The Wooden Hero of Ethelridge
Once upon a time, in the enchanting realm of Ethelridge, there lived a kind-hearted carpenter named Albert. Despite not having an heir to his refined craftsmanship, he gained the admiration of his town-folks, carving intricate sculptures out of the simplest logs. His sorrows lay in his concealed desire to have a child filled the shadows of his happiness.
One fateful day, as he was collecting woods deep into the forest, he discovered an expertly carved wooden figure, intricate and fine. The figure was so realistic that it seemed to pulse with life. It was an abandoned creation embodying perfection. Manifesting a form of a young boy, the figure stirred an awkward mixture of emotions in Albert's heart - fascination, melancholy, and an ineffable longing.
Mustering his courage, he cradled the figure and brought it home. Over the years, he treated it like his own son, nurturing the inanimate with warmth and affection. Miraculously, after one decade, on the night of the harmonious confluence of the celestial bodies, a spark of life ignited within the wooden figure.
In the morning sun, a young wooden lad, whom Albert named Elwood, sat at his breakfast table. Elwood was gentle, kind-hearted, and possessed an innate talent for carving. While he was made of wood, his heart exuded emotions so human. And so, Albert's joy knew no bounds. He finally had a son.
As time went by, Elwood's skill in crafting surpassed even Albert's. His creations were not just wooden figures but life resonating the spirit of the forest. However, the people of Ethelridge, while appreciating his craft, were wary and sceptical of his wooden existence.
One day, a ruthless dragon attacked their peaceful town, spewing fire and wreaking havoc. The villagers frantically tried to defend their homes but were no match for the dragon's fiery wrath. Amid the chaos, Elwood stepped forward, his courage overshadowing his wooden frame.
With a heart devoid of fear and hands skilled beyond measure, Elwood gathered all his strength, carving a giant wooden figure of a majestic, imposing dragon. As the celestial bodies converged that night, the wooden dragon pulsed with life, challenging its incendiary counterpart.
A fierce battle ensued between the dragons under the silver glow of the moon, their roars echoing beneath the thick shroud of terror hung over Ethelridge. Elwood's dragon breathed life, not fire, countering the chaotic fire dragon till it eventually succumbed in exhaustion and was chased away.
Elwood’s brave act donned him as Ethelridge's saviour, his wooden existence no longer a novelty, but a symbol of courage and life. From then onwards, he was not just accepted, but celebrated, loved, and appreciated for his true self - an unconventional son, a prodigious artist, a gallant hero.
For Albert, the ecstasy of pride took precedence over his joy of realizing fatherhood. His wooden son, who once resonated with his loneliness, now echoed the beats of unified joy, admiration, and acceptance throughout their magical realm. Together, they continued to carve not just wood, but indelible symbols of bravery, love, and life. And Elwood proved, after all, it is the heart that makes us human, and not the substance we are made of.