The Star Collector🔊

Once upon a time, in a small, forgotten village called Ecklon, perched on the edge of a serene, mystical forest, lived a young boy named Thomas. Thomas was unlike any other boy in the village: while others spent their days playing around, Thomas spent most of his time staring up at the sky. He had a peculiar fascination with the stars. Every night, after everyone had retreated to their homes, Thomas sat by his window, notepad in hand, sketching the night sky. His heart held a dream that would sound absurd to most people: he wanted to collect stars!

One day, the village blacksmith, an old, gruff but wise man named Master Harold, noticed Thomas's peculiar obsession with the stars. Intrigued, he approached Thomas. 'What makes these stars so fascinating to you, young lad?' he asked kindly. Thomas looked at him with bright eyes, brimming with dreams. 'Don't you see, Master Harold? They each hold a story, a mystery, and beauty that's too amazing! I want to collect these stars, each one of them.'

Master Harold, amused by the boy's outrageous dream, suggested a plan. 'If you want to collect stars, Thomas, you'll need wings to fly.' He promised to help Thomas build wings in his smithy and said it would take five years of rigorous effort and determination. Thomas agreed willingly.

Hence, their quest commenced. Under Master Harold's stern but kind supervision, Thomas learned the craft of blacksmithing. At the end of each day, in addition to forging horseshoes and fixing tools, they would work on constructing Thomas's wings, one feather at a time, from light, sturdy metal. The dream seemed less bizarre and more achievable as days rolled into months and months into years. His efforts did not go unnoticed. Thomas's family and friends no longer smiled indulgently when he spoke about his dream; instead, their eyes reflected awe and respect as they witnessed his unwavering determination.

Five years passed. The day arrived when the wings were finally complete — strong, glittering, and magnificent. Thomas stood on the village summit, his heart fluttering like the wings strapped to his back. With the entire village watching, he spread his wings and made his first leap toward the sky. As he soared higher and higher, the villagers gaped in astonishment. It was as if a legend was taking shape before their eyes. Master Harold’s eyes glistened with unshed tears of pride.

For the first few days, Thomas flew low, learning the whims of the wind and the better ways to navigate. Then he started reaching out to the stars, until one night, in his fearless endeavour, he rose too high and got a handful of stardust. He'd done it: collected his first star.

In the years that followed, Thomas collected star after star, each one he caught was carefully secured in a special box made by his own hands. The room where he kept his stars became the local museum – a treasure trove for villagers and travelers alike. His journey from a whimsical boy to 'The Star Collector' was an inspiration to all. The villagers, inspired by Thomas's relentless pursuit, starting chasing their own dreams. Ecklon turned from a small, forgotten village to a thriving, spirited town known for the museum of stars and for its hardworking and ambitious folk.

Years later, as an old man, Thomas continued his pursuit, not for himself but for others. While his frame had become feeble, his spirit remained untamed. In his pursuit, he not only collected stars but also nurtured dreams. He illustrated that the sky was far from the limit, and no dream was too big or too absurd.

In the end, Thomas succeeded far beyond gathering stars. He united a village, inspired a generation, and sometimes at twilight, the villagers could still see a frail but spirited silhouetted figure against the night sky, reaching out for just another star.