The Phoenix Pot of Mira
Once upon a time, in a small village hidden beneath the shadows of majestic hills and next to the serenity of a glistening lake, a young woman named Mira lived. Mira was a simple potter, a profession she inherited from her father. Although her grandparents were master craftsmen, famous in the whole kingdom, Mira's father couldn't extend the legacy due to ill health and early demise. The responsibility of keeping the legendary pottery alive fell on her tender shoulders at a young age.
Mira's life was just like the clay she moulded every day- affecting whoever touched it and getting affected by the slightest pressure. She lived in her small world between the wheels of her pottery wheel and the century-old clay oven. The peace and rhythm of the village were interrupted when the news of the grand fair, which was held once every five years in the kingdom, reached the village. Many artisans aspired to showcase their crafts to the royal audience, and Mira was one among them. She decided to participate, to get recognition for her craft and make her parents proud.
She toiled day-in and day-out, preparing the best of her pots and vases to be displayed at the fair. There was a particular azure pot she was working on; it was an intricate piece that required her utmost attention and skill. Every detail she etched onto it was a whisper from history, passed down generations, radiating the aura of majesty.
The day of the fair arrived. Everyone from the kingdom, from commoners to nobility, were present. Eyes filled with awe and curiosity browsed through the diverse array of crafts and arts displayed. Mira's stall had a unique simplicity. Amidst the vibrant displays around, her potteries gleamed with an unmatched radiance and elegance. One spot was empty on her display table, reserved for her masterpiece azul pot. However, an unfortunate stumble led to the pot being shattered to pieces. Mira was heartbroken and crestfallen. She had bet all her hopes on the azul pot.
A teardrop fell from Mira's eyes onto the remnants of the pot, the pot seemed to absorb her sorrow and a soft glow emitted from it. Before her lay not the shattered hope, but a divine artefact, the pieces of her azul pot somehow fusing back together. Not just that, they now had gold in place of the cracks, turning the pot into an exquisite piece of art - a phoenix rising from its ashes.
Gasps of amazement rippled among the crowd; all eyes were glued to this spectacle. The legend of Kintsugi - a form of Japanese art where broken ceramics are repaired with golden lacquer, was known, but never witnessed in the kingdom. The simple potter from a secluded village had not just replicated, but added a unique twist to the legendary art form.
Moved by Mira's craft and her dedication, the King bestowed upon her the honor of being the Royal Craftsman, a title her ancestors enjoyed. Mira, with her modesty, innate skill, and invincible spirit, not only won the fair but everybody's hearts too. The tale of her extraordinary accomplishment reached the farthest corners of the kingdom, making her an emblem of resilience and resolution. The azure pot, her masterpiece, remained in the royal treasury as a symbol of undying hope, exemplifying that not all that breaks is destroyed. Some break to transform, to become more beautiful, more resilient.