The Two Travellers

In the days when roads were long and dangerous, and travelers often journeyed together for safety and companionship, there lived two men who could not have been more different in character, yet who found themselves bound together by circumstance and the shared trials of the road.

The first traveler was named Wilhelm, a shoemaker by trade who had lost his workshop in a fire and was seeking a new place to rebuild his life. Wilhelm was kind-hearted, honest, and generous—the sort of man who would share his last piece of bread with a stranger and offer shelter to anyone in need. Though he had lost his livelihood, his spirit remained unbroken, and he faced the uncertain future with hope and determination.

The second traveler was named Conrad, also a craftsman who had been forced to leave his hometown, but for very different reasons. Conrad was cruel, selfish, and filled with envy for anyone who seemed happier or more prosperous than himself. He had been driven from his community because of his dishonest dealings and his mistreatment of those weaker than himself. Though he was skilled at his trade, his heart was as black as coal, and he delighted in the misfortunes of others.

These two unlikely companions met at a crossroads where three paths diverged, each leading to different regions of the kingdom. Neither man had enough money to travel safely alone, and the roads were known to be haunted by bandits and worse dangers, so they reluctantly agreed to travel together for mutual protection.

“I care nothing for your company,” Conrad told Wilhelm bluntly, “but two men are less likely to be robbed than one traveling alone. We will share the costs of lodging and food, but beyond that, I want nothing to do with you.”

Wilhelm, who saw good in everyone and hoped that companionship might soften Conrad’s harsh nature, agreed to the arrangement. “Perhaps,” he thought to himself, “kindness and friendship might teach this man to see the world differently.”

So the two men set out together on the road, and from the very beginning, their different natures created constant conflict. When they encountered beggars or travelers in distress, Wilhelm would always stop to offer help, sharing whatever food or money he had. Conrad would mock this generosity and often tried to prevent Wilhelm from helping others.

“You’re a fool,” Conrad would sneer. “Why should you give away what little you have to strangers? Keep your charity for yourself—you’ll need it when your own purse is empty.”

But Wilhelm continued to help others whenever he could, believing that kindness shared would return to him in some form, even if he could not predict when or how.

One evening, as they camped beside a stream in a dark forest, the two travelers witnessed something extraordinary. A group of magnificent ravens landed in the trees around their campsite, and to their amazement, the birds began to speak in human voices.

“Listen carefully,” the largest raven said to its companions, “for I will tell you secrets that could change the fate of kingdoms, if only mortals were wise enough to understand them.”

Wilhelm and Conrad hid behind their packs and listened in wonder as the ravens shared magical knowledge. The birds spoke of three great secrets: first, there was a princess in the nearest kingdom who had been struck blind by a curse, and she could be healed only by washing her eyes with water from this very stream at dawn when the first ray of sunlight touched the water. Second, in that same kingdom, a well that had provided water for centuries had run dry, and it could be restored only by removing a large toad that was blocking the underground spring. Third, there was a gallows hill where an executed man hung in chains, and any person who took three drops of blood that fell from the corpse would gain the power to raise the dead.

“These secrets are known only to us,” the chief raven concluded, “and any mortal who learns them and acts upon them wisely could become the greatest healer and miracle-worker in the land.”

After the ravens flew away, Wilhelm and Conrad emerged from their hiding place, both excited by what they had learned, but for very different reasons.

Wilhelm immediately thought of how he could use this knowledge to help others. “We must go to that kingdom at once,” he said earnestly. “Think of the good we could do! We could heal the princess, restore water to the people, and even learn to help those who are thought to be beyond help.”

Conrad, however, saw only opportunities for personal gain. “Yes,” he agreed, but his thoughts were on the rewards and recognition he might receive. He began to formulate a plan to use the magical knowledge for his own advancement, and perhaps to prevent Wilhelm from sharing in any benefits.

The next morning, Wilhelm rose before dawn and carefully collected water from the stream just as the first ray of sunlight touched its surface. The water glowed faintly with magical properties, and Wilhelm stored it carefully in a special bottle he crafted from materials in his pack.

When they reached the kingdom, they learned that everything the ravens had said was true. The king’s daughter had indeed been struck blind by a mysterious curse, and the royal physicians had declared her condition incurable. The kingdom’s main well had mysteriously dried up, causing great hardship for the people. And on gallows hill outside the town, the body of an executed criminal hung in iron chains, serving as a grim warning to wrongdoers.

Wilhelm immediately requested an audience with the king, explaining that he might be able to help the princess. Conrad accompanied him, already plotting how he might claim credit for any miracle that occurred.

