Long ago in the country of Luvana, the crowned prince, Prince Kailon Dei Luvana was cursed by a witch. The kingdom was devastated to see the cold stone body of the prince in the center of the palace plaza. The king searched everywhere to cure his son, but to no avail, no cure was found. And the prince remained a stone statue.

Years passed and the witch, who was stricken by her conscious, visited the kingdom of Luvana to talk to the king. She told him that the prince belittled the poor and had a wicked heart, seeing the prince on the cursed day at the plaza, she bestowed him a curse, that only genuine love could break.

The witch cannot undo the spell she brought upon the prince, but instead, weakened it. The prince shall come to life during the night and must grant the people’s wishes when they throw flowers on the water of his fountain.

A fountain was then made around the prince’s statue, and a festival was always held for him during the season of flowers. Would the prince ever find his true love? Or would the prince remain a stoned statue forever?

I have been cursed for the last 200 years. I was cursed into a stone statue by a witch, but bitten by her conscious, she came back and weakened her curse on me.

I have to grant people’s wishes in order for me to come to life during night time. People throw different kinds of flowers on the waters of my fountain every each passing day.

People throw roses if they desired to have a new lover, or a wish related about their lover.

Yellow flowers are for happiness.

White flowers are for peace of their passed loved ones.

I get roses the most. I started to become fond of roses since it’s the usual flower that the people throw in my fountain.

Then while my hard cold stone body looked at the vast people going in and fro the plaza, a little boy wearing a white polo shirt and a blue short approached my fountain, holding a sunflower.

Such a young one asking for happiness, what had you went through to ask for happiness?

“My grandfather told me that you could grant wishes if I throw a flower in your fountain.” He gently spoke, tearing the sunflower from its stem. “He told me that if I throw it, and call you, you will come in the evening and grant my wish.”

The child then slowly placed the flower unto the water of my fountain. The flower floated, and slowly approached my feet.

“If I call you by your name, you would grant my wish right?” The child spoke again. “You will grant my wish right?”

If only I could speak, I’ll reply to you.

“It says here,” the child spoke looking at the engraved template on the foot of the fountain.

“It says here that ‘while making a wish to Prince Kailon Dei Luvana, one must bow and speak of what he desires’. Oh wait, let me give you a bow.”

The child then took three steps backwards, and gave me a bow.

“Prince Kailon, please grant my wish,” he whispered. “I want my mommy and daddy to stop fighting, because grandfather wants them to be happy together. Can you grant my wish Prince Kailon? Then, I’ll come back this evening and see you!”

After making the wish the child waved goodbye and disappeared in the crowd, surely making his way to his parents.

I watched the endless march of people walking in and out of the plaza, until the sun grew tired and the moon won the race.

It’s almost night time.

Then the time I waited the most came. Night came. And as the time stopped, my body glowed into gold and the stone body I used to have became flesh. No person would notice my missing body in the statue, and no one could see me asides from the person who made a wish to me. But sometimes, there are meddling souls visiting me.

The moment my body came to life, a spirit of an old man appeared before me. He seemed to be the grandfather of the child who made the wish.

“So you’re that child’s grandfather?” I told the spirit as I walked out of the fountain.

“Yes.” He replied. “I wish to see my grandchild one last time.”

“Then in exchange,” I replied while folding the sleeves of my shirt at shoulder length. “Would you help me grant your grandchild’s wish?”

“Of course, your highness.”

Then I slowly walked towards my fountain and picked up the sunflower floating on the water. The flower glowed bright gold on my palm. And as I held the flower, the memories of the child surged inside me.

I saw the child in front of his parents fighting over matters about their business. The owner of the company his father work’s for was owned by his brother, the child’s uncle.

His uncle was taken by greed and never gave his younger brother, the child’s father, any inheritance from their late father. The child’s mother was frustrated since her husband was the one working like a slave, while his drunkard older brother beat his younger brother from time to time and spent the company’s money on alcohol and prostitutes.

Their company was on jewelry craft. They sell jewelries adorned by stones.

Ah, I think this old spirit could help.

“I have an idea.” I turned my head facing the old ghost. “Give your company to your younger child.”

“But I did.” The ghost replied, surprised. “But my greedy elder son faked my last will.”

“Then as one of the wish’s conditions,” I replied, crushing the flower in my palm. The flower oozed into golden dust that slowly spread in the air. “You must fulfill any desire I ask of you, in exchange, I’ll grant your grandchild’s wish. Now are you ready to hear it?”

“Yes, I am.” The old ghost replied.

“Then I want you make a set of designed jewelries with your grandchild in this sketchbook.” I flicked my fingers and a sketchbook and pencil appeared before the ghost, by instinct the ghost caught it. “And I’ll give you another chance to rewrite your will.”

“But how would that help my grandchild?” The ghost asked.

“Because you’re the very root and reason why your son and daughter-in-law are fighting. I should show you your grandchild’s memories.”

Then one by one, as the golden dust collected, and turned into a floating sunflower, the memories of the person who made the wish played.

There was the time when his younger son was being beaten by his elder son.

A scene where his son and his daughter-in-law was fighting in front of his grandson.

