He lived in a land of magic and prosperity, A wizard named Moore. A small village on a hill was called Hythe, Known as a heavenly place for it's flourishing greenwood and benevolent habitants. Moore had been living there since his birth. Employing his talent of wizardry to service people was his only means of livelihood.
Not having any family of his own, Moore had raised his students as his own children. Three young boys named Willey, Arron and Steph. The boys were taught witchcraft and had acquired brilliance in their talents.
Everything was propitious until the day witchcraft became prohibited nationwide. Moore was on his deathbed when this predicament befell. "Sorcery is the only skill we possess, without this we will starve to death, it was a shortcoming of Father." The eldest brother, Willey said as he criticised his father's short-sightedness.
Then Steph, the youngest of them said. "Father will definitely help us out, we should trust him." Steph was adored by Moore the most.
Holding himself liable, Moore convened the boys in his cottage. He was ail and couldn't even talk properly. "(Cough), I am aware that it was my mistake but this is all this father of yours can give to you," he said while giving them a small box each.
"Are there gold coins in it?" Arron said while opening his. "Jesus! A spider," He was terrified and closed the box again with a thud. Inside the box, there was a little eight legged spider. The boys stood there scratching their heads as to how those little spiders could help them.
"They are no ordinary spiders. Raise them and they shall prove to be useful to you. (Cough)," The boys took their spiders home, which consisted of three separate wooden cabins on the very top of the hill. They let the spiders out of the boxes and left home together in search of work. Dejected they came back after searching for work all day long and took a check on the spiders.
Suddenly an overjoyed Willey came out screaming "it's Gold! It's Gold!" as the spider he had left in his chamber had woven its web with pure golden thread that looked astonishing on the ceiling. Within next few seconds, delighted Arron came out screaming "It's Silver! It's Silver! I am rich!" Arron's spider had woven its web with silver thread. Willey and Arron were dancing in glee while Steph was upset as the web that his spider had woven was made of spider silk, just like any other spider does. It just made the room look filthy.
"Willey got golden and Arron has silver spider, Father loves me the most but still gave me this," Steph was sulking as his spider was useless to him. Next day he visited his father again, seeking the reason behind the unfairness.
"Have patience, one day this spider will lead you to the treasure beyond gold and silver." Moore said.
Days went by and Moore passed away leaving Steph with many unanswered questions. Willey and Arron were thriving in prosperity while Steph had to work his fingers to the bone to earn his bread everyday. He kept raising the spider thinking of it as the last gift from his beloved father. The spider would weave its web everyday only for Steph to remove it every time.
One day, he fell ill and couldn't leave his bed. Lying awake on his bed, he was trying to fall asleep. Suddenly his eyes fell on the spider on the ceiling. He observed the little spider weaving it's web. He noticed that the web did not have any usual pattern. It looked like a message that spider was trying to convey through this figure. A distinct design from the tangled threads of the web was emerging out and soon could be clearly understood. The ailing Steph got up with his eyes filled with amazement, "A map!... it looks like a map," he borrowed a map of the kingdom from his brother and held it close to the spider web to compare. It resembled the outlines of a city named Homan, located down the hill.
"Is this the map to the treasure that Father told, it will lead me to." Until now, he has never known that his spider was the most extraordinary one, as it could communicate with its web. Steph drew that figure on a paper and left questing for the treasure descending the hill.
He searched for the whole day but there was no treasure to be found. Dishearten, he came back and was informed that an earthquake that had struck the hill a few hours ago, left devastating consequences. The cabin in which he lived, collapsed. Other than debris remains, nothing could be found. Steph tried to find the spider thanks to which, he was standing safe. But there was no chance that it could be alive, looking at the scene.
"You never realise the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory." At last, when spider could finally show what its worth was, it didn't live long enough to get the appreciation it deserved.