Ivan lost his father when he was very young.
Confused and uncertain about life, he went to his father’s younger brother seeking advice.
“Is it worth walking the path of truth,” Ivan asked,
“or is it better to live by cleverness and shortcuts?”
The uncle laughed. According to him, truth had no value in this world.
To settle the matter, they made a wager. They would ask three strangers on the road which path one should follow—truth or cunning. If the uncle won, Ivan would give him all his wealth. If Ivan won, the uncle would give up everything he owned.
The answers were crushing.
A farmer… a priest… a rich man—
all said the same thing: truth is useless.
Ivan lost everything.
With nothing left, he wandered into the forest, where fate whispered through the voices of three elves. By secretly listening, Ivan discovered hidden truths—about a dying princess, a land without water, and a broken dam that threatened a kingdom.
Armed with wisdom instead of wealth, Ivan changed destinies, saved kingdoms, and rose from poverty to become a king.
But what happens when his uncle, burning with envy, tries to copy his path?
A timeless folk tale about truth, destiny, hidden wisdom, and the quiet power of listening, this story asks:
Does truth fail us—or does it wait for the right moment to reward us?