In the kingdom of Eratorn, there was a little lake. It would seem, that there was nothing intriguing about it. But there was. It was called firefly lake because there happened to be a lot of fireflies. No one knew why though. Every year in June people from around the country came to Firefly lake to watch a splendid show. Everything was lit. There were so many of the yellow-green shining bugs that from distance it seemed that rims of the lake were shining and the lake itself was a dark abyss. It wasn’t all nice though. Every year exactly on 24th of June a person got lost to never be seen again. Always it was the last person to leave the lake.
Today is the 24th of June. On each government building is a post with a black flag. Kings daughter is missing. How silly. Princess Alyona was never allowed to approach the lake because of fears that it would swallow her. But she could not resist. It’s been a year since the damned day she has forsaken all that was dear to her and left castle through a secret passage to see for herself wonders of Saint John Night at Firefly lake. I’ve just returned from a long expedition with Eratorn army to defeat our enemies. Upon hearing the bad news, I decided to set out to the lake at the critical time. I’m marching mounted on a fair horse in my shiny armor to the lake. My spear hoisted up, a golden banner with great red E blazes at its tip. Huge, round shield in my other hand, engraved with royal lion. With each step through a meadow on my way fireflies shine brightly. I’ve never seen such a beautiful sight. It is a dark, clear and moon less night. One could not tell apart ground from the sky. One was scattered with fireflies and the other with stars.
The lake is peaceful. Not a single disturbance, it is so smooth just like a great mirror. I jump off my horse, pat it encouragingly on its back as a thank you for its service and just stand there and wait what happens. As I watch the lake and its surroundings, I realize that there really is nothing disturbing the peace. Not a single bird or cricket. Nothing. In fact, there was no living thing except for the fireflies. Ominous feeling grabs my heart. Suddenly all the bugs went dark. I raise my spear in alert prepared to fight whatever may come at me.
A great tentacle snatches me and submerges me into the water with such swiftness that I am not even able to take a proper breath. It’s dragging me through a deep water, for I don’t know how long. I wasn’t aware that the lake was so deep, but I somehow managed to stay conscious. The creature is looking for something. A cavern. It pulled me up into it and a great expanse opened up before us. It let me be. I scrambled to my feet and before me stood something resembling princess Alyona. Her arms long as tentacles, slowly shrinking into a natural form. I’ve fought through my life many fearsome creatures on my expeditions, but none was this terrible. It hissed at me. Showing small sharp teeth. For a moment its face flickers into a different form. And then it charges at me, obviously angry that I didn’t pass out in the water. It goes after my neck, but I promptly take out my steel knife and slice its stomach. It’s holding its stomach, blood pouring. Suddenly it looks much more human, more like her. I started to fear that in fact it is her. It retreats into water.
I’m still gasping for breath. I’m sitting on the floor thinking what on earth was that. “Was it really Alyona. Did I just kill her?” Shook and frightened I stand up and trie to go further into the cavern to find a way out, but as I turn, I find another huge chamber. But what I saw put to my knees. Tens of hundreds of stone blocks. On each a person lay. Those were the people who went missing near the lake. They all look as if in a deep slumber. Almost smiling.
I begin to run around looking at the bodies. When I finally find her. She looks so peaceful, almost as if she fell asleep recently. Her fine copper red hair, so shiny as ever. It was a secret of mine, but I was in love with her since I was a child. We were playing as kinds because my father was kings knight. The day she disappeared I didn’t cry because I would put my father in shame. But now… Now as my sight falls upon her lifeless body, I can’t restrain myself anymore. My deep cry echoes through chambers of the cave. Huge tears roll down my cheeks onto hers. Full of color. Full of color with slight hint of red in the middle. Little freckles on her nose. The cutest freckles on the small nose. Lips full and scarlet colored, it was hard to believe she wasn’t only asleep. I expected her eyes to open every second, but they never did.
I don’t know how long I kneeled and sobbed over her body, but it felt like eternity. My eyes became dry and sore. I could not cry anymore. So, I only lay there with my head in her hands. I fell asleep. Footsteps woke me up. I, still sleepy, open my eyes slowly. It’s my father, with a worried smile on his face. He bends to me and hugs me. “Come, there is nothing for you except for death. They found their peace, now you shall find yours.” My father was lost at the lake many years ago.