The Karmic Balance
Long ago, in a kingdom far away, lived a humble bread seller, named Oliver. Despite living in an era that was ruled by superstition and fate, Oliver led by a singular principle: karmic balance. He believed that every good deed brought about an abundant shower of blessings, and this belief was the undercurrent that flowed through the veins of his life.
One day, walking home from the bustling local market hauling baskets full of freshly baked loaves of bread, Oliver crossed paths with an old, frail woman sinking under the weight of time. Despite the hushed whispers of the vindictive town gossip, he did not hesitate to offer her a loaf of bread. He encountered her emerald eyes that sparkled with gratitude and an inexplicable intensity, which left an indelible mark in his heart, unknowingly altering the course of his life.
The following day, as Oliver was setting up his stall for the day, an unusual piece of news spread through the town. The king had announced a reward – the hand of his daughter in marriage and half his kingdom – for whoever brought him the 'Heart of the Sky', a star that was said to only appear once a millennium. On that particular day, it had been sighted for the first time in hundreds of years, igniting a ubiquitous fervor in the kingdom.
The news hardly held Oliver’s attention; he was preoccupied with his encounter with the mysterious old woman. That evening, he set out to her humble abode, guided by the memory of her eyes that somehow emitted a glow almost akin to the star the kingdom was searching for. Upon finding her, he quickly realized that she was no ordinary woman; she was an enchantress. Oliver learnt that by offering her bread, in her most needy hour, he had freed her from a powerful curse.
Expressing her gratitude, the enchantress decided to grant Oliver a single wish. Although wealth and fame lay at his fingertips, Oliver held on to his firm belief in the karmic balance. Instead, he wished that she could enjoy a meal a day without worrying about hunger. The enchantress, moved by his benevolence, decided to give him an unexpected gift. A diamond as bright as the star they sought, a stone so pure, it could be the Heart of the Sky.
In the royal court, the king was astonished as Oliver, a humble bread seller, produced the brightest diamond the kingdom had perceived. The king, although reluctant at first, stayed true to his promise: His daughter and half his kingdom now belonged to Oliver.
Oliver's life changed dramatically, but his belief in the karmic balance remained steadfast. He transformed the kingdom into a land of equity, where everyone was fed, and no one knew hunger or pain. The enchantress, who now ate without the fear of hunger, spent her days happily, working her magic to help those in need. And so, an ordinary bread-seller became the savior of an entire kingdom, by merely holding on to his beliefs and being kind at heart.