Despite her grace, he cursed himself for leaving them behind
but hearing her goodbye, he knew that fate could still be kind
at peace she left the world behind, and swore they’d meet again
he promised he would follow soon, although he knew not when
He felt the weight of loss but now he had to let her go
maybe in another life they’d meet and then he’d know
but in this life no longer would he rest before he died
the peace he’d known was fleeting, but at least she knew he tried
He took her words to heart and promised he would not be long
he’d find the reason fate had made a broken man so strong
but now, of those who’d known him since before he ran away
there could only be a single one alive today
He left the mercenaries, heading north into the wild
passing through the forests that his war had once defiled
but all the battle scars had healed soon after his defeat
nature had erased the past beneath his heavy feet
Ashamed of how he’d long romanticised a life of war
he vowed he wouldn’t lead a life of conflict anymore
he walked along the mountain trails in silence like a ghost
resolution found in thoughts of those he loved the most
Lost in his own thoughts, the man was slow to realise
the eerie chill that filled the air, the colour of the skies
he hadn’t even noticed in the green, unpleasant haze
not a single monster had appeared in many days
The poison in the air would quickly kill a normal man
but his own healing cured his sickness before it began
now he looked around and knew that something there was wrong
no guardian would let this problem go on for so long
Searching for the source of the miasma in the air
he noticed that he didn’t see dead bodies anywhere
no animal or monster corpses, not a single bone
just a poison mist that stuck to ever tree and stone
He wondered if he’d ever see a living thing again
he’d never seen such desolation anywhere or when
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but in the midst of such despair, a moment quick and brief
he found the woods engulfed in flames that burned with no relief
With ice he kept himself from harm and headed to the source
fires like these belonged to just one overwhelming force
and so he found his oldest living enemy and friend
a dragon locked in combat with an army without end
An army made of demons, monsters, humans, beasts, and all
which even in the dragon’s fire would never seemed to fall
they fought the dragon mindlessly, the battle was surreal
fighting in the heat of fires they couldn’t even feel
But even more surprising than the way that army fought
was how the dragon struggled, looking helpless and distraught
more than most, the hero knew the dragon’s awesome might
and how it ruled the lands in peace in spirit and in flight
With his staff the elder pilgrim summoned ice and snow
slowing their attack and making icy spears to throw
every ghastly beast he tore apart was hard to kill
they fought as if they felt no pain with one collective will
Chaos then unfolded as the pilgrim joined the fight
thousands of those corpse-like beings were a horrid sight
the dragon’s fire and mage’s ice combined in one attack
until together finally they pushed the army back
Suddenly the dragon turned in panic and in fear
and sent his flames toward the mage before the air was clear
the mage had been defeated by the dragon twice before
but now the dragon’s fire could barely reach him anymore
With his icy spells he overcame the mythic beast
binding it with icy chains until its flailing ceased
the weary dragon looked upon the mage with vengeful eyes
but when he looked more closely he was frozen by surprise
“You’re the little human boy who told me I should leave
for all the lives your wars would cost, the world will always grieve
but now there’s something different when I look into your soul
why do you hold powers that no human could control”
“I’m here to find an answer to the question of my fate
if there’s a purpose left for me, I hope I’m not too late
several times the fairies gave me luck and guided me
but in their words the fated path is still too hard to see”
The dragon pondered long and hard upon the mage’s tale
the mage released his bindings as if lifting up a veil
he even healed the dragon’s broken bones and bloody wings
confirming that his power now surpassed the king of kings’
“Little human, wielding strength beyond the realm of man
more than once, a guest of fairies in your short lifespan
fate has taken hold of you, though why we cannot know
but fairies have been messengers of fate since long ago
The lands which I have guarded all my life have now been cursed
I thought it strange but after meeting you, I fear the worst
fate is moving quickly and I cannot match its pace
you must be the one to keep the balance in my place
This curse is from the north beyond the lands I’m bound to guard
my duty to this forest isn’t one I can discard
go and face the evil that has risen and beware
the forces that befall this time and place are truly rare”
The dragon was about to leave when suddenly he turned
turning once again to see that man he would have burned
“I’ve known many heroes who find strength within their cause
and many evil mages have escaped my ancient claws
But what they had in common was a knowledge in one’s self
from the cruellest wizard to the kindest forest elf
none who reached the pinnacle of strength had any doubt
they all fought their battles with an honest heart throughout
If this world should come to place its fate in your hands now
you must come to terms with who you really are somehow
whether you’re a hero or some tortured, evil soul
you will fight and lose this war unless your heart is whole”
~