He could not recall the last time trees had seemed so high

the hero had forgotten that he couldn’t touch the sky

the world around him seemed to be much bigger than before

he quickly realized he wasn’t fearless anymore

The courage he had lost when he became too strong to fail

which long had kept him fighting under any flag or sail

now seemed like a distant dream that he could not recall

a host of dangers lurked and he was threatened by them all

When had he last felt so far from home in all his life

and did the cold of night always feel sharper than a knife

as a child he didn’t fear the creatures of the night

but now he slept uneasily beside a campfire’s light

The hero wandered through the foreign land and ventured south

but he could only sigh, no song would leave the hero’s mouth

he moved as slow as any soldier, tiring every day

stopping often for a rest and food along the way

He could no longer feel the magic flowing through the air

no matter how he tried he felt no power anywhere

sparks were all that he could summon with his shaking hand

he had almost no strength left and couldn’t understand

“I must have been cursed for spending too long in this place

this is would I get for working with that northern race”

maybe once he’d gone back home his powers would return

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then he’d once more have control of all the fires that burn

It took him many months to make the journey through the hills

in his youth it would have been a journey filled with thrills

but now the game he hunted was just keeping him alive

everything he did he was in the hope that he’d survive

But now he couldn’t charge ahead with careless disregard

any beast was strong enough to keep him on his guard

it frustrated him endlessly to face a wolf or bear

and not be able to kill it in moments, then and there

Cautiously avoiding every monster every day

relying on a sword of steel he found along the way

the rusted blade felt heavier with every desperate swing

but even at his weakest he would conquer everything

He threw away his heavy armour, when winter began

now it only acted as a hindrance when he ran

it felt so strange to face his own mortality once more

never had these woods felt so formidable before

Since his first day on the road so many years ago

he’d known that if his will was strong, then fate what make it so

though the nights were dark and his own heart was growing cold

he was still a hero and his deeds were still as bold

This pilgrimage was just a detour on the hero’s path

still the day would come when all his foes would face his wrath

his emperor would welcome him with songs just as before

and he would see the empire to the end of this long war

He even dared to smile one night while cooking up some fish

“that drunken prince was keen to lead, well now he’s got his wish

I’m sure he’ll be fine, I taught him well enough back then

as long as he’s still sober, he’ll see victory again”

His optimism was returning when the next spring came

and he was relieved to find the world was still the same

he found the empire’s border and the hunters’ den was there

though all he found residing there was one big hungry bear

He ran away, toward the battlefield still calling him

he didn’t have the time to fight such creatures on a whim

as he had expected, when he’d reached the southern plains

the northern army now resided in the towns’ remains

Under cover of the night, as quiet as a mouse

he dared to peak in through the window of a weathered house

confirming that the enemy was there he thought to fight

but still none of his magic would flow through him on that night

And so he used his knowledge of the area to hide

moving in the shadows putting battlefields aside

first he’d reach the empire, then he’d lift this awkward curse

then he’d make an epic of his ballad’s final verse