name written before the title page. Puzzled, Václav left with the book, which whispered advice when he was troubled.

And the youngest? He wandered the streets in the moonlight, savoring the melancholic scene. Suddenly, a gray tabby cat appeared in his path, its gaze intense. In the moonlight, her fur seemed almost silver. When he stroked her, he felt her purring. The untamed cat would often accompany him on walks. If he felt a strange vibration in his hand, he knew to be cautious.

Weeks later, Karel mentioned the moon pattern on his suit to his secretary, who claimed she couldn’t see it. The question lingered in his mind, but he was occupied with business issues. After an employee lost an important client, Karel summoned him to his office, rebuking him harshly for not securing clients, even berating him as the employee silently endured the scolding, fearful of losing his job. Ignoring the threshold of his conscience, Karel aimed to build a financial empire to secure a future for himself and his brothers.

As time passed, Mojmír became unstoppable in the cage, deftly dodging blows and overpowering opponents. One day, an opponent confronted him in an alley, wielding a metal pipe. Mojmír armed himself with a stick. After a fierce struggle, Mojmír left him unconscious in a pool of blood, suppressing any sense of guilt.

Václav, during a lecture by an old professor, heard his book’s whispers again, which led him to criticize and undermine the professor, even rallying other students to leave in protest.

Tomáš continued to seek love among his colleagues, though each relationship ended painfully. Disillusioned and tired of repeated heartbreak, he resigned himself to the solitude of his cold heart.

On the autumn equinox, the brothers rented a cabin to drink and share their stories. As they emptied their beers, a melancholy mood settled. Suddenly, a mysterious Gate appeared, standing in the room's center.

The Gate had two wings: the right, adorned with silver plant motifs and mythical creatures, seemed almost alive; the left, filled with intricate gold geometric designs, patterns, and dimensions. Intrigued, they decided to find out what lay beyond.

Karel approached first. His suit transformed into a silver crown with red garnets, and upon his command, the Gate opened with a thunderous roar as he stepped through. Mojmír followed, his knife becoming a Damascus steel sword with a large ruby, cleaving the Gate open with a mighty swing. Václav’s book transformed into a magical wand, and he passed through the Gate effortlessly. Tomáš's gray cat turned into a silver rose brooch, and he too entered.

They found themselves in a dark forest. The sky was moonless, and snow fell onto the muddy ground. Though they called to each other, they couldn’t find one another in the dense woods. The trees had scarred bark, black wings ruled the night, and dark roots coiled around their feet as moths circled their heads. The melted snow traced the tracks of wolf paws in the mud.

Karel

Karel was attempting to make his way through the forest. The forest whispered to him: “Stop for a moment. Sit down. Draw in energy. You will rise more powerful. You will become stronger. Call the creatures of this forest, and they will bow to you and follow any command you give.”

Karel fell to his knees, exhausted from pushing through the undergrowth, and decided to act. In a powerful voice, he commanded the forest to part. He commanded the ground to harden. His word was made reality, and he walked through the woods along a comfortable path until he saw the light of civilization. When he reached it, he found a small cottage. He knocked on the door, and an old tailor opened it and made him a suit.

“Why are you walking through this forest, young man? This is not a world for humans.”

“I must walk through this forest because it is the fate I have chosen. This journey will make me stronger.” Karel said confidently, and the old man smiled sadly at his words.

“I, too, once walked your path. Come, warm yourself, I’ll make tea.” The old tailor replied. He told Karel of his youth, how he used to judge beings in the forest when there were conflicts, how he grew old and took up the tailoring craft from his father. Karel spoke of his dreams and struggles, and the old tailor told him of his youthful dreams of changing the world. Finally, he showed him the way out of the forest and gave Karel a riddle as a farewell.

The Sun eclipsed by Moon’s dark face.

Moon consumed in Chaos' embrace.

Stars in shards begin to gleam,

The soul’s fire, the question of being.

The darkened Sky gives no reply.

The mind’s own key unlocks the why.

