Helios and Europa were ecstatic upon the birth of Callisto. She was Greton's own treasure. Her beauty was unusual, impossible, and this caused people from all around the country to gather in flocks to catch a glimpse of her. The sudden rise in tourism increased trade and merchandise. Soon Greton was a rich empire.
Callisto was brought up with endless love, from her parents, from her people and even from strangers. She started speaking at the mere age of seven months; the same time when she started walking. She was spirited, and full of mischief, wonder and magic. When she was three, she went missing. Her mother cried the whole day, and her father searched for her everywhere with his army. When day faltered to dusk, she was found. Callias, the ancient former leader of Greton and great-uncle of Helios, found her in the woods beside the Silver creek, whose water ran by his house. Helios and his men were dumb founded to see the toddler laughing and playing with a wolf the size of a horse. It showed no signs of aggression; in fact it was jumping around with its tail wagging and tongue lolling as Callisto scrambled on its back and played 'pony'. When she was brought back home, Europa took her in her arms, and whispered "You are a very naughty girl aren't you? Just like a Sprite, those mischievous little fairies." Callisto laughed, amused.
When she was five, she was found one day at the very top of a poplar tree. How she got there, no one knew. A huge knot of people gathered around the tree, their faces stricken as they watched the tiny girl sway perilously on the top-most branch. They tried to coax her down, but she simply shook her head and said in the gravest tone "I'm learning how to fly", and with that she did a swan dive that made the witnesses scream in horror; however the following event took the spectators by even more surprise. A huge eagle appeared out of nowhere and caught the girl by her dress at mid-fall, and then gliding down and gently dropping her on her feet, it soared in the air and flew away.
"Daddy, I can fly! Did you see me flying daddy, did you?" Callisto trilled as her father held her later in a trembling hug. Helios heaved a sigh. Gifted as she was, no one would disagree that his daughter was also the definition of trouble. He pushed her long hair back and kissed her forehead, then looking into her big blue eyes he said "Yes my little sprite, you fly like you were born to fly."
"Sprite?" giggled Callisto.
Helios smiled. "A sprite you are", he said and tickled her belly.
And the name stuck.
YOU ARE READING
Sprite
FantasíaSprite is the heart of the people of Greton. She is both a blessing and a hellion. A forgotten curse as old as Greton itself is unleashed when she runs away from home, in a far far land where dwells a King and a Prince. Little does she know that the...
