The Keeper of the North Star🔊

Once upon a time, a humble man named Alaric lived in the snow-covered town of Elmsfield, nestled at the foot of the Icepeak Mountains. He made his living chopping wood, a task he undertook with diligence and pride. From dawn to dusk, he would tirelessly swing his ax, his labored breath making tiny clouds in the frigid air. Alaric was distinguished in his town for his immense strength and a heart full of kindness, a rare combination that added an exotic appeal to his character.

On a particularly freezing day, while he was chopping wood, he spotted a small glimmer in the sky falling with sparkling trails and a soft humming sound. It landed a fair distance from his small wooden cabin. He was no stranger to the splendid whims of the chilling north - yet his heart pounded with a new kind of intrigue. The falling star he witnessed carried an unseen aura that no ordinary meteor ever bore.

Bundled up in layers of warmth, he set out to find the falling star. The wind whispered secrets of the mysterious night into his ears, guiding him on an uncertain trail. The auroras danced with vibrant hues, their ethereal ballet pointed towards the star's resting place. Hidden amidst a thicket of winter-blooming Snow Rose, he discovered a silver nugget - the North Star, patiently waiting.

The star was ethereal – throbbing gently against the snowy canvas and casting a soft luminescent glow. Alaric approached it with awe and reverence. As soon as his hands made contact with the celestial body, an eruption of light and energy jolted him into a surreal universe, where he was met with a regal entity. With a crown composed of stars on its head, the entity introduced itself as the Universe's God.

The God informed Alaric that the North Star had chosen him as its keeper, a position granted to those with the purest of hearts. The God explained that the star had been granting wishes upon the earth since the dawn of time but was now losing its ability to continue its generosity. To rejuvenate, it needed to live among the humans, under the care of a devoted guardian. And so, Alaric was bestowed with the responsibility of protecting the North Star.

From that night, Alaric became the star’s keeper, his life intertwined with the rhythms of the celestial realm. His humble abode sparkled with an ethereal glow, making it the heart of Elmsfield. As time passed, the townsfolk noticed the change. They witnessed how the frail and the ill who visited Alaric’s house returned hale and hearty. How the crying babies calmed in seconds and how the unhappy hearts found peace in his presence.

News of the miracle house in Elmsfield traveled far and wide, and so did Alaric’s story. People bestowed him with gifts and tokens of gratitude, but Alaric remained as humble and unassuming as ever. His heart was filled with joy, not from the accolades and wealth that trickled in, but from the happiness he was able to bring into the lives of others.

Decades passed, and Alaric aged gracefully while the North Star shimmered with undiminished vigor. On a fateful day, the Universe’s God visited Elmsfield disguised as an old man. The God wanted to witness the mortal who was chosen by the stars. He was welcomed into Alaric’s radiant house with warmth and respect.

Seeing his modesty and unwavering dedication, the God was touched. He revealed his true form to Alaric, and in the most resonant voice, he spoke words of gratitude. The God granted the humble man an honorable offer - to become a permanent part of the celestial body in light of his service. Alaric, with a heart full of joy, accepted the proposal.

In the following dawn, the town of Elmsfield woke up to find Alaric’s house standing still and empty. In place of the North Star, rose a new constellation in the sky in the image of a man wielding an ax. It shone the brightest, guiding those lost in the darkness, just as Alaric had done all his life. The humble man who used to chop wood was now immortalized in the sky, living through ages as the Keeper of the North Star.