## Story 1 ![4-1.png](/uploads/4_1_582b4d3795.png) Distant peaks. Hidden lakes. Majestic waterfalls. These are but some of nature's many
strongholds, temples that refuse entry to mere mortals. They are secluded lands of great mystery;
to conquer one is a magnificent feat indeed. This man is an adventurer who continually
challenges such untrodden regions. He is the type who plunges into situations with abandon,
armed with nothing but tempered muscle and honed wit. People who knew him when he was
but a young sprout all say the same: "He's changed, that one."

Decades prior, the man was a hunter obsessed with treasure. Ruined castles and ancient
tombs were the only places that could attract and hold his attention. And on occasions where
he returned with a few coins in his pocket, he would head straight for the tavern to get violently
drunk. As his reputation grew, people began to avoid him. But he paid no mind what others thought,
instead setting off in search of his next fortune. ## Story 2 ![4-2.png](/uploads/4_2_11a75e0a0b.png) One day, he came to a ravine deep in the mountains. He slowly wound his way along a
path on a sheer cliff face, the kind even wild beasts might hesitate to traverse. One misstep
would mean a long fall followed by swift death. It was the edge of a knife. But the man's desire
burned brighter than his fear. For he had heard tale of a legendary treasure that slumbered
somewhere within the ravine. The price it might fetch was beyond counting. But with his will
governed by greed, he became impatient.

He moved faster. More careless. More reckless.

Finally, his foot landed on a loose clump of soil and turned. He plunged into the ravine below
without a sound. ## Story 3 ![4-3.png](/uploads/4_3_8f84ad5651.png) When the man came to, the sun had long since abandoned him. He lay next to a creek
at the bottom of the ravine. When he made to sit up, pain coursed through his body. His limbs
would not obey his command, nor his fingers. Am I going to die here? wondered the man.

Just then, the moon peeked out from behind the clouds, illuminating the land around him.
The midnight scenery was dazzling. Rocky cliffs scraped the sky, scoffing at the insignificance
of humans. Trees danced in the breeze as if moved by magic. Stars spilled across the sky like
jewels on velvet. The magnificence of nature was more brilliant than any treasure. The beautiful
view—something he usually paid little mind to—began to stir something in the man's heart. And
suddenly, he understood his purpose; the reason he walked the path between life and death.
His heartbeat melted into the gentle murmur of the creek. ## Story 4 ![4-4.png](/uploads/4_4_701d6930d8.png) "I still have things I need to do." Having found his greater purpose, the man forced
himself to his feet and slowly made his way back home. Treasure and riches hold no meaning
for him now. Instead, he seeks only the most dangerous and secluded lands. The more
unforgiving a situation, the more joy he feels. Only when he stares death in the eye does he
feel alive. His world had changed at the bottom of the ravine—he had changed. And he would
never allow himself to go back. Now, when the people from his hometown see him, they all
say the same thing: "He's changed, that one."

"It's almost like nature has...possessed him." Once again, the man sets off in search of new,
unexplored lands. As he presses across a vast wilderness, his eyes glitter like a child's. For
what he seeks can only be found on the edge of a knife.

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