The Three Army Surgeons
The Three Army Surgeons — an illustrated tales story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Tales.
Page 1
In the whimsical town of Eldenwood, where the aroma of freshly baked bread mingled with whispers of magic, lived three army surgeons: Elara, the swift healer; Faelan, the bone mender; and Sorin, the quiet herbalist. Each desired recognition, yet feared failure. Little did they know, a hidden doorway within the bakery held the key to not only their individual desires but also their intertwined destiny. Their journey would test their skills, their courage, and their very definition of healing.
Page 2
Elara adjusted her spectacles, the scent of cardamom thick in the air. "Another day, another batch of healing scones," she sighed, her fingers deftly kneading the dough. Faelan chuckled, "At least we're not stitching up soldiers all day. Though, mending broken gingerbread men has its own challenges." A glint of metal caught his eye, tucked within an old recipe book: an intricate brass key.
Page 3
"What do you suppose this unlocks?" Faelan mused, turning the key over in his hands. Sorin, ever observant, pointed to a faint indentation on the bakery wall, hidden behind a tapestry of woven wheat. "Perhaps," he suggested, his voice soft as rustling leaves, "it's a door to something... more."
Page 4
With a click, the key turned, and a hidden doorway swung inward, revealing a dark forest. "Who goes first?" Elara asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Faelan puffed out his chest. "I shall. A surgeon fears no cut, be it flesh or branches."
Page 5
Deeper in the forest, a thorny vine snaked around Faelan's ankle. He cried out, tumbling to the ground. Sorin knelt beside him, his fingers tracing the wound. "This is no ordinary thorn," he murmured, pulling out a small vial. Elara spotted a faint glow beneath a nearby root. "What's that?"
Page 6
Elara carefully dug out the herb. As she held it aloft, its light revealed a hidden pond, its surface like a mirror. "Be careful what you wish for," Sorin cautioned, recalling the words of Socrates: "'The unexamined life is not worth living.' What you see in that mirror will show your true self, not what you desire to be."
Page 7
Elara peered into the water, expecting to see herself as a renowned healer. Instead, she saw a frightened girl, hiding behind her mother's skirts. Faelan saw a broken man, unable to mend his own wounds. Sorin saw only emptiness. "What does this mean?" Faelan demanded.
Page 8
"It means," Elara said, her voice gaining strength, "we've been so focused on healing others, we've forgotten to heal ourselves." She knelt beside Faelan and, instead of using the herb on his wound, placed it on his heart. A warmth spread through him, mending not his ankle, but his spirit.
Page 9
As Faelan's spirit mended, Sorin knew what to do. He mixed the remaining herb with water from the pond, creating a salve. When Elara looked into the mirror again, she saw her current self, strong and capable. Together, they healed Faelan's ankle, their combined strengths greater than any single cure.
Page 10
Returning to the bakery, they baked a new loaf of bread, infused with the essence of the forest and the reflection of the pond. It tasted not of healing, but of wholeness. And so, the army surgeons of Eldenwood learned that true healing begins not with herbs or knives, but with the courage to mend oneself.
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
Read Wonder Tales on your phone
Wonder Tales is available on Android. Get Wonder Tales on Google Play.