The Wizard of Desired Destiny🔊

Once upon a time, in a small town called Serendipity, lived a wizard named Cyril. He wasn’t the conventional kind who carried a magic wand, wore a trailing cape, or cast spells on people’s wishes. Cyril was a lesser-known wizard who held the power of granting people their most fitting destiny. He was sometimes misunderstood, disparaged, and even called cruel, but the wise few understood his magic was, in fact, the uncomplicated truth.

Every day, he would sit by the river bank, watching life unfold, laughing, and chatting with the townsfolk, all the while studying each soul that walked by him. One day, as he was immersed in his habitual activity, he saw a struggling artist named Dylan. He was a passionate creator, a master of his craft with a soul embedded in every painting he crafted. Yet, frustratingly, every artwork he put forth was ridiculed, the town had yet to appreciate his avant-garde vision.

Cyril sensed Dylan's growing frustration and desperation. He could sense his budding desire to leave Serendipity in pursuit of more welcoming communities. So, Cyril decided to wield his powers to mold a destiny for Dylan, a destiny that would suit him best. That night, under the star-kissed sky, Cyril whispered to the wind the true destiny of Dylan.

Come morning, a dramatic alteration in the town was palpable. Everyone, including Dylan, felt an inexplicable change in the breeze, a change that carried an unfamiliar softness, and hope. From that day, Dylan’s art started being progressively acknowledged and appreciated. His unique artistry soon caught the eye of an art collector passing through Serendipity who was struck by the raw passion and avant-garde style.

Dylan soon shot to fame, his name began to echo in art circles around the world. He was invited to showcase his creations at global exhibitions and earned recognition and praise for his work. Irony or destiny, the same townsfolk who once criticized him were now his stalwart admirers, proud to have an illustrious artist in their midst.

As Dylan’s fortunes ascended, so did his ego. He started discrediting his humble beginnings, attributing his success solely to his inherent talent. He began detaching from the town altogether while his works started losing their soul, becoming more commercialized. The fame, the success all seemed to distance Dylan from his true essence as an artist.

Cyril, watching from the riverbank, felt the shift in Dylan. He wouldn't take it light—the destiny he had bestowed was one of success but also a lesson of humility. To remind Dylan of his origins, Cyril once more summoned his powers and whispered into the night, a quiet call to realign Dylan’s path.

The next morning, a shift was felt again. Dylan, who woke up expecting usual praises, was met with scathing reviews of his latest work. The criticism was harsh, causing him to doubt his talent and the subsequent loss in self-esteem was massive. This time, however, he took a step back and looked at his journey and his transformation as a person and an artist. He realized the loss of his art's soul and the inflated arrogance.

With this realization, his approach towards his work and life completely changed. He returned to his roots, cherishing the town and the people who shaped him. He embraced criticism and used it constructively to refine his art. He recognized that fame and success were fleeting, but the artist's soul and its expression were eternal. From then on, Dylan painted with newly regained passion, and his artwork flourished more than ever, for they were imbued with true expression.

Cyril, satisfied with the lessons learned by Dylan, retreated to his silent observance, convinced that Dylan was set on the right path of destiny. Dylan, in his true recognition, owed his gratitude to Cyril, though he never voiced it out loud. The town of Serendipity continued to exist as a testimony to the beautiful coexistence of simplicity and magic, and Cyril, the wizard, remained the unsung harbinger of destiny and truth.