Elder Alfie: Guardian of Elmsfield🔊

In a small village named Elmsfield, circled by mountains, with calm rivers winding across its picturesque landscapes, a man known only as 'Elder Alfie' deemed himself a guardian of this sacred land. Elmsfield was not his birthplace, nor did he have any relatives residing there. Yet somehow, this little village nestled in the heart of the mountains felt most like home.

Alfie was no ordinary creature. He was a human in the guise of an owl during the night and the oldest man in the village by day. This unique power was a well-kept secret, only known by the ancestors of Elmsfield, passed down through their generations over centuries-old folklores.

One beautiful morning, as Alfie sat at his porch, watching the sun slowly rise above the mountains and bathing the village in its golden hue, he noticed a cruel frown on Mother Nature's face. The flowers didn't bloom with their regular cheer, and the wind lacked its usual melody. It was as if life had halted its rhythm in Elmsfield.

For the next few days, he observed certain abnormalities in nature he could not explain. The river receded, the air cooled, and the birds migrated. Slowly yet so suddenly, the village was under the grip of an unexpected winter.

Driven by his purpose to guard Elmsfield, Alfie decided to embark on a perilous journey to the Central Mountain. There, dwelled the 'Nature Seer,' the mystical creature with control over the realm's elements. For centuries, the village hadn't needed her, but now the time had come.

With a firm resolve, Alfie began his journey. Traveling through the snowy elements he reached the Central Mountain after three days. On the peak, he spoke to the Seer, imploring her to restore the harmony. The Seer, understanding the situation, agreed but declared that to do so, she would need the luminous flower, 'Aureflor', growing amidst the fiery hills south of Elmsfield.

Taking a moment, Alfie agreed knowing the risk but seeing no alternative. Travelling to the scorching wilderness, battling the fiery serpents of the hills, he obtained the Aureflor. Exhausted and hurt, he returned to the Central Mountain, handing the divine flower to the Seer.

The Seer, moved by Alfie's bravery, used the Aureflor's golden nectar to restore Elmsfield's balance. As the nectar was sprayed onto the winds, it was carried to all corners of the village. The village that was once bleak and desolate, soon blossomed with life and colour again, just as it was before.

Alfie, now on the brink of his strength, barely managed to return home. His owl form flew back for the last time that night, tired but content knowing that he had saved his village. As dawn arrived, Elmsfield woke up to the chirping of birds returning home, to vibrant flowers blooming, and the river flowing merrily.

Alfie was never seen again, yet his legacy lived on. As the tale passed down generations, every night, people still glanced at the night sky, hoping to get a glimpse of a certain owl, the guardian of Elmsfield.