The First Old Man’s Tale
The first old man with the deer approached the demon and kissing his hands and feet said, “Fiend and king of the demon kings, if I tell you what happened to me and that deer, and you find it strange and more amazing that what happened to you and the merchant will you grant me a third of your claim on him for his crime and guilt?” The demon replied, “I will.” The old man said:
Tale Begins
Demon this is no ordinary deer, this is my companion from childhood. We both grew up playing games, going to school, and doing everything together. One day, when I was walking with him, we ran into an old man with a broken leg. He requested if we could help him get home, he will grant us a gift. My companion and I took the old man back home traveling very far. Once we got to his house, the old man thanked us for everything we have done and gave us each a small fortune. Both of us soon parted way after my companion wanted to explore with the fortune he acquired and travel the world. I decided to open up a shop in my village and make a decent living. Several months, went by and soon I found a stranger at my shop late at night. I come to realize the stranger was my companion that left for the seas. Crying he told me “I lost everything I made, I longer could feed myself , or cloth myself like I used to”. I gave him half my worth I gained using my store. I would house him in the mean time until he is able to find a place for himself. Soon in the same night, I heard a clinging noise. I would discover my companion was trying to find the rest of my fortune. He has taken my good will for granted and was using me. He would throw ash from a bag in my direction. He casts a spell on me turning me into a humming bird. My companion tried to catch me, but I got flew away from him. Soon, I would wander around my village until the same old man who has granted me the fortune who captured me and gave me as a present to his niece. His niece questioned the old man on why he brought home a man. She went on to removing the spell and asked if I would like to cast the spell upon my companion for his deeds under the condition she gets to see my companion with her own eyes. I gladly accepted the offer as the niece advised me to make my companion eat leaves into his food. The next day, I would put a surprise gift basket for him on my door steps. I watched from the distance, as my companion took the basket inside. Then I went to the window and witnessed the magic take place. Once he turned into a deer, i was on my way to take him to the old man’s niece when I came upon this merchant.
The problem, Demon, is that I miss my friend quite dearly. As I mentioned, we have known one another and have been close since our childhood. At my age, it becomes harder and harder to meet new people, connect with them, and establish friendships. You also begin to look back at your actions wonder whether you’ve made the correct decisions. My friend made a grave mistake when he tried to take advantage of our friendship and steal my money after i’d been so kind to him.
I’m began to wonder whether my decision to have the old man’s niece turn him into a deer was the correct decision or whether instead, it was an angry impulsive one. Sometimes when we feel betrayed, our blood boils, we see red, and all we want is some revenge. The problem, however, is that impulsive and revengeful actions don’t fix a problem or have things go back to the way they used to, despite how much we wish they would.
I have been left with a deer that cannot listen and respond to my words, that can’t hold a conversation or just be my companion like my friend was in his human state before his mistake. I have committed mistakes of my own, it’s easy to forget that sometimes when someone has wronged us.
I have been given second chances before by people, therefore, all I want to do now is turn this deer back into my friend’s human form and move on from what has happened. At the end of the day, Demon, forgiveness can be incredibly important.
Being as the deer was no longer a man and therefore unable to reason, he continued to eat the rest of the leaves transformation into different animals each time. He turned into a goat, a horse, a mule, and after finishing up the rest of the leaves; the man took on his final form as a snake. As such a creature appropriately fitted his character. The old man was stunned by these rapid changes and wasn’t sure what to do. Once his companion in the form of the snake started to slither away, he quickly grabbed him keeping his mouth shut to avoid his poisonous bite. Searching for something to hold him in. He noticed a peculiar jar, what he didn’t realize was the jar was enchanted and removed the sins of anything in it. After putting his companion in the jar he noticed the snake was no longer angry and trying to flee. In fact, the snake appeared to be calm and retracted his fangs. Amazed by his sudden change of character, the old man removed the snake from the jar. However, this caused the snake to be mean again. Realizing that the snake was only kind when he was in the jar. The old man left him in the jar and carried him in there to protect himself, as well as the snake. For as they were walking a pack of vultures circled around him, waiting to grab the snake. After walking the dessert for three days, we decided to stop by the river for a rest. Which is how we ended up meeting you; the merchant.