The Night When Flowers Bloomed
Once upon a time, in a peaceful hamlet nestled amidst a picturesque valley, there lived a little girl named Thea. Thea lived a generally happy life in her countryside home, but she always felt a certain uneasiness, a certain curiosity about the beautiful Silverbloom Manor that lay on the outskirts of the hamlet.
The manor was an epitome of forgotten splendor, shrouded in an array of magnificent flora and guarded by a dense thicket. It was the inescapable topic amongst villagers, adorned with gloomy tales of a lost wealthy family and a mysteriously glowing garden that only came alive on full moon nights.
One day, driven by her curiosity, Thea decided to excavate these tales. Equipped with her lantern and unwavering courage, she ventured into the enigmatic manor. The mansion inside was a grand labyrinth of antiquity, covered in a thick layer of silent air. It brilliantly but hauntingly echoed the grandeur of its past inhabitants. But what captivated Thea's attention was the inviting glow radiating from the backyard. With a timid excitement, she gradually treaded towards it.
The vision that met her eyes stunned her. It was a spectacle beyond her wildest dreams. At the heart of the manor was a gigantic garden, glowing like a piece of moon kissed land. The flowers, contrary to the stories she believed, didn't just glow, they emanated a mellifluous sound that saturated the air with serenity.
As Thea strolled through the garden, she nudged a hanging petal from a radiant bloom of lily. It shone brighter as soon as she touched it, syncing its rhythm with her heartbeat. It was a magical connection that she couldn't quite comprehend. A deep enchanting voice reverberated around her, 'Fear not child, for you are kind. The vibrations you feel are nothing but a mere reflection of your noble spirit.'
She looked around, startled, to find the source of the voice. She found an elderly figure materializing from the heart of the garden, with a tender smile on his face. 'I am Erebus,' he introduced himself, 'the guardian of the Silverbloom.'
Thea discovered the sad tale of the Silverbloom Manor from Erebus. The Manor was once home to a harmonious clan that were the keepers of an ancient secret. The secret was the Silverbloom garden that emanated light and sound only to the kind-hearted and only on full moon nights. A cruel nobleman, lured by the tales, pillaged the manor, causing the family to flee and vanish forever. Erebus, however, stayed behind, guarding the secret, hoping that someone kind-heart like Thea would discover it again.
Thea pledged to protect the Silverbloom garden and its secret, just like Erebus has been doing. The news of the glowing garden remained only with Thea, and she regularly visited the manor, tending to the flowers, just like the lost clan did once.
Erebus, over time, became a part of her family, an unseen yet warming presence in her life. On every full moon night, the Silverbloom Manor reverberated with hope and happiness. Thea had discovered the secret not just of the glowing garden, but also the age-old wisdom that kindness is the key to unearth the most profound secrets of life.
As Thea passed the torch of the Silverbloom's secret to the promising young ones of her hamlet, she finally understood her innate connection to the garden. For she was the last descendant of the lost clan and was destined to reunite with her legacy—the Silverbloom Manor.