The Princes of Ignolia
Once upon a time in the charming Kingdom of Ignolia, lived a noble king, Reginald, and his kind-hearted queen, Elara. They ruled their kingdom with love, fondness, and were revered by all their subjects. But despite the abundance in their life, a void gnawed at their happiness – they were childless, no heirs to carry on their benevolent reign.
Hidden away in the heart of the kingdom, in a decrepit cottage, lived an old sorceress known as Isolde. She was known throughout Ignolia for her magical potions and spells, though some looked at her with suspicion and fear. King Reginald, driven by his longing for an heir, sought Isolde who promised to help them in their plight, under one condition. The child, if chosen for the throne, should never step foot in the Bewitched Forest bordering the Kingdom.
Queen Elara was soon blessed with twin boys, the joy of the kingdom knew no bounds. The boys were named Elden, the elder one, destined for the throne, and Eerin, the younger one, who bore a striking resemblance to his brother. Elden grew up as a strong-willed prince with a heart brimming with valor, while Eerin was known for his wisdom and kindness.
As time passed, the princes ventured near the dreaded Bewitched Forest against their father's warnings. Despite Elden's resistance, Eerin's curiosity overpowered him, and he crossed the dreaded line into the forest. As Eerin's foot touched the forest grounds, a ripple passed through the kingdom, and all the lights in the palace snuffed out. Eerin was instantly transformed into an owl, destined to live in the Bewitched Forest.
Ridden with guilt and sorrow, Elden decided to venture into the forest. Bravely facing the darkness, Elden, guided by the soft hoots of the owl, found Isolde. When Isolde revealed that only the ‘Spell of True Sacrifice’ could break the curse, Elden, without a moment's hesitation, offered to give up his throne, his future to save his brother.
Mesmerized by the unparalleled show of true love and sacrifice, the spell was cast and instantly, Eerin was returned to his human form. The kingdom was in celebration at the return of their missing prince but were shocked to witness Elden as an owl. At that moment, Isolde with tears in her eyes revealed that the 'Spell of True Sacrifice' worked in mysterious ways. The spell broke and returned Eerin to his human form, because his elder brother was willing to give up his throne and future for him. This shows that Eerin is worthy enough to be a king, which suggests that Elden sacrificed himself in true meaning; this is why Eerin could return to the Kingdom as a prince.
Eerin, because of his wisdom and philanthropy, turned out to be an outstanding ruler. The kingdom thrived under his grace and wisdom. Elden, now a majestic owl, continued to look after his beloved kingdom from the shadows of the night. Their tale of love, sacrifice, and kinship echoed through the aisles of time, and the Kingdom of Ignolia never saw a dark day.
The moral of the tale is that love is the greatest asset known to mankind and that true sacrifice always bears the sweetest fruit.