The king, desperate to restore his daughter’s sight, agreed to let Wilhelm attempt the healing. In the presence of the royal court, Wilhelm gently washed the princess’s eyes with the magical stream water, praying silently that the cure would work.

Immediately, the princess’s sight was restored. She opened her eyes, which sparkled like stars, and looked around the throne room with wonder and joy. The king wept with gratitude, and the entire court erupted in celebration.

“Name your reward,” the king declared to Wilhelm, “for you have given me back my most precious treasure.”

Wilhelm bowed humbly. “Your Majesty, I seek no reward for myself. I am simply grateful that I could help restore your daughter’s sight. However, I would ask that you allow me to try to solve another problem that troubles your kingdom—the dried well that has caused such hardship for your people.”

The king was amazed by Wilhelm’s selflessness and immediately granted permission for him to attempt to restore the well. Conrad watched these proceedings with growing jealousy and resentment, furious that Wilhelm was receiving all the credit and praise.

Wilhelm went to the dried well and, using ropes and tools provided by the townspeople, descended into its depths. There, exactly as the ravens had foretold, he found a enormous toad blocking the underground spring. The creature was ancient and covered with warty growths, and its presence had somehow corrupted the water source.

With great care and patience, Wilhelm managed to remove the toad without harming it, relocating it to a distant marsh where it could live without causing problems for anyone. Immediately, clear, sweet water began to flow again from the spring, and the well filled to overflowing.

The people of the kingdom celebrated this second miracle even more enthusiastically than the first, for the restoration of the well meant the end of water rationing and drought. Again, the king offered Wilhelm any reward he desired, and again Wilhelm asked for nothing for himself.

Conrad’s jealousy had now grown into a consuming rage. He could not bear to see Wilhelm receive such honor and gratitude, especially when Conrad felt that he deserved equal credit for the miracles, since he had also heard the ravens’ secrets.

That night, Conrad approached Wilhelm with a false smile and suggested that they celebrate their success with a drink at the local tavern. Wilhelm, always trusting and hopeful about his companion’s better nature, agreed readily.

But Conrad had poisoned the wine he offered to Wilhelm. As Wilhelm drank, he felt a strange drowsiness come over him, and before he realized what was happening, he had collapsed unconscious.

Conrad, thinking Wilhelm was dead, dragged his body to a remote part of the forest. But Wilhelm was not dead—only deeply unconscious from the poison. Conrad, however, believed he had committed murder, and he felt no remorse whatsoever.

“Now all the glory will be mine,” Conrad muttered as he left Wilhelm’s body in the wilderness. “I will claim credit for the miracles, and no one will know the truth.”

Conrad returned to the kingdom and told the king that Wilhelm had suddenly taken ill and died from exhaustion after performing the great healing miracles. He claimed that Wilhelm had shared the magical secrets with him before dying and had asked Conrad to continue their healing work.

The king and his daughter were saddened by the news of Wilhelm’s death, but they were grateful to have Conrad to carry on the miraculous healing. Conrad basked in the praise and adulation that had previously been directed toward Wilhelm.

Meanwhile, Wilhelm lay unconscious in the forest, where his still form was discovered by a group of animals who had benefited from his kindness during his travels. A family of rabbits whose young he had once saved from a trap, a deer whose injured leg he had tended, and various birds to whom he had given food during the winter months all gathered around him.

The animals, guided by an instinct deeper than human understanding, worked together to care for Wilhelm. The rabbits brought healing herbs, the deer provided warmth by lying beside him, and the birds brought fresh water and berries. Their combined care slowly counteracted the effects of Conrad’s poison.

After three days and nights, Wilhelm awakened weak but alive. The animals’ devotion and care had not only saved his life but had also given him a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of all living things.

As Wilhelm recovered his strength, he learned from the animals about Conrad’s betrayal and his theft of the credit for the miracles. But rather than feeling anger or desire for revenge, Wilhelm felt only sadness that his companion had chosen such a dark path.

“I must return to the kingdom,” Wilhelm decided, “not to expose Conrad’s lies, but to continue helping others. Perhaps seeing the consequences of his choices will eventually lead Conrad toward redemption.”

Wilhelm made his way to gallows hill, where the body of the executed criminal still hung in chains. Following the ravens’ third secret, he carefully collected three drops of blood that had fallen from the corpse. The blood glowed with the same magical energy as the stream water, and Wilhelm understood that he now possessed the power to restore life to the dead.

Wilhelm returned to the kingdom in disguise, learning that Conrad had been attempting to perform more healings but had failed because he did not truly understand the magical principles involved or possess the pure heart necessary to make them work.

