📘 Thousand and One Postures

It came to my ears, oh Great Caliph, about the ruler called Bendryar. Now I have heard stories from many lands, about rulers who loved riches, others who were cruel and wicked, and some who ruled with wisdom and justice.

And yet none of them compares to the powerful sultan Bendryar, a man so wealthy that his treasure vaults overflowed with shimmering gold and glittering jewels beyond measure! The people trembled at his every whim.

But this sultan was not content with mere wealth, his heart craved something more... he yearned for beauty, more than all his treasures combined. And in particular, he desired to see the most exquisite shapes and forms imaginable.

He would throw magnificent feasts, where young men and women contorted their bodies into astonishing shapes, twisting and turning as if they possess magic powers! Such wonders have never been seen anywhere else in the world...

If anyone could show him something that made his eyes widen with delight, he'd shower them with gold so thick that you couldn't even see the floor anymore! And pretty soon, word spread everywhere – this sultan had mountains of treasure, waiting to be handed out to those daring enough to perform incredible feats before him.

But after a few years of watching the most astounding contortions, sultan Bendryar grew weary of the art form. He felt that the performers had nothing new to offer him; each evening was filled with the same tired tricks and poses, leaving him more and more disenchanted.

His sultanate began to suffer from his boredom. His obsession with discovering new amazing poses caused him to demand that newborns be trained from infancy to become contortionists for his amusement. This cruel practice robbed children of their childhood and education, forcing them to spend their days bending their bodies impossibly far, all in hope of pleasing the sultan one day.

These relentless practices took their toll on the young contortionists. Their exhausted bodies froze under pressure, failing to perform even simple bends without struggle. But the sultan refused to believe anything was wrong, instead demanding more extreme stunts from his subjects every year...

Meanwhile, in a remote village nestled within the sun-drenched buttes of the sultanate, the lived a young and nimble lad named Andrezade. His magic lay not in swordplay or sorcery, but in the mastery of his own body – for he was blessed with an unbridled gift for contorting himself into impossible shapes, thanks to his step-mother, whose life story was whispered amongst the villagers like a legendary folktale.

This woman, they said, had once graced the opulent halls of the grand palace as a renowned performer, captivating courtiers and dignitaries alike with her astounding flexibility. But alas, her time there came to a tragic end when her beauty and talents were no longer enough to satisfy the sultan's ever-growing desires.

Banished from the palace, she turned her sorrow into determination, pouring her heart and soul into teaching her step-son, little Andrezade, the secrets of bending his will to mold his form. Yearning to see him succeed where she failed, she dreamed of the day he would return to the palace, this time as a young man worthy of its grandeur, and restore their name to glory.

When word did reach the ears of Andrezade that the sultan demaned all kinds of impossible feats from his entertainers, he knew it was time for him to step in. His step-mother had trained him well, pushing him past his limit again and again until he could bend himself like no other boy.

But unlike those poor souls who were forced into this lifestyle against their will, Andrezade loved every moment of it, twisting his body into wondrous shapes with ease and excitement.

It was destiny, when his step-mother found him at the village orphanage years ago. The orphanage's matron told her how little Andrezade would spend hours sitting with his legs spread so wide apart that they formed a straight line, or he would wrap them around himself until his feet were behind his head!

Every day, his favorite game was to challenge other children to see who was most flexible, easily winning each little contest with tricks and moves no one else could copy. Despite winning countless times, everybody loved watching him show off his incredible talents, always cheering him on with delighted shouts.

One day, after hearing whispers on the wind about a great jubilation occurring within the royal palace, Andrezade felt a fire light within him. He journeyed through the bustling marketplace, his heart pounding like a drum, until he reached the gates of the palace.

There, he stood before the mighty sultan, bowing low as a humble servant and spoke with a voice both soft and respectful, "Oh great sultan, I am Andrezade, a maker of postures, and I have come bearing a gift to offer at your feet."

Bendryar stared at Andrezade with wide eyes. He had never seen anyone so beautiful before! He was like a prince out of one of his favourite tales. His face was radiant, shining as if illuminated by the moon itself. His skin was soft as petals of a rose, glowing with a gentle warmth.

But how could someone so delicate and refined possess the endurance and patience required to become a master posturemaker? Such gifts would come only from years of grueling practice, and it often took layers of precious make-up to cover up all the sweat and pain endured by those who truly mastered their craft.

"Is there truly magic in these perfect limbs?" Bendryar asked with a hint of amusement, eyeing the silken fabric that draped around Andrezade's form. "Or are you merely a charming illusion, playing upon my desires with your enchanting gaze?"

Andrezade smiled gently, knowing full well what the sultan suspected. But it wouldn't take long to prove him wrong. "My body is my instrument," he said softly, "and it dances to the tune of my will."

"Then show me this dance," Bendryar replied, clapping to the court musicians to begin playing. And so, Andrezade began to move, first slowly and gracefully, teasingly playing on the sultan's expectations, revealing his true talents bit by bit...

