The Hidden Leaves of Autumn
Once upon a time, in a village known as Nans, rested in the lap of a thick abundant forest, besides the mighty River Nila. The villagers survived on limited livelihood means, farming and fishing were their significant sources.
It was a fine morning, as the sun rays peeked through the dense foliage and painted the river a bright golden hue. Abram, a young lad from the village had embarked on his usual routine of fishing. Kindhearted, brave and incredibly optimistic, Abram was well-liked by the village folks.
As time swayed and the dusk adorned an orange veil, Abram encounter an unknown pathway concealed under the autumn leaves. His curiosity piqued, and he decided to venture down that path the next day.
The following morning, under an overcast sky, Abram with his faithful canine Wiko, started their journey down the mysterious path. The foliage was dense and the path, narrow. Abram noticed that the leaves were different from the rest of the forest, they were much more vibrant and had an alluring glow.
The duo came upon a secret garden in the heart of the forest filled with uncanny, glowing leaves. They were mesmerizing and had an otherworldly vibe to them. In the center of the garden rested a magnificent tree, old and robust, with leaves as radiant as sunflowers. Abram and Wiko dug around the tree, only to find an old rusty metal box, emanating a gentle hum.
Braced with anxiety and anticipation, Abram cautiously opened the box. Inside, there lay a vintage map, several gold coins, and a delicate feather quill. Underneath, a parchment with an inscription, 'The possessor controls the seasons'. Unaware of the potent forces he'd stumbled upon, Abram innocently picked up the feather quill and noticed the river's reflection on the golden coins. He dipped the quill in the river and followed the map’s instructions, wrote down 'Autumn'.
Nothing aberrant happened immediately. However, upon returning to Nans, Abram was astounded. All the trees across the village were adorned with beautiful Autumn leaves. Even the River Nila had the golden hue it bore in the fall. In disbelief, he rushed back to the secret garden, took the quill, dipped it in the river and wrote 'Spring'. The village transformed, blooming with life, flowers dancing in the spring breeze.
Abram's actions had changed the entire village's ecosystem. Seasons rotated in hours, confusing flora and fauna. Meanwhile, his secret leaked and greedy villagers attempted to exploit the newfound power, leading to further chaos and turmoil.
Realizing the prediceness, Abram, took the box, the quill, and the gold coins, and retraced his path back to the secret garden. He thought about his actions and decided he had to put everything back to normal. He wrote the word 'Balance' on the map. With that, the seasons returned to their usual cycle, and everything normaled.
Grateful for the lesson learned, Abram decided to bury the box back where he found it and concealed the path leading to the secret garden. Abram became wiser from his adventurous and learned the dire consequences of tampering with nature and its balanced cycle.
From then on, Abram grew more conscious about his actions regarding nature and dedicated his life to create harmony between humans and nature. The tale of the young boy and the enchanted quill gently floated around the village, reminding everyone about the importance of the balance in nature.
And the secret garden? It remained a sanctuary in the heart of the forest, hidden, undisturbed, and revered by all of Nans. It is believed that every autumn, as if enchanted, the river or the 'Golden Pathway' as the villagers lovingly call it, reflects a warmer, almost magical hue, believed to be Abram's doing, as a reminder to village folks about the precious balance of nature.