The Dragon's Treasure
Once upon a time, in an emerald green valley lost in the lap of dense forests, there lived a young woodcutter named Akif, known for his honesty. On the highest peak of the steep cliffs surrounding this valley there dwelt a wise dragon known for his immense wealth. Instead of guarding his gold, the dragon lent it to honest people, and drove those who did not keep their word out of his cave forever. One winter, when a great famine struck the village, the helpless Akif decided to knock on the dragon's door. The young man, who climbed the steep paths and reached the gloomy door of the cave, took a deep breath and stepped inside. The dragon shook the cave with his roaring voice and asked, "What have you come to ask of me, son of man?"
Bowing with respect, Akif said, "My village is starving; I ask for a loan from your treasure to save my people." The giant creature narrowed his eyes and thundered, "And what will you leave me as a pledge?" The young woodcutter took from his pocket the silver flint stone left to him by his father and held it out to the huge claw. "This stone is the only precious thing I own, but my true pledge is the word of honour I give you," he said, standing upright. When the dragon saw the unshakable determination in the young man's eyes, he held out to him a purse full of glittering gold. "If you do not bring this gold back on the first day of spring, you will lose your pledge forever," he warned.
Akif gratefully took the gold, met the needs of the villagers and began to work day and night without stopping. On the day the snows melted and the first flowers opened in the meadows, Akif bundled up all the gold he had earned and returned to the cave. When the dragon saw that the debt had been paid in full, he placed the silver stone in the young man's hand and smiled with pleasure. "You have not only paid your debt, you have also proved the loyalty and the trustworthiness of mankind," said the wise creature. The dragon opened to the young man the doors of the true treasure in the cave and made him the most respected man of the valley. Every step taken with uprightness and honesty is a golden key that opens for a person even the doors believed to be the most impassable. A true word needs no oath.