The princes and the water-sprite

The princes and the water-sprite

Once upon a time in a distant kingdom there lived a king who had three sons.

The eldest was called the Star Prince. The middle one was called the Moon Prince. And the youngest, who was born on a clear summer morning, was called the Sun Prince.

When the Sun Prince was born, the king was so happy that he promised the queen:

“If you want to ask me for something really important, tell me. I will try to fulfill your request.”

The queen did not ask for anything for a long time. Years passed. The princes grew up, studied, argued, reconciled and more and more often helped their father in state affairs.

One day, when the Sun Prince was grown, the queen reminded the king of his old promise.

“I want our youngest son to become king one day,” she said.

The king thought for a moment.

“I love all three equally,” he replied. “But in our kingdom, the eldest has always inherited the throne first. If we suddenly change that custom because of my old promise, it will cause resentment and quarrels among the brothers and at court.”

The queen was disappointed. Rumours soon spread through the palace. Some advisers supported the eldest prince; others whispered about the youngest. The king saw his sons becoming the centre of too much commotion.

Then he called the Star and Moon Princes.

“Stay at our forest house for a while,” he asked, “away from the quarrels at court. You can return when things are calmer. I do not want other people’s ambitions to turn you against one another.”

The brothers agreed. They said goodbye to their father and left the palace.

The Sun Prince caught up with them on the stairs.

“Where are you going?”

The older brothers told everything.

The Sun Prince did not even hesitate.

“Then I will go with you. If because of the dispute about me you had to leave the palace, I will not leave you alone.”

“But you haven’t been told to leave,” the Moon Prince said in surprise.

“That is why I can decide for myself,” the youngest said with a smile. “And I choose my brothers.”

So the three of them set off for the forest.

The road was long. Towards evening the trees became thicker, the air cooler, and water glistened between the ferns.

“Look, a pond,” said the Sun Prince.

The brothers sat down to rest under a large tree. The Star Prince asked the younger one:

“Go to the pond, wash, have a drink, and bring us some water in our travelling cup.”

The Sun Prince approached the pond. The water was clear, and round leaves floated on the surface.

But as soon as he stepped on the wet stone, a voice came from the reeds:

“Traveler, before you touch the water, answer my question.”

A strange spirit rose from the water. He looked now like a boy, now like the reflection of a wave. His hair shimmered like water in the sun.

“What question?” the prince asked.

“Tell me, what are truly good magical beings like?”

The Sun Prince looked up.

“Like the sun and the moon. They shine on everyone.”

The water spirit shook his head.

“A fine answer, but not the one I seek. Wait in my underwater hall for now. When your brothers solve the riddle, I will set you free.”

The water swirled quietly, and the Sun Prince found himself in a bright grotto under the shore. It was dry, safe, and there was even a stone bench, but he could not find a way out.

Time passed.

“Our brother has been gone a long time,” said the Star Prince. “Moon Prince, go and see what has happened.”

The Moon Prince approached the pond.

And again a voice came from the reeds:

“Before you touch the water, tell me: what are truly good magical beings like?”

The Moon Prince looked at the clear sky.

“Like the sky. It is vast and shelters everyone.”

“Another lovely answer,” said the spirit. “But the riddle is still unsolved.”

A moment later, the Moon Prince was sitting in the same grotto next to his younger brother.

“Did you say the wrong thing too?” asked the Sun Prince.

“It seems so.”

They looked at each other and laughed.

“At least now it’s more fun to wait.”

Meanwhile, the Star Prince was sitting under a tree and was getting more and more worried.

“Both went for water, and neither has returned. They cannot simply be taking a long swim.”

He went to the pond, carefully examined the shore and saw the footprints of both brothers. The footprints led to the water itself, but did not return.

The Star Prince did not step into the pond. He stopped on a dry stone and said loudly:

“Master of this water, if you can hear me, come out. I want to talk.”

An ordinary-looking forester appeared from the reeds.

“Why stand on the bank?” he asked amiably. “It’s a hot day. Wash and refresh yourself.”

The prince looked him in the eye carefully.

“You’re not a forester. You’re a water spirit. And my brothers are with you now.”

The forester smiled, and his figure became transparent again, like a wave.

“You guessed right.”

“Why did you detain them?”

“I have a rule. Everyone who enters this pond must answer one question. Your brothers answered beautifully, but they didn’t understand the main thing.”

“Ask me.”

The water spirit repeated:

“What are truly good magical beings like?”

The Star Prince was in no hurry.

He remembered his father who didn’t want a quarrel between his sons. He remembered the Sun Prince, who voluntarily went with his brothers. He remembered all the people who did good without a crown, spells, or loud words.

Then he answered:

“Good beings need not shine like the sun or be as vast as the sky. Those who are truly good are pure of heart. They do not deliberately harm others. They speak respectfully and help through their deeds. We recognise them by the comfort they bring, rather than their appearance.”

The pond became quiet.

Even the leaves on the water stopped moving.

Then the water spirit smiled broadly.

“That is the answer I was waiting for. You may take one brother with you. Which will you choose?”

The Star Prince was surprised.

“One?”

“Yes. The Sun Prince or the Moon Prince.”

The prince lowered his eyes and thought for only a moment.

“Release the Sun Prince.”

“Why the youngest?” the spirit asked. “Isn’t the Moon Prince closer to your age? Hasn’t he been beside you since you left the palace?”

“The dispute over the Sun Prince made us leave home,” the Star Prince replied. “But he did not take advantage of it. He came with us, though he could have stayed at the palace. I do not want his kindness to leave him alone. And I will not leave until the Moon Prince is free too. So begin with the youngest.”

The water spirit studied him for a long time.

“You know more than how to give a good answer. You know how to act kindly when you must choose.”

He slapped his hand on the water.

First the Sun Prince emerged from behind the reeds. The Moon Prince appeared behind him.

“Both?” the Star Prince cried.

“Both,” the spirit replied. “Wisdom without kindness would be mere cunning. You have shown both.”

The brothers hugged.

The Sun Prince looked at the pond.

“May we fetch some water now?”

The spirit laughed.

“Now you may, without even solving a riddle.”

They filled their cups, ate supper on the bank, and left the spirit some of the sweet fruit they had brought for the journey.

From then on, when they passed by the pond, the brothers always greeted its owner. And the spirit no longer frightened travelers. Instead, he posed his riddle only to those who wanted to test their wits.

Time passed. The disputes in the palace subsided, and the king grew old and decided to hand over the daily affairs of state to his sons.

The three brothers returned home together.

The Star Prince became king, as the ancient custom required. The Moon Prince took charge of courts and education. The Sun Prince cared for roads, gardens, and assistance to the towns.

In the palace garden, they had a small, clear pond dug and surrounded with willows and flowers.

“For our old acquaintance,” the brothers explained.

They say that sometimes in the evening three reflections appeared on the surface of that pond: a star, a moon and a sunbeam.

But the most important thing was not how they shone.

What mattered was that the brothers remembered the answer they had once heard beside the woodland pond:

Goodness is revealed through words, choices, and deeds, rather than dazzling appearances.

May this story leave a little light in your heart ✨