One of my favorite characters is Aberfell, the Supreme Historian, the oldest man in the world, the boy who can never forget. At the age of 255 we met Aberfell for the first time. Being born under a significant amount of celebrity, his birth was foretold by a blue comet. People from far and wide came to the tiny village of Conner to see him as a baby. They wanted to hold him and whisper things into his ear. Aberfell was born with a memory that can never forget. He remembers his time in the womb, and being born, and even before he could understand the language his mind retained the secrets that were being whispered in his ear. He never forgot a single thing. In any given day in history, he could tell you that he remembered how many trees where in the forest, what the weather was like, peoples names and actions. Aberfell was born with brilliant blue eyes as his most distinguishing feature. But Aberfell is a sad character, a hermit, a recluse, afraid of seeing, smelling, hearing, anything new, because of his inability to forget. All the secrets people told him, are still retained in his mind, no matter that the people who whispered them are long gone. On the surface, having an infallible memory seems like a cool superpower. But I thought it would be a horrible power. Imagine not being able to forget anything. There are too many bad things that happen in the experience of a lifetime. I am glad I can’t remember most of my life. I think that the ability to forget is what makes us human and is what keeps us sane. Aberfell did not have that privilege. Forced to remember everything, he warehouses himself away, wrapping linens around his head to dull his senses. Day after day, he tried not to see, hear, touch, taste, or smell anything. And maybe it has left him with a touch of madness, because his dialogue is almost comical. Aberfell is part grumpy old man, and part desperate to reach out and experience a friend. He can’t stand new things, but he is incredibly lonely. Being the oldest man in the world, all of the people he knew when he was younger are dead. But being the Supreme Historian, with an indelible mind, and the oldest man in the world, he can say that he is the most knowledgeable person in the world. He is in a perfect position to detail the stories of the Provenance, or the origins of the world, to our man Almon Plum-Kilmer to share with the rest of the world. Yet, Aberfell shows that he has a wide range of emotions, that drifts between cold and callous, and soft and empathic. With Aberfell you just never know what he will do or say next. That is what makes him such a colorful character in the world of Astar’s Blade.