The Whispering Lamp🔊

Across the emerald vastness of the Forbidden Forest, nestled near the moss-draped oaks and ensnared by enchanting lores, was a quaint little village named Eledor. The village was scenic and tucked away from the world's hubbub. Thatched cottages, myrtle gardens, cobble-stone streets, iridescent butterflies perched on gigantic sunflowers all day, and the humble, joyous villagers painted the canvas of Eledor with innocent, rustic charm. However, the absolute peculiarity of the village was the Whispering Lamp.

In the center of the village, suspended from a lamppost of gnarled wood hung the legendary artefact. True to its name, the Lamp, resembling an old-world lantern, was known to whisper sagely advice to the one who sought answers and guidance. It would flicker, flicker, and flicker, casting an ethereal golden glow over the village.

One day in the heartening month of spring, when the roses flourished and the air was fragrant, Eledor witnessed the arrival of Lauriel. The young maiden had travelled far and wide in search of answers. She had heard tales about the enigmatic Whispering Lamp. And so, she found herself standing before it, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of fear and hope.

The next evening, with her heart pounding, she summoned the courage to interact with the Whispering Lamp. There was a complete silence, so palpable that it was disquieting. Holding her breath, Lauriel whispered her question, 'How do I find my happiness?' and waited. The flickering lantern hummed and then, a soft, wise voice echoed, 'Happiness does not find you, child. You find happiness.'

Lauriel pondered over this and left. She spent her days exploring Eledor, helping the villagers, listening to their tales, and joining them in their daily chores. She realized that she experienced a sense of pure delight in these simple tasks and tiny joys that she had ignored for so long. Every smile she received warmed her heart; every expression of gratitude enlightened her softly cloudy world.

After a month, Lauriel stood before the Whispering Lamp again. 'I feel a sense of contentment here, should I stay?' she asked. The lamp flickered and responded, 'Find where your happiness flourishes, and there will be your home.'

The next day, Lauriel decided to stay in Eledor. She began teaching the children, using the knowledge she had gathered in her Journeys. Simultaneously, she learned new things from the villagers. Days turned into months and months into years, and Lauriel's decision of staying turned out to be the happiest decision of her life.

One late evening, her ageing eyes looked upon the Whispering Lamp. 'I found my happiness, not in things or places but in people and simple gestures,' she confessed, a tear gleaming at the corner of her eye. 'That is what happiness is, dear child; it grows in kindness, love, and shared sorrows,' the Whispering Lamp replied.

And from then onwards, with each passing day, Lauriel found happiness in the sunrise's gleaming light, in the tiny footsteps of children running around, in the fresh smell of petrichor, in the peace of the velvety night, and in the warmth of the flickering Whispering Lamp.