The Frost Wraiths & The Crystal of Luck

In the heart of Uclandia, where the old forests stretched their fingers to touch the misty skies, the village of Thornhaven perched like a nest of stories waiting to be told. Here, amidst the bustle of the market and the old songs sung at dusk, Absolom and Stuart, two daring young men fueled by restless dreams, decided to carve their names into the annals of adventure. 
Their first expedition aimed to traverse the perilous Frostmire—an icy swamp said to be guarded by the spectral Frost Wraiths. Spirits that struck terror into the hearts of any foolish enough to traverse Frostmire, and could kill with a blast of ice to the heart of the unwise adventurer. Legends whispered of an ancient blue crystal buried deep within the Frostmire's heart, radiating with a power that would attract wealth and luck to whoever guarded it. Absolom and Stuart decided that if they could find it, they would each possess the crystal for six months. In this way, each of them could bring their families to prosperity. But they also agreed to keep their quest secret, to avoid thieves and murderers that would take the crystal from them. The tales also warned of the treacherous paths and deceitful spirits that led many seekers astray, their fates sealed in icy tombs. The two friends were not swayed from their goal.
Armed with a map inked in fading hues, Stuart’s trusty compass, and the fiery spirit of youth, Absolom and Stuart set off as the first frost of winter painted the edges of Thornhaven. They bid farewell to the comforting glow of home, stepping into a world where the air bit with cold, and each step could be their last.
Each night they studied their map, discerning the least troublesome path to take the next day. Each day brought new challenges - from hungry wolves to wood-sprites who tricked them by calling out from dead-end paths. Finally, with very little food and energy, and on the verge of giving up, they stumbled onto the edge of the Frostmire.
As they ventured deeper, the sun seemed to retreat behind a veil of perpetual grey. The swamp was a labyrinth of frozen ponds with unlucky adventurers frozen beneath the ice, gnarled trees, and endless fog. Each day, they marked their passage by notching the frozen bark of the trees, but the swamp was cunning, and their marks seemed to vanish as quickly as they were made.
On their third evening, as the twilight tried to pierce the fog's thick cloak, a chilling howl split the silence. The Frost Wraiths had found them. Ethereal, shimmering figures emerged from the mist, their eyes hollow. Absolom and Stuart stood back-to-back, the only warmth between them their dwindling courage.
They drew a protective rune on each other’s foreheads with a fragment of saltstone—a rare mineral known to repel spirits. The Wraiths, hungering for the warmth of life, recoiled as the saltstone flared with a faint light. Seizing the moment, Stuart led the charge into the center of the Frostmire, pulling Absolom along as they plunged deeper into the unknown.
The true heart of the Frostmire was a frozen wonder, hidden from unworthy eyes. There, beneath a cathedral of ice, lay the ancient crystal. It pulsed softly, its glow a heartbeat against the oppressive gloom. As they approached, the ice around them groaned, the weight of their destiny pressing down.
With the crystal finally within reach, the swamp unleashed its final guardian—a behemoth of ice and wind, its roars reverberating through the air. The battle was fierce; Absolom's strategy and Stuart’s agility danced a perilous ballet with the creature’s fury. With a misplaced strike at Stuart, the guardian missed and shattered the cathedral of ice into a shower of sparkling fragments. While Stuart picked himself up off the ice, Absolom scurried to seize the crystal.
Weary but victorious, they retraced their steps. When they emerged from the Frostmire, the first light of dawn kissed the horizon, painting them in hues of gold and salmon.
Returning to Thornhaven, Absolom and Stuart told their families they had found the Frostmire, but had never located the crystal they had set out to find. But over the course of the next year, as each of their families gradually became more successful in matters of business, the two friends knew their daring and bravery had paid off. Absolom became known far and wide for his fine horse breeding and became the man to see if one wanted a horse of fine bloodline and form. Stuart became a talented and much-sought-after woodworker, eventually catching the attention of the Emperor.
Neither ever said a word about the source of their luck.