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

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”

~