Blackburn Fane kneels before the Waiting Pillars with a wish.

Immortality.

He asks incorrectly.
Fane says: never let me die.
What he should have said:
Never allow me to be killed.

As a child a wandering witch promised his parents that he would come to a gruesome end. They did all they could to protect him, kept him locked up in their little lodge outside the village and prevented him from straying far from their eyes.

His life passed him by, until one day he managed to escape and fled into the forests. A passing rumor spoke of a magical place that granted wishes. A price had to be paid, but what did young Fane know of price? All he wanted... was to be free and to wander.

Before the pillars Fane collapsed exhausted and hungry and thirsty. But arrive he did. The magic seeped into his body only moments after Fane finished talking.

He felt different.

With no fear Fane left the pillars behind and casually strolled through the forest. A boar came across him, but Fane was not afraid. His eyes closed and his arms spread wide as if to welcome or to challenge. The grim and determined expression shifted to surprise, because you see?

The boar gutted him all the same. And so Fane was killed.

Until he woke up somewhere else in the forest. Still wounded, but breathing and alive.

Fane was cursed. Fane would realize this soon enough.

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