The king had grown suspicious of Conrad’s failures and his inability to explain exactly how he had achieved the earlier miracles. Conrad’s cruel nature had also begun to show itself in his treatment of servants and commoners, and the people were starting to turn against him.

One day, a terrible accident occurred in the kingdom. The king’s young son fell from his horse and struck his head on a stone, dying instantly from his injuries. The entire kingdom was plunged into mourning, and the king begged Conrad to use his supposed healing powers to restore the prince to life.

Conrad, of course, had no idea how to accomplish such a miracle. He made several attempts using ordinary water and false incantations, but nothing happened. The king’s grief turned to anger as he realized that Conrad was a fraud.

“You lied to me!” the king accused. “You are not the healer you claimed to be. Guards, arrest this deceiver!”

As Conrad was being dragged away to face punishment for his deception, Wilhelm appeared before the king, no longer in disguise.

“Your Majesty,” Wilhelm said, bowing respectfully, “I am the one who healed your daughter and restored your well. I was betrayed by my companion, who left me for dead and stole credit for miracles he could not have performed.”

The king recognized Wilhelm immediately and ordered Conrad’s release so that the truth could be determined. Wilhelm explained everything that had happened, and the king’s daughter confirmed that Wilhelm was indeed the true healer.

“Can you restore my son to life?” the king asked desperately.

Wilhelm nodded solemnly. “I can, Your Majesty, but first I must ask Conrad a question.” He turned to his former companion, who stood trembling with fear and shame.

“Conrad,” Wilhelm said gently, “you have betrayed our friendship, stolen credit for my work, attempted to murder me, and deceived this entire kingdom. By all rights, you deserve severe punishment. But I offer you a choice: you can face the king’s justice for your crimes, or you can sincerely repent of your evil ways and dedicate the rest of your life to helping others. Which do you choose?”

Conrad, faced with the magnitude of his crimes and the unexpected mercy of the man he had wronged, finally felt the weight of his conscience. For the first time in his life, he experienced genuine remorse for his actions.

“I choose repentance,” Conrad said, tears streaming down his face. “I have been evil and selfish my entire life, but your mercy has shown me a different way to live. Please forgive me, and teach me how to be a better man.”

Wilhelm smiled with genuine warmth. “Then watch and learn,” he said, “for this miracle is as much about the restoration of your soul as it is about the restoration of the prince’s life.”

Wilhelm knelt beside the prince’s body and placed the three drops of magical blood on the boy’s forehead, lips, and heart. He spoke words of healing and life, and gradually, color returned to the prince’s cheeks, his chest began to rise and fall with breath, and his eyes opened with the light of life restored.

The kingdom erupted in celebration, but Wilhelm immediately drew the attention to an important lesson. “The power to heal and restore life is not mine alone,” he announced. “It comes from living with compassion, helping others selflessly, and maintaining hope even in the darkest circumstances. Anyone who lives by these principles can work miracles of kindness and healing.”

Conrad, deeply moved by what he had witnessed, asked Wilhelm to teach him these principles. Wilhelm agreed, and the two men began a new kind of partnership—not as reluctant traveling companions, but as teacher and student in the arts of compassion and service.

Under Wilhelm’s guidance, Conrad learned to put others’ needs before his own desires. He used his craftsmanship skills to create useful items for the poor, helped care for the sick and injured, and gradually earned the forgiveness of those he had wronged.

The king offered Wilhelm a permanent position as royal healer and advisor, but Wilhelm declined. “My calling,” he explained, “is to travel and help wherever I am needed. But I thank you for your offer, and I will always consider this kingdom a home.”

Wilhelm and Conrad resumed their travels, but now they journeyed as true friends and partners in service. Conrad had learned that helping others brought far greater satisfaction than any selfish gain, and his transformation from villain to hero became legendary throughout the lands they visited.

Years later, when people would tell the story of the two travelers, they would emphasize the lesson that no one is beyond redemption if they truly choose to change. Wilhelm’s mercy and Conrad’s repentance proved that even the darkest heart could be transformed by love and forgiveness.

The three magical secrets—the healing water, the restoration of the well, and the power over life and death—remained powerful tools in Wilhelm’s hands, but he used them always in service of others, never for personal gain. And Conrad, having learned the true value of friendship and kindness, became one of the most devoted healers and helpers in all the kingdom.

Their story became a legend that taught people that while evil choices lead to isolation and misery, choosing good opens the door to friendship, purpose, and the kind of magic that can truly change the world. And most importantly, it showed that it is never too late to choose a better path, if one has the courage to admit one’s mistakes and the determination to make amends.