My name is Allistair Perry, and I am the best salesman in my village. People often call me the tea doctor, because I am a collector of the finest leaves this land has seen. I found my obsession when I overheard local villagers one day at lunch. They claimed that within the forest, there was a secret place where wishes could be granted.
While I secretly followed, they led me to a space filled with colossal trees that kissed the sky. They tried to climb up a massive trunk in hopes of pulling the tree’s leaves. They were fools, and I was about to turn away when the land released a massive roar. The ground beneath me shook. I held onto a nearby tree for balance. When I looked back, the tree’s roots had the men suspended in the air, and they were screaming for their lives. A loud voice rumbled and said, “Who dares to steal from me?!”
The men continued to scream, and they were thrown to the ground. Most ran away, but one stayed behind.
The voice asked again, “Who dares to steal from me?”
The man trembled as he spoke, trying to muster the courage.
“Please, oh great tree. I have come for you to grant me a wish.”
There was silence and then a roaring laugh.
“Will you give me anything I ask?”
The man turned pale, but shakily said yes.
“Will you give me your eyes, your heart, your soul?”
The man’s eyes grew big, and his face was overcome with fear. He screamed while he ran away. As his voice echoed farther from me, I began to move closer.
The tree calmed down. I placed my hand onto its bark and felt nothing. I began to turn away when it called back to me.
“Are you here to steal from me like the rest of them?”
I was not scared. I had made the trip, and it would not be in vain.
“I followed them because they said there is a place where wishes can be granted. Can you do that?”
The tree was silent. I sat down in front of it, hoping for a response.
“Are you not afraid of what I will ask you to give me?”
I was afraid of many things, but this wasn’t nearly enough to send me running.
“I overheard that you want eyes, a heart, and a soul. You ask for human things even though you aren’t one. Why is that?”
The tree rumbled so hard with laughter that it shook the ground I was sitting on, and I tipped over. I regained my composure only after it stopped.
“I do not know human emotions, especially the feelings of fear, loss, or sadness.”
I cocked my head to the side and asked, “Why not happiness?”
“I used to see these emotions when people came to pray, asking for a miracle. After hearing their pleas, I gained power, but no one came after. The power is in my leaves. They grant a wish to the one who consumes it.”
I sat there in disbelief. Suddenly, a small bird fell as it hit the tree’s branch and lay on the floor, unable to move. I was about to put the creature out of its misery to not let it suffer in agony. The tree’s roots held me back, but did not harm me. The tree used its leaves to touch the bird and within moments, it got up as if nothing happened and flew away.
“Your leaves can bring something back to life?” I asked in awe.
“My leaves can give any wish, but it can only be used once.”
“I want to use your leaves to give wishes to people. Name your price.”
“I want your memories of fear and sadness.”
“Why do you want painful memories instead of happy ones?”
“I want to know why people were desperate for a miracle.”
I reflected on what it asked me and then gave my answer.
“I accept.”
The tree started to shake and produced a pile of its leaves. Before I touched it, the tree’s roots stopped me and gave me five keys.
“Think about your fears and then turn the keys.”
I grabbed the first silver key, and an ancient, engraved silver lock appeared. I turned the key in the lock and then it disappeared. The same happened with the remaining silver keys.
“Where did it go?”
“Now these belong to me. The leaves can be used on five different wishes. Do with them what you want.”
An idea crossed my mind.
“Can you give me more keys? I can collect fears for you. How does that sound?”
The tree stayed silent, then produced a bunch of keys that ranged from gold and silver to copper and wood. I placed them in my bag with the leaves.
“Never open the locks. You may lose something you can’t get back.”
I bid the tree farewell and said that I would return when the collection was complete.
That is how I started my business. I grind up leaves and make them into teas. Then, I sell them to the highest and most desperate bidder.
The market is lively with merchants who have crossed seas to meet on this spot once a month. An opportunity of trade and, if lucky, pockets full of treasures. Fragrant aromatic smells lead desperate souls known as customers. The passageway of colored silks that range from brightest blues to softest pastels adorns the way to my shop like a royal presentation. My shop is at the heart of the market with enough space for any curious eyes to be mesmerized.
My usual audience has grown larger due to demand. My prices are reasonable and increase as more desperate souls long for its power. My intention is not to strip their wealth. I only want enough to build a home for my collections.