Karel smiled at the tailor’s attempt at mystery and thanked him for the directions to get out of the forest. Beyond the forest clearing, he saw a castle of white marble on a hill. He reached it and saw that it was partly in ruins, heard screeches coming from within, but also saw shimmering in their outlines as they flashed in the dark.

Karel entered the marble castle through broken-down iron gates. With a torch he found, he explored room by room. In the royal bedchamber, he found an old man with a wild expression on his face. When he saw Karel, he drew his sword and spoke fiercely: “I am Kostěj the Deathless, emperor and rightful ruler of this land by conquest; what do you seek in my fortress, intruder?”

“I am Karel, and I will be the ruler of this land, specter.”

“You uncouth mortal! You worm!” Kostěj roared and with a gesture of his free hand summoned a wind that threw Karel to the ground.

Karel summoned all the power hidden in his crown with his mind and commanded, “Bow to me, you scruffy old man!”

Kostěj hunched under an invisible pressure but then straightened and cried, “Here you are in my domain, in my power, and I will bow to no one!”

The sorcerer swung his sword at Karel again and called forth the wind’s power. Karel dodged and fled. In the room he hid in, he was not alone. When he looked around, he saw a strange being. It was a towering ape covered in moss, its face hidden by a shapeless silver mask. Only its horns protruded from behind the mask. Before Karel could say anything, the ape bowed to him.

“My lord, I am at your service.”

“Who are you?” Karel asked.

“Lešij. A humble servant, of many forms.”

“Many forms? And how can you serve me?”

The ape transformed into a bear, then into a red rooster. The rooster spoke crowingly: “I can serve you in my various shapes, but I can also show you the way to your goal.”

“What do you know of my goals?” Karel asked suspiciously.

At this, the rooster transformed into a mirror. The frame of the mirror was covered in bark and moss. When Karel looked into it, he saw a kingdom ravaged by Kostěj and his army of monsters, cast into darkness. He saw himself in the castle chapel defending hidden priests and then asking them for help. With their aid, he defeated Kostěj and became a wise ruler.

“Thank you, Lešiji. I will repay you once I have defeated that cursed Kostěj,” Karel promised and ran toward the chapel shown in the mirror.

The mirror returned to the form of the ape. “It was an honor to serve you, my lord.”

Karel encountered various magical beings on the way to the chapel, but all he had to do was use the power of his crown to command them to bow to him. This included two monsters who were trying to break into the chapel. The priests were delighted to see him and prepared a ritual to capture Kostěje. Karel and his new allies found Kostěje in the throne room after a long search. He stood beside an empty golden throne, surrounded by his monsters. Karel engaged him in battle to give the priests time to prepare the ritual. He paralyzed the monsters with his command to kneel. Kostěj fiercely defended himself, attacking with sword strikes and magic. Karel endured, unbalancing Kostěje with the power of his crown and the commands he issued. Kostěj struggled to resist that power. The priests began chanting in Latin, and Kostěj dropped his sword, clutching his ears. Karel seized the moment, took the sword, and severed Kostěj’s head. Karel rejoiced, his gaze hungrily settling on the empty golden throne.

Mojmír

The second brother, Mojmír, tried to make his way through the forest. The forest whispered to him: “Pause for a while. Sit down. Gather your strength. You will rise stronger, with a will like iron. You’ll defeat the beasts of this forest; none will resist you, and you’ll have no fear of anything.”

Mojmír dropped to his knees in exhaustion, but it angered him. He drew his sword and, with a powerful swing, felled a tree before him. He swung again and again, cutting a path through the woods until he saw the light of civilization. When he reached it, he found a small cottage. He knocked on the door, and an old veteran in a worn uniform opened it.

"Why are you traveling through this forest, young man? This is no place for people."

"I must walk this forest because it’s the harder path, and I chose it. This journey will make me stronger." Mojmír spoke confidently, and the old man smiled sadly at his words.

