We are introduced to our main character Santiago, who is a Shepherd. He chose his life as a shepherd because it allows him to see the world through travel, which is what he always wanted to do. For a while now, he has dreamt of buried treasure in the pyramids but does not know why.
4
When going to the merchant to sell some of his sheep's wool, Santiago meets Melchizedek, the king of Salem. The King tells Santiago how he should follow his dreams to discover his personal legend. Santiago agrees, but he needs more money to get to Egypt so he sells his sheep and tries to find work.
5
Santiago stumbles upon a crystal merchant who gives him a place to work. He grows comfortable with his life there and stays for over a year. At this point, Santiago has given up on his personal legend and wants to buy his sheep back and continue as a shepherd. He realizes that from all his time working, he had indeed made enough to go to Egypt and instead decides to continue his journey.
6
On his way to Egypt, Santiago meets an Englishman, who tells him about the practice of alchemy and the legendary Alchemist. This peaks Santiago's curiosity and makes him hopeful that the Alchemist can help him find his treasure.
While in Egypt, Santiago meets the love of his life Fatima, and even though he wants to stay with her since he is unsure if he will make it back alive(war going on), she tells him to go for his personal legend. He also meets the legendary alchemist who teaches him about the unspoken language(which he also learned from his sheep) and takes him under his wing.
Santiago and the Alchemist are captured and the alchemist promises them that Santiago can turn into the wind in three days for their freedom. Santiago, by talking to the sun and the wind(Unspoken language) manages to succeed and keep them both alive. He makes it to the pyramids but gets beat up be refugees. He learns from one of the refugees that his treasure is back where he started his journey in Andalusia, and with that his personal legend is fulfilled.