Fairy tales for young and old ~ English version

The astral twins

 Once upon a time, in the mystical land of Astoria, under the velvet cloak of night, a shooting star blazed across the heavens. Its trail, a ribbon of celestial light, heralded the birth of two extraordinary children. Born at the very moment the star kissed the earth, the twins were blessed with a rare gift—the power to grant wishes.

The twins grew up in a quaint village, their days filled with laughter and the love of their doting parents. The villagers revered the astral twins, for they brought hope to a place where magic had long been forgotten. As the children blossomed into their powers, they discovered the joy of granting wishes. A wish for rain ended a drought, a wish for healing mended the sick, and a wish for joy brought smiles to weary faces.

Nylava, the firstborn by mere moments, was as bold as the star that heralded their birth. She believed in the goodness of hearts and sought to fulfill every whispered yearning, every silent plea. To her, granting wishes was a joy, an adventure without end.

Avalyn, on the other hand, was contemplative, her wisdom far beyond her years. She understood that wishes, like the double-edged sword, could bring both joy and ruin. She knew that some wishes were better left unspoken, their consequences too grave to unleash upon the world.

As they grew, the twins' fame spread far and wide. People came from distant lands, drawn by tales of the wish-granting sisters. Nylava reveled in the adoration, eager to bestow blessings upon all who asked. Avalyn, however, counseled caution, reminding her sister that even the purest intent could lead to unintended outcomes.

One day, a stranger cloaked in mystery came to Astoria, seeking the twins' audience. With a voice smooth as the river's flow, he spoke of his wish—a wish for power that would rival the gods themselves. Avalyn's heart quailed at the mere thought. But Nylava, ever daring, agreed to grant it.

The world trembled as the stranger's form twisted and grew, his newfound power a maelstrom of chaos. The land quaked, the rivers reversed, and the stars flickered in distress. Astoria stood on the brink of ruin, and Nylava realized the grave mistake she had made.

Avalyn, heart heavy with the burden of their mistake, sought counsel from the village elders. It was then that the wisest among them spoke a truth that resonated with the clarity of the stars: "True power lies not in the granting of a wish but in the purity of the one who makes it."

With this revelation, Avalyn turned to the children of Astoria, for they were untouched by the complexities of desire. Among them was a young boy, his eyes alight with the innocence of youth. He was the one they sought, the pure heart whose wish could mend what had been broken.

The twins knelt before the child and shared with him the tale of the stranger's wish. They asked him to make a wish, not for himself, but for the world—a wish for balance, for harmony, for the restoration of the natural order.

The boy closed his eyes, and with the sincerity of the untainted soul, he wished. He wished for the stars to shine brightly, for the rivers to flow gently, and for the hearts of all to be filled with peace.

The shooting star that had once heralded the twins' birth heard the child's wish. It answered with a cascade of light that enveloped the stranger, unraveling the threads of power that had bound him. The chaos receded, the skies cleared, and the world breathed a sigh of relief.

Nylava and Avalyn learned that their true role was not to wield power but to guide it through the purest of intentions. They became the stewards of wishes, turning to the children of Astoria whenever the balance of magic needed to be restored.

And so, the tale of the Astral Twins became one of humility and wisdom, a story that taught the people of Astoria that the most powerful wishes are those born from the heart of innocence.

And they lived wisely ever after.