For this writing assignment I tried to keep it simple. I asked ChatGPT to write me a story that involved 3 words as a theme.
The three words are:
- Mars, because I am currently reading a sci-fi novel about Mars
- Public, because that is the first word that came to my uncle’s head
- Chalice, because I was drinking apple cider out of a mug
The first story was, “The Martian Chalice”, about a young astronomer getting his wish granted at the annual chalice ceremony on Mars. I thought the story was kind of bland so I edited it to make it a horror story. The second story, “The Blood Pact of Mars”, was about people of Mars being forced to bleed in the annual chalice ceremony by a dark and evil cult.
Not the direction I wanted to go in, I did some more tweaks and edits to get this:
“The Benevolent Offerings of Mars”
Beneath the serene, radiant skies of Mars, lay the magnificent city of “Veridia,” a utopia in every sense. Its citizens lived in perfect harmony, their lives filled with happiness, prosperity, and contentment. Yet, beneath the city’s pristine exterior, a dark and enigmatic tradition thrived – the Annual Blood Offering.
Veridia was a place where laughter echoed through the streets, where lush gardens flourished, and where every need was effortlessly met. The citizens lived in a state of perpetual joy, their hearts brimming with goodwill toward one another. They embraced their city’s motto, “Sacrificium ad Plenitudo,” which translated to “Offering for Abundance.”
Once a year, without question or hesitation, the citizens of Veridia willingly participated in the Annual Blood Offering. They believed that by doing so, they contributed to the city’s perpetual prosperity, although they did not understand how their offerings achieved this.
The residents gathered in the city’s central square, adorned in vibrant garments and wearing serene smiles. As the ceremony began, a group of robed figures appeared, known as the Guardians of Abundance. They were responsible for collecting the citizens’ blood, a task that was seen as a noble duty.
Each citizen, filled with trust and devotion, extended their arms willingly to the Guardians. As the blood was collected, the Guardians recited a solemn chant: “In unity, we give. In unity, we thrive.”
No one questioned the purpose of the ceremony, for Veridia was a place of unwavering faith in the principles of community and selflessness. The citizens believed that their collective sacrifices sustained the city’s utopian existence.
However, beneath the surface, a select few had begun to question the true nature of the Annual Blood Offering. Among them was Elena, a curious scientist with an insatiable thirst for knowledge. She had spent years secretly researching the city’s history and traditions, determined to uncover the hidden truth.
Elena’s investigations led her to a forgotten library, where she stumbled upon ancient texts hinting at a deeper, more sinister purpose behind the Blood Offering. They spoke of a cosmic entity that required blood to remain imprisoned beneath the city, preventing it from unleashing chaos and destruction.
Terrified by the revelation, Elena sought allies who shared her concerns. Together, they devised a plan to expose the dark secret of Veridia to the unsuspecting citizens. They knew that revealing the truth would shatter the city’s idyllic façade, but they believed it was a necessary sacrifice to free their people from the sinister force that lurked beneath.
As the next Annual Blood Offering approached, Elena and her allies prepared to unveil the unsettling truth that had been hidden from Veridia’s blissful inhabitants for generations. Their quest for enlightenment would challenge the very foundations of their utopian society, raising the ultimate question: Is true happiness built on ignorance or enlightenment?