The Forgotten Alabaster
In a forgotten corner of the world, there nestled a small, windswept village of County Clay. Each house built from the native stone, a soft, cream alabaster that gleamed in the sunrise. Each stone carefully plucked from the belly of the Mother Earth who the villagers referred to as 'The Beauty Beneath'.
The Burlands, a resilient and ambitious family, held the sole rights and skills to excavate the alabaster. Their ancestor, Tavan Burland, was a pioneer who, centuries ago, recognised the value of the alabaster lurking beneath their fields. The Burlands had been the keepers of 'The Beauty Beneath' ever since.
In recent years, the family role had been passed to young Jaxon Burland, a man of newly twenty springs, whose burly shoulders bore the weight of the legacy. He was admired for his piercing green eyes, raven's wing hair, and a determination of steel. Jaxon was a silent soul, his vocabulary a symphony of precise chisel hits against the alabaster walls under county clay.
Life flowed peacefully through the veins of County Clay, until one fateful day when Jaxon stumbled upon a peculiar stone while working alone in the mine. It was a radiant blue alabaster, dancing with internal stars and swirling nebulae. Awed, Jaxon decided to keep it hidden for himself. He started quietly spending his nights chiselling an extraordinary sculpture from it. His skill met the stone's brilliance halfway, and as the seasons rolled on, a majestic phoenix began to emerge from the azure mineral.
Word slithered into the community of Jaxon's late-night workings, curiosity peeked. The blue alabaster phoenix was discovered, fascinating and alarming the villagers. Such was its allure that everyone, from villagers to neighbouring communities, sought to possess it.
One evening, the local Baron, driven by envy and greed, descended upon the Burlington's home, demanding the Phoenix for himself. Jaxon refused, willing to protect his creation at any cost. A fierce brawl ensued, and amidst the tumult, the phoenix sculpture was accidentally knocked over and shattered to dust, leaving the hall in a stunned silence.
Desolated, Jaxon, for the first time, didn't seek solace in 'the Beauty Beneath' but instead aimlessly wandered around the village. Coming across an ancient Oak tree, worn by age and yet defiant in its glory, Jaxon found his inspiration.
Days turned into weeks, then months, but Jaxon did not return to the alabaster mine. Instead, his chisels reeked of Oak wood as he spent his waking hours carving. Curiosity turned into concern and slowly into admiration as the villagers got a glimpse of what Jaxon was creating. In place of the destroyed phoenix, there rose a statue splendour in wood. Its aura resonated the spirit of 'The Beauty Above'.
The village festival saw the unveiling of Jaxon's creation. As the villagers gasped, before them stood a commanding Oak tree, its roots delving deep, mirroring the resilience and endurance of the County Clay's inhabitants, its branches wide-spread, reaching out as though embracing each villager.
The Baron, attending the festival, was left speechless by the simplicity and beauty of the sculpture. He dropped his gaze in shame for causing the loss of the Phoenix and couldn't help but feel humbled by Jaxon's talent and spirit.
The tale of Jaxon's creations started echoing far and wide, and while the visitors came looking for the enigmatic blue Phoenix's traces, they stood in awe of the Oak tree that now proudly portrayed the legacy of County Clay and the Burlands. Jaxon Burland was not just the gatekeeper of 'The Beauty Beneath' but also the guardian of 'The Beauty Above'.
With the Oak, Jaxon Burland taught the people of County Clay that though they could profit from the earth's mineral bounty, they should never forget the living beauty found above, in the giant trees whispering wisdom through the winds and the animal kin that called the Woods their home.
This story serves as a reminder that beauty in life can't be confined to a single aspect; it's under our feet, over our heads, and most significantly, within us. Just like the Burlands carried 'The Beauty Beneath' across generations, they also learned to appreciate 'The Beauty Above', silently narrated by the Oak sculpture.