Final answer:
The old man tells Santiago a story about a miner and an emerald that serves as a lesson about pursuing one's personal legend without getting distracted by external temptations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The old man tells Santiago a story about a miner and an emerald. This connects to Santiago's situation because it serves as a lesson about the importance of pursuing one's personal legend and not being tied down by fear or societal expectations. In the story, the miner was so focused on the emerald that he sacrificed everything else in his life, just like Santiago is tempted to do with his own journey. It reminds Santiago to stay true to his own path and not get distracted by external temptations.