{"id":581,"date":"2026-08-17T16:16:28","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T16:16:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=581"},"modified":"2026-08-18T22:13:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T22:13:40","slug":"the-man-who-wasnt-afraid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=581","title":{"rendered":"The Man Who Wasn&#8217;t Afraid"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tales from the Universe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Moral Dilemma:<\/strong> When fear can distort judgment, does mastering fear mean refusing to feel it\u2014or learning when it is trying to tell you something worth hearing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody could frighten Brann.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People tried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was how these things begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When he was twelve, his friends locked him overnight in a crypt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann slept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At sixteen, someone dropped a snake into his bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann picked it up and put it outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At nineteen, he crossed the old rope bridge during a thunderstorm because someone said he wouldn&#8217;t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bridge lost three boards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann lost a boot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He arrived on the other side laughing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By twenty-five, being unafraid was no longer something Brann did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was who he was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This made him useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When a horse panicked, Brann approached it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When fire broke out, Brann entered buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When someone heard noises outside at night, Brann checked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People trusted him because danger seemed to have less authority over him than it had over everyone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He became a rescue warden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It suited him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His partner was named Veyra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veyra was afraid of many things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Heights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Deep water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lightning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unfamiliar dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Enclosed spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Large spiders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Small spiders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And, for reasons she refused to explain, geese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann found this hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veyra found Brann exhausting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They worked extremely well together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their first serious argument happened in a mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A support beam cracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veyra heard it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOut.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann looked toward the trapped miner ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThirty more feet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOut.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe&#8217;s right there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another crack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dust fell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veyra grabbed Brann&#8217;s coat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe leave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe dies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe stay, we may all die.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann pulled away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI&#8217;m not afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veyra stared at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI am.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann turned toward the trapped miner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veyra shouted:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat&#8217;s why one of us is thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ceiling collapsed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They survived because Veyra had already started retreating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The trapped miner survived too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another team reached him from a different shaft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann spent two days in the infirmary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veyra visited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou were right,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou could pretend this is difficult for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI could.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For several months, Brann became more careful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then people began praising him again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fearless warden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The man who walked into fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The man nothing could scare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann liked the stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He told himself he didn&#8217;t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was different from not liking them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then children began imitating him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A boy climbed the quarry wall because Brann had climbed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He fell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Broke both legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann visited him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The boy grinned through the pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI wasn&#8217;t scared.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann felt something unpleasant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause you aren&#8217;t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann looked at the casts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the first time, his reputation frightened him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He began correcting people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI&#8217;m afraid all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody believed him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the tavern:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBrann fears nothing!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI fear plenty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Laughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cName one!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann tried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He couldn&#8217;t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The room cheered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veyra noticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;ve practiced not admitting fear so long you can&#8217;t recognize it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI recognize danger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo. You recognize obstacles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSame thing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She tapped his chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDanger says something might cost you more than you&#8217;re willing to pay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann shrugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen pay it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veyra looked tired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat is exactly what I mean.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mountain taught him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mountains are good at teaching things without caring whether the student survives the lesson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A winter storm trapped three travelers above the tree line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann and Veyra joined the rescue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Halfway up, the wind changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veyra stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann could barely hear her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe turn back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey&#8217;re above us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe storm is moving faster.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe can reach them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann continued climbing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veyra didn&#8217;t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He turned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She stood twenty feet below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCome on!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann became angry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey&#8217;ll freeze!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo will we!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;re afraid!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veyra stared upward through the snow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The word carried strangely through the wind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann had meant it as an accusation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veyra answered as though he&#8217;d identified a useful fact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann continued alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For another twenty minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then thirty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Visibility disappeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He could no longer see the trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He kept moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not because he knew the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because turning around felt like becoming someone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fearless man did not retreat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fearless man did not abandon people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fearless man\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He had no idea where he was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the first time in years, he let himself say it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI am afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nothing happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No weakness entered his legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No courage left his body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He was simply afraid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And once he allowed the feeling to exist, information arrived with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He couldn&#8217;t see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He couldn&#8217;t navigate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His fingers were becoming numb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The wind was worsening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He had passed the point where continuing improved anyone&#8217;s chances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fear had been reporting these facts for half an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann had mistaken refusing the report for bravery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He turned around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He almost didn&#8217;t make it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veyra found him crawling below the ridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She dragged him into a shelter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They spent the night pressed together beneath blankets while the mountain attempted to kill them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann shook uncontrollably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cVeyra?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI am terrified.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He laughed weakly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou really need better bedside manners.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The three travelers survived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They had found a shepherd&#8217;s shelter farther west.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rescue team reached them the following morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone returned home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody became a legend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann found this increasingly pleasant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Years later, he trained new wardens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On their first day, he asked:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat is fear?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A recruit answered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWeakness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann threw a piece of chalk at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cInstinct.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCloser.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWarning?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He wrote on the board:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>FEAR IS INFORMATION.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then beneath it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>INFORMATION CAN BE WRONG.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And beneath that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>SO CAN YOU.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The recruits copied it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One raised her hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo when should we listen to fear?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat is the job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI thought the job was rescuing people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He pointed at the board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is how you get to keep doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After class, a recruit approached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI heard you climbed the western cliff without a rope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI was twenty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWere you scared?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The recruit looked disappointed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann noticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWould the story be better if I wasn&#8217;t?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA little.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen tell the worse story.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause somebody might try it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That evening Brann walked home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A goose stood in the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goose stared at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann stared back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veyra came around the corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She saw the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Slowly, a smile appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cProblem?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goose hissed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann moved backward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veyra folded her arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFearless Warden.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cQuiet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goose advanced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann stepped behind Veyra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She began laughing so hard she had to lean against a wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brann laughed too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goose occupied the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody challenged it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some dangers simply weren&#8217;t worth proving anything to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: When fear can distort judgment, does mastering fear mean refusing to feel it\u2014or learning when it is trying to tell you something worth hearing? Nobody could frighten Brann. People tried. That was how these things begin. When he was twelve, his friends locked him overnight in a crypt. Brann [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tales-from-the-universe"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Man Who Wasn&#039;t Afraid - Depth Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=581\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Man Who Wasn&#039;t Afraid - Depth Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: When fear can distort judgment, does mastering fear mean refusing to feel it\u2014or learning when it is trying to tell you something worth hearing? 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