The Legend

Many-many years ago the world was so young that the sun hasn’t gained its warmth yet and was simply hanging in the middle of the sky with little purpose. In those days everything looked different; trees grew lemon-colored leaves and sand was as white as snow; water had a greenish tint of mints, and flowers did not exist at all. The world was pale and the sky was grey. Strange creatures that inhabited that world were just the same, they were very pale with glassy eyes and colorless cheeks.

Slim and slender ones lived in the transparent leaves of tree tops; small and brisk ones lived underneath the bluish shrubs and in the yellow grass of swampy waters. Their bodies needed no warmth so they wear loincloths made of braided grass and tree bark and were feeling quite comfortable. These creatures called themselves Elves, which in their language meant “the lords of the land”. Elves lived quietly in perfect peace and harmony, every day was just like the one before and all was well, until the day when things began to change...

One day a she-Elf was sitting on a great smooth stone, trying to add a pearl she found earlier that day into the twisted grass she used for clothes. Growing inpatient, she pressed the pearl harder into the braid when suddenly it slipped between the strings and rolled off the stone into the thicket of the bull rushes.

The she-Elf shrieked with annoyance and jumped off the rock. Squatting down she began to search for her lost treasure, examining every inch of the ground, crouching further and further into the deep grass; when suddenly she came upon a small clearing. In the center of the clearing she saw a very strange and startling object; a bright spot of color.

Stumbling backwards, the elf shielded her eyes in terror. For a moment she considered bolting back towards the smooth stone away from the unknown. Indeed, if she would have done that, this story and perhaps our own stories would have been quite different…   However, after a brief contemplation, Elf's curiosity grew stronger and stronger; likewise, she moved closer and closer until the spot was within the hands reach. Alas her fascination with the colored spot took over and she touched it…

The moment her fingers met the strange object, she knew that it was a flower. A red rose, in fact, and it was beautiful! This new knowledge swirled in her head making it spin. As the world around began to look and feel different, her skin grew pinkish and warm and shimmered with the heat of a living heart.

Perplexed and excited, the she-Elf ran across the forest to bring her pack to the magic rose. As they reached the clearing, they behaved in the same exact way as the she-Elf did. Yet again, once the tips of their fingers met the red petals, their skin grew warmer; their eyes grew brighter, as their hearts nested the first seed of love. Tears came sprawling on Elves faces as they embraced their loved once for the first time. Laughing and patting each others' backs; the elves were so preoccupied with their tender feelings, that they haven't noticed how it grew darker. Soon the sun went down and shivers run down their spines, making them hug even tighter. That night Elves slept together with their arms around their loved ones, snuggled in a pile of dry leafs.

Once the first weak ray of the morning sun shifted across the sky, elves stretched and began twisting and braiding new warmer clothes. Now all covered and warm, they named each and every living creature and gave each other names, calling themselves people, which in Elf language meant “the warm hearts”. Unfotunately, warm hearts were prone to greed and so they decided to hide the rose so that no one else can experience its powers. Far-far away the treasure was hidden and a short verse was written as a reminder of what has been done and where the rose was:

Far away in distant grove,

Fire flies dancing on the roof,

There where cicadas sing,

You’ll find a magic ring.

There where the waters cry,

Away above the starry sky.

But be aware what’s coming next,

If, lucky seeker, you’ll find an ancient text…

From this day forward the remaining Elves and the People mistrusted each other, as their natures were so different. People stayed in the growing-warm sun and elves hid in the shady forest. Elves with their cold blood and frozen hearts couldn’t relate to the rainbow of feelings expressed by the warm-hearted people; while people could not explain snowflakes stuck inside elves’ eyes. Separated by hostility, they lived different lives away from each other, trying hard not to cross paths. 

As with all good things in life; the warmth in peoples’ hearts came at a price, they no longer were immortal. The love inside them rooted deeper and deeper consuming their hearts, slowly turing them into a red rose. Eventually, their hearts would stop beating as the rose grew so big that it had to be planted back to the earth; as do all must be returned when borrowed.

So people died as elves lived on. Centuries gone by, people forgot about the inhabitants of the shady swamps but Elves never have, as frozen heart does not forget and so elves grew jealous; but where jealousy is there is hatred, and where hatred is there is evil.

As Elves grew more and more evil, they discovered that their hatred brought out magical talents. Dark and gloomy was their magic, mean and hateful were their soulless eyes. At last their hatred was so strong that life around them began to crumble and they were forced to seek help from the darkest force. You see, centuries of black magic and ugly thoughts gave birth to a Demon whom Elves cherished and trusted. Scary and dark creature was the Demon, feeding on anger and drinking sorrow. When approached by Elf Lords, he hissed and laughed a frigid laugh.

“Got what you deserved, you pale worms,” he said, “but alas, I will help you”. Demon went into bluish-green flames and grinned at the Elf Lords with the nastiest grin one can imagine.

“Bring me a human child, born on the night when the North Star hangs directly above the North Pole in the year of Lunar Eclipse. Bring him to me and your hearts will thaw, as the life around you will bloom in spite of your horrid natures”.

So it was done. Just as Demon had promised, Elves hearts began to melt. Their skin warmed up and color began to shimmer in their eyes and cheeks. Their world awoke. Dried up grass sprouted green, grey moths sprang rainbow-colored wings, and crooked trees erupted with the most delicate and beautiful flowers. The Elves and the life around them shone with deceiving beauty that covered the wickedness of their souls...

Time is the most skillful illusionist, as it went by, the Elves forgot whom they used to be. Their hearts were filled with love and beauty and their magic was kind and delightful. Only the Demon and the Great Elf Lords knew the truth. Sworn to secrecy, they kept it well hidden, and every thirty three years they chose an elf and set him on a mission to catch a new human child and bring him to the Demon. 

And that is how it has been since the time immemorial.