In the weeks that followed, there was chaos everywhere

all around the castle, gossip filled the awkward air

a little house was granted to the hero and his wife

but this was not this start of such an easygoing life

Every day the hero suffered greatly at a school

learning proper etiquette and every law and rule

while he trained, the elf became accustomed to the land

there were many things it took her time to understand

After he was well accustomed to the castle ground

the hero took some time to take a walk and look around

he was rather pleased with what he saw on this recess

no matter where he looked, there was no trace of a princess

The king, as promised, sent for an instructor for the man

to help him fight more like a knight, at least that was the plan

the hero met his tutor near the castle in a field

carrying some wooden swords and one great wooden shield

“So you’re the reason that old king came knocking at my door

here I thought the kingdom didn’t need me anymore”

he threw a sword and shield toward the hero and he frowned

then took a stance and dug both of his feet into the ground

The hero picked the wooden tools up, then he shook his head

“if you fight me you’ll more likely end up hurt or dead

do you know some magic, or do you just fight with wood”

the young man’s arrogance was clear and quickly understood

The older man before him smiled and threw his sword away

“come on then, if you can talk like that, then let us play”

the hero dropped his shield and then without another word

flew toward the old man like a young and hungry bird

He meant to end the fight with haste as gently as he could

killing some old man would hardly do him any good

he swung the wooden sword to sweep the old man off his feet

and then abruptly found it was his own complete defeat

Somehow the old man had moved behind the hero’s sword

and with a gentle push the mighty warrior was floored

“you’re as fast as you are strong but dumber than a log

it’d be more difficult to hit a sitting frog”

The hero noticed then, the old man didn’t need a blade

just a fraction of the old man’s power was displayed

an aura had surrounded him, that felt as hard as steel

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

the hero couldn’t fathom how such energy would feel

He summoned fire as quickly as he stood up from the ground

once again he charged the man as sparks swirled all around

a flaming sword extended from the flailing hero’s hand

the flames that now surrounded them continued to expand

The old instructor’s eyes were wide with shock for what he saw

but once again he braced himself without a sword to draw

and when the hero brought his flames upon the old man’s head

he found himself upon a pile of burning grass instead

The fires receded quickly as he rolled across the field

dizzy from the power that the old man had revealed

he walked through all the fire as if it wasn’t even there

and with a kick, he sent the hero flying through the air

When the hero stood up and recovered from the blow

he saw the old man out of breath and moving rather slow

“you may be much stronger than this ancient retiree

but you’re as poor a fighter as I’m sure I’ll ever see”

The hero was embarrassed by how easily he fell

the old man’s strength was worthy but a simple kind as well

the aura of a man who’d trained his whole life to be strong

it was clear he’d trained his swordsmanship his whole life long

“I guess for a pirate, your technique is rather good

but the way you swing a sword is meant for chopping wood

honestly, I’ve seen no man less suited for the sword

you’re so much a farmer’s child it almost makes me bored”

“You don’t know my destiny, and you don’t know its weight

living by the sword can be my one and only fate

by the king’s own order, you shall teach me how to fight

to be a hero isn’t just my duty, it’s my right”

The hero knew he could have killed the old man with his fire

but learning how to fight heroically was his desire

he knew a hero must be strong, but skilled enough as well

heroes were not known for turning battlefields to hell

The old man would’ve liked to end his tutelage right there

but since the kingdom needed heroes, he’d try to be fair

“you might do more harm than good with magic used like that

I’ll try to make a royal knight out of a farmer’s brat”

Awkwardly, the hero’s education soon began

fighting every day according to his tutor’s plan

though the hero had the strength of fifty men or more

he couldn’t match the skill the former knight still had in store

The hero did progress in time, his master taught him well

and he could train the whole day through with just one healing spell

every day for months the young apprentice only trained

ever grateful for the skills and knowledge he obtained

On one sunny summer day, while sparring in the shade

the king himself came by to check the progress that he’d made

“have I waited long enough for him to learn to fight

will those nosy nobles find his swordsmanship polite”

The young man raised his head and spoke without a moment’s pause

“next time they all see my skills, they’ll greet me with applause”

he swung his sword around to demonstrate the skills he’d honed

but when he saw the demonstration his old master groaned

“Though he’s strong, your highness, he’s not fit for swordsmanship

he’s more suited to a farm or some old pirate ship

any power given him, will only serve his pride

you could only pray that luck would keep him on your side”

The young man just ignored his master’s words and summoned fire

putting on a show before the king, with one grand pyre

“am I not heroic in my strength and in my goal

let me show this kingdom that I’m worthy of this role”

The king and all his escorts cheered and shouted happily

“the hero that we need has come at least, oh finally

our neighbours to the north grow stronger with each passing day

soon I’ll need a hero who can keep those fools away”

Once the scene had quieted the king then turned his gaze

“tell me old man, have you seen such strength in all your days”

the king spoke coldly to the old instructor on his knee

but the man was not intimidated easily

“Yes, I am convinced that he could play the hero’s part

but I promise you, he’ll never have a hero’s heart”

the king was quite displeased to hear the veteran’s report

and scoffed before he threw the old man back a curt retort

“Let’s see how you fair against him then, if you’re so sure

you should have no problem since your own heart is so pure

if you cannot kill him, he will graduate today

let us leave the choice to destiny, is what I say”