The Legend of the Stargazer🔊

Once upon a time, in a small village nestled within the dense thickness of a vast forest, there lived an old satin-haired woman named Seraphina. She was known far and wide, for not her age, but her wisdom as the village stargazer: a title reputedly earned for her knowledge of celestial bodies.

Seraphina lived alone in a humble little hut by the village outskirts where she spent her nights gazing up into the deep canvas of the cosmos. The nights were her days and the stars her faithful companions. It was indeed a rare specter of solitude that the wise stargazer had chosen. Yet, it was a decision she cherished, finding her nights filled with stardust and serenity.

For the villagers, Seraphina was their guide and protector. They believed that through her celestial connection, she could predict what lay ahead; she was their beacon in the vast darkness. Whenever a newborn arrived, Seraphina was the first to hold the infant, ensuring a blessed life by showing the child their very own constellation. The villagers had a shared respect for Seraphina and her arcane knowledge. But, despite this reverence, a small knot of jealousy and curiosity sparked in the heart of the village chief's son, Orion, who coveted Seraphina's wisdom.

One fateful night, the young Orion decided to confront Seraphina in her nightly solitude. He crept into her modest hut, the timorous illumination of his lantern slicing through the quiet darkness within. He saw Seraphina, her eyes gleaming with the reflected light of the celestial bodies. This piqued his curiosity. He stepped forwards breaking the ambient sound of the wilderness, alerting Seraphina of his presence.

Unfazed but surprised, Seraphina asked Orion about his sudden visit. With a faint tremor in his voice, he confessed, stating his desire to learn her celestial knowledge. Sensing the young man's desperate yearning, Seraphina agreed, cautioning him about the commitment that the knowledge demanded. Orion, fuelled by his unabated enthusiasm, readily agreed to her conditions. Thus, began Orion's apprenticeship under Seraphina, who taught him with patience and precision.

Night after night, Orion stayed up, listening intently to Seraphina's celestial wisdom under the star-speckled sky. He learned about constellations, about stars, novas, galaxies and the myths from the ancient civilizations that regarded night sky. He learned about the harmony that existed between the cosmos and those who were beneath it. His respect for Seraphina grew ten-fold.

One night, Seraphina fell deathly ill. Despite Orion's efforts to bring medicine, Seraphina's health deteriorated. Sensing her imminent departure, she pointed weakly to a mighty star in the night sky and declared it to be Orion's star, a symbol of new-found wisdom and power, a protector of the village, much like himself. With such imparting wisdom, Seraphina abruptly fell silent, her life tapering away, leaving behind a legacy of knowledge and mystery.

Overwhelmed by grief, Orion paid homage to Seraphina by keeping her traditions alive. He became the new stargazer of the village, a beacon in the darkness. Guided by his Orion's star, and the wisdom of Seraphina, he led his village through times of hardship and prosperity. He continued to honour Seraphina by holding newborns under the night sky, dedicating a star to them, as she had done for many years prior. In time, Orion's name became synonymous with the stars.

He was not just a mere villager’s son now, he was the “Orion”, the stargazer, the protector and guide, and his name was known everywhere, his story entwined with the stars above, forever reminding the villagers of Seraphina's legacy.