The Golden Touch: A Tale of Greed and Humility
Once upon a time, in the bustling kingdom of Zephyria, known for its glittering lakes and towering mountains, lived a humble baker named Sam. Sam was an ordinary man with an extraordinary talent - his hands spun magic in dough, such that his bread was famous throughout the kingdom.
On an ordinary day, while Sam was busy serving his customers, a decrepit old man walked into his bakery. He was dressed in ragged clothes and his gaunt face was barely visible under his unruly beard. He looked famished. Seeing the old man's condition, Sam instantly offered him a fresh loaf of bread without asking for anything in return. The old man, grateful for his kindness, departed after offering his blessings. But little did Sam know, the man was not an ordinary man but a disguised old wizard, known to test the kingdom's inhabitants' moral character.
The next day, Sam awoke to an unusually clear blue sky. The magic started when he touched the dough to bake his first batch of bread. With every fold and knead, the dough turned into gold, much to Sam’s disbelief. His humble bakery was suddenly filled with golden loaves. Awestruck by this spectacle, the townspeople started gathering around his shop. The news of the Golden Bread soon reached the King’s ears.
The King, out of curiosity, summoned Sam to his court. On seeing the Golden Bread, the King was left in amazement. However, greed slowly shrouded his heart as he thought of the immense wealth this bread could bring him. He ordered Sam to bake golden bread exclusively for the royal family. Sam, unaware of the King's greedy intentions, agreed.
Days turned into weeks, and the citizens of Zephyria began to miss their treasured bread. Sam, too, was not happy; as a simple baker, he longed for the days when he made bread out of simple dough, not gold. His bakery was no longer a place of joy and sharing but of greed and secrecy. He wished to break free from this golden curse. One night, the disguised wizard appeared in Sam's dream. He said, 'The golden gift was a reward for your kindness, but it seems to have lost its purpose. Do you wish to revoke it?'
With no second thought, Sam requested to have his normal life back. The wizard agreed on one condition; Sam had to teach the King a lesson. Sam nodded fervently and woke up with a plan.
The next morning, at the royal breakfast, Sam served the King his golden bread, but with a twist. The moment the King broke open the loaf, he found it full of simple bread. It was so delicious that the King himself couldn't resist eating it all.
'Now, do you see the real magic?' Sam asked the King. 'It is not in gold but in the humble act of baking bread for the people.'
Ashamed, the King lifted the exclusive requirement and Sam returned to his simple bakery. The gold had disappeared, instead, the aroma of fresh bread filled the air once again. The kingdom rejoiced, and Sam continued his humble service, now rich not in gold but in the love of his people.