The hero’s unit moved toward the front line of the war

but only he could know the kind of life they had in store

the hero’s awkward presence in the unit carried on

and there was little time for conversation come the dawn

The prince had planned to make this trek the army’s last advance

they’d found a new momentum and he wouldn’t miss this chance

but when the day arrived that they would finally proceed

the northern army came upon them like a great stampede

The camp was overwhelmed and there was little time to think

chaos overtook the men before a man could blink

and though the prince’s army wouldn’t be so quick to fall

it was clear the hero’s comrades weren’t prepared at all

The prince had meant for him to be a mentor to his peers

after all, he’d been a citizen of war for years

but now the best that he could do was swing his heavy sword

and struggle against weaklings that he once would have ignored

The warriors he faced were just like any he had known

like thousands he had saved or many more he’d killed alone

and while his unit cried in terror at the bloody sight

to the hero this was just another pointless fight

But there would be no time for talk of peace with enemies

now he lacked the power to control a war with ease

now he was but one of many fighting just to live

there were no mistakes that these invaders would forgive

He recognized their armour and the way they bravely fought

but when the first attack found him, he gave it little thought

his own sword moved to save his life and kill his enemy

and still he couldn’t find a way to set his magic free

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He looked into the eyes of the first warrior he slew

filled with pain and then an emptiness the hero knew

for just a moment as the blood was dripping from his blade

he almost wondered if there were mistakes that he had made

But then his sword was moving once again without delay

and didn’t stop for anyone who dared get in its way

the prince’s knights were quick to mount a vigorous defense

but to the new recruits that battlefield made little sense

They wandered here and there like children while the captain wept

wishing for the war he dreamt of last night as he slept

but even as the madness brought his unit to its knees

a single man was keeping them all safe from harm with ease

Not a trace of hesitation slowed the soldier’s sword

as if the heavy blade was moving of its own accord

embarrassed by the way a single man had saved them all

the captain somehow found the strength draw his sword and call

“Don’t let that old fool do all the work you lazy fools

are those decorations on your belts or are they tools”

the hero couldn’t help but smile at what the captain said

he’d heard such words from many who had quickly wound up dead

He drew his sword out from the neck of on more fallen foe

and turned around to tell the captain where his men should go

acting as their guard, he said while guiding their retreat

“these enemies aren’t something any farmer’s child could beat”

Once regrouped and well equipped the captain raised his voice

“I would have been the first to face them if I had a choice

although that honour went to one as ill mannered as you

perhaps we all might benefit from fighting like that too”

The captain swallowed down his pride and looked toward his men

“what if in the future we were caught off guard again”

the farmers hesitated to respect their newest friend

but favoured higher odds of living longer in the end

And so they followed him as he dove headfirst into war

saying not a word of peace or demons anymore

the man who’d dragged his feet the whole way to that muddy field

made it look like swords were made for him alone to wield

But what surprised his men more than his swordsmanship and skill

was the way he seemed to cheer up more with every kill

“for one so bored of war he sure is giving all he’s got”

“he said he didn’t like killing, but maybe he forgot”

The hero’s eyes were only on the enemies that came

not hidden behind clouds of smoke or lost in endless flame

a simple matter of the sword was all he dealt in now

and he was well aware that it was changing him somehow

Ignoring all the battle cries and songs that filled the air

and watching heroes go ahead of him, he didn’t care

he felt invisible to the whole world, as if he’d died

but even without magic he felt fate was on his side

“Come here, any warrior still brave enough to die

I fear no man’s sword and I would love to show you why”

he let loose such a battle cry, a smile upon his face

excited just to fight, regardless of the army’s race

His was just a single battle on those bloody plains

and his was blood like any that flowed through a soldier’s veins

but there was one who noticed what no other man could know

the prince looked with concern at his old friend, the first hero

~