The White Sparrow and the Minister's Daughter
Once upon a time in a far-away land, there lived a diligent minister who served a noble king. The minister had a precious daughter, Ahana, who captured everyone's hearts with her captivating eyes and matchless kindness. Among her adored companions was a fascinating bird, a white sparrow, which was gifted to her on her tenth birthday by one of the foreign envoys. The sparrow was no ordinary bird; it was believed to be the messenger of the gods, bringing good fortune to the land it chose as its dwelling.
Every day, Ahana took the sparrow to the cobblestoned palace garden where she taught it several tricks-chirping to musical tones, flipping, and even picking the ripest fruits from the vines. It was truly an adorable sight.
However, unknown to them, all was not well in the kingdom. The neighboring kingdom, envious of their prosperity and peace, longed to cause discomfort and chaos. With a wicked intention in their minds, they kidnapped the white sparrow, believing that with the sparrow in their possession, the fortune would switch sides.
When the sparrow vanished, bad luck befell the kingdom; crops failed, rivers dried up, and people fell ill. Above all, Ahana, lost without her beloved friend, fell sick out of sorrow.
The kind-hearted minister was utterly distressed with his daughter's condition and the constant despair that shrouded the kingdom. Out of his desperation, he disclosed his concerns to the wise old sage who lived in the outskirts of the kingdom. After a moment of contemplation, the sage promised a solution, but in return, asked the minister to make a solemn promise to uphold justice and righteousness throughout the kingdom.
The sage gave the minister a magical mirror, stating that it would reflect the location of the sparrow. He advised the minister to send his bravest knight on the mission to retrieve the sparrow from the clutches of the enemy.
The minister, following sage's advice, chose the valiant Sir Ethan, an exceptional knight, loyal to the throne. Sir Ethan set off on his daunting journey with the magical mirror in his hand. Battling against turbulent rivers, eerie forests, and desolate terrains, he finally reached the border of the neighboring kingdom.
The mirror revealed the sparrow locked in a golden cage, placed in the enemy king's chamber. With his heart filled with renewed energy, Sir Ethan stealthily entered the chamber at night, rescued the sparrow and fled the kingdom.
Upon their return, the kingdom rejoiced, and Ahana, having reunited with her beloved companion, embraced life again. The land seemed to regain its prosperity, its verdure, its life. It was again blooming and bustling with positivity. The minister, overwhelmed with happiness, thanked Sir Ethan and honored him for his unmatched bravery and loyalty.
The king, after learning about the whole incident, commanded to strengthen the kingdom's security and asked his ministers to be more vigilant. He kept his promise to the sage and administered justice throughout the kingdom. In turn, the neighboring kingdom, realizing their mistaken greed, requested peace, vowing never to disrupt harmony again.
This story ends, leaving us with the vision of a prosperous kingdom, a happy emperor, a jubilant minister, a healthy Ahana, and a majestic sparrow, enjoying its freedom in the garden. But the lingering thought remains that greed often leads to despair, while righteousness brings harmony and peace.