N’ebe anyanwụ na-acha n’ala ugwu, obere obodo a gbara gburugburu ugwu bụ nke oyi kpuchiri kpuchiri, ma ụlọ niile nwere ụlọ mkpọrọ na-ehicha ya na oyi. E nwere ụka ochie ebe a, ebe abụọ ọdụm ya na-anọ na ụwa ọlaọcha, dị ka nnukwu oke ọhia nke na-eduga n’elu igwe. Anyanwụ na-enwu n’elu igwe, ọ bụ ezie na ọ na-enwu enwu, mana ọ na-ewetịte nsogbu oyi, na-enwu na snow mere ka ala ahụ dị ka akwụkwọ diamond. N’ebe a na-ejide obodo a, otu onyonyo na-eso ụzọ dị mfe, na-ewepụ ntu n'ala snow.
Aha ya bụ Elphia. Ọ nwere ntutu ọlaedo na-enwu nke na-egbuke egbuke dị ka mgbede, na anya ndị a dị ka mmiri osmosis. Okwu ya bụ ndị a na-enwu na-ewepụ mmetụta, na-emegharị na nkwụsị. Elphia bụ chi, na-achọ mgbe nile na mgbakwunye n'oge ndị mmadụ na-achọsi ike, na-enwe mmetụta, nke na-emeri na olileanya.
N’oge oyi a, mgbe anyanwụ abụghị nke zuru oke, Elphia na-abata n’ebe ahụ n’ọkụ ihu igwe. O yikwasịrị akwa na-acha ọcha, atọ na anụ ụra dịka nhicha, mana na-ejibe iwu na ịma mma nke na-eme ka o wee nwee obi ike megide oyi nke ugwu. O mere ka ọ na-apụ na-enweghị ụda, na-eru nso na snow site n'ala na-enweghị ịhapụ. N’ihi na snow na-adọrọ adọrọ, mana snow na-adọrọ adọrọ na-ahụ na ihu ya, na-egwu egwuregwu na ikuku, mgbe ọ na-ada adaba na ala.
Obodo ahụ nwere ọdụdụ oyi, windo niile ndị e ji emeghe, ụmụaka nwere ike ịhụ snow si n'elu windo, na-enwe nrọ na ọ bụ oge mmiri ahụ ga-bachiri anyị. Na Ele para na - u; na Elphia nwere ọrụ dị mkpa: ịchọta ma nyere onye na-efunahụ na snow.
N’Ụbọchị a, Elphia bịara n’ụka ochie ma nọrọ na mpụta nke ntu ọ bụla, na-ehicha anya ya n’ime ikuku gburugburu. O doro anya, nchikota nke mkpọrọ gara n’obi ya. Ọ na-amarawanye, na-ele anya n’ala n’elu osisi na-adịghị mma, hụrụ na snow kpuchiri ya, mana na-ahụ na ọ bụ ọnụ ji echiche.
Elphia na-esi n’ala snow na-edu n’ime oghere ọkụ, na-snow na-alọ na ntutu ya dị mfe, na-enwu na egwu n’anya. N’ụlọ ihu a, ọ na-adịrị mfe, ọ na-echefukwa na ọ na-eje ije. N’ebe a, n’agbanyeghị nke a, na snow na-abụ na ọ na-amalite, ma snow na-ehicha ya na ajụjụ na-enye aka na mmekọrịta.
N’ezie, Elphia na-ezube na snow, na-achọsite na snow, asụsụ ya na-arụ n’elu osisi dị ka azụ na-ezⅨde. 'Nne, ‘Elphia kwuru, ‘ime na ọtụtụ ọmụmụ ịbụ,’ o mere ka lãvị na-alụ.
"‘How are you? What are you doing here?'" Elphia’s voice, like the gentle spring breeze, carried a soothing magic.
The little girl looked at Elphia in surprise, clutching her skirt, afraid to speak. Elphia knelt down gently and draped a corner of her gown over the girl’s shoulder, a warm flow emanating from the fabric, like sunlight piercing through dark clouds.
“I’m Elphia. My friends told me that a lovely little girl needs help. Would you like to talk with me?” Her gentle voice held no pressure, just pure concern.
The little girl looked at Elphia with tearful eyes and after a long moment whispered, “I’m Alimora. I’m lost, I can’t find my way home…” Her voice choked with emotion, like a cat’s soft mewing.
Elphia gently stroked Alimora’s hair, soft white light radiating from her fingertips. This light was not blinding, but rather seemed like a thread of warmth pulled from the morning glow, making it impossible for anyone to resist shedding their burdens.
“It’s okay, Alimora,” Elphia said patiently. “I’ll walk with you until we find your home. Along the way, would you like to tell me your stories? Like, what is your favorite toy?”
Alimora sniffled, trying to shift her thoughts from fear to a new topic. She carefully related, “I have a wooden horse made by my dad. He told me that the horse can protect me and that every night he keeps it by my side.”
