Journey of Banality

In times immemorial, when the first humans were just beginning their journey, Banality was an inseparable part of their lives. She walked alongside them, whispering simple truths that needed no explanation. Her words were like ancient songs—unpretentious yet clear to everyone. She took pride in her role, for her advice helped people survive. “Be cautious,” “Don’t trust too quickly,” “Eat what you know”—her voice echoed in their hearts.

But as centuries passed, people changed. Their minds reached for the unknown. They began seeking new forms, meanings, and inspirations. One day, in a grand city where creators competed in originality, Banality overheard one of them exclaim disdainfully:
— How banal!

These words cut her like a knife. Banality, who had always been useful, felt unnecessary for the first time. She watched as poets wrote verses full of intricate metaphors, as philosophers invented theories comprehensible only to a select few, as artists broke old canons for the sake of the new. People craved the extraordinary, and Banality was left behind.

— Am I no longer needed? — she whispered.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sharp voice. Before her stood Originality—a bright figure draped in shimmering fabrics and surrounded by a radiant glow.

— You’re still here? — she asked mockingly. — Don’t you see that the world no longer needs you? People are tired of your predictability. They want me to lead them.

— But you cannot exist without me, — Banality countered. — I am the foundation of everything. Without me, your ideas wouldn’t seem new.

Originality laughed.
— Perhaps. But I am greater than you. I inspire; I open new horizons.

— And I preserve, — Banality replied quietly. — Without me, the world would drown in chaos. People would lose themselves amidst your endless innovations. Someone must remind them of simple truths.

Originality turned away, waving dismissively:
— Your simplicity is boring. People have forgotten you.

Banality resolved to prove her wrong. She set out on a journey to see how her presence shaped the world.

She found a young poet sitting in a tiny room with a cracked window. He was breaking his pen in frustration, trying to find inspiration. His drafts were full of complex imagery, but he kept crossing out his words.
— Too complicated… no one will understand, — he muttered.

Banality quietly approached him and whispered:

— Write simply. Write what you see. “The tree outside whispers secrets to me.” That’s enough.

The poet froze. He looked out the window, took a deep breath, and wrote her words. Years later, his simple poem became known worldwide. People saw themselves in it.

Moving forward, Banality found herself on a battlefield where a general pondered how to win a war. His advisors proposed elaborate strategies full of cunning and intrigue. But Banality, unnoticed in the shadows, said:
— Just make peace. Offer a truce.

The general was surprised by the simplicity of the idea, but he took the risk. Within a week, a peace agreement was signed, saving thousands of lives.

Her journey then led her to a laboratory filled with the scent of ozone and glowing lamps. A young scientist was working on a complex formula. His board was covered with equations that seemed to encompass the entire world, yet with each new equation, his frustration grew.
— It’s all wrong… something’s always missing, — he muttered, erasing part of the formula. — But what?

Banality, sitting quietly in the corner of the room, watched him with curiosity. His pursuit was driven by passion but tinged with despair. She felt it was time to remind him of what he was overlooking.

— You’re seeking complexity, — she said softly. — But sometimes the answer lies in simplicity. Start with the basics, with what you already know.

The scientist froze. He looked at the board, then erased everything but the first equation. Taking a deep breath, he started over, following the simple principles he had once learned.

By morning, the formula was complete. His discovery became the foundation for a new direction in science, and his name was etched into history.

Banality smiled. She knew her advice often went unnoticed, but that was her strength—to remind the world that everything great is born of simplicity.

As years passed, Banality came to understand that her place wasn’t in competing with Originality but in harmonizing with her. She no longer tried to appear complex or to vie for attention. She was the one who brought stability when the world was too volatile.

But one day, in the 21st century, when the world was consumed by the noise of social media and endless streams of information, Banality faced a choice. She met Oblivion.
— You’re too tired, — it said. — Let me take you. People will forget about you. Everything will be new again.

Banality paused. She could disappear, giving people what they so desired—a world free of clichés and repetitions. But without her, they would lose the very foundation of their culture, for all that is new eventually becomes banal.

— No, — she replied. — I will stay. People need me, as they need water. Simple, unremarkable, but life-giving.

And Banality continued her journey, no longer trying to prove her worth. She knew that one day, people would once again turn to her for answers.