On the edge of a quiet village lived a boy named Arin who loved collecting unusual things. He had jars of glowing insects, stones shaped like hearts, and even a feather that shimmered blue in the sunlight. But one evening, while exploring the old forest, he found something he had never seen before — a tiny lantern hanging from a crooked tree branch.

The lantern wasn’t lit, yet it felt warm in his hands. As Arin brushed the dust off, it suddenly glowed with a soft golden light. A small voice whispered, “Make a wish, but choose wisely.”

Startled, Arin looked around. No one was there.

He hesitated. He could wish for anything — toys, sweets, or even to be the strongest boy in the village. But then he remembered his mother, who worked late every night and always looked tired.

So he closed his eyes and whispered, “I wish for my mother to be happy.”

The lantern flickered brightly. A warm breeze wrapped around him like a hug, and the light faded.

The next morning, Arin woke up to the smell of fresh bread. His mother was humming joyfully in the kitchen, her face peaceful and bright. She told him that a distant relative had sent enough money to help them for the whole year — completely unexpected.

Arin smiled. Maybe it was luck… or maybe the lantern had truly worked.

That night, when he returned to the forest, the lantern was gone. In its place lay a note carved into the tree:

“The greatest wishes are those made for others.”

Arin never forgot those words. And from that day on, he continued collecting unusual things — but the most precious of them all was the kindness he carried in his heart.