The wizard Odiul paused, taking a moment to collect himself.

Far too easy for him, to forget how drastically different his frame of reference was from that of these short-lived creatures. Centuries had passed for him, enveloped by the vast mystic powers that permeated this universe, seeping so deeply into every fold of his existence – compressed thousands upon thousands of times until his very essence was little different than the hardest-packed stone. If, for just a moment, he were to allow that essence to unfold, it felt as if it would expand to fall upon the world, and drag it down to the deepest depths.

And so, though human, it was impossible for Odiul to experience this reality as did these frail dandelion seeds that drifted upon the wind, winking into and out of existence much as sparks flew from the flint. Their short lives filled with spikes of experience and emotion that they could never truly comprehend. Immersed entirely in their slight lives, they lived as waterfalls pouring over the edge of a high cliff, lacking the ability to truly observe any single moment.

“And what is it, Princess, that you perceive as love?” The wizard’s voice was solid, yet soft, a boulder rolling slowly down a distant grassy mountainside.

The Princess stared blankly, her azure eyes not seemingly focused on anything, wrinkles knitting her brow. Odiul considered, realizing that such a fundamental question asked at this moment must seem to the Princess to carry some unforeseen meaning. Again, just too easy to forget, how this moment must be completely beyond her experience; an oddity that, once come upon, was difficult to quickly comprehend.

“I do not ask to make sport of you,” he offered.

She hesitated a moment longer, gaining her composure. She turned a discerning gaze upon Odiul for the first time, seeming to finally overcome her initial disbelief. “True love, wizard, is a most powerful feeling – there is none stronger. It is sum total of the strength of our entire being, to so cherish another, that you would give anything for their smile, their warm embrace, their tender regard.”

Odiul grimaced. This was as he should have expected; it was the way of these creatures, to build pedestals upon which to place those things that they never fully understood.

“Have you ever felt that you truly loved someone, Princess?” The slight shift in her gaze told the wizard what he needed to know. “Surely, then, you have known someone that professed true love for someone else?”

She replied, anger contorting her face, the skin darkening in a slight red hue – angered, likely, at being so easily understood. “Of course I have. Do I not exist? Have I not a father and mother? Are there not many such lovers in this kingdom?”

“Yes, Princess, it is as you have said. Your kingdom, with its gentle hills and vast plains, has slightly over twenty thousand landed citizens. Many of them are married; many of them have felt what they believe to be true love; many of them have sired children. And, for some of them, it may indeed be the truest of love; for many more, it is likely the after echoes of passion that flamed brightly and faded quickly.”

Odiul continued, his unrelenting voice bearing down upon the Princess, “but also, there are over eight thousand serfs. And it has been thus for generations – the numbers have changed as the years have gone by, but ever has it been that your citizenry has been divided. Your royal lineage has been unbroken for a great many years. And so, allow me to explain in a way that you might understand. Yes, it is true, there has been the occasional discontent. Parents who have had to watch their children starve; lovers that have had the light stolen from their lives.”

Odiul went on, “the seeds of discontent sown as effectively in these people as crops have been in your farmlands. Discontent that has grown, and discontent that has withered and died on the vine. For, here you are, Princess to the realm, with your Lord Father and Lady Mother. An uninterrupted royal family held up by the ignorant masses, unaware of their own power. You say to me that love is the strongest feeling? I tell you now that it is not. Raw hatred is the strongest emotion, and yet, even those who are subject to the direst of circumstances rarely ever taste the water upon the furthest shore of that darkest of desires. Raw hatred inspires the masses to revolt; to kill without reason; to burn everything around it to ash.”

“How do you think it is, that your royal family, with its royal treasury, and its royal burdenless lifestyle, still exists to this day? It is because, despite the tyranny that your family has imposed, people are ever slow to fall into true hatred. As I said before, again and again, discontent simply dies on the vine, or simmers without heat. Rarely, it may become something more. Rarely, it may spur the listless into action. But true hatred…” Odiul trailed off. It was difficult to put into words, beyond her – or any – comprehension.

The Princess did not understand this juxtaposition – before her, the most evil and ancient of Wizards, and he was reflecting on issues of injustice and fairness. It made no sense to her. Why was this mystic force here, now, and why was he reflecting on matters of such little concern to him? She growled, “what game are you playing at here, Wizard?”

Odiul turned away from the Princess, looking back over his shoulder. “I have thus cursed you Princess. You, your family, and your legacy. From this point forward, you are cursed. You will ever find true love. You shall be healthy and successful. Your family wealth shall grow and your people will sweep over the land. Your armies will be bloodthirsty and your enemies will fall upon their swords. You shall conquer lands one and all. And you shall know no death from mortal cause.”

“And the world shall finally learn to hate. To hate you; to hate your family; to hate your legacy; to hate that you have ever, and will ever, have all that they cannot; to know the truest flames of the most powerful hatred imaginable. They will finally rise up against you and, in so doing, will tear this world asunder. And in those moments, those dazzlingly bright moments before this world is forever destroyed, their truest hate will break this curse. And I will be waiting for you in the end, to savor the exquisite delight of your final breaths.”