The Dragon's Heart: A Tragic Fate in the White Folk's Legends

In the heart of the White Folk's ancient lands, where the sky kissed the mountains and the whispers of the wind told tales of old, there lay a village that had long been shrouded in mystery. The villagers spoke in hushed tones of a dragon, a creature of legend, whose heart held the key to their fates. It was said that the heart of the dragon was a beacon of power, a source of both immense joy and unyielding sorrow.

The tale of the dragon's heart had been passed down through generations, a story that held the weight of the White Folk's legends. It spoke of a time when the dragon had chosen a human as its companion, granting them a single wish but also a solemn warning: the wish would come with a price, a heavy cost that would forever alter the course of their life.

In this village, two young souls were bound by fate. There was Eirian, a girl of the land, whose eyes held the wisdom of the ages, and Lysander, a boy whose heart was as vast as the sky above. They were as different as the sun and the moon, yet their destinies were inextricably linked by the legend of the dragon's heart.

Eirian was the village's seer, a girl whose visions were as clear as the starlit night. She foresaw the coming of the dragon and knew that the heart was a gift, but also a curse. Lysander, on the other hand, was a boy of the hunt, whose courage matched the strength of the dragon itself. He believed in the dragon's heart as a symbol of power, a force that could change their world for the better.

As the legend foretold, the dragon descended upon the village, its scales shimmering like emeralds in the moonlight. It spoke in a voice that resonated with the earth itself, and its eyes held the depth of the deepest ocean. The dragon chose Eirian and Lysander, and with a gesture as grand as the heavens, it handed them the heart.

The heart was a thing of beauty, a pulsating organ that seemed to beat in time with the life force of the earth. Eirian took the heart in her hands, feeling its warmth and the power it held. Lysander stood beside her, his gaze fixed on the heart, a mixture of hope and fear in his eyes.

The dragon spoke again, its voice a gentle warning, "Your wish shall be granted, but know this: it will bring you joy as the sun, but it will also bring you sorrow as the moon. Choose wisely, for the heart of the dragon is a heavy burden."

Eirian and Lysander stood in silence, their minds racing with the possibilities. Eirian's heart swelled with a desire to bring peace to their land, to end the strife that had plagued them for generations. Lysander, however, yearned for a different kind of power, the kind that would make them the greatest among their people.

After much contemplation, Eirian spoke, her voice filled with resolve, "I wish for the land to be at peace, for there to be no more war or strife among the people."

The dragon's heart began to glow, a beacon of hope in the darkness. In that moment, Eirian felt the weight of her decision. She knew that her wish would bring prosperity to their land, but it would also mean that Lysander's wish would not be granted.

Lysander stepped forward, his eyes brimming with tears, "I wish for the strength to protect my people, to be the greatest warrior they have ever known."

The heart's glow intensified, and the dragon's eyes softened. "Your wish, too, is noble, but it is not the path of peace."

The dragon vanished into the night, leaving Eirian and Lysander to face the consequences of their choices. Eirian's wish came true, and the land flourished. The people were at peace, and prosperity abounded. But with the peace came a loneliness that Eirian could not shake.

Lysander, however, was not the warrior he had dreamed of becoming. Instead, he found himself bound by the constraints of his wish, unable to fight for the freedom of his people. He wandered the land, his heart heavy with the burden of his unfulfilled desire.

The years passed, and Eirian and Lysander grew older, their fates entwined by the dragon's heart. Eirian's peace was a fragile thing, and the shadows of war loomed ever closer. Lysander, in his solitude, sought a way to fulfill his wish, to be the protector he had always longed to be.

One night, as the stars began to twinkle in the sky, Lysander found himself standing before the same ancient tree where the dragon had first appeared. He reached into his chest, where the heart still beat, and whispered a silent plea, "Let me be the warrior I was meant to be."

The heart began to glow once more, and a figure emerged from the shadows. It was the dragon, its eyes filled with a sense of fulfillment. "Your wish is granted, Lysander. But remember, with great power comes great responsibility."

The dragon placed a hand on Lysander's shoulder, and the heart's glow intensified. Lysander felt a surge of energy course through him, and with a newfound sense of purpose, he turned to face the oncoming darkness.

Eirian watched from afar, her heart heavy with concern but also with pride. She knew that Lysander's journey was one of his own making, and she hoped that he would find the strength to protect his people.

As the sun rose the next morning, a new day dawned for the White Folk. The legend of the dragon's heart lived on, a tale of hope and sorrow, of the choices that shape our lives and the burdens that come with them.

In the end, Eirian and Lysander learned that the true power of the dragon's heart was not in the wish itself, but in the courage and sacrifice it required. Their story became a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope.