The Man Who Was Unaffected by Time
Once upon a time there was a man living in a small village, who, whilst old, looked as young as he did when he was 20 years of age. When people asked him how this could be, he gave various answers.
"I rejected Semernos, so time does not affect me." "I embraced Kaos, so Semernos has no power over me."
The man spent a lifetime living in his village, had a beautiful wife and many children. One day however, a well-dressed traveler arrived in the village, who had heard about the wondrous man throughout his travels. He asked the merchants of the village - "Is it true that a man lives here, who is unaffected by time?" - to which the merchants led him to the house of the old man. The traveler than knocked on the old man's door. When he opened it, the traveler bowed down and spoke to the man.
- Is it true that you are old, but young at the same time? - asked the traveler.
- Yes it is true, honored traveler. Have my story spread around the world? - inquired the old man.
- Your claims have reached distant ears, old man. But do tell, how did you achieve your long-lasting youth?
- I rejected Semernos and now time does not affect me. - said the old man.
- So because you don't follow Semernos, you now think that he has no power over you? - asked the the traveler.
- As you can see, I have not aged since I rejected him. This is proof enough for me. - answered the old man. The traveler smirked and drew his cloak back.
- Then I will show you what happens when Semernos rejects you too, so time doesn't affect you. - said the traveler and revealed his true form as he was Semernos in disguise. With a simple wave of his hand, the old man became stuck in place and time as time truly didn't affect him any longer and thus, nothing happened to him anymore, nor could he make anything happen. Semernos turned around and left the man standing there in his doorway, witnessing his family growing old and dying and countless years passing by.
After long years of motionless being, the old man finally saw the truth and once again embraced Semernos and rejected Kaos. Then, the traveler returned to the man, put his hand on the old man's shoulder and said to him: You can't see all the ways the gods of Order affect you, but you shouldn't let your hubris get between you and their affection.
As the traveler left the man once again, a tear rolled down the old man's cheeks. The sour feeling of sadness turned into joy however, as the man realized that the power of Semernos affected him once more.
