**The Man Who Sold His Shadow**
In a small, forgotten village nestled between dark woods and towering mountains, there lived a poor man named Elias. He was known for his endless bad luck. No matter how hard he worked, misfortune seemed to follow him like a shadow. One cold autumn evening, after yet another failed attempt to sell his wares, Elias sat alone in a local tavern, nursing his drink. As the night grew darker, a peculiar figure entered the tavern. He was tall, with a thin frame, and dressed in an old-fashioned, immaculate suit. His face was pale, almost ghostly, and his eyes seemed to shine with an eerie light. Without a word, the stranger sat beside Elias. "I know your troubles," the man said, his voice a strange, silken whisper. "I can help you." Elias, too tired to argue, listened as the stranger spoke of a deal—an easy one, with no apparent consequences. All he wanted was Elias’s shadow. "My... shadow?" Elias asked, incredulously. "What would you want with that?" Th...