"I, too, once took your path. Come in and warm yourself; I'll give you some rum for strength." The old soldier replied. He spoke of his youth, of battles fought in the forest when he saw injustice, of how he grew old but still sought worthy foes. Fortified by alcohol, the veteran asked for a friendly duel. Mojmír agreed, but in the first strikes, he went easy on the veteran, who took advantage and dealt Mojmír bloody wounds. Angered, Mojmír fought back and ultimately won. The veteran rose from the ground, spat a bloody tooth, and said:

"Thank you for the fight, young man. Let me tell you a tale that may one day save your life. It’s the tale of the Scarred General, a man among men, the Cartographer of Wounds. His body is scarred all over, even his eyes. He grows stronger with every scar, with every healing. The Medusa in her cave held no power over him, and the Hydra’s venomous fangs couldn’t pierce his tough, scarred skin. He marches forward through the desert of time, always seeking new challenges. I hope you fare as well as the Scarred General on your journey. Keep heading north, and you’ll reach the marble castle you seek."

Mojmír smiled at the veteran’s attempt at mystery and thanked him for the directions out of the forest. When Mojmír reached the castle, he saw it was battle-worn, and the air was thick with blood and despair.

Mojmír entered the marble castle through a gate long torn open. In the entry hall, a massive serpent awaited him. Four heads on four necks, a bloated body covered in scales, wings, and a tail tipped with a spike. The serpent hissed furiously as it saw him: "I am Zmej, the creature that has conquered this castle. This is my lair because I will it so. Are you seeking death, intruder, by entering my lair?"

Without hesitation, Mojmír drew his sword. “I am Mojmír, and there will be no creature stronger than I, serpent.”

Zmej grew wary, sensing the blood, coal, and sulfur on his blade. The first head spat fire, the second, ice, the third, acid, and the fourth, lightning. Mojmír managed to dodge the onslaught but had to retreat each time. The serpent was too far for him to strike its head or body.

He retreated into a corridor too narrow for Zmej to follow. Searching the rooms, he sought anything that could aid him in the fight. In one room, however, he wasn’t alone. When he looked around, he saw a strange being: an ape with bark-like skin, its face hidden by a shapeless silver mask with horns jutting from behind it. The ape saluted him.

“My commander.”

“Who are you?” Mojmír asked.

“I am Lešij, a simple subordinate, with many skills.”

“Many skills? And how can you serve me?”

The ape transformed into a wolf, then into a red rooster. The rooster crowed, “I can serve you in many forms, and I can also show you the way to your goal.”

“Show me the way to the armory,” Mojmír ordered.

The rooster turned into a mirror. Its frame was overgrown with bark and moss. When Mojmír looked into it, he saw the path to the armory, where crossbows were stored, and then he saw himself battling Zmej, piercing it in the chest, where its scales were already chipped from previous fights. Finally, he saw himself repairing the castle, which would then serve as a bastion of light for many years.

"Thank you, Lešiji; I will reward you once I’ve defeated this cursed Zmej." Mojmír promised and ran in the direction shown in the mirror.

The mirror transformed back into the ape. “It has been an honor to serve, my commander.”

Mojmír defeated the magical creatures that tried to block his path to the armory, cutting them down with his enchanted sword. In the armory, he found an old crossbow and took several bolts with him. Zmej was not in the entry hall; after a long search, he found it in the throne room. It was not alone, however; four young women lay bound before it.

“Strike, and they die,” Zmej hissed.

“If I do not kill you, you will kill them and more.” Mojmír shouted, eager for the coming fight. With his crossbow ready, he shot Zmej in the center of the chest. Zmej began to spew deadly breath in all directions. The girls screamed as they perished. Mojmír quickly ran to Zmej and, with a single swing, split it in two. Mojmír cheered and cast a covetous glance upon the empty golden throne.

Václav

The third brother, Václav, was trying to walk through the forest. The forest whispered to him: "Stop for a moment. Sit down. Recharge your energy. You will rise sharper. Your mind will be clearer. You will know the wildlife of this forest; with enough knowledge, nothing will remain hidden from you, and you will have nothing to fear."

