Riding slowly back along the way to his home village, Prince Seren contemplated what lessons might be gleaned from his adventures. It seemed clear that his four princely companions had each lacked different elements needed to succeed in creating their own serendipity. The first lacked a clear idea of where he wished to go -- Vision. The next a clear idea of where he was -- Insight. The third a feasible way to get there -- Path. Finally, poor Prince Almast had everything needed but lacked the drive to complete the journey -- Impetus.
Long thought led Prince Seren to realize that his vision was neither spoils, plunder, victory in battle nor treasure from adventure. His vision was the solving of intractable riddles, and neither his interest nor his strengths were suited for riding through each gateway thus unlocked. Armed with this vision and insight he created and trod his own unique path and serendipitously benefited from myriad unexpected world events for the rest of his days.
Even the common jests about his chosen trade never dimmed his boyish enthusiasm for each new challenge when a new prince entered his castle seeking his sage counsel before embarking on their quests for fortune. He will invite you to a feast, you bring the mead and mutton. He will borrow your treasure map and tell you which direction to go. Old and trite, but he still enjoys his favorite. Prince Seren knows 1000 ways to breach a stronghold's defenses, but he doesn't know any princesses.
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