The document tells the story of Pauly, a boy with a unique star on his forehead, who discovers a magical underwater world after being tempted by a water nymph. He visits an enchanted lake, where he learns of the beauty and fragility of this hidden realm, and ultimately decides to return to protect the environment above water. Twelve years later, he fulfills his promise to the nymph and chooses to live in her world, committing to their shared love and care for nature.

1. Water – Every Drop Counts
a Comenius Multilateral School Cooperation 2013-15
A Rainbow-hued Lake
a common tale written by the six partners of the project

2. From Hungary:
Once upon a time, beyond the Iron mount, even beyond the Glass mount there was a little
village. Next to it, behind the mountains a wonderful mountain lake, which always changed
its colour, took shelter. Many people visited it, but no one saw any living creature in it. The
oldest villagers still remembered the day when a wicked wizard cursed the flora and fauna
living in the water. Who knows why? Maybe he became envious of the peaceful village life,
how much people protected and loved the nature around them. Why was the lake still
wonderful? It was believed that a water-nymph lived there who changed her clothes many
times a day and because of this the lake sometimes became silvery blue, shining yellow or
emerald green. But nobody knew the truth. A very poor woodcutter and his family lived in
this village. Their house was the last one on the way to the lake and the wood. He had a son
called Pauly who was born with a shining star on his forehead.
From Estonia:
This boy’s eyes were of different colour: the left one was silver blue and the right one was
emerald green. His hair was shining yellow. Pauly was a little bit different from the other
children, because occasionally it seemed to him that he could hear a mysterious delightful
voice. When Pauly became 10 years old he went to play by the rainbow lake. His father
warned him not to go because the water nymph could drag him with her. But Pauly didn’t
care, because he had an inexplicable feeling that the water nymph wouldn’t do anything to
him. When he reached the lake, he was enchanted by its beauty. Suddenly he heard the voice
again. This time it was clearer and louder than the last times. At the same time he had a
feeling that somebody was watching him. The surrounding forest was grave silent and lifeless
as the lake. The boy felt chilling, but the voice enchanted him and he stood still. His curiosity
forced him to explore the origin of the voice........

3. From Portugal:
Pauly’s legs moved toward the lake, as if they had a will of their own. The instant, Pauly’s
feet touched the water, two separate streams of rainbow colours shot out of the lake. Pauly
was amazed and looked up to admire the bright lights left by the
rainbows. He wanted to turn around to call his family. They
should witness the beauty of those rainbow streams. They
would be so happy! But he realized that his feet didn’t
move at all. He tried to lift his right foot and nothing
happened. He tried to run, to jump, to sit down, but he
couldn’t move. He just stood there and fear started crawling up
his spine. He felt helpless and tears came to his eyes. It was when he heard the
voice again. It felt like a warm whisper in his ears. “The mountains, the mountains, the
mountains”, he repeatedly heard. He looked up and followed the rainbow streams with his
eyes until he saw the mountains. He couldn’t believe his eyes.
From Bulgaria:
Glass Mountain shone in silver blue and Iron Mountain - in emerald green. Just like his two
eyes. There was the forest among them, all bathed in golden light. Pauly felt the warmth of
the water at his feet. He looked down and saw a lovely girl. She had a gold star on her
forehead, just like his star. In his mind appeared one word: " Nymph ." The girl went ashore.
Pauly looked into her eyes and he heard: "You are the one who I expect. Come with me!"
Suddenly Pauly's legs moved and he decided to trust the nymph and followed her. She led
him into the forest. They walked for a long time. It was quiet around. The trees did not move.
There was no noise of animals. It was beautiful but grimly. Suddenly Pauly heard a distant
strange song. The nymph led him into that direction. Pauly walked after her and the song
became even closer. Soon Pauly noticed the source of the song - a small forest waterfall. The
nymph wordlessly pointed him behind the water of the waterfall. There was a cave.

4. IRELAND:
Nymph and Pauly entered the cave, inside it was very dark and gloomy. Suddenly their heads
started to shine and a gleaming portal appeared. Nymph grabbed Pauly’s hand and dragged
him with her through the portal. There was a sudden flash of light; there were images of the
world in the future, the biodiversity and the ecosystems. They plunged into an underwater
world. Pauly took his first breath; he was amazed that he could breathe underwater. He looked
at Nymph; her eyes turned a golden orange colour. She was the most beautiful thing he had
ever seen. She glided through the water with ease, the bubbles coming from her mouth were
so pretty and as he followed the bubbles to the surface they expanded and exploded. She
looked like an angel swimming in the water, she swam in a circle around him and under him
then she did somersaults in the water. She was really at home in this underwater world. The
star on her forehead shined so brightly, it made a path in front of her. Pauly could not
understand how he could see in the water until he realised his star was also shining brightly.
He swam and investigated ever little nook and cranny he could find. He was amazed by the
animal and plant life under water. He again could hear a voice in his ear, he realised it was
Nymph whispering “isn’t it the most beautiful thing you have ever seen”. Pauly realised that
the rainbows he saw on the surface were no comparison to the beauty and colour of this
underwater world. A world he was unfamiliar with, a world he knew nothing about. He knew
why this place was kept a secret, he knew that if people were to see this beauty they would
probably destroy it like they were destroying the own world over water. Pauly and Nymph
looked into the distance to see…

5. From Spain:
…. A huge shining object, it looked like a kind of coloured underwater castle, whose walls
were covered with silvery blue and emerald green plates and from which a powerful ray of
light seemed to give a magic effect to the water, which formed a powerful wave in front of the
building. They swam to approach the castle and when they got near it, Pauly
realized that the ray of light came from an open porthole on top of which
they could read this poem:
“THIS ENTRANCE IS ONLY FOR THE BRAVE,
IT IS OPEN AND AT YOUR DISPOSAL
SWIM AT ONCE THROUGH THIS WAVE
AND YOU’LL BE GIVEN A PROPOSAL”
Nymph and Pauly entered the underwater castle and followed a path of blue and green lights
which directed them to a spacious hall in the middle of which a pedestal with two huge
shining stars on top stood. One of them gleamed with a blue light and the other one shone
green. They heard a deep voice which announced:
“My voice is the one you heard when you approached the lake. You are welcomed to stay with
my daughter and me forever”. She was the Nymph’s mother and the three of them would be
in charge of looking after that wonderful world. She added, “However, if you decide to go
back home, you can do so and my daughter will guide you to the surface. You can visit us
whenever you like.”
Pauly thought that, although he would like to stay forever in that wonderful underwater world,
he had to return home and make sure nobody would find and destroy this sanctuary. By
returning to his world he would make all the necessary efforts to preserve life and biodiversity
in the same way it was preserved in the underwater world.
Pauly decided that he would return home, provided he could frequently visit Nymph and her
mum. He promised that when he grew older and his father did not miss him, he would come
and stay forever.
Twelve years later, Pauly swam to the lake with Nymph. He had worked very hard to protect
the environment over water and he would now spend the rest of his days in Nymph’s
company. He would propose to her and, if she accepted him, they would get married and live
happily ever after.