Václav fell to his knees in exhaustion, but he strengthened his determination. With his staff, he began to cast spells. With a wave, the trees uprooted themselves and moved aside to make way for him. With a second wave, the muddy ground transformed into an asphalt road. With a third wave, he summoned a motorcycle, which he mounted and rode toward the light of civilization. When he reached it, he saw a small cottage. He knocked on the door, and a young-looking sage opened it.

"Why are you traversing this forest, young man? This is not a world for people."

"Young man? You are young yourself. I must pass through this forest to reach my goal. The path of knowledge is not without thorns, and I have chosen it. This path will make me wiser," Václav said confidently, and the sage smiled sadly at his words.

"I too once walked your path; come warm yourself by my fire, and I will give you some elixir of vitality to strengthen you." The sage replied. He then told Václav about his youth, how he had many apprentices in the forest whom he initiated into the secrets of alchemy, how he later uncovered the secret of eternal life and the mysteries of the universe. The sage showed Václav the basics of working with obscure tools and recommended books he had never heard of before. He also gave him a vial of elixir. Finally, the sage gave instructions on how to get out of the forest and a riddle as a parting gift.

"The forest grows around the borders of the Kingdom of the Sun, but every wise apprentice knows that the Kingdom of the Sun has no borders, and the forest has no end."

Václav furrowed his brow over the sage's riddle but could not grasp its meaning. He thanked him for the directions to get out of the forest. When Václav reached the marble castle and saw that although it was in a defensible position, it had been taken. He suspected betrayal.

Václav entered the castle through long-ruined bars. As he walked through the corridors, he heard whispers, pleas for help, and for liberation. So, he headed down to the dungeon. When he entered the jail, he saw a dark creature. It had horns, a whip-like animal tail, and black saliva dripped from its wolf-like snout. The creature noticed him and spoke without opening its mouth: "I am Běs, the monster that plunged this kingdom into darkness. This castle is my dungeon, as it is yours. Have you come to seek the inevitable, my friend?"

Václav heard the creature's whispers. It spoke of coldness, decay, and death. Václav extended the distance between them with his staff. "You speak as if you know me, Běs, yet I see you for the first time. It does not matter; once I defeat you, I will dissect you and understand you."

Běs patiently approached Václav. He conjured a fireball and hurled it at Běs. The creature inhaled it and swallowed it. Václav conjured a grenade and threw it at Běs. The explosion beneath his feet was ignored by Běs. Václav retreated and threw sulfuric and hydrochloric acid at Běs, but the creature patiently and slowly followed him. Václav ran.

When Václav hid in a room, he was not alone. When he looked around, he saw a strange being. It was an ape with needles instead of fur, but its face was covered by a shapeless silver mask. Only the horns protruded from behind the mask. Václav almost startled, thinking it was also Běs. The ape nodded at him.

"My teacher."

"Who are you?" Václav asked suspiciously, hearing whispers of primordial power around him.

"Lešij. A simple apprentice with many abilities."

"Many abilities? And how can you help me?"

The ape transformed into a bat, then from a bat into a red rooster. The rooster spoke in a crowing voice: "I can serve you in my various forms, but I can also show you the way to your goal."

"And what if my goal is all the knowledge of the universe?" Václav asked. "And what if I ask you where the Kingdom of the Sun has borders and where the forest ends?"

At that, the rooster transformed back into the ape. The ape removed its silver mask with its hand, and Václav saw his own face behind it. It spoke.

"You have the answer to all your questions; you just need to find them. And the answer to the question that now burns you the most is in your right pocket."

Václav reached into his pocket and found the elixir from the sage and held his head. It now seemed so obvious to him.

"You have my thanks; once I fulfill why I came, I will reward you." Václav said and left to search for Běs.

The ape replied softly, "It was an honor to advise you, my teacher."

