The Riddle

Once upon a time, in a kingdom surrounded by towering mountains and lush green forests, there lived a young boy named Jack. Jack was known far and wide for his sharp mind and quick wit, always ready to solve the trickiest of puzzles and riddles.

One day, as Jack wandered through the forest, he stumbled upon a curious old cottage hidden amongst the trees. Intrigued, he approached the cottage and found an old woman sitting on the doorstep, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Welcome, young traveler," the old woman said with a smile. "I have a riddle for you, one that will test your wits and challenge your mind. Solve it, and you shall be rewarded with great treasure."

Eager to prove himself, Jack listened carefully as the old woman whispered the riddle in his ear:

"I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with fears. What am I?"

Jack furrowed his brow, pondering the riddle carefully. He wracked his brain for an answer, but try as he might, he could not solve the mystery.

Undeterred, Jack set off on a quest to find the answer, traveling far and wide across the kingdom in search of clues. Along the way, he encountered all manner of creatures – from wise old owls to mischievous sprites – each offering him cryptic hints and advice.

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, Jack grew weary and discouraged, his spirits flagging as he struggled to unlock the secret of the riddle. But just when he was about to give up hope, he stumbled upon a hidden glen deep within the forest, where a shimmering pool of water lay nestled amidst a grove of ancient trees.

As Jack gazed into the pool, he saw his reflection staring back at him, and suddenly, the answer to the riddle dawned on him like a bolt of lightning. With a triumphant shout, he raced back to the old woman's cottage, his heart pounding with excitement.

"I have the answer!" Jack exclaimed, breathless with anticipation. "The answer to the riddle is... an echo!"

The old woman's eyes sparkled with delight as Jack's words echoed through the air, and with a wave of her hand, she conjured forth a chest overflowing with treasure – gold coins, precious gems, and sparkling jewels.

"Congratulations, young Jack," the old woman said with a smile. "You have proven yourself to be a true master of riddles, and you shall be rewarded with riches beyond your wildest dreams."

And so, with the treasure in hand and the mystery of the riddle solved, Jack returned home to the kingdom, where he was hailed as a hero and celebrated for his cleverness and courage. And as he drifted off to sleep that night, his mind filled with dreams of new adventures and challenges awaiting him in the days to come.