Once upon a time, three brothers and their sister lived together in a small cottage, loving each other dearly. One day, the eldest brother, who had spent his days in amusement, proposed, "Let us all work hard. Perhaps we shall grow rich and build a palace."
His siblings joyfully agreed, and they worked with all their might until they became rich and built a magnificent palace. Visitors came from afar to admire it, finding no fault until an old woman remarked, "It is splendid, but it still needs something—a church."
So the brothers worked again, earning enough to build a church as grand as the palace. Crowds flocked to see both wonders. Yet one day, an old man told them, "It is all beautiful, but it still needs something: a pitcher of the Water of Life, a branch from the tree whose flowers grant eternal beauty, and the Talking Bird."
When asked where to find these, he pointed to a distant mountain. The eldest brother vowed to go. His sister, worried about his safety, asked how they would know if harm befell him. They sought the old man's advice, and he gave them a knife, saying, "Keep this. As long as the blade is bright, all is well. If it turns bloody, evil has befallen him."
The eldest brother set out. After a long journey, he met a giant who warned him about the mountain path, covered with stones that would mock and jeer. "Do not stop, do not heed them, and above all, do not turn around," the giant said. "If you do, you will become a stone yourself."
The brother thanked him and climbed the mountain. Despite the rising clamor of scornful voices, he pressed on until the noise became unbearable. In a moment of impatience, he bent to pick up a stone to hurl back—and instantly turned to stone.
At home, his sister checked the knife. The blade was red with blood. The second brother then set out to find him. He received the same warning from the giant but, upon hearing what he thought was his brother's voice among the taunts, he turned to look and also became a stone.
The sister, finding the blade red again, watched as the youngest brother departed. He, too, met the giant, was given the same counsel, and began the climb. He resisted the storm of jeers until, just short of the summit, he clearly heard his brothers' cries. He turned—and became another stone.
Now alone, the sister saw the blade turn red once more. "Now it is my turn," she said. She journeyed to the giant, who gave her the same warning: ignore the mocking stones, do not turn, and reach the top.
She climbed steadfastly. The cries and screams around her intensified, and the voices of her brothers rang out above all others. She remembered the giant's words and did not turn. Finally, she reached the summit.
There, she found a pool of the Water of Life, the Tree of Beauty, and the Talking Bird perched on a bough. She filled her brazen pitcher, captured the bird, and broke off a branch. As she descended, a few drops of the water spilled onto the stones, transforming them back into youths and maidens. Realizing the water broke the spell, she carefully sprinkled every stone, freeing all who were enchanted, including her brothers.
Back at the palace, she planted the branch, which grew instantly into a tree heavy with flowers when watered with the Water of Life. The Talking Bird nestled in its branches. The fame of these marvels spread, attracting many visitors, including a prince. He admired the treasures but was most captivated by the maiden's beauty and courage. He sought her hand in marriage, and they were wed in the church beside the palace, living happily ever after.