01 - The Arrival of Diben at La Martais

The Arrival of Diben at La Martais

Diben was a korrigan like no other. While his peers preferred to remain hidden in the undergrowth of Brocéliande, he dreamed of adventure, discoveries and unknown landscapes. For years, he had listened to the stories of the ancient korrigans who spoke of distant lands, ancient forests and secret valleys where one could hear the song of stones and the murmur of trees. One day, he made a decision that would change his life: he would leave Brocéliande to explore the world..

His journey lasted several moons. He crossed sparkling rivers, meadows where fireflies danced and paths lined with hedges where birdsong echoed. The further he went, the more he smelled a sweet scent in the air, a mixture of ripe apples and damp earth. This scent guided him, like a promise of sweetness and mystery..

That’s how he arrived at La Martais, a small hamlet nestled between groves and orchards. As soon as he set foot on this land, he felt something strange, like a shiver running through the ground beneath his feet. Here, the magic still seemed present, discreet, but very real. He observed the granite houses, some of them centuries old, and the paths winding between the apple trees with their gnarled trunks..

Tired, he approached an old, isolated apple tree, with a wide trunk and imposing branches. This was no ordinary tree. It seemed to call to him, as if it already knew that a new guardian had just arrived. Diben placed his hand on the rough bark. A warm breath ran through his fingers, a sign that this tree was alive in a much deeper way than the others..

A shiver ran down his spine. Was it fatigue or an effect of the magic of the place? He had the strange feeling that the wind was carrying him, that his feet were no longer quite touching the ground. He shook himself and shook his head, regaining awareness of his body. It was not the first time he had felt this way.…

Night was falling gently on La Martais, enveloping the landscape in a golden light. Diben settled down at the foot of the apple tree, watching the sky where the first stars were lighting up one by one. He felt that this place could be his new home. Here, far from the hustle and bustle of Brocéliande, he could live peacefully, observe humans from afar and discreetly protect these places full of history..

But just as he was about to fall asleep, a faint noise caught his attention. An owl had just landed on a branch above him. It stared at him with its large golden eyes and let out a deep hoot..

— You have arrived, she whispered in the ancient language of the creatures of the night..

Diben was not surprised. He knew that some animals, especially the older ones, understood the language of the korrigans..

— Yes, he answered. I followed the wind and the ripe apples here..

— Then you are in the right place, said the owl. But know that this land has a memory. Those who listen to it can hear the stories of the past..

Intrigued, Diben straightened up. He placed his hand on the ground and closed his eyes. For a few moments, everything was silent. Then, he felt a vibration under his fingers, a distant murmur, like a whisper carried by the wind. He then saw images pass through his mind: 17th-century peasants building the first houses of La Martais, a priest carving his name above a stone door, children laughing as they ran between the apple trees and, more recently, visitors amazed by the peaceful beauty of the place..

Diben opened his eyes again, his heart pounding. This was not just a place, it was a land full of memories, a place that deserved to be protected..

He looked at the owl, which was still staring at him, impassive..

— So what are you going to do? she asked..

Diben smiled..

— I will stay. I will watch over this place and its inhabitants, without ever showing myself, but leaving signs for those who know how to see..

The owl nodded, then flew silently into the night..

Diben curled up under the apple tree, a smile on his lips. He had just found his new home, a place where magic and history intertwined, a place where he could, discreetly, make dream those who took the time to listen to the murmur of the wind and the leaves..

Thus began the new life of Diben in La Martais, the invisible korrigan, secret guardian of the place and witness to forgotten stories..