The epic tale of heroes changed the village overnight

　　boys were filled with courage and their mothers filled with fright

　　dreams of leaving home to be a hero filled the air

　　spreading like a fire before the elder was aware

　　The merchant soon departed, but his stories all remained

　　the passion of the village children couldn`t be restrained

　　at first the elder hoped that they would soon forget the tales

　　but soon he recognized a wind that once had caught his sails

　　All at once the village filled with children playing war

　　caring not for life within the village anymore

　　the healer asked his oldest friend, the girl that once he saved

　　to help the children disregard the war they now all craved

　　"Elder, weren`t you once a knight who fought in many wars

　　aren`t these children free to make decisions just like yours

　　maybe you were injured or were on the losing side

　　but just like you our children are entitled to their pride"

　　She knew a little of his life, from stories he once told

　　happy tales of when he was a knight in times of old

　　but now he wanted desperately to finally forget

　　every battle that he`d fought and every foe he`d met

　　"Listen to me silly girl, and all you foolish boys

　　war is not a children`s game, and swords are not like toys

　　right here in this village is where all of you belong

　　let your heroes live forever in a joyful song"

　　Even his adopted daughter couldn`t understand

　　"you`re just a senile hypocrite, who`s grown too old and bland"

　　the elder felt his heart ache more with every day that passed

　　and when the first child left he knew they wouldn`t be the last

　　Stolen novel; please report.

　　Parents couldn`t keep their children working in the field

　　dreaming wasn`t something like an illness to be healed

　　stories burned in almost every young one`s little heart

　　some day soon, the elder feared his home would fall apart

　　He wandered through the town one day where all the children played

　　older children talking of the plans that they had made

　　he`d always fought the children with a wooden sword for fun

　　but this time when they challenged him, he felt the game was done

　　One young man had already prepared himself for war

　　in his eyes, no playfulness was present anymore

　　a sword a merchant sold him was no firmly in his hand

　　he stood before the elder and explained what he had planned

　　"Old man, you have always been a master of the sword

　　today I`ll win and have you honour the promised reward

　　once defeated, you will tell me how you learned to fight

　　then I`ll leave this boring village come the dawn`s first light"

　　The young man didn`t wait for a reply and soon attacked

　　few expected such an old man could even react

　　but what came next was hard for anyone to understand

　　the metal sword was melting in the village elder`s hand

　　the young man dropped the sword as it began to melt away

　　none who looked upon the scene could find a word to say

　　the elder wiped the molten metal from his glowing hand

　　and looked with pity at the man who could no longer stand

　　"Throw away these weapons and enjoy the life you live

　　there`s nothing you can gain from war, but everything to give

　　glory doesn`t wait for you beyond the battlefield

　　nowhere in a bloody war is happiness concealed"

　　Children laughed and gathered round to hear what he would say

　　he looked around at all their smiles and wished that they would stay

　　"come on elder, tell us more of battlefields and war

　　why should we be scared of something we`ve been training for"

　　Soon their parents joined them when they heard about the fight

　　wondering about the source of such an eerie light

　　but when they saw the elder using fire to melt a sword

　　some felt a twinge of fear toward the elder they adored

　　He wanted them to listen to his order not to leave

　　but knew without a reason that they`d all remain na飗e

　　he took a breath and looked toward the cloudy sky and sighed

　　"I`ll tell you how much suffering can come from stupid pride

　　A crowd of young and old alike had gathered in the square

　　the elder stood beneath the very tree he`d planted there

　　he looked around at all their faces, innocent and kind

　　the thought of them at battle weighing heavy his mind

　　"You know nothing of the world you`re desperate now to see

　　but everything you`ll ever wish you had is here and free

　　you think I`m just an old man, scared you might run off and die

　　but better that than live to kill and never question why

　　Children, you all needn`t worry for your final breath

　　waiting for you all are many fates much worse than death"

　　suddenly the air around the old man became cold

　　but he alone was glowing like the flames that he controlled

　　Maybe you expect adventure blessed by luck and fate

　　you`ll miss a chance to be a hero if you leave too late

　　but no one in this wide world has been luckier than I

　　I`ll tell you what it means to be so lucky not to die"

　　~