In the bustling city of Valoria, where skyscrapers kissed the clouds and the streets thrummed with life, there was a peculiar little shop that seemed almost out of place amidst the modern marvels. The sign above read “Antiquities and Curiosities,” and it was run by an even more peculiar little man known as Mr. Lumen. His eyes sparkled with secrets, and his smile was as enigmatic as the treasures that filled his store.
One day, a well-dressed businessman named Mr. Sterling walked into the shop, his eyes scanning for something unique, something that would showcase his wealth and discerning taste. Mr. Lumen greeted him with a nod, his lips curling into a knowing smile.
“Welcome, Mr. Sterling. I have just the thing for a man of your… caliber,” Mr. Lumen said, his voice smooth as silk.
He led Mr. Sterling to a display case where a small, unassuming bronze lamp rested. It seemed ordinary, but the moment Mr. Sterling laid eyes on it, he felt an inexplicable pull.
“This,” Mr. Lumen began, “is the Lamp of Erasmus. It is said that whoever possesses it can buy anything… for a price.”
Mr. Sterling chuckled. “I can buy anything with money, old man.”
“But can you buy loyalty? Love? Time?” Mr. Lumen countered, his gaze piercing. “The lamp doesn’t accept currency. It trades in the currency of the soul.”
Intrigued and slightly amused, Mr. Sterling purchased the lamp, not fully believing in its power but unable to resist the challenge. That night, alone in his opulent home, he held the lamp and whispered, “I want the loyalty of my board members.”
The lamp glowed faintly, and a voice echoed, “The price is your most cherished memory.”
Without hesitation, Mr. Sterling agreed. The next day, his board was unwaveringly loyal, but the memory of his mother’s loving embrace had vanished from his mind.
Emboldened, Mr. Sterling made more trades. Love cost him the sound of laughter, and time took away the colors of the sunset. With each trade, his life grew more hollow, his victories more Pyrrhic.
One day, Mr. Sterling returned to the shop, a shadow of the man he once was. “I want to trade back,” he pleaded. “I want my memories, my senses, my soul.”
Mr. Lumen shook his head sadly. “Everyone has a price, Mr. Sterling, and you have paid yours. The Lamp of Erasmus gives, but it does not return. It is the nature of desire to take more than it gives.”
Mr. Sterling left the shop, the lamp now a burden rather than a treasure. He had everything he thought he wanted, but at the cost of all that truly mattered. In the end, he realized that the richest man is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least.
And so, the story of Mr. Sterling became a cautionary tale, whispered in the streets of Valoria, a reminder that everyone has a price, but some prices are too high to pay.
R.M Anderson 2023
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