The village of Cornfield was a very lonely place for Max Thorn. He never knew what friends were, as he never really had any friends.His wife died after giving birth to his daughter, Jenny. Max loved Jenny very much and she loved her father, too. But Jenny.s health was very poor and she died at the young age of 12. With his wife and daughter both dead, he had no one to talk to. He became very lonely. As time went on, he got older and older. But, Max wanted to be young again.

One day, when he was buying some vegetables, he saw an old lady with grey hair and wrinkles all over her face and hands. She was wearing a ragged coat. She was also wearing a long, tattered skirt. She kept on shouting, .Youthful liquid, youthful liquid! Just gulp it and it will make you younger!. But nobody listened to her. Max went to the old lady and asked, "How much does a bottle of this liquid cost?" "Five coins, Sir," said the old lady. "Then give me one bottle," said Max. She took out a small bottle. Inside was some black liquid. "Have it tonight and you will look young again in the morning. Just remember - never have more than one sip," said the old lady. "Okay," said Max.

That night, he took a sip of the youthful liquid. It tasted like two red chillies. When he was sleeping, he felt bubbles on his skin. He knew he was turning younger. The next morning, he looked in the mirror and saw a youthful person looking back at him. He was fairer than usual, he had dark, wavy hair, his wrinkles were gone, and he had teeth!

After washing himself and having breakfast, he went out for a stroll. "Who are you?" asked a girl who had suddenly appeared. "I am Zack" You know old Max Thorn, whose wife and child are dead? I am his nephew," lied Max, "I never knew Uncle Max has a living relative. Well, I am Zen. I live one street away. Please do visit us whenever you can," said Zen.

Max, suddenly, became famous in his village for his good looks and for the first time in his life, he had friends. That night, Max thought, "Why don't I have three sips of the youthful liquid today?" After having three sips of the liquid, he couldn't stop himself and drank the whole bottle. At night, he felt like insects and worms were attacking his skin, but he thought he was turning younger.

The next morning, when he saw himself in the mirror, he was aghast. His skin had turned green, he was bald, and the remaining hair he had, had turned blue. His face had shrunken, his upper lip was big, while his bottom lip was small. His left eye was small and his right eye was big. He looked horrible!

He covered his face with a cloth and ran down to the place where the old lady was standing. He saw the old lady at the same spot. He ran towards her and said, "I need the antidote! Fast!" "Messed up, haven't you? I knew it! Take this, and don't have more than two sips!" shouted the old lady. After having two sips, he couldn't stop himself and drank the whole bottle again and fell on the ground, dead. His face turned normal, but he was dead. The woman in the tattered skirt was Namy Noir, a powerful sorceress.

The villagers were confused. Where did Zack go? From where did Max emerge and how did he die? It would, I guess, remain a mystery forever.

THANK YOU