Once, on a forgotten island filled with snow, a kingdom rose and adapted to the coldness that the weather had brought them. His majesty, King Nirmen, married two queens raised far from his kingdom. One bore his first son, named Atiar, and a second named Cledonto. But, right after Atiar was born, his mother died. Years passed, and these two princes shared the same kingdom, dining hall, ballroom, horse barn, stables, and everything. Everything that their father had shown them, they owned, too. But only one of them shall inherit the whole kingdom and be king.
“That would be me,” said Cledonto. Flexing and twirling with his body covered in a complete silver armour suit. He had a long sword made of a unicorn’s horn and a dragon’s skin shield in his hand. “Because a coward and bookish prince like you,” said he, facing Atiar, “can’t be a king.” He smirked in full delight.
Atiar, of no concern for being a king, spread his arms and gave his brother the authority. But the king shook his head and opposed: “And I object,” said the king. “For it’s a rule that the first son shall be king. No matter what.” Cledonto sheathed his sword, bowed to his father, and fled right before their eyes. “He must be upset about what you have stated, father,” said Atiar.
Atiar was born out of pure love and wisdom. His birth was blessed by Khione, the goddess of snow and the only one they worship, and also the one who gave them the ability to withstand the bitter cold of the mad winter. He was born as fragile and thin as a snowflake sheet in the early winter days, and as white and untouched as snow amid bloodshed. “You will be the most beloved king,” said his father. Atiar grew physically weak, thin, and pale, but very smart. He was the first to finish in his class and always the top student and most excellent in philosophy, mathematics, and history. His brother, Cledonto, on the other hand, excels the most in sword fighting, horseback riding, and monster hunting at such a young age.
One day, in the length of the silent snowy night, Cledonto knocked on Atiar’s door. “I was on a hunt in the dark forest and saw a fox as black as the night that can grant any wish!” said Cledonto. Atiar was wondrous. “Take me! With you, we shall conquer and wish for our father’s eternal life,” said Atiar.
The young princes sneaked out and wore nothing but their evening clothing. The night was cold, and the snow storm had intensified. The young prince carried his younger brother upon his shoulder, snatched out the lamp hanging outside their bedroom door, and began their short journey. “Atiar, my older brother, promise me you won’t look back when the black fox sets his feet right in front of your eyes. For it has been said once that the wish will be the opposite. However, your wish shall be fulfilled once you answered his riddle and showed strong will,” said he.
Atiar nodded silently, staring at his younger brother in his innocent, marble eyes, reflecting nothing but the flame from their lamp. The young princes went out, and as quiet as the night, they walked in thick snow, and ran fast till their hair whistled in the soft winter breeze.
“Brother! Never have I been this far from our kingdom!” said Atiar. “Be shut, older brother, for we will conquer the black fox as dark as the night that can grant any wish!” said Cledonto. And as quiet as the night, they walked in thick snow, and quickly, they ran till their hair whistled in the soft winter breeze.
Time went on, and the night became deeper. No tidings were heard of the kingdom behind them. Atiar swerved and bumped his feet. Beneath was a rock as big as his foot. “I’m sorry, Mr. Rock,” he said. And the rock beneath him spoke and glowed. “With your politeness, I shall owe you one throw of stone that can knock anything down,” said the stone.
“A magic! Something we will need to conquer the fox that is as black and dark as the night that can grant any wish!” And off they went as light as a feather, their feet sinking in thick snow, and quickly, they ran till their hair whistled in the growing winter breeze.
When they came to the dark woods, Cledonto followed his small sword’s counsel. The old woods’ branches stretched their arms and whipped their feet. “Be still, scary trees, for my sword wields a strength that can cut off your branches. And a shield bears my heart, as brave as a lion’s pride,” said he.
The woods were shocked and trembled like a scared kitten. The birds heard him, and they set up such a loud scream that all the trees went wild and knocked out each other instead. The birds went down and whistled around him. “For your bravery, we shall grant a flight that can soar you high. An escape only to use when your journey is made.”
The cowardly Atiar hid behind the brave Cledonto, and he did his best to stay quiet. “Thank you, birds. A magic we can use to conquer the fox that is as black and dark as the night that can grant any wish!” And away the brothers went, their feet crunched the stock and stone, and quickly they ran till their hair whistled in the chilly winter breeze.
All went right, and they reached the enormous flat stone where a big black fox laid, and bright stars dotted around his body. “Brother, look! The black fox that is as dark as the night and can grant any wish!” said Cledonto. “Be still, young brother, for a wish may require a quest of knowledge and strength,” said he. Then, the fox that is as black and dark as the night awoke and spoke, “For my voice is not by mouth, and I hear without an ear, and the wind is where I lie, what am I?” And Cledonto wielded his sword, “You shall grant me my first wish,” said he. The fox that can grant any wish fled and ran before their eyes.
“If only you will do as I bid, the fox will not run!” said Atiar. And sorrowfully, they chased the fox that was as black and dark as the night that can grant any wish. And off they went till their hair whistled and skin slightly prickled in the night of winter that sang a song of coldness and might.
The two princes went again and reached a riverbank where the big black fox laid, and stars were dotted all around his body. “Brother, look! We found the black fox again!” said Cledonto. “Listen for once, and we shall get our wish,” said Atiar. Then the fox that is as black and dark as the night awoke and spoke, “For my body is one colour, and my size does not matter, in the sun, I go out, and in the rain, I will not. What am I?” Asked the fox. “Shadow,” said Atiar. And the fox glowed a thousand stars, “Your wish will be granted, tell, and I shall grant,” said the fox.
But he responded with nothing, and the black fox spoke again, “Clever. Then you will not tell. You should wait for your brother to get his, for if you say that you wish to wait for him, then your wish will be granted,” said the fox. And the fox that can grant any wish fled and ran before their eyes. And with their pounding hearts, they chased the fox that was as black and dark as the night that can grant any wish till their hair tousled and danced and whistled through the winter winds again.
Then, they arrived in a cave. The black fox stood there, and his body was dotted with a thousand stars of blue, red, yellow, and green. “For the wish I can grant, a test of strength needs to be passed,” said the black fox. Atiar then gave him the stone that can knock anything down. And the fox summoned Orion, the star that wields a sword.
Cledonto swung his hand and threw the rock at the charging star. The instant it collapses, his wish will be granted. “Make me a king!” He exclaimed. And the ground beneath them shook and grumbled, and the trees outside split in two. Then, the black fox spoke, “Your kingdom needs only one king, so the present shall perish, and you are now the king.”
Both princes were horrified. Their father died in an instant, and now Cledonto is king.
Cledonto cried and regretted his foolishness and begged forgiveness. And one last wish, Atiar needs to proclaim. “My wish is for you to convert everything to what it used to be,” said he. And the ground beneath them shook and grumbled and the split trees became whole again.
Then, the black fox said, “you’re a prince again, and the king is once again a king.” The fox that can grant any wish fled and ran before their eyes. And with their pounding hearts, they used the magic the birds had given them. And off they flew, heading back to their kingdom, and quickly they soared and tackled clouds till their hair whistled in the sharp winter wind.
A long while after, they both rushed to the king’s bed, and the king hugged his sons, perplexed. Cledonto besought him with tears in his eyes to forgive his foolishness. The king could not understand the way his sons spoke, and for a moment, he had thought that the kingdom needed two kings who wielded strength and wisdom. And so, the king said, two kingdoms shall rise, and both shall be crowned as kings.
Then, they both ran back to their beds till their hair whistled in the soft night breeze and together they thanked the black fox as dark as the night that can grant any wish.