Beautiful

The old woman sighed, but as she turned to leave, she tripped on a cobblestone. The heavy wooden box slipped from her grasp and crashed to the ground, bursting open. Inside was a magnificent, glowing silver mirror.

At the center of the village lived , a young man renowned for his flawless features. His hair was like spun gold, and his eyes were the colour of the summer sea. He was widely considered the most beautiful person in the land. Kaelen loved the attention and spent hours admiring his reflection in the village fountain. beautiful

Instead of his handsome face, the mirror showed a withered, thorny, and black vine. It was cold, sharp, and empty of life. The crowd murmured in shock. Kaelen backed away in horror, realizing that his vanity and selfishness had made his soul ugly. The old woman sighed, but as she turned

Kaelen looked at her with disdain. He did not want her dirty hands near his pristine fountain. "Move along, old woman," Kaelen scoffed. "You are ruining the view of the most beautiful spot in the village." At the center of the village lived ,

The reflection did not show her birthmark or her messy hair. Instead, it showed a radiant, blooming golden lotus flower. It glowed with a warm, gentle light that seemed to comfort everyone standing near it. The mirror was reflecting her endless kindness, her habit of sharing her small meals with stray animals, and her gentle spirit.

She approached Kaelen by the fountain. "Kind sir," she rasped, "I have travelled for weeks. May I please have a sip of your water and a small piece of bread?"

Fascinated, Kaelen pushed his way to the front. "Let me look! My reflection will surely be the most glorious of all." He stepped in front of the mirror and gasped.