The Crystal Swallow🔊

Once upon a time, in the Kingdom of Allure, there lived a humble cobbler, named Eliot. Eliot was well-regarded in the community, for he was diligent and kind-hearted. He had a knack for turning the simplest pieces of leather into enchanting footwear. What singled him out was his signature: a tiny, crystal swallow, embedded in every pair he crafted.

Eliot loved nothing more than the sight of crystal swallows glittering in his shop window, but his heart craved something more fulfilling. His life took a turn when he found a crystal-encrusted bird injured in the woods. It was a living embodiment of the logo he cherished so much - a crystal swallow. Dealing with his seeming fascination, he brought it back to his house and nursed it back to health. After its recovery, to Eliot's surprise, the bird did not leave but chose to stay with him.

Now, the magical bird was no ordinary creature. It had the power to turn anything it touched into crystal. As days became weeks and weeks grew into months, Eliot and the swallow formed a unique bond. Word got around about the mysterious bird that nested in the cobbler's shop. With this news, a sea of curious faces started frequenting Eliot's once overlooked shop. Consequently, his business flourished like it never had before.

Life was taking a turn for the better, but the good fortune hanging over him turned dark clouds when the envious witch of the Northern realms, Coselia, heard about this unique bird. She hatched a plan to kidnap the bird to harness its powers for herself.

One day, Coselia managed to steal the bird. She planned to make it touch every leaf in her enchanted forest, turning it into her very own personal goldmine. With the bird stolen, the prosperity that it brought dwindled. The rising popularity of Eliot's shop slumped overnight, and he was left alone, heart-broken.

Eliot decided to take matters into his hand. He set off on a perilous journey to Coselia's northern realm with nothing but his toolkit and an unwavering spirit. After days of travel and braving many a perilous situations, he found his way to Coselia's lair. Undeterred by her threats, Eliot proposed a bargain. He agreed to create the most beautiful pair of crystal boots with his swallow embedded for the witch in exchange for the bird.

Coselia contemplated and ultimately agreed, intrigued by the idea of owning something as unique. For three nights and three days, Eliot worked diligently, fashioning a pair of boots unlike any other. Finally, he presented the boots to the witch, who was mesmerized by the extraordinary craftsmanship. True to his word, Eliot had embedded a crystal swallow in each boot.

In her greed and euphoria, Coselia hastily wore the boots, giving Eliot the chance to grab the bird. But to his surprise, the bird flapped its wings, and upon his touch became a plain, ordinary bird. The magic was gone. Eliot was saddened but elated that his friend was back.

With his swallow back and the bewitched boots keeping Coselia distracted, Eliot quickly made his escape. Thenceforth, his life was ordinary but happy. The bird stayed with him and often accompanied him to the forest where they first met, chirping sweet melodies. Even though his shop no longer drew the same crowd, he remained Allure's finest cobbler. He worked with joy and passion, with his little friend chirping merrily by his side.

After all, life wasn’t just about crystal footwear or magical birds, but about the moments of joy and contentment one finds in ordinary routines. Eliot was a cobbler, and he found his happiness in shaping, stitching, and embedding each pair of boots with a little bird. A bird made not of crystal but of love, the Crystal Swallow.