Ethereal Leafs

“And your life will never be the same...” he said... while he gazed at me with those mysterious black eyes as deep as his words.

I had travelled to a faraway land full of history and unsolved strange events, in order to investigate the story of an old man, known as the guardian of the secrets of the “golden mountain”. According to the legend, this mystery man, had been waiting for someone for years.

The sun was rising when I arrived at the old but charming town where everybody I encountered was friendly, especially the Shaman of the town, who showed me the location.

While walking around, I could see some suspicious eyes hiding behind the curtains of those little houses, dogs running freely, and children playing in the dusty street. I bought some water and started my hike up the steep mountain with no clear road.

Hours passed while my mind dwelled in the strange stories about that place. When I raised my eyes, I saw a distant form, a man in white with a black book in his hand.

The wind was relentless, I couldn’t see his face but I sensed he was the man I was searching for.

I tried to speed up but the rocks were big and I couldn’t climb faster. Periodically I tried to glimpse the man, but I saw nothing.

After an hour walking, I reached the top expecting to find him there... but the man had disappeared.

I wandered around and I saw some beautiful trees, the light of the sun touched them with golden and rose light. Under a bush, I found a crystalline water fountain welling up from a rock, this was my first gift.

After refreshing myself, I decided to continue exploring, and I found a cave, which was completely covered with beautiful crystals. There was a small river running through the floor. The stunning beauty of those mystical crystals enchanted me as I walked. I turned on my lantern and continued getting deeper inside. The harmonious sound of the water induced me feelings of presence, happiness, thankfulness, and joy.

The rocks were slippery, I didn’t realise how deep I was getting, I felt I was sliding and couldn’t grip anything. Suddenly, I was under water.

I thought it was the end, I lost my lantern and I couldn’t see anything. The cold water near paralyzed me but I was somehow drawn to a distant light The water dragged me down in and I could hardly breathe. Suddenly, I felt a strong hand grabbing my arm. I turned around and I saw the man. It was him.

With a smile, he pulled me up and gave me a towel.

There was a warm fire at the side of the river inside the cave. He invited me to sit on a rock and gave me a delicious soothing potion. While enjoying the warm beverage, the glow of his black book caught my attention again.

With a gentle voice, he asked me, “What are you doing here?”

I looked at him and, confused, I answered, “I heard a story...”

He interrupted me and asked me again, “But... what are you looking for…?”

“Answers”, I replied.

I shared my entire story. He simply smiled with patience.

Finally, I asked him, “Who are you?”

He didn’t answer for a while, then, he stood up and invited me to walk deeper inside the cave. While walking, I saw a shimmering light around his body. 

The colours of the cave were beyond imagination, I was enthralled in the beauty of everything.

Far inside the cave I saw another exit light, I knew he was taking me there.

When we got out of the cave, the landscape was completely different, night had fallen upon us. There was a cliff not far away of the entrance of the cave, he stopped me, and walked to the edge. Little orbs surrounded him, while he opened his arms and chanted some words in a strange language.

Immediately, something strange started to move in the sky, and a huge circle formed in front of him. It was a vortex that grew, expanded and swallowed the man. I didn’t know what to do.

Looking around I noticed something moving next to a tree. I couldn’t see very well, but the light of the moon revealed a strange creature with big green eyes and dark wings. When I got closer, I realized it was a mythical creature known only in fairy tales; I felt afraid, but also surprised and enchanted. I couldn’t believe it, it was like a dream... but... it was real, it was happening.

Suddenly, the man reappeared with the black book and a small worn pouch containing something shiny.

He placed the book in my hands and said I would be tested, that I would find only two pages. These pages will reveal my challenges to overcome and grow. If I succeed, the pages will vanish in front of my eyes, and eventually, the black book would vanish as well.

“And your life will never be the same”, he said.

I opened the book, but I couldn’t read it, it was written in a strange language, which appeared to be ancient. We went back to the cave and he led me back to the original entrance of the cave.

Before he was gone, he wished me strength, light and wisdom and blessings for a safe journey.

I asked him why; why did he give me that book, why to me?

Before we parted he answered: “Not many are searching for answers.” “You attracted it”.

