The Echoing Song of Time
In a tiny village named Kilkere, the locals shared a popular legend about the ancient Gulmohar tree standing tall in the heart of the village. The legend claimed that every full moon night, the tree shimmered with a soft glow and sang a hypnotic melody no man could resist.
Aleca, a 17-year-old orphan girl from the village, was known for her curiosity and adventurous spirit. One full moon night, as the mystical tune flowed from the old tree, she decided to unveil the mystery. Armed only with an old lantern aleca approached the tree.
As she neared, she noticed an inscribed plaque hidden beneath the leaves. The inscription read, 'Sing the tune of time, let your soul travel through mine'. Possessing a beautiful voice, Aleca began singing the tree's melody. Almost immediately, a column of light sprouted from the tree, enveloping Aleca.
The village suddenly vanished from her sight. She found herself in a strikingly similar yet different Kilkere. The villagers were dressed in strange clothes, and the architecture was primitive. Aleca realized she had traveled to the past.
Surprised and fascinated, she navigated through her village past. She discovered the stories that aged men told on winter nights weren't only tales. She met her ancestors, learning about the origin of Kilkere and its people.
Her village was once the last refuge for an ancient tribe, the 'Time Healers'. They protected the Gulmohar tree, a cosmic entity capable of manipulating time. However, a ferocious war wiped out the tribe, leaving only the infant chief alive. This infant was later discovered by the villagers and was raised as one of their own, unaware of his unique ancestry and the tree's secrets.
As the pieces fell into place, Aleca realized the orphan boy was her forebear, making her the last descendant of the Time Healers. The Gulmohar tree had chosen her to uphold the tribe's duty.
Understanding her responsibility, she decided to honor her legacy and vowed to protect the tree. However, she felt a deep longing for her time and her friends.
On the following full moon night, armed with knowledge and a brave heart, Aleca sang the song with lyrics she'd penned about her home in the future, her longing, and the friends she missed. Soon, the familiar column of light enveloped her as she began traveling forward in time.
When she opened her eyes, she was in her present-day Kilkere. Everything had returned to normal, yet everything had changed. Aleca had discovered her roots, her lineage, and her destiny. She decided to judiciously use her newfound power, continuing the legacy of her ancestors.
Each full moon night, the village noticed a subtle change; the tree glowed brighter, the song became more potent. Aleca, carrying the wisdom and songs from the past, had become Kilkere's timeless melody, the echo of the village's rich history.
So, she lived on, guarding the secrets of time, shouldering her responsibilities, all while creating a legacy of her own. Even to this day, in the quiet village of Kilkere, the old Gulmohar tree stands tall under the soft glow of the moon, singing the echoing song of time, stanzaed in the voice of a brave and enchanting maiden named Aleca.