“That horse must be very special,” Elphia smiled, reaching out to hold Alimora’s small hand, warm and soft like the first sprout of spring grass. The two walked through the snowy forest, the snow beneath them sparkling in the light.
Along the way, Elphia occasionally chatted softly with Alimora: “Do you know why snowflakes are all unique?”
Alimora shook her head.
“Each snowflake is a tiny droplet of water from the clouds, and then they fall from the sky, shaped by the cold air into different forms. Just like each of us has our own appearance and story.”
As they spoke, Alimora began to forget the cold and fear. Her heart started to feel lighter, even glancing up to enjoy the sight of snowflakes dancing in the sunlight.
The two walked intimately among the trees, Elphia using her fairy intuition to guide them along the safest route, shifting from loose snow to firm paths, then crossing an ice-covered stream. With a flick of her hand, the ice on the stream became thicker, making even the slipperiest parts solid as a rock.
Along the way, a small gray squirrel abruptly jumped down from a tree, timidly watching them while clutching a pinecone. Elphia smiled slightly, nodding at the squirrel: “There’s no need to be afraid, we’re just passing through.”
The little squirrel seemed to sense Elphia’s warmth, delicately placing the pinecone at Alimora’s feet and then gently waving goodbye with its tail. Alimora’s previously tense expression turned to surprise as she happily picked up the pinecone and presented it to Elphia.
The two arrived at an open area where several small paths wound across the snowy ground, and Alimora began to feel a bit despondent: “There are so many paths here, I don’t know what to do…”
Elphia looked at her gently, her smile warm like the winter sun melting the snow. “Every path holds the footprints of the past; as long as we open our hearts, maybe we can find the most familiar one.”
At this moment, she took Alimora’s hands and instructed her to close her eyes, whispering, “Feel the snow beneath your feet carefully; can you hear anything?”
Alimora closed her eyes, listening intently, suddenly hearing faint barking in the distance. She opened her eyes joyfully: “That’s our dog! It must be looking for me!”
“Let’s go!” Elphia encouraged her, “Follow this sound, we’ll go.”
They walked towards the sound. The snow grew deeper, and Alimora’s footsteps became heavier. Elphia softly reassured her, “It’s okay, we can take our time. Every step brings you closer to your home.”
Suddenly, a large white dog jumped out on the snowy ground, woolly and bounding into Alimora’s arms, wagging its tail excitedly. Alimora embraced the white dog, calling out, “Snowflake, I haven’t seen you in so long; I’ve missed you!”
Elphia stood to the side, watching this scene with gentle and satisfied eyes. At this moment, the surrounding area seemed filled with light and warmth, the clouds in the sky parting, sunlight gathering around the little girl and the big white dog, like a miracle at the center of the earth.
Across the snowy ground, two figures rushed towards them — Alimora’s parents. They looked anxious, and when they saw Alimora, tears brimmed in their eyes as they hugged her tightly. Her mother trembled and said, “We’ve been searching for you, dear; you scared us!”
“I’m sorry…” Alimora murmured softly, looking up at Elphia. “It was this sister who helped me find my way home.”
Elphia smiled, standing in the snow in her pure white gown that flowed with indescribable soft light. “Thank you, Alimora; it is your own bravery and belief that led you home. I just walked with you along the way.”
Alimora’s parents also thanked Elphia, feeling the kindness radiating from the girl that warmed everyone, making the cold winter feel friendly. Alimora took Elphia’s hand: “Can you come home with us? It must be very cold today; my mom can make the best hot chocolate for you.”
Elphia shook her head, her golden hair shimmering in the sunlight: “Thank you for your invitation; I have many places to go and many people who will, like you, get lost in the snowy night. So I must continue my journey.”
Upon hearing this, Alimora felt a bit reluctant and tightly grasped Elphia’s fingertips. “If I get lost again later, will you come to find me?”
Elphia nodded, her gaze still gentle: “When you need me, just open your heart to this world, and you will know I’m always by your side.”
These gentle words engraved themselves in Alimora’s heart. As her family walked her home, Alimora often looked back, trying hard to remember the pure, flowing figure of Elphia standing in the snow. Until that figure disappeared into the sunlight of the forest, symbolizing that guardianship and hope had never left.
Back in the town, twilight slowly descended. The furnace inside crackled, and snowflakes danced outside the window. Alimora sat in her mother’s embrace, holding the pinecone, eyes closed, reminiscing about the entire journey. She felt as if she could still sense that gentle hand, hear the whispers of snow falling, and smell the faint scent of flowers emanating from under the fairy gown.
And outside the town, deep in the mountains, Elphia continued her journey. With each step she took across the snow, she left kindness and light in the tranquil snowy night. Countless lost souls saw glimmers of hope in the darkness, binding this warmth and love to every corner of the earth.
Thus, the children in the town spread the legend during the winter: whenever the snow falls heavily and sunlight breaks through the clouds, the golden-haired, blue-eyed fairy Elphia glides silently through the snow, bringing kindness and hope, guiding every lost heart to find its own lighted path.