He placed the small pouch in my hand while he said, “I’m sure you will make good use of this, no one will ever own this. It can give you great happiness or it could become a great weight to bear”. 

I felt a strange mixture of gratitude, happiness, and sadness. I turned around to see him again, but he vanished gracefully into the evening breeze.

I stayed there intrigued by everything that had happened, intrigued by all what happened.

When I arrived at the hotel, I looked again the old book. I tried to figure out what language it was, but my research found no match. I opened the little bag and found a beautiful deep blue transparent stone, while holding it, suddenly I fell into a deep sleep.

The following morning, I opened the book and saw that golden like letters were morphing and I could read: “The mirror will reveal yourself”. I closed it, and went with the stone to an antique shop to ask what kind of stone it was. The owner said it was a very rare blue diamond which I could easily sell for $200.000. He said he could pay that immediately.  I thanked him and left.

Heading back to the hotel, I realised I was walking around with $200.000.

I found the Shaman again, and he asked me what happened, but didn’t feel like telling him the full story. I felt afraid and distrustful, so I just said I talked to the man, and tried to avoid giving away any details. When I left, I realised that having such an amazing gift in the pocket turned me fearful of getting robbed.

On the bus to my hotel, I was observing the people... simple people going back to their homes. But... where was my joy or my sense of adventure? Where was the initial purpose of my trip? My distrust didn’t allow me enjoy myself, I was focused in my pocket, I couldn’t stop thinking about the $200.000.

When I arrived, I saw myself in the mirror, but I saw the Shaman and those people on the bus too. Those people were my mirror, the mirror of my distrust and judgement. I felt sad, but very thankful to be able to see it so clearly.

I opened the little black book and I saw the first page vanishing...

The next day, I opened the book again and the strange symbols transformed again, and I could read: “When your fear becomes love”.

On my way to seek the Shaman again, I saw the children, dusty and barefooted playing again but they weren’t in school... I asked why and they said that the teachers left because they were not paid.  

I was shocked. A poor little town, children with no hope and I had a stone worth of $200.000 in the hotel! I immediately felt the purpose of that large amount of money.

I arrived at the Shaman’s house, and he told me more stories, and mentioned the myth of a “blue diamond”, and the prophecy of great changes when that stone will appear to that town.

I decided to tell him what happened the day before. He didn’t give me any advice, he just wished me wisdom.

Finally, he asked me if I would like to meet The Black Queen, the “Spirit of The Forest”, another intriguing myth. I couldn’t refuse that, so he gave me a map that led to a location in the forest. It was not far from the town, so I immediately set out on the journey.


Deep in the forest, I felt a cold breeze surrounding me like an ethereal presence. I turned around, and found another strange creature staring at me. I realised it was the same creature of the mountain. I was absolutely terrified. The creature asked me what I was doing there. I was almost speechless, but after a few seconds I babbled, “I came to meet The Black Queen”.

“Who are you?”, the creature asked.

“A searcher”, I replied.


The creature looked deep into my eyes and asked me to touch a tree. I felt confused, but very slowly I touched the closest one, and immediately I felt connected with the whole forest, it was indescribable. 

When I turned again to the creature, I saw how its physical form changing, and instead of the creature, a beautiful black woman was standing there almost fully naked, with only some plants surrounding her body.

“I need your help”, she said.

I was surprised, but she said that the forest was going to be sold and the buyers wanted to cut down the trees and destroy everything. Within seconds I could feel her pain. She said she was The Spirit of The Forest. There was no time to lose, the next day could be too late.

I promised her my help, and I would return there someday, hopefully not too far off.

I went back to the hotel, I held the blue diamond in my hands for a long time, mesmerized by it’s enchanting beauty, I put it in my pocket and went to sell it.

The next morning, I donated some money to rebuild the school and make it work, and I found the owner of the forest and paid him more than the other buyer, he couldn’t refuse.

On my flight back home, I pondered so many questions... so many answers to find.

When I opened the black book, I saw how the second page vanished before my eyes... and a few seconds after, with a golden shimmering glow, the black book disappeared as well.

What I knew, is that soon I would return there, I would recover the mysterious blue diamond and find more of the secrets hidden in that small forgotten town.