The Passage Of Dreams🔊

Once upon a time, in a quiet little village named Saletown, hidden away from urban reality by a generous blanket of trees, lived an old, humble cobbler named Fredrick. Fredrick was not just an ordinary cobbler but a cobbler with a secret talent. With every sole he mended, he dreamt of making a pair of shoes that could make people fulfill their deepest desires.

Fredrick's wife, Emilia, often playfully teased him. 'Instead of dreaming,' she'd say, 'focus on the boots that need fixing.' But nothing could dispel his belief in his hidden talent. Life was simplicity spelled out in block letters, until one day Fredrick spotted a rare, beautiful stone by the river. The iridescent stone, with its ethereal glow, was not an ordinary stone but a 'Dream Stone,' a relic from ancient folklore.

Inspired, Fredrick decided to embed the stone in a pair of boots, meticulously weaving the magic of his talent and the stone's enchantment. After weeks of refining and polishing, he exhibited his masterpiece in the shop. A wealthy, ambitious merchant from the city of Videra, known as Lord Blanchard, bought the captivating pair of boots which Fredrick named the 'Wish Runners.'

Lord Blanchard was a man of grand dreams and fancied that the Wish Runners could satiate his insatiable thirst for power. He was thrilled with his acquisition and set out to inaugurate a week-long festivity in Videra. His plan included walking up the podium in the Wish Runners to announce his nomination as the future monarch.

The day arrived, and as Lord Blanchard adorned the Wish Runners, he felt invincible. Amidst the cheering crowd, he ascended the podium. But instead of an authoritative speech, out came a hearty song about the beauty of love and life. Shocked, Blanchard tried to control his words, but the boots seemed to have a mind of their own. They made him dance around, narrate tales of compassion, and emphasized peace over power.

As the week wore on, Blanchard became the center of amusement and ridicule. Power slipped further away, but oddly, he found joy and love he'd never experienced before. He spent more time with his family and involved himself with the townsfolk, cementing bonds that turned strangers into friends.

Back in Saletown, Fredrick received news of the spectacle and smirked. Emilia, befuddled, asked for an explanation. 'The boots don't fulfill one's ambition, my dear. They unveil the wholesome part of the wearer's heart desire that would indeed bring them genuine happiness,' Fredrick said, a hint of pride shining in his wise eyes. His wife looked at him, dazed at first, but then she burst into a heart-warming laughter, 'You truly are a magical shoemaker, aren't you?'

Meanwhile, Lord Blanchard finally understood the charm of the Wish Runners. His perspective had changed, and so had his life. He wore his heart on his sleeves, singing and spinning tales of new dreams – of peace, love, and camaraderie that suited him more than the throne ever could.

Saletown's cobbler had stitched more than leather; he had woven magic and truth in his shoes, succeeding in his dream. But, of course, not everyone in Saletown believed this. They thought it was just a lovely fable. As for Fredrick, he continued peering at people's soles and souls, mending, dreaming, and occasionally chuckling at the unfathomable unpredictability of dreams.