The Harmonious Tree
Once upon a time, in the fairytale kingdom of Sholania, stood a solitary tree at the heart of the kingdom. This was not any ordinary tree; it was known as 'The Harmonious Tree'. The tree, bathed golden in the sunlight, shimmered like a ceaseless beacon of hope for the inhabitants of Sholania.
Uniquely, the tree held an extraordinary power. Each morning, it would bloom with fruits of myriad colours. Each fruit embodied a different virtue: love, peace, joy, humility, patience, kindness, faith, and self-control. Whoever ate a fruit would emerge instilled with the respective virtue.
The kingdom was overseen by the benevolent and wise King Alden. Alden tasted the first fruit when he was just a child. He'd chosen the fruit of wisdom, which made him a revered monarch. However, as Alden aged, so did the Harmonious Tree.
One day, a mysterious sickness grasped the kingdom. The royal physicians were helpless, and as the citizens started losing hope, the Harmonious Tree started wilting. The scenario unleashed panic across Sholania. The sickened citizens no longer had access to the miraculous virtues. The whole city was shrouded in darkness. King Alden, filled with worry, pondered how he could restore his kingdom from this despair.
In his dreams, he was visited by the spirit of the Harmonious Tree who spoke, 'To rejuvenate me, you need a selfless soul, an unsullied heart that will willingly give up virtue for the welfare of the kingdom'.
Upon waking from this vivid dream, Alden proclaimed this message across the kingdom. Days turned into weeks, but no one stepped forward. Just when hope was dwindling, a short, unkempt girl named Ada showed up at the palace gates. She was the daughter of a humble baker, known for her playful smile and her pure heart. With determination in her eyes, she volunteered herself for the perils unknown.
Taking a deep breath, Ada approached the dying tree. Making her decision, she reached for the fruit of selflessness and took a bite. Ada immediately felt a wave of warmth spreading throughout her body, pushing out every ounce of self-centeredness within her.
Following the instructions of the tree spirit that appeared in Alden’s dream, Ada laid her hand on the tree's trunks, closed her eyes, and let the virtue of selflessness flood into the dying tree. Almost immediately, the tree's wilted leaves burst into vibrant green, and the once barren branches bloomed with fruits of all virtues, glistening under the sun and leaving the onlookers in awe.
Soon, the tree's powerful healing energies flowed to every corner of the kingdom, breaking the ghastly darkness. The pallor of sickness among the kingdom's citizens gradually faded, their faces filled with life and joy. The whole of Sholania became illuminated with a radiant glow, signifying health, happiness, and harmony.
Ada, the humble baker's daughter, became a celebrated figure among the kingdom’s legend. Through her selfless act, she displayed the highest virtue - Sacrifice. The Harmonious Tree thrived, testament to Ada's sacrifice, and its fruits brought back the glory of Sholania.
From that day forward, on each cycle of the moon, the people of Sholania would gather at the Harmonious Tree, sharing stories and singing songs of gratitude for the life-giving tree and the brave, selfless girl whose virtue saved a kingdom.