"No, my name is not Viviane, nor even Nimuë," the Lady of the Lake said as the adventurer approached, preempting the question on the tip of his tongue. Her voice was as mellifluous as it was friendly. "Welcome, adventurer. I am Freya. Do you seek wisdom?"
"Yes, my lady," the explorer responded, mistrust slipping away at her warm tone.
Why not tell her? She could hardly make it worse.
"I bear this mark..." He revealed the Bump Monster's emblem, which pulsed as if basking in the attention, sending tendrils of pain up to his neck. "A friend of mine tried to study it, but it responded by bringing me unbearable agony."
Freya frowned sympathetically. "There are few monsters that could leave marks so powerful, and fewer still that have such a concentration of anima." The adventurer started at those words; he had not mentioned that. "Allow me..."
The Lady of the Lake ran a hand over the mark, though she did not touch it. "I believe I understand... This is the work of the Bump Monster. It was not a question. "This mark is Curse of Destiny. Until you fulfill what you have been charged with, it will not fade."
"And what is it that I have to do?" the adventurer inquired, his heart sinking.
'That is for you to find out." The words were quiet and sad, chilling him to the bone.