Final answer:
Santiago initially desires to travel and find treasure at the Egyptian pyramids, setting in motion his quest for personal legend in 'The Alchemist'.
Step-by-step explanation:
At the beginning of The Alchemist, Santiago wants to pursue his personal legend and dreams of traveling to find treasure at the Egyptian pyramids. This aspiration is a central theme of the novel as it portrays Santiago's journey both physically and spiritually.
His desire evolves over the course of the story, but initially, it is the pursuit of this treasure that propels him to leave his life as a shepherd in Spain and embark on his adventurous quest.