Beautiful Page

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.

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

Just then, a young girl named stepped forward. Elara was a quiet orphan who worked in the village kitchens. She had a large birthmark across her cheek and wore plain, stained clothes. The villagers often ignored her or made fun of her looks. With a trembling heart, Elara looked into the mirror. Instead of his handsome face, the mirror showed

The old woman smiled at Elara and then looked at the stunned villagers. "True beauty is not what is on the outside," she stated softly. "It is not found in a perfect face, but in a kind and loving heart." Kaelen backed away in horror, realizing that his

With those words, the woman and her mirror vanished into the winter mist.

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?"