The first towns that he passed through were excited by his quest

they welcomed him with luxuries, and only served the best

the ever gracious hero wouldn’t tire of all his fame

but he was never unaware that there was more to claim

One day once he’d travelled farther north than he had been

he came across a village that he didn’t think he’d seen

it made him think about his friends from when he was a lad

would they recognize him now since all the fun he’d had

Since he’d left the capital a month ago or more

he hadn’t met someone who hadn’t heard of him before

perhaps, he thought, he’d get a little peace and quiet here

he’d almost grown a little tired of endless wine and beer

He found an inn that looked as nice and warm as it could be

he’d pass the night in quiet comfort, with a cup of tea

but when he opened up the door, walked in, and said hello

he found a dozen faces staring at him white as snow

“Run away and take the children, leave your gold behind”

the hero watched in horror as the village lost its mind

everyone who saw the hero standing by the road

screamed and ran in panic from the town and never slowed

The hero in confusion grabbed a young man by the arm

and asked him why the town believed he’d come to do them harm

but all the man could do was cry and then just faint in fear

he thought that it might suit him best to quickly disappear

On his way to leave, he heard the sound of weathered steel

a man in rusty armour, came before him just to kneel

“please just take the food and gold and leave the young alive

we thought that we had nothing left, but let my child survive”

“Answer me you rusty knight, what evil have I done

how come when they see my face they quickly turn and run”

the man in rusty armour slowly raised his head cried

resolving to distract the man while others tried to hide

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“I’ve never seen your face, but we all know your armour well

it’s the last thing many see upon the road to hell

and judging by the crest upon your shoulder you’re a knight

here to spread the terror of the empire out of spite”

Confused and overwhelmed to be the source of their despair

he couldn’t find a single word to clear the heavy air

he silently continued down the road and didn’t try

the hero didn’t need to understand the reason why

Now was not the time to deal in politics and blame

if anybody doubted him, his deeds would clear his name

his emperor has guaranteed a fight of epic scale

and as a hero, all he had to do was never fail

He marched along the lonesome road and more than once a day

ignored the ones who screamed in fear and quickly ran away

“maybe in the countryside they aren’t too well informed

surely once I’ve spread my fame, their feelings will have warmed”

The empire was a righteous place where no one lived in fear

he himself had fought to keep the peace which it held dear

still he thought to use a cloak to hide the empire’s crest

avoiding such misunderstandings might be for the best

He quietly collected information as he went

claiming he was just a hunter that the guild had sent

but at the very last town at the edge of the frontier

he finally found just the rumour he had longed to hear

Though it was a town it was a poor and wretched place

more a den of hunters than residential space

tents and wooden huts that housed the grizzly and the strong

warning of the monsters that he’d face before too long

A kind old lady found him curious and said hello

he thought he’d ask her for a tale before he had to go

“you don’t seem the type to go inspecting for a guild

but it wouldn’t be the strangest thing that they have willed”

She seemed to be an elder of the hunters’ tattered town

and brought the hero to a campfire where they could sit down

“since I was a young girl hunting monsters, I’ve lived here

sure I’ll tell a story if you’ve time to lend an ear”

Several hunters gathered round to hear the lady speak

the hero noticed when she spoke that she was far from weak

a hunter in her own right, and respected by her peers

the hero understood that she’d been hunting many years

“It is not my business why you’re here, but you should know

things are not so easy in the place you plan to go

the kingdoms to the south have long been wary of these lands

fearing what awaits them where the tallest mountain stands

The monsters rarely venture south but those who do are strong

and we take care send the creatures back where they belong

but take my words, you do not want to meet the monsters’ king

whatever it is, it’s the one controlling everything

Some say it’s a mighty giant from the great beyond

I say it’s the dragon of which legends are so fond

only such a beast could rule so many monsters’ hearts

no human could compare to it with any magic arts”

The lady warned the hero of the legendary beast

but as he listened his enthusiasm just increased

the hunter was surprised that he would still continue on

and when he said he’d hunt the king, she thought his mind had gone

“You’re better off reporting to the guild that things are fine

the balance is protected here by hunting tribes like mine”

excited to have heard that such a monster could be found

he carried on the sacred quest to which his heart was bound

Following the rumours he’d collected on the way

he sought the tallest mountain whereupon he’d find his prey

and when he found whatever creature ruled the monsters there

then he’d know he was the strongest hero anywhere