There was a little village once afflicted by despair

now a town so full of life that magic filled the air

fields that once were barren now were bountiful each year

children laughed and played where once a town had lived in fear

The village elder lived alone a little far from town

but when an invitation came he never turned it down

he shied away from wine but loved to watch the children play

and everybody loved to hear the wild things he would say

He told them of the village where his family is from

confessing that never was a boy so troublesome

he told them of his father, who had talent in the field

and mastered every farm tool that he had a chance to wield

He told them of his mother, who had filled him up with love

whose bread was so delicious, like a blessing from above

he laughed about his brothers, who were still doing his chores

hoy lucky they were to be free of hunger, drought, and wars

The more he spoke about his place of birth to his new peers

the more he noticed how little he’d thought of it in years

memories of all he’d run away from as a boy

present in his new life, and the things he would enjoy

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But now was not the time to linger too long on the past

he was busy now, where winter snows came just as fast

and with a shadow watching him, he’d never soon forget

the path he’d taken from his home resounded with regret

And so he turned his eyes toward the joy in front of him

a place where he could work or play depending on his whim

a little realm where he was loved by all and feared by none

a kingdom where no war or hunger threatened anyone

What better way to spend his time, however much he had

“to be a hero to so few, it’s really not so bad”

and with his healing powers getting stronger every day

he may be able to spend many more years in this way

The population grew and soon new roads and bridges came

their passion for expansion spread just like an open flame

the elder’s knowledge of the land from when he was a child

helped to carve an endless fertile field out of the wild

The little girl who once appeared upon a hermit’s path

now taught children swordsmanship, some magic spells, and math

the elder laughed while fighting boys and girls with wooden swords

and never once was beaten though they came at him in hordes

They would sometimes ask him where he learned to fight so well

he’d laugh and say that only if they beat him would he tell

and so he passed these happy days in good health and good cheer

until the rainy day some chilling news fell on his ear

A traveller had not appeared in town for many years

but wind of their prosperity had caught a merchant’s’ ears

and so one day a brave young merchant came to town to trade

to spread his name and see if there were profits to be made

The merchant found some interest in the foreign wares he sold

but what they wanted most were all the stories that he told

he’d travelled from a land beyond the mountains near the sea

and knew of many battles and an empire’s history

“Let me tell you all about the places that I’ve been

the stories that I’ve heard and all the wonders that I’ve seen

a world of war and magic, of betrayal and deceit

of demon lords and heroes, and the old empire’s defeat"

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