To live forever… who would not grab the opportunity if they could?

The king’s eyes were closed as the first droplets of water passed from the goblet in his hand onto his parched lips. Suddenly a scream rent the air. The goblet fell from his hands, splashing into the stream where it was quickly carried away.

The general and the other soldier drew their swords and whirled around as a man stumbled out of the nearby bushes. He looked ancient, like a person who had lived for centuries. His clothing was tattered, and on his wild, unkempt hair was, incredibly, a golden crown.

“Please…” The stranger staggered toward them, his hand outstretched, his eyes pleading. “Don’t drink from the waters.”

The king stepped backward, a look of fear and disgust on his face. “Who are you? What are you?”

“I am a broken man. That’s who I am. But once, many, many, many years ago I was a young, royal king, much like yourself. And then I was seized by an uncontrollable desire to cheat death, to live forever. I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving behind everything I had worked so hard for, only to rot in the grave while my palace and possessions passed into the hands of others. To live forever… who would not grab the opportunity if they could?