And another scene where his grandson was standing in front of his father being slapped by his uncle. The child’s mother tried to stop the fight, but she was also slapped by the uncle.

At such a young age he witnessed such vulgar scenes. No wonder the child wished for happiness. He lived in fear and loneliness the whole time.

“Are you Mr. Prince Kailon?” I heard a small voice behind us, and as I turned around, it was the child from earlier. He was wearing the same clothes as earlier. And was holding unto a stem of red rose on the other hand. I smiled.

“Yes, I am the Mr. Prince you are looking for.” I replied the child. “And what brings you here to my fountain at this late hour?”

“My grandpa said that if you really want your wish to come true, I must bring a stem of red rose with me at the fountain, so that the prince will surely appear. And you’re here!”

Ah yes, the joy of children brings my ticklish side. He slowly walked towards me and gave me the rose.

“This is for you Mr. Prince!” He beamed me a smile. “I hope you’ll make my mommy and daddy happy now!”

Innocence. This pure innocence shouldn’t be tainted by the darkness of this world. I took the rose from his hand, and as I took it, the conditions of the wish are at work.

His grandfather appeared and ran to him the moment he saw him.

“I knew grandpa is still here!” He screamed with joy as he ran towards his grandfather and asked to be carried. “I know you’re just sleeping in that bed! But I can’t see you now grandpa since they buried you under the land. Why were you buried in the land though grandpa?”

There was an awkward silence between us they elders. How could we tell him that his grandfather’s already dead, and that this would be the last time he’ll see his grandfather?

“Well grandpa woke up because I have to finish some business,” the old man smiled. “I woke up because your mommy and daddy were too loud, and it hurts my ears!”

“Oh so that’s why grandpa came to see me! Would grandpa help me with mommy and daddy?”

The old man looked at me, and I nodded. You’re a free man tonight, Death will see you soon at his gates, make it one of your greatest memories at the very least.

“Now come here sit, Philip.” The old man sat the child on his lap while he sat at the edge of the fountain. I followed suit and watched them on the other end. “Grandpa and Philip will sketch new necklaces, bracelets and earrings for mommy, now would Philip help me make them?”

The child happily nodded and the moment passed with the two of them joyfully drawing designs on the sketchpad.

I looked at the red rose Philip gave me. It was as big as my whole palm and its redness was the same red as a living person’s lips.

I broke it from its stem, and slowly crushed it. I blew the petals towards the grandfather and grandchild.

Philip saw the floating lights and thought that they were red fireflies and played with them, leaving his grandfather enjoying the sight of him playing.

The time is near. I slowly walked towards the old man and patted his back. He smiled and knew that this moment won’t last longer. His eyes longed for his grandson.

“I’m sorry but it’s time.” I apologetically smiled. “You must sign the designs and write your final will.” I then handed him a pen I had in my pocket.

“Yes, thank you Prince Kailon.” He replied.

As I sat beside him, he started signing the designs he made together with his grandson. Then at the last blank page, he scribbled his will and signed it. He closed the sketchbook and wrapped it with the ribbon attached on its back. He smiled at me as he finished his task.

“The people at your time didn’t have the chance to see your kindness your highness.” He smiled. “They were wrong about you.”

The only noise at that time was Philip’s giggles as he bantered around with the red fireflies.

“You must say goodbye with Philip,” I said. “Thank you for your help.”

“No, it is I that should thank his highness.” The old man replied. “If it weren’t for the prince, I won’t be able to see my grandchild again, lest spend some time with him. I’ll treasure this memory.”

We stood up and walked towards Philip. The grandfather picked up his grandchild and we end up escorting him back to the hotel where he and his parents are staying at.

“Thank you Mr. Prince!” The child smiled as he hugged his grandfather. “I will tell mommy and daddy to bring roses tomorrow with me!”

“Yes, and don’t forget to give the sketchbook to your daddy okay?”

“Yes Mr. Prince, goodnight!”

Then the child gave us each a hug before he entered the doors of the hotel.

We were then left alone under a starry night. I made a stem of red rose with my magic and presented it to the old man. He looked at me with questioned face.

“What is this your highness?”

“It’s the rose your grandchild brought me,” I replied. Bring it with you.”

“Thank you, your highness.”

The old man gave me a bow as he slowly turned into white dust and floated towards the night. Another star returned to the heavens.

The next day, Philip visited me with his parents. His father was holding a bouquet of roses.

“Daddy come quick!” Philip shouted, running towards my fountain amidst the crowd of people. “This is Mr. Prince that helped me see grandpa!”

“How can we tell that it’s just a statue honey?” the wife whispered to her husband. “Are we to believe him that that statue brought father to life and gave us these designs and will that your father signed? It’s just simply impossible.”

“I know Martha, but I guess the gods have their ways.” The husband smiled. “Who would have known that a statue granted our son’s wish?”

“Daddy! Mommy come here!” Philip shouted, he was plucking the roses out of their stems and let them afloat on the water of my fountain. “Help me with the roses!”

“Yes sweetie we’re coming!” his mother replied.

My morning started with my fountain filled with roses and the night before, happiness was granted.

How unfortunate I can’t smile when I’m stone. I could have smiled at Philip before they left.