There was once a man who was immortal. When he was a child, he was an ordinary boy who frolicked outside just like a boy of any other age. But as he grew older, he realized he was different. When he turned thirty he thought it odd that he could move just as well as when he was half his age. When he turned fifty he realized that he looked younger than his kids did. When he turned seventy, people didn't believe that he was his actual age, so he became ineligible for senior discounts at restaurants. When he turned one hundred years old, he realized that he had outlived his wife, his children, and three of his grandchildren. He still did not look a day over twenty. For the second time in his life, besides when he was ineligible for the senior discount, the man cursed his immortality. “Why have I been given this curse?” he asked himself. To figure out why he was immortal, the man set out on a journey into the unexplored depths of the world, where modern civilization could not reach, searching for anyone who could tell him about his immortality.
He decided to go east, to the legendary priests in the tallest mountains. If anyone knew of his plight, it would be them. When he arrived, the priests were unable to help him.. They did not know the answer, but they knew someone who did. They pointed him south, where the sage of truth lived. The man went south, traversing dangerous territory, knowing that he would not perish. When he met the sage, the sage was unable to give him an answer, but he knew of someone who did. His master lived in the secluded far west, apart from prying eyes. And so the man went west, into dark jungles and through thundering rivers, trekking day and night to find the man who could reveal his identity after so many years. During his journey west, the man perished many times. Sometimes he fell when he lost his grip. Sometimes he fell prey to disguised traps. Sometimes he was mauled by wild animals. Every time he died, the man got up. He never surrendered. His only goal was to discover his identity. Nothing else mattered. After months of travel, the man met the sage's master. The man asked the master why he was immortal. At first, he did not reply. After a few minutes of thinking, the master said,”Does there need to be a reason? Sometimes, there isn't a reason for things to be the way they are. In this case, it applies. Would you not rather enjoy your immortality and help those in need? With such a great boon, you could do anything you wanted. You could see the sights of the world. You could solve the mysteries that others cannot. I know not of a reason for your immortality, but you have been granted a power far beyond that of any mortal man. What you do with it is up to you.” With that, the master turned away and glided back into the darkness of his cave.
The man was left speechless. There was no reason? It was a boon? He had lost nearly everyone he had loved. He had died twenty times over, and every time he regenerated, he felt the pain that was inflicted upon his body and soul. Although he was could not be killed, the man still felt pain. He knew his immortality would not help anyone. If he could not deal with it, nobody could. He fell to his knees in anguish. There was no point in living; he could not die. Trapped in a paradox, the man felt true despair engulf his being. That despair turned into anger. That anger turned into wrath. That wrath turned into hatred.
“Fine then. A boon? I'll show you a boon. I will show you a gods be damned boon.” With his hate festering inside him, the man disappeared into the wilderness. No one has seen him since. Some say that he is building the solution to world peace. The ones who know of him dread his return. They know that he is angry. They know that he wants revenge. They know that he is planning, waiting for the right moment to strike.