The story until now

Erasmus always knew he was different. The ears were a big give-away, but in the beginning, it didn't seem to matter.
 
By his tenth summer, he was playing with the other children in the village, exploring the surrounding hills, fighting make-believe monsters and dreaming of the world beyond. Sometimes he would feel a tinge of sadness when he saw his friends go home to their mothers and fathers in the evenings, while his home only housed himself and his mother. But the village felt like a family, and he was happy.
 
By his twentieth summer, he had joined the other young men in the town's small lumber industry. Lacking the build to fell trees all day, he instead carried food and news between the village and the logging site, sometimes driving one of the carts to the market in one of the larger villages. He fell in love with Motte, the tailor's daughter; but though they shared one sweet kiss on his 23rd midsummers eve, she ended up marrying Derric, one of the lumberjacks.
 
By his thirtieth summer, he could once again tell he was apart from his friends. Their features changed, losing some of their leanness and vigour, while he remained youthful as ever. During the fall of his 34th year, he lost the first of his childhood friends, as Gavin accidentally cut open his leg with an axe, and the wound festered. The whole village gathered for the funeral.
 
By his fortieth summer, Erasmus had found a calling. He had joined the clergy of Elo, hoping to serve his village and prevent what happened to Gavin from occurring again, as well as lending aid to the ailing elders of the village. Many of the older folks he knew from his childhood had passed away, and he could see the writing on the wall. He would help them stay for as long as he could.
 
By his fifthieth summer, he had completed his time as an acolyte, and served as a healer to the local villages, travelling around. In the winter of his 52nd year, his mother passed away. He held her hands and sang for her as she had done for him so many years ago, tears welling up as her life faded. In all her years she had never spoken an ill word about his father for leaving them. She had told Erasmus she knew he loved them both very much, but could not join them. He had duties elsewhere. Erasmus wasn't sure, but during the funeral, he thought he felt a presence watching from the tree-line that no one else seemed to notice.
 
By his sixtieth summer, the last of the adults from the village of his childhood had passed away. He visited home more rarely now, coming by only every few years to do checkups, as his priestly duties brought him to more distant lands.
 
On his seventieth summer, Motte passed away. Erasmus and Derric embraced and cried at the funeral. Derric died the next year. The children would ask who the young man who visited the village every now and then was, and the elders would tell them to shush and show respect. In the fall of his 73rd year, as he laid flowers on his mother's grave, Eramus heard a voice, speaking directly into his mind.
 
"You are a curious creature, little one. Torn between two worlds. Born of mayflies and beings who close to never enter the gates of my Lady's kingdom. You've sought the power of the divine to change the world to suit your hopes, to push away death from those you love. Although it is a futile task, I can offer you more of the power you seek, but know this: The Raven Queen takes a heavy price for each moment you rob her of.
 
There are beings in the world who, like and unlike you, walk the line of life and death. In juster ages, the undead served the Raven Queen, paying dearly in return for their extravagance of time. But the Graveserpent Amaktonet has spread her foul wings over the lands, dominating the undead and raising more in mockery of the Dark Lady.
 
So here is my offer to you, little one. I will give you power to do with as you see fit, to clutch onto those things you hold dear for a moment longer, and in return, you would be my avatar in flesh on this mortal realm, seeking out and purging the servants of the lich dragon, and those others who the Lady Night has decided that their time has come. Do you accept?"
 
By his eightieth summer, Erasmus had travelled the world, serving in many churches, learning the tounges of gods, demons and dragons in his search for lore on his ancient enemy. In his 83rd year, he had spent the last four years serving, much to the dismay of the bishop, the church of Elo in Greenford, when a most unusual band of adventurers came into town, seeking asylum in the temple for a disfigured creature.