The Star of Ashburn
Once upon a time, in the small town of Ashburn, there lived a humble baker named Rolland. Despite his ordinary profession, Rolland had one extraordinary skill. He had the ability to dream visions of the future. His dreams were never about tragic incidents or fortunes. Instead, these nocturnal glimpses were fairly mundane depicting everyday events that were bound to occur the very next day.
However, one night, Rolland dreamt of an interesting event. He saw a glowing star falling from the sky into the woods, not far from the town. In the dream, he went to the site of the occurrence and discovered a strange stone embedded with precious gems. Uncertain of what it meant, Rolland decided to venture into the woods.
As he journeyed, Rolland could hear the rustle of leaves in the chilly wind and the crackling of branches under his feet. He walked until he reached the spot he had seen in his dream and to his astonishment, there indeed was a glowing stone embedded with glittering gems, exactly as it had appeared in his dream. He carefully picked it and brought it home.
News of Rolland's strange discovery spread quickly amongst the town. The folks were intrigued and consulted Miss Esme, the town's oldest and wisest resident. On examining the stone, she gasped in amazement, 'This stone is the Star of Ashburn, a mystical relic believed to possess extraordinary powers. This stone went missing several decades ago and was considered lost forever. Whoever re-discovers it shall be granted one wish.'
Rolland was taken aback. He hadn't imagined that his simple life would ever put him in such a mighty position. He wondered what he should wish for. Endless riches, eternal youth, or ability to cure all illnesses? He pondered for days as the townsfolk eagerly waited for his decision.
Meanwhile, Ashburn was suffering from the worst drought the town had ever seen. The wells were drying up, crops were withering and the livestock was dwindling. Everyone was helpless, and despair was building. It was then that Rolland realized what he must do.
One fine day, he marched into the town square holding the Star of Ashburn high for all to see. In a clear and resolved voice, he said, 'I wish for abundance of water, for blooming crops, for healthy livestock, and for prosperity to return to Ashburn.'
An intense light burst from the stone, enveloping the whole square and then it went quiet. The clouds which were absent for months appeared instantaneously and it started to rain. It kept pouring until the wells were full, the fields were verdant, and the once lifeless town brimmed with hope and joy.
Rolland was celebrated as a hero. His wish had not only saved Ashburn but also transformed him from an ordinary baker to a man of importance. But Rolland was the same humble man. What brought him joy wasn't the newfound fame but the relief and happiness he saw in his fellow townsfolk, the prosperity of his beloved town.
The next night, he dreamt again. This time he saw the Star of Ashburn rising to the sky. In the morning, he found the stone missing. Realising its purpose was served, it had left Ashburn only to be discovered again in times of need. And Rolland, the humble baker became the seer of Ashburn, forever remembered in tales and songs as the man who saved the town with his wish.
From then onwards, even the simplest of dreams held a profound meaning to the people of Ashburn, reminding them always, that extraordinary things often come in ordinary packages.