The Hues of Time🔊

In a place where time had no ruler, the Village of Origins nestled. The villagers were not ordinary inhabitants, for their bodies radiated colors based on their emotions. Emotions that were unknown to anyone were rich in their souls. Red for love, blue for sadness, yellow for joy, green for envy, the colors were numerous and their hues changed as the villagers' emotions oscillated. There were no secrets in the village, as emotions were clearly depicted on their faces. Only one person was exempt from this color exhibition, the Old Sage, who was colorless.

The villagers always sought the Old Sage's guidance in times of turmoil. He was wise, caring, and would sit patiently under the old Banyan tree to solve their problems. One day, as the sun slowly pulled the blanket of dusk, young Nyela, a villager devastated by grief, whose body was a translucent blue, approached the Old Sage with eyes filled with inquiry.

'Why does my heartache so much?' asked Nyela. Her body emanated a deep blue light, renewing her pain as it danced and flickered around her. The Old Sage, wrapped in his usually colorless glow, stared at her and whispered, 'Your heart aches because you feel.'

Several days passed, and the Old Sage noticed a bright yellow light approaching. It was Zalen, a young man filled with a newfound joy of love. 'Why do I feel so elevated, so light?' inquired Zalen, his body emanating a vibrant yellow. The Old Sage, maintaining his eternal smile, replied, 'You feel light because you have embraced love.'

Years oscillated like the rhythm of the ocean waves, and the Old Sage guided many villagers who lived, loved, grieved, envied, and experienced a myriad of emotions. Each villager was a radiant embodiment of their feelings, glowing in the village's heart where lived, the colorless sage.

The day came when the Old Sage, weathered by time, lay fragile on his straw mat. The entire village, a vivid spectacle of colors, surrounded him, a mixture of blues, reds, greens, yellows, and everything in between radiated around.

As his energy began to wane, his pupils reflected a miracle. His body started to glow, shimmering into an array of colors previously unseen. The villagers watched in awe as his color changed from a vibrant red to a soft blue, then a radiant yellow before settling into a peaceful green. The Old Sage, who'd stoically remained colorless, was now a vibrant array of emotions.

Then, inevitably, his light began to dim, slowly reducing to a soft glow. As the villager's tears started to paint the ground, a young child covered in a soft magenta hue of curiosity asked, 'Why does the Old Sage change color?'

In his weakening voice, the Old Sage said, 'My dear, every color you saw was every emotion I've ever felt for you all. While I remained colorless, it never meant I was void of feelings. Tomorrow, when the sun rises, remember that love, sorrow, joy, and envy make us who we are, make us beautiful. Remember me as the colorless sage who loved and felt endlessly, remember me as the Old Sage who cherished every shade in you. Remember me as I have lived, not as I depart.'

Silence befell the village of Origins as the Old Sage took his last breath, his body fading back to the colorless being he was. The Village of Origins, for the first time, was devoid of radiant hues for a while. As time passed, it regained its vibrant livelihood, always remembering the Old Sage. The story of the Colorless Sage became a tale handed down over time, reminding every generation about the beauty of emotions and endurance of love.