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 returnThe author`s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

　　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