The Last Wish
Once upon a time, in the mystic land of Ergastulum, lived a humble carpenter named Marcos. He was known throughout the kingdom not just for his exceptional craftsmanship, but also for his unyielding will to help anyone in distress. However, his modest life was infused with excitement when he encountered a magical entity granting him one wish.
One star-filled night, while Marcos was returning from his day’s work, he heard a soft groaning, almost like a whimper, coming from behind a bush. To his surprise, he found a small, radiant bird with beautiful golden feathers struggling to flap its wings. Marcos was known for his kind heart and the plight of the bird moved him. He carefully took the bird in his hands and nursed its injury using his woodworking tools.
After a few days, the bird, healed and full of energy, revealed its true form. It was a Phoenix called Aviana, a mystical creature of Ergastulum who came to life every 500 years. To express gratitude for his kindness, Aviana granted Marcos one wish – anything that his heart desired.
Marcos, a man of simple needs, was hesitant. He didn’t know what to ask for. He lived a contended life and loved his village, his work, and the people.
'What’s your heart’s deepest desire, Marcos?' asked Aviana.
'I wish to bring prosperity and happiness to my village; they suffer due to the lack of resources and I want to ease their struggle,' Marcos answered after much thought.
'Very well,' said Aviana, setting off to make the wish come true.
The next day, Marcos woke up to a transformed village. The withering crops were now flourishing, the wells filled with clean water, and the trees bore the sweetest fruits. The homes of the villagers were repaired and strengthened. And, in the center of the village, stood a beautiful wish fountain, flowing with limitless golden coins. Aviana did not only bring prosperity but also the promise of sustenance.
Joy filled the hearts of the villagers as they breathed in the new life brought to their village. They savored the abundant fruits, reveled in the shelter of their renewed homes and felt secure with the unlimited supply of gold coins.
However, with time, the villagers started to exploit these resources. They picked more fruits than they could eat, drew more water than they need, and spent the gold coins lavishly. The village, once peaceful and united, began to face the vices of greed and envy. Negligence led to the drying up of the well, the fruit trees bore no more fruits, and the gold in the wish fountain diminished.
The village was back to its previous condition, and worse, the unity and peace amongst the villagers faded. Disheartened, Marcos went to Aviana and shared the plight of his village.
A look of understanding passed Aviana's face. 'Marcos, you wished for prosperity, and I granted it, but I could not grant wisdom to use it. That comes from within. Go, guide your people before it's too late.'
Inspired by Aviana's words, Marcos addressed his people. He spoke of necessity and balance. He shared the wisdom of sustainable use of resources and urged them to respect the blessings nature had offered.
Inspired by Marcos' words, the villagers worked together, restoring their village by replanting the trees, cleaning the wells, and rebuilding their unity. It was a hard task, but they had learned their lesson. They realized real prosperity lay not in wealth and resources but in unity and living in harmony with nature.
As they pledged for a balanced life, the dried-up well started filling, trees bore fruits, and the wish fountain started flowing again. The village was prosperous again, this time not just in material wealth but also in wisdom and unity.
Marcos thanked Aviana, realizing his wish was granted in a way he never imagined. Witnessing the transformation of his village and his people, he felt joy like never before. And Aviana, pleased with the wise and kind carpenter, faded into the stardust, waiting to be reborn after 500 years.
Thus, the tale of the humble carpenter and his wish ended, leaving behind a story of wisdom, courage and the importance of balance and sustainability. In the land of Ergastulum, despite the passage of time, the tale was often recollected, passing from generation to generation, instilling values and lessons for all.