Red God

In the land of Everwinter, long before anyone had ever heard of Santa Claus, there lived an elf named Kris Kringle. Kris wasn’t like most elves; he was tall, with eyes that shone like frost under moonlight, and his heart was filled with an endless love for magic and winter. Kris worked as a toymaker, crafting gifts that filled hearts with joy and wonder. He would leave his toys in the villages during the darkest winter nights, lighting up even the bleakest homes with his enchanting creations.   But Kris did not work alone. His best friend was a young fey named Nyssa, who was playful and mischievous, with fox-like ears and quicksilver eyes. Nyssa would sneak along with Kris to watch children discover their gifts, laughing gleefully at their delight. One winter, however, everything changed. A great sadness had settled over Everwinter as a spirit called the Shadow King began to visit the dreams of children, spreading fear and taking their joy. Kris, determined to restore their happiness, sought the advice of the Winter King, the wise guardian of Everwinter.   “Kris,” the Winter King told him, “to fight the Shadow King’s darkness, you must become the embodiment of light and giving. Become the Spirit of Winter’s Joy, a symbol of warmth that reaches every heart.”   Kris accepted, pledging to bring gifts to every child once a year, lighting up the night with hope. The Winter King granted him magic to travel through snow and ice, making him immortal as long as his heart remained kind. And so, Kris Kringle became Santa Claus, the beloved bearer of gifts, traveling the world every winter to spread happiness and warmth.   For centuries, Kris continued his joyful mission, becoming a legend across all realms. But as the ages turned, Kris began to notice that not every child was content to receive only toys and sweets. A dark hunger for more, for power and greed, was growing in many. At the same time, he sensed the Shadow King returning, lurking in the hearts of the selfish and cruel. Kris knew he couldn’t simply ignore this darkness. If he was to protect the true spirit of giving, he would have to take on a new, fearsome role.   So Kris went to the Queen of the Witches, Grimhild, who lived deep in the snowy woods. “Queen Grimhild,” he said, “I need a new form, one that can strike fear into those who embrace cruelty, but also bring warmth to those who remain kind and generous.”   The witch queen smiled and began an ancient spell. She mixed Holly Berries and Ash, Evergreen and Bloodroot. “Kris,” she chanted, “to save the true spirit of winter, you must wear both its warmth and its frost.”   As the spell took hold, Kris Kringle transformed. His robes became a deep crimson, a fiery shade that glowed in the winter night, and a crown of holly and sharp thorns rested on his head. His eyes gleamed red with the embers of a hearth and yet held the piercing chill of frost. Kris had become the Red God, a figure who embodied both joy and justice, warmth and wrath.   Now, as the Red God, Kris appeared not only with gifts but also with a terrible staff adorned with bells and brambles. Those who had selfishly hoarded joy felt a sudden chill when he drew near, while those who were generous felt his warmth and comfort. The Red God visited homes just as Santa once had, rewarding the kind-hearted with gifts but offering the cruel and selfish a taste of winter’s harsh justice.   And so, Kris Kringle became both the beloved Santa Claus and the powerful Red God, a figure of light and shadow, who watched over winter nights to protect the spirit of giving.