Santiago is terrified when the alchemist tells the chief and his men that Santiago is an alchemist who can turn himself into wind, but the alchemist does this so that Santiago is forced to face his fears and lay claim to his Personal Legend.

The frightened Santiago asks the alchemist why he has told the men he can turn himself into wind when he doesn't have the least idea how to do that. The alchemist says,

If a person is living out his Personal Legend, he knows everything he needs to know.

The alchemist states that fear is the only obstacle to a person achieving his personal destiny once he knows what it is. To succeed, Santiago has to face down his fears. When Santiago replies that he could very well be killed because he doesn't know how to achieve what has been promised, the alchemist tells him it is better to die trying to fulfill one's destiny than to live like the millions of people who are afraid to grasp it.

The alchemist keeps putting Santiago into dangerous situations so that he is forced to rely on himself rather than the alchemist and to prove to himself in concrete ways that he is capable of achieving his dreams.