Then, suddenly, at the perfect moment, with a burst of energy, he launched into a series of impossibly complex bends, stretching his limbs beyond what should be possible while remaining in perfect control over every muscle in his elastic frame.

He flowed through each pose like water, never breaking his balance, never losing focus, even when it seemed impossible for human flesh to bend in such ways.

The entire court watched in awe as Andrezade spun and twisted and contorted himself into shapes that yet demanded terms and descriptions. The music swelled and pulsed with excitement, mirroring the intensity of his movements and the depth of his bends.

For one glorious moment, all other concerns were forgotten. No greed or political intrigue mattered anymore; only the wonder of witnessing this extraordinary spectacle before them. In that instant, everyone present was united – foreign envoys from distant lands, nervous nobles with their elegant gowns, giggling maids-of-honour, even the stoic guards – all lost in the captivating performance...

Night after night, Andrezade performed before the sultan's court, twisting himself into shapes no mortal should be able to achieve. His body was a marvel, defying nature with every pose he struck. The air filled with gasps of wonder and amazement whenever he took center stage, even the most hardened guards were mesmerized by his feats like little children seeing a magician's show.

For a while, the sultan had forgotten all about his other performers, fixated only on Andrezade, unable to tear his gaze away from such mesmerizing beauty. As he watched with fascination, the pressure on the other dancers eased. The sultanate was able to catch its breath again.

The children who had been forced to bend themselves beyond their limits, could finally relax for the first time since birth. But as they got their lives back, something unexpected happened – they felt a longing for what they once dreaded.

They began experimenting, stretching on their own and suddenly discovered a passion for the art form that had seemed so oppressive and painful before. And with this newfound love came amazing progress.

Those who struggled to reach their feet just weeks ago could now put their feet behind their heads with ease, and those who couldn't even manage a simple cheststand could now tug themselves into the tightest triplefold like it wasn't difficult at all. They started training together, forming bonds of friendship and support, becoming masters of their bodies instead of slaves to someone else's demands.

Andrezade's poses were as countless as the stars in the night sky. Each night, he would come up with new amazing postures, exceeding even the limits of his own flexibility. His shows grew increasingly daring and spectacular, while his delicate beauty blossomed like a rose in full bloom.

All the contortionists in the realm yearned to be like Andrezade, and soon sultan Bendryar had gathered around him a multitude of gifted young posturemakers, all vying to show off their talents before their beloved sultan.

They practiced day and night, twisting and bending themselves into intricate shapes, hoping to win the favor of the sultan and become closer to their idol, Andrezade. And so, the court once again became filled with laughter, music, and the sight of beautiful slender bodies contorting in extraordinary ways.

But unlike before, there was no fear or intimidation in the air. Instead, there was an atmosphere of friendly competition and admiration, which only spurred these young artists on to greater heights. They pushed each other to improve, laughing and encouraging one another along the way.

Sultan Bendryar realized that forcing his people to conform to his will had been a grave mistake. He saw how joy and inspiration could bring out the best in them, while pressure only brought about resentment and rebellion. And so, the great sultan decided to change course.

He opened contortion schools throughout his sultanate, where talented teenagers could inspire younger kids through their example. These schools were more than just places to learn – they were centers of creativity, friendship, and discovery.

In these schools, children learned not only to endure their training but to enjoy its challenges and find pleasure in reaching new levels of flexibility and balance. As the years passed, this new system flourished, allowing countless children to become incredible contortionists while living happy, fulfilling childhoods at the same time.

It was rumored in the tales told around campfires that Andrezade's step-mother had taught him a thousand and one ways to twist and bend his body, so many that they appeared endless like the desert sands.

His mind, clear as crystal water, remembered each posture with precision, ensuring he never repeated the same move till he'd shown every other one. This wisdom helped him win the love of the sultan, whose eyes were dazzled by the beauty of Andrezade's dance of ever changing shapes, forever wondering at the magic of the impossible number of new postures he displayed before him.

Many years later, Andrezade penned a book called "Thousand and One Posture", gathering within its pages the knowledge of his step-mom, making it accessible to everyone through the power of writing. It became treasured by scholars throughout the realm, often copied by scribes so all could learn the secret of contortion.

Thanks to Andrezade's example and sultan Bendryar's patronage, contortionism grew like a blooming flower across the sultanate. Even the sultan's own children discovered this art, inspired by Andrezade, practicing diligently and becoming skilled contortionists despite their noble birth.

Following the young princes, even simple village folk didn't shy away from learning a trick or two. Kids who could do splits or sit on their own heads became very common, constantly inspiring more children to try and see how far they could bend.

This, my Caliph, is the tale of Andrezade and Bendryar, two souls brought together to create magic out of mere flesh and bone. A story about passion, perseverance, and the power of art to transform lives.