Václav searched the castle and found Běs standing behind the golden throne. Běs's hands transformed into dark tentacles and slowly but surely advanced toward Václav. Václav pulled out the elixir from the sage and swallowed it.

"Are you finally surrendering to the inevitable?" Běs asked without emotion.

When Běs reached him, he wrapped around him and lost his material essence. He transformed into liquid darkness, into black smoke, and attempted to invade Václav. Václav swallowed the darkness in great gulps, inhaling it with each breath and feeling it penetrate his body through his skin, but he had faith. The heat within him burned unwaveringly and protected him. Václav rejoiced, and his curious gaze rested on the empty golden throne.

Tomáš

The youngest brother, Tomáš, was trying to walk through the forest. The forest whispered to him: "Stop for a moment. Sit down. Recharge your energy. Your body will be more beautiful. Your soul will be kinder. You will subdue the wildlife of this forest with just a smile. There will be nothing to worry about."

Tomáš fell to his knees in exhaustion. He asked the branches to help him rise, and they did. He asked the trees to show him the way to civilization, and they parted in the right direction. When he reached the cottage, he knocked on the door. An old man opened it.

"Why are you walking through this forest, young man? This is not a world for people."

"I must walk through this forest because it will help others and myself. This path will teach me how to love," Tomáš said confidently, and the old man smiled sadly at his words.

"I too once walked your path; come warm yourself by my fire, and I will give you some soup to warm and strengthen you." The grandfather replied. He then told Tomáš about his youth, how he cleared a glade in the forest and grew wheat on it. Meanwhile, his grandson and granddaughter were playing around their feet. The old man told Tomáš that he had a little son in the village nearby and cared for the younger generation. Tomáš played with the children for a while and told the old man about his troubles with women and life. The grandfather advised him on how to get out of the forest and also said:

"Thank you for the evening, young man. Let me tell you a riddle. What you seek, you will find only when you harness the red Heart of Life, always beating, allowing no end, demanding a ceaseless dance, protecting the fragile shell of Being."

Tomáš smiled at the old man's attempt at mystery and heartily thanked him for the directions to get out of the forest. When Tomáš reached the marble castle, he placed his palm on the broken wall and felt the torment of the past, the battles fought, and the pillaging.

Tomáš entered the marble castle through the long-ruined bars. The castle was empty except for the baths. The large pools, however, were not filled with water but with blood. The walls of the baths were covered in flesh and spiderwebs of sinew. Cocoons the size of an adult human were stuck to the walls. When Tomáš entered the baths, he saw a beautiful maiden bathing. The torchlight passed through her almost transparent body.

When the maiden saw him, she looked at him disdainfully: "I was a forest nymph, but now I am the queen of this castle. Are you seeking death by disturbing me in my bath, intruder?"

Tomáš smiled: "Now I am the lord of this castle, and I will subdue your heart, fairy."

The fairy's features sharpened; her eyes became those of a wild beast, and spider-like limbs sprouted from her back.

"I like your smile, but I have broken countless like you." The fairy rose from the blood, angrily swinging at Tomáš.

Tomáš did not stop laughing. "And yet you like my smile. Tell me, fairy, where lies the way to your heart? Is it locked on a distant island or has it turned to ice?"

The fairy tried to slash at Tomáš, to kick him, but he dodged all her blows with feigned ease. "My heart is as black as a starless sky, and I do not know where it lies," the fairy hissed, glaring with disdain.

"And yet, you let me dance around your heart, and yet you fear what you cannot tame." Tomáš laughed, and the fairy's features softened slightly. "I too was a fool once, but the heart can beat in a fragile body. Tell me, fairy, how do I tame your heart?"

At that, the fairy's smile grew wry. "Come! If you know how to dance, then let us dance! Let's see if you can warm my frozen heart!"

Tomáš took a step forward and grabbed her hand. The two began to dance around the room, moving as one, and Tomáš was glad to see that with each turn, he warmed her heart. The fairy's anger subsided, and she smiled at him.

