The Legend of the Lake of Lament🔊

In a world where myths and legends were forgotten tales, nestled a small town named Kellington. Kellington was not an ordinary place, its magic was hidden beneath the rosy-hued sky, the towering emerald trees, and the mellifluous chirps of the creatures dwelling around. What distinguished Kellington from others was its luminous, mesmerising lake known for its legend, 'The Lake of Lament'.

In the heart of Kellington, Colin Oakman, a young lad of seventeen, lived with his grandfather. Colin was sturdy with coppery hair, freckles dotting his face, and bright cyan eyes full of endless curiosity. His parents had passed away in a shipwreck when he was just six. His bitter-sweet memories of the past, a locket of his mother's, and hazy visions of a merry life were all he cherished.

Colin was always captivated by the grandeur of the town's lake. The mysterious lake shimmered under the twilight, whispering cryptic tales, ones that were passed down generations. The turbid water held a tale of a sorrowful nymph named Seraphina, whose lamentations echoed through the town most nights. She had been tricked by a malevolent sorcerer into the lake, her freedom snatched away for eternity.

One unsuspecting night, Colin was awakened by a melodious yet mournful melody wavering in the breeze. He hurriedly got dressed, curiosity gnawing at him. Following the trail of the sound, he found himself by the Lake of Lament. Baffled and nervous at the same time, he cautiously neared the lake and called out to the obscured figure immersed halfway in the water. The figure emerged, revealing a breathtakingly ethereal nymph, her aquamarine eyes brimming with desolation.

Seraphina, the lake nymph, wept at her wretched existence, barred from the wonders of the world. Moved by her vulnerability and sorrow, Colin pledged to liberate her. Seraphina disclosed to him that the sorcerer hid a magical amulet at the bottom of the lake that granted him control over her. Gathering the last shreds of courage left in him, Colin decided to retrieve the amulet.

For days, he dived into the lake, pushing his limits against the freezing water and powerful currents. The town's folks, though puzzled by his actions, did not obstruct his pursuit. After countless failures and several gasps of despair, one day, his hand brushed against something rigid, buried under the soft lakebed. With all his might, he wasted no second to prize it out and floated to the surface, clutching an amulet, glowing faintly.

Seraphina's eyes sparkled with hope at the sight of the amulet, instantly shattering into specks of dust, setting her free. As the first rays of dawn brushed the sky, a grateful Seraphina, with tears of joy rolling down her cheeks, swirled, her aura illuminating the town. The lake rippled with freedom, the cursed lament turned into harmonious melodies. Colin watched with a satisfied smile, his heart swelling with joy and relief. The strains of sorrow had dissipated, and with that, the Lake of Lament was no longer the same.

Many years later, Colin, now an old man, sat beside the same lake, its water gleaming with tranquillity. He watched his grandchildren, enchanted by the lake wonders, gripping the remnants of a bygone era, the story of a once despairing nymph and a hero resonating in their gleeful chuckles. He smiled a knowing smile, content that the legacy continued, and with it, the true essence of Kellington.