The Lost Light of Seraphina
Once upon a time, in a kingdom gripping onto the edge of a soaring cliff and gazing down at the depths of the restless sea, lived the maiden, Seraphina. Seraphina was not an ordinary princess; she was gifted. She held the power of light, an untamed magic inside her that rippled vibrantly within her veins. Her eyes sparkled with incandescence, as mesmerizing as the finest starlight.
In this kingdom, Eldoria, people feared darkness. For centuries, they believed that the night held terrible creatures. No one dared to have a glimpse of the star-studded night sky, flinching away at the sight of the creeping nightfall. Except for Seraphina. At every sunset, she would bring out her magic, soothing the terrified people of Eldoria with her ethereal glow, guiding them through the darkness until dawn arrived.
Despite the prominent place she held, Seraphina was unsatisfied. She yearned for a world beyond the kingdom walls, where the mystery called darkness played its role unhindered, where her light was not necessary. One day, driven by her immense curiosity and grief of being forever enclosed in those castle walls, she embarked on a journey that nobody dared to take.
After stepping outside her castle, she found what she desired, the fluttering darkness, was not frightening but soothing. The hushed whispers of the night, the silent sky, everything was unlike the horrors built up inside Eldoria. But in this unknown land, her light started flickering, as if she was losing it. Terrified, she tried to suppress her magic, afraid that it'd disappear completely. But the more she tried, the weaker her light became.
Seraphina traveled through the nocturnal landscapes, trying to find her way back home. But without her light, she was lost. Her eyes had not been trained to see in the darkness, and the dim moonlight was not enough for her to find her way. Alone, she had to face her fears, unpredicted beasts, and above all, the slowly extinguishing light.
Dejected, she found herself at the edge of the glowing Lake of Luna, her light gradually dissipating. As she weeped, an old beggar woman approached her. She was not intimidated by the darkness or Seraphina's failing light; instead, she seemed at home in the blindness of the night. Sensing Seraphina's distress, the old woman offered to help.
She told Seraphina that the magic of her light was not merely her own—it was intertwined with the faith, hope, and love of her people, and as long as the people believed in her, the light would never extinguish. The old woman, in reality, was a sorceress who could perceive hidden truths and told Seraphina to embrace the darkness, the uncharted, the unknown for her to understand her own light truly.
Seraphina, understanding her words, closed her eyes and allowed the remnants of her light to merge with the darkness around her. Her fear subsided, replaced with calm and acceptance. At that moment, she realized her light was not just meant to obliterate darkness, but to coexist with it, to guide in darkness, not to eliminate it.
In her acceptance, the people of Eldoria, who were left in darkness, too realized their own courage. They started to believe that they could confront the dark, that they didn't have to cringe away from it. As they mustered courage, Seraphina's light reblossomed, brighter than ever before.
Emerging from her journey, Seraphina returned to Eldoria, victorious and enlightened. Her light and the darkness, together, painted a new dawn for the kingdom, where people no longer feared the night but embraced it. So, the kingdom that once quivered before the mysterious night now thrived under the silver moonlight, guided by their beacon, their princess Seraphina.