"You will find my heart, even if I hide it well. I will surrender it to you, Tomáš, if you succeed in my riddle."

Tomáš nodded in agreement, eager to find the heart of the fairy. The fairy spoke the riddle again, and Tomáš repeated it back to her, now fully understanding its meaning.

As they danced, the fairy's heart beat in sync with Tomáš's, and the castle trembled with the rhythm of their dance. The stone walls echoed their laughter, and the castle came alive with color.

Throne

Four brothers stood with their defeated foes before a golden throne. But the golden throne was not empty. A silver-masked ape sat upon it, its mask hollow and devoid of expression.

"Have you been entertained, brothers?" the ape asked, and with a wave of his hand, he transformed Kostěj, Zmej, Běs, and the fairy into moonlight that sparkled in his mask.

"What?! You traitor! I will kill you!" Mojmír roared, attempting to strike Lešij with his sword.

"But that won’t do, Mojmírku. You promised me you would reward me as soon as you defeated Zmej. You have defeated her, and now you want more? A word given is law in this land." Lešij laughed, and Mojmír froze, unable to move or utter a sound.

"The moon devoured by chaos... You are Chaos! You have usurped the power of night and settled upon the golden throne that does not belong to you!" Karel shouted. "Get off that throne and bow to me!"

"Kájo, Kájo. Do you think your claim to the golden throne is stronger than mine? I rule here and maintain the kingdom from complete collapse. Without me, this castle would have crumbled long ago. I maintain the balance. Kneel, Kájo."

Though Karel did not want to, he knelt.

"Brothers! Together we can defeat him!" Tomáš shouted.

"Is this how you repay me, Tomíku?" Amusement was evident in Lešij’s voice.

Tomáš found further words caught in his throat.

"And what about you, Vášíku?"

"The forest has no end. I know my answer, and I know that whatever I do, I cannot defeat you."

Lešij rose from his throne, approached Karel, and touched his forehead. "Kájo, you were powerful and used it selfishly for yourself. Instead of being a wise ruler, you stupidly competed with others, humiliating those who depended on you and ruling unjustly. I condemn you to feel the weight of your mistakes every day."

The silver crown inlaid with red garnets transformed into a large black stone. Karel, though unwilling, lifted it and bore it on his shoulders.

Lešij approached Mojmír and touched his forehead. "Mojo, you have become strong, but you have always fought only for yourself, attacking the helpless, killing the weaker when they could not defend themselves to ease your own fears. You have caused much wailing and pain. I condemn you to blindness, which you have shown in wielding your power."

The damask sword with a silver hilt turned into a black helmet without a visor. Mojmír, though unwilling, put it on his head.

Lešij approached Václav and touched his forehead. A tear rolled down Václav's face. "Vášku. You have been intelligent and persistent, but you used your arguments to manipulate others. You did not seek wisdom but power over others. You did not help others understand the mysteries of the world but exploited their ignorance. I condemn you to be tormented by the cruel truth of the world every day."

The book written in silver ink that Václav always carried transformed into a skull of dark obsidian. Resigned to his fate, Václav took it in his hands and could not tear his gaze away from it. Ice-cold sweat broke out on his back with that realization.

Then Lešij approached the youngest brother, who looked at him with fear. When the ape touched his forehead, he spoke: "Tomášku, in your life you could have been content, but you chose not to be. Instead of being grateful for what you have, you looked at what you do not have. You transferred your discontent and suffering onto others, hoping it would ease your own burden. You were jealous and vengeful. I condemn you to feel the same fear and helplessness as your victims."

The silver rose on Tomáš's lapel turned into black shackles. Though he did not want to, Tomáš put them on his wrists.

"Return to your material world and do not come back." With a wave of his hand, Lešij summoned the Gate.

World

When Karel returned to his company, he found it in bankruptcy. He knew he could start a new one, but the stone he carried weighed heavily on him. So he found a dull office job and let himself be yelled at by an overbearing boss. He knew he deserved it. He vowed that he would rather let others dictate how he should live than foolishly lead others again. Thus, he drifted through life without will or enthusiasm.

