The Golden Love by Zlata Pelykh

"We can turn lead into gold!",

shouted a young alchemist named Felix, hugging his colleague joyfully.

He was overwhelmed with happiness, pride, and delight. But let's not get ahead of the plot and listen to the story of how they came to this point.

***

Long ago, in a small village near a huge city, there was a girl. She had extraordinary beauty: blue eyes, golden curls like silk, a rosy face, and plump lips. Her name was Celestia. The young girl was very popular, but sadness was settling in her soul repeatedly.

Her mother died at the birth of the girl. Then, overcome with despair, her father thought that the little innocent angel had taken his wife, so in his grief he cursed the newborn girl. He decreed that no one would ever love Celestia for her mind; instead, they would be enchanted only by her face. This left Celestia longing for true love, a supernatural connection that transcends appearances. Soon after, her father died in the war, and Celestia grew up with her stepmother, who was her own mother's sister.

Years passed, and the curse was still in effect. The stepmother did not like Celestia very much, because she was terribly jealous of her, but the girl always found a way to escape in books. Her love of science came from her mother, who was interested in alchemy.

***

Once, while walking through the library, she met an interesting old man. His kind eyes seemed to shine with an attractive light, and his smile gave warmth.

"What are you looking for here, young lady?", the old man asked.

"I am interested in alchemy. My mother was very interested in it, so I want to find a connection with her... Something that will connect us."

"Alchemy, you say. Well, good, child. I can see you really need the help of a wizard. And your pure mind could use some cleansing from the black magic...", the last sentence was whispered by the old man's lips, so Celestia didn't hear anything.

"Do you know where to find help?", the girl's heart was filled with hope.

"Yes. Go to the capital, there you will find a large tower with a young boy living there. He is my student; his name is Felix."

"Thank you very much! Here you go...", the girl began to rush around, taking out a pair of knitted gloves from her bag. It was windy outside, and the old man kept rubbing his hands.

"Thank you, young lady, and take this medallion too. It will keep you safe, and this amulet will ensure that anyone who looks at your face will not be able to perceive it. Your relationship will be based solely on your mind, soul, and character, which will not be tainted by your appearance. But remember that the medallion's effect is limited!"

With a glimmer of hope, Celestia sets out to find the wizard. Despite his young age, the boy was famous throughout the capital, because he had studied under the best magician in the country!

"My name is Felix!", the boy quickly introduced himself, adding, "Why are you here?"

"Once, in my mother's diary, I found that she was very interested in alchemy. It was written there that even the strongest curse can be dispelled by turning lead into gold..."

"Lead into gold! You're kidding, right?", a smile graced his freckled face, and his red hair added to his image of untouched sincerity.

"No, really! I've studied hard and I'm ready to work!", suddenly, the girl confidently walked closer to Felix and took his hands, "Please."

And so, their journey began. They discovered the secrets of potions, magic, and alchemy to find a recipe that would help turn lead into shimmering gold.

The deeper Celestia and Felix immersed themselves in their search, the deeper their work grew into a deep friendship. They learned more and more about each other, laughed more and more, and made fun of each other more and more. It was at that moment that a spark flew between the two souls. It is called the inevitable moment when your heart starts beating faster, happiness fills your chest, and you suddenly want to look away so that you don't make eye contact.

***

In the end, after many trials and tribulations, Celestia and Felix manage to unravel the alchemical formula. Excited about the successful experiment, they both agreed to keep it a secret.

"Celestia, I would never have believed it possible!"

"Anything is possible if you try, silly," she replied gently.

"You know that if it wasn't for your calculations, we wouldn't have made it, right? I think someday people will invent machines that are good at math, but for now, you are that machine!", and they both burst out laughing.

The realization that they had achieved what they had set out to do was certainly a sense of satisfaction, but Celestia still had one more question in her heart. She is wracked with doubts about whether her love for Felix is mutual because she has never known what true love is in her life. Out of fear, she says that she will return to her city.

Felix was also not sure whether his feelings were mutual. Celestia's character was playful and light-hearted, so he thought she didn't feel anything serious about him.

On the way back, Celestia realizes that she really loves Felix. The medallion given to her by a stranger in the library allowed her to be herself, to be truly open in mind and spirit to the boy, but is anyone capable of loving her for that? Immersed in vague thoughts, the girl is startled when the boy suddenly hugs her from behind.

"Celestia, don't go. Stay with me, we have so much to work on... I...", his speech trails off.

"You can find someone else, can't you? Or work on it yourself."

"I love you!", the guy blurts out in one breath.

Shocked, the girl turned to face the boys. Felix's eyes were full of sincerity and unwavering devotion. He confessed his love without even knowing her face!

Celestia's expression was painted with surprise, realizing that Felix had loved her all this time, not for her beauty, but for the charming soul and mind that was inside her.

At this moment of deep realization, Celestia's perception changes. She realizes that the alchemical process was never about turning lead into gold, but rather about the personal transformation she had undergone. It was a journey of self-discovery, recognizing her own intrinsic value beyond external judgments and societal expectations.

With her newfound clarity, Celestia accepts Felix's love, knowing that it goes far beyond physical manifestations.