Granted, the first panel of this story seems to be a retelling of a legend about an "evil witch" who demanded a sacrifice and promised a curse for not complying, with a king who responds by ordering his knights to kill the witch. However, again, this does not really explain much, assuming this legend is even accurate. Maybe it is accurate. But, for all we know, this legend was a fabrication. Or, perhaps the truth of this incident was twisted with the lies of a corrupt king.
Perhaps the royal family is the cause of this tragedy? Perhaps there was a royal decree to persecute witches? Or, perhaps the king did not heed the advice of a witch warning of a curse, resulting in tragedy, which the king later blamed on them? Heck, perhaps some royal magicians created this curse as a side effect of dangerous experiments - perhaps from an unwavering obsession to achieve immortality or something? I could imagine unscrupulous individuals doing magic experiments near a small village that pays very little in taxes and few would miss.
Or, are readers to believe that magic curses like this can occur naturally - as an act of g**, spontaneously and without a true reason?
Perhaps the royal family is the cause of this tragedy? Perhaps there was a royal decree to persecute witches? Or, perhaps the king did not heed the advice of a witch warning of a curse, resulting in tragedy, which the king later blamed on them? Heck, perhaps some royal magicians created this curse as a side effect of dangerous experiments - perhaps from an unwavering obsession to achieve immortality or something? I could imagine unscrupulous individuals doing magic experiments near a small village that pays very little in taxes and few would miss.
Or, are readers to believe that magic curses like this can occur naturally - as an act of g**, spontaneously and without a true reason?