Mojmír left sports and got a job in a factory on the assembly line. He struggled to manage his work because he was blind. He did not talk to others, and over time they began to bully him when they realized he would tolerate it. One day, strangers attacked him and beat him. Mojmír did not defend himself. He vowed to live a humble life and would rather let himself be hurt than hurt another.

Václav graduated and began lecturing at university. The presentations he had were simply readings from the text on the slides. The students were indifferent to him. All his thoughts were occupied by that obsidian skull. He knew he could invest his energy elsewhere. But that could make him content, even if only for a moment. He knew he did not deserve that. So he begrudgingly drifted through life in depression.

Tomáš found a wife who yelled at him, who threw plates at him when he annoyed her. She criticized him harshly when she was bored. Tomáš always tried to comfort her with calm words. He excused her in front of others, knowing he deserved such a partner. He had hurt so many partners; he deserved to be punished. He would never break up again, for that would only hurt a loved one again.

For a long time, the brothers lived this way until they grew accustomed to their fate and convinced themselves they were content when they met again at a celebration. That evening, Karel walked by the river and saw the moonlight shimmering in the water. He decided he had to find another job because, if not for himself, it would help others more. The stone he carried on his chest seemed lighter to him since then. Mojmír had seen the day before how two thieves attacked and kicked an elderly woman on the ground. He did not want to fight; he feared the rage within him, but this time he intervened. Though he received many blows because he could not see, he protected the woman. He tasted blood in his mouth. Václav's daily routine and the students' questions were destroying him. At the celebration, he looked at the skull and heard whispers. He decided to travel and never return. The day before the celebration, Tomáš's girlfriend had pulled a knife on him in anger. He knew that was too much even for him, and he broke up with her.

When the brothers had drunk several beers at the celebration, they began to share their troubles honestly. And then, the Gate appeared in the middle of the room. The brothers froze in surprise.

"Together?" asked the eldest brother.

"Together," replied the other three.

Together, the four brothers placed their hands on the Gate of gold and silver.

"I will not disappoint again," said Karel.

"I will fight for what is right," said Mojmír.

"I will always seek the truth," said Václav.

"I will not exploit others, nor will I let myself be exploited," promised Tomáš.

The Gate opened silently. Together, the brothers entered the dark thicket. A cruel cold prevailed in the thicket. The brothers pushed through thickets and drifts of sparkling snow, but the trees blocked their way. A bat with a sewn-up mouth flew around them, trying to scratch them with its claws. Other wild beasts charged at them and then ran back into the night. Day and night, they pushed through the forest, which fought against them. They tripped over roots and fell from exhaustion.

"Sit down, sleep. All your troubles will leave you," whispered the treacherous forest.

Despite the hardships, the brothers managed to reach a clearing. But beyond the clearing, the forest continued. They noticed, however, that the trees had needles instead of needles, and instead of snow, there were piles of shards, and the branches of the thicket were made of blades. Karel wanted to go first, but Mojmír silently stopped him with a hand and went first. He cleared the way for the brothers with his bare hands. The forest of blades tore at his flesh to the bone. Blood flowed from his wounds. The shards got stuck in his shoes. He could not see through the helmet before him, but he kept going.

When they passed this part of the forest, they came to a vast swamp. With no way to bypass it, the youngest brother took the lead. He fell into it several times because his hands were shackled, but each time he rose again, his heart's desire for continuation unyielding. Over time, he understood the rules of the swamp, and his steps became a dance. Tomáš, the only one covered in mud, led his brothers through the treacherous swamp.

They reached the marble ruins of a castle, but no path led to it. It was no longer on a hill but on an inaccessible rock. The village that had stood next to it was burned. The brothers wondered how to reach the castle. Václav stood up and looked at the black skull, and it sent chills down his spine. He told his brothers that they stood before the gate. When they looked at the castle again, they indeed stood before it.

