The Tale of Florin: The Boy Borne of the Royal Willow
Once upon a time, in the little-known kingdom of Cozywood, King Fabian and Queen Seraphine ruled with all their heart and love. Their reign was filled with both emotional warmth and material prosperity. However, there was one thing that saddened them deeply. They had no child to whom the rich heritage of Cozywood might be passed. This longing for an heir led them to the most renowned sorceress of their kingdom, Mysteria.
Mysteria was a breath-takingly beautiful woman. But appearances could be deceiving - she held an ominous aura around her that would send shivers down anyone's spine. Despite the terror that she evoked, King Fabian and Queen Seraphine desperately pleaded for her help. She, agreeing to help, presented them a single seed and said, 'Plant this under the royal willow tree on a moonlit night, treat it with utmost care, and a son you shall bear'.
With doubt, but determination in their hearts, they did as she instructed. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, the seed received adoration as if it were already their child. One night, as the winter gave way to the spring, a flower bud sprouted as if from nowhere. It bloomed to yield not a flower but a small, delicate baby boy, possessing the same enchanting beauty as the plant. They named him Florin, the miracle boy of Cozywood.
As Florin grew, his bond with nature did as well. This earned him the affectionate nickname, 'the child of nature.' Florin was gentle and kind-hearted, loved by all, but his closest companion was the royal willow tree under which he was born. There was an unexplainable bond between the boy and the tree.
One day, Mysteria arrived bearing news of an undeniable prophecy of a great calamity approaching the kingdom. The only solution, she claimed, was a potion made of the heartwood of the royal willow tree. The kingdom was thrown into chaos. If they were to sacrifice the royal willow, it would mean losing Florin as well.
King Fabian and Queen Seraphine were torn. Florin, however, stood firm. He agreed to sacrifice himself to save his Beloved Cozywood. The heartwood of the royal willow was carefully extracted with Florin lending his strength to the tree all while. The potion was prepared, and Florin, surrounded by the teary-eyed inhabitants of Cozywood, closed his eyes for the last time.
The potion worked. The calamity was avoided, but the joy of saving their kingdom was tainted with the loss of their beloved Prince. They mourned for days, but on the seventh day, a miracle happened. Where Florin had fallen, a sapling sprung forth, identical to the royal willow. The kingdom rejoiced. Florin had indeed returned, and this time, he would stay with them forever.
Under the reign of King Fabian and Queen Seraphine, Cozywood prospered, and so did the memory of their brave Prince Florin. Every day, the inhabitants of Cozywood came to see the new royal willow, remembering the boy who had once lived among them, as their prince and saviour.
Thus ran the legend of Florin - 'the boy borne of the royal willow.'