One day, my shop is surrounded by customers. “I bring my latest tea collection,” I announce to the crowd. “Each of these holds the power to change your fate.”
My audience looks skeptical, but I won’t be dissuaded. Suddenly, a shadow catches my attention. From a distance, I spot him out. My cousin Samuel, the same man who has mocked my business countless times. The same man who has laughed and called me a fool. The same man whose curious eyes are now fixed on me. I release my skills onto the world, and the auction begins.
Lot NO. 1
“This first item contains herbs mixed with a blue flower, its condition ideal as it was freshly prepared this morning. This tea specifically can heal painful memories. Don’t believe me? Then I shall let you know about its past.
“There once was a maiden who lost her lover because of her sister. Each time she looked at them she fell into a deep sadness. She would do anything to get rid of her broken heart. I came across this pitiful woman and offered her a fresh cup of this tea. Within moments, her smile came back and she could not recall why she was sad in the first place. She left happily skipping.
“Think this was a coincidence? Then let me introduce another story.
“There once was a man who lost his wife in a fire. He came to me and said he would do anything to make the sadness go away. I offered him my tea and within moments, he felt a sense of relief and did not remember why he was sad at all.”
I pause to check if I have captured my audience’s attention, and I am happy to see the results.
“Who will offer to start the bid for the forget-me tea?”
I am met with silence, but then a hand, followed by dozens more, comes at the same time. The lot goes to the highest price of two hundred shells.
Lot NO. 2
“This next item contains herbs mixed with a green flower. This tea is said to give a second chance. Don’t believe me? Then let’s begin with its story.
“There once was a woman who cried day and night as her beauty left and she grew older. She was once the town beauty and had married a wealthy man, but this was a lie. She had given her finest years to a con man who had filled her with sadness. She had told me she would do anything to get her life back. I offered her this tea and within minutes, the old woman transformed into a young lady. She regained her beauty and ran away from town to start a new life.”
I pause and see more hands are raised. Some are even competing to get higher than others. I am pleased with this response. The first hand offers two hundred shells. The next hand offers three hundred shells. After what seems like moments, I am about to make the last call. Then a final hand offers seven hundred shells. It is bought by an elderly lady who eyes the tea as if it is her last chance.
Lot NO. 3
“This next item contains herbs mixed with a purple flower. This tea is said to cure any sickness. Don’t believe me? Then let’s begin with its story.
“There once was a child who fell so ill the doctor told her parents that nothing else could be done. The parents were devastated because this was their only child. I came across her mother, who was on the streets looking for any chance to save her daughter. She took me to the child, and I offered her the tea. Within minutes, the child regained color and finally spoke after being bedridden for more than a month. The doctors came rushing in and were in disbelief. They called it a miracle.”
I pause and see some people in the crowd wipe their tears. Multiple hands go up at the same time. I think a fight might break out. The hand that holds the highest bid is at six hundred shells. I am about to make the final call when a last hand comes and offers a thousand shells.
I am satisfied with today’s events and deposit my earnings in the bank. After I make my way out onto the street, I run into my cousin Samuel. His once skeptical eyes gleam with happiness. He wants to congratulate me on today’s auction and offers to treat me at our favorite pub.
I have no idea how much liquor he gives me, and I end up passing out. When I come to, the pub is almost empty, and night has fallen. I ask the bartender if he has seen the man I came with, and he says that the man took my bag and left. I pull out the little money on me to settle the bill. I am about to run to find him when I hear a maniacal laugh in the alleyway.
As I approach, my missing bag is on the floor. Keys and open locks are scattered beside it and along the man’s feet. When I inspect further, the man turns out to be Samuel, who has gone mad.
“I thought you had money, but instead, I found strange keys and locks that aren’t even worth pawning. I opened them to see if there was anything hidden and saw strange memories. Now I can’t tell what’s real,” he says.
He is laughing uncontrollably, and I have no idea how to fix him. I no longer have the forget-me tea. I remember the tree’s warning to not open the locks. I stare at my cousin in disbelief that he would go so far to trick me. The person who once thought of me as a fool has now become the fool lost in madness.
Nidia Rodriguez is pursuing her MFA at University of San Francisco. Her writing deals with short and long fiction pieces. She is currently working on her thesis and hopefully fantasy debut novel in the near future.
Featured image by Marcos Mayer on Unsplash.