When the brothers entered the castle, the gate closed behind them and plunged them into absolute darkness. No matter how long they walked, they could not find the end of the entrance hall. No matter how hard they searched, they could not find a torch to light their way.

"What is our goal?" asked the eldest brother. The other brothers, exhausted and battered from the journey, did not respond. "Our goal is to defeat Lešij and restore balance to this kingdom and the forest. You’ve seen how it looks outside. Follow me."

As Karel finished speaking, his black stone began to shine with a golden glow. It didn’t shrink, but it felt lighter to him. The light from the stone illuminated the brothers' path to the throne room.

When they entered the throne room, a ball was taking place there. Various mythical creatures and beings were dancing, and on the throne sat an ape with a silver empty mask. When the ape saw the brothers, he waved his hand, and all the other creatures transformed into reflections of the moon in his mask.

"Friends, adversaries. I am Lešij, the ruler of this castle, kingdom, and forest. I was ten times stronger than you combined when you were at your full strength. How can you hope to defeat me?" asked Lešij.

Tomáš stepped forward to face Lešij. "You are the ruler of the forest; you have no place in this castle and this kingdom. The castle is crumbling, creatures are killing each other, and the forest itself is spiraling out of control when you are not there. If you still have any love for the forest, for the beings that inhabit it, for the people who lived in this castle and had to flee, then you will renounce the golden throne."

"A filthy weakling is preaching to me about what I should do? Get out of my sight; only because of me is this kingdom not completely engulfed in darkness."

Mojmír stepped forward and grabbed Lešij by the hands. Lešij was much stronger, but Mojmír’s grip was persistent, and even though Lešij landed several blows on him, he did not relent in his hold.

"Václav, take off his mask and send it back to the sky where it belongs. Lešij usurped it from the heavens." Karel instructed his younger brother.

With a spell on his lips, Václav removed Lešij's silver mask. He looked into it and saw all knowledge within. The temptation was almost stronger than he was, but with the cries of his brothers, he sent the silver round mask back to the starless sky with another spell. The moon lit up the night sky.

"And you, Lešij, did you think you deserved to sit on the golden throne, even though you are by nature a forest being? Mojmír, take him and harness him to a plow. Cut down a piece of the forest and sow grain in the ground. When the people return to this kingdom, they will not go hungry. Then release him back into the forest," commanded Karel.

Lešij was still strong, but under Mojmír’s relentless persistence, he was dragged and harnessed to the plow. When Mojmír plowed and sowed, he released Lešij back into the forest.

The brothers gathered again in the throne room. The empty golden throne stood before them. They realized that the throne had never been empty.

"It’s time to return, what do you say, brothers?" Karel asked. His siblings agreed with him. At that moment, a Gate appeared before them. The stone in Karel's arms transformed into a suit with a sun pattern embroidered in golden thread on the back. The black helmet without a visor that Mojmír wore changed into a knife of damask steel with a golden handle. Václav's obsidian skull turned into a book written in golden ink. Tomáš's shackles turned into two golden rings. The sun began to slowly rise.

Sun

When Karel opened his eyes, he decided to pursue higher education, studied law, and became a judge. He judged people wisely and justly. The sun embroidered on his suit shone even beneath the robe.

When Mojmír opened his eyes, he became a firefighter. He fought fiercely for the rescue of others. One day he came to a traffic accident where the driver was trapped by the seatbelt. With his knife with a golden handle, he cut it and freed the driver from the burning car.

When Václav opened his eyes, he returned to school and taught with enthusiasm and passion. His book written in golden letters was wide open as he initiated new generations into the mysteries of the universe.

Tomáš found a kind wife and a job he loved. He had three children with her and later rejoiced in seven grandchildren. He often played with his children and grandchildren and loved the quiet evenings spent by his wife's side. One evening, he scratched their tabby cat. Then he took his wife by the hand, caressed her palm, and looked again at the ring she always wore. He smiled.

Beyond the endless forest, the sun once again sat on the golden throne in the marble castle.