The first night on the road, the pilgrim`s eyes were full of glee

　　he`d left a lovely message where his mother soon would see

　　"I`ll be back a hero soon, so fear not for your son

　　give my brothers all my chores until my journey`s done"

　　No longer would he sleep where he had slept since he was born

　　dreaming so much of adventure, all his dreams were worn

　　they`d surely understand that there`s a bigger world for him

　　for pilgrims to be happy, then their journeys must begin

　　"Father, you`ll hear stories of the battles I have won

　　you`ll be the proudest father of the world`s most famous son

　　the only thing that you`ll regret is that it took so long

　　but now I`m on my way to prove that all of you were wrong"

　　Through the night he hopped along while looking straight ahead

　　and as he travelled further west he never missed his bed

　　and when the morning sun arose to warm his tired back

　　it cast his shadow forward and it kept him right on track

　　His home was far behind him when the second night had come

　　over the horizon in the place he started from

　　he rested by the road beneath the stars and made a fire

　　and as he slept he dreamt of all the wealth he would acquire

　　"Father, I`ll become so rich, before you grow too old

　　and I`ll return again in time with wagons full of gold

　　every piece of treasure that I win I`ll show to you

　　sit right back and watch me show the world what I can do"

　　And so the pilgrim marched along the road with spirits high

　　he`d walked for seven joyful days beneath a clear sky

　　his eyes were wide as he admired a world he`d never seen

　　mountains taller, rivers wider, forests deeper green

　　And when he took the final bite of bread that he had packed

　　his hunger followed shortly, but the boy was quick to act

　　he came upon a shallow stream, that overflowed with fish

　　he laughed at just how quickly nature answered every wish

　　The fruits upon the trees along the path were always plenty

　　for every apple he desired, a tree would give him twenty

　　and finally when winter came to hide the land with snow

　　he happily continued while the winds began to blow

　　Lucky as he was that when the snow had just begun

　　he noticed fires starting in the distance one by one

　　the pilgrim felt the cold air setting in but didn`t mind

　　he walked into a quiet town and wondered what he`d find

　　Pilgrim you have travelled quite a distance from your home

　　it`s hard for us to understand the reason why you roam

　　but we`re as proud as any of our hospitality

　　so stay with us a while and we`ll enjoy a pot of tea

　　A simple village made of houses not unlike his own

　　a few perhaps a little grander, made of brick and stone

　　while he introduced himself, a young girl passed him by

　　some children playing, chuckled when they saw she`d caught his eyeStolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

　　The village all was curious and welcomed him to stay

　　he told them of the wondrous things he`d seen along the way

　　he told them stories, mostly true, of wild beasts he`d slain

　　and how he travelled bravely on through thunderstorms and rain

　　"Since I left my home I`ve had no help from anyone

　　other men might fear a storm, but I`ve been having fun

　　this is just a prelude to the hero that I`ll be

　　soon I`ll show the world that there has been no man like me"

　　He told them endless stories he`d heard other people tell

　　and even though they`d heard them all, they still enjoyed them well

　　they spoke into the night then showed the pilgrim to a bed

　　and when the sun arose the pilgrim once again was fed

　　"Little pilgrim please be well and safe along your way

　　be sure and come again to tell your stories here one day

　　whatever you are searching for, we hope you find it soon

　　and any song that`s sung of you, will be a happy tune"

　　As the pilgrim set out, his new friends all gave a cheer

　　one girl kissed him on the cheek and whispered in his ear

　　he stopped for just a moment but he knew he couldn`t stay

　　the pilgrim waved and told her they might meet again one day

　　"Pilgrim will you really do so many wondrous things

　　I`d be happy by your side no matter what fate brings"

　　but pilgrims on a journey stop for nothing but a rest

　　so any promise made may just as well be made in jest

　　The pilgrim carried on, with food and confidence to spare

　　adventure lay ahead and he would rush to meet it there

　　and when he`d finally conquered every enemy in stride

　　he`d return with gold in store and take a lovely bride

　　A little farther on he came upon another town

　　but something in the air replaced his smile with a frown

　　he wandered through the quiet streets until he found an inn

　　he knocked and entered slowly but no fire was lit within

　　He`d never been inside a place so dismal and so grim

　　the smell of dust and silence took the warmth right out of him

　　he almost didn`t notice there, a man with weary eyes

　　whose cold and lifeless greeting took the pilgrim by surprise

　　"Why you`ve come here, I don`t know, but leave before the night

　　there`s no wood to burn or food to sate your appetite

　　drought and famine long since drove our children from this place

　　you`ll find nothing warmer here than my old dying face"

　　The pilgrim wasn`t scared because a hero would be brave

　　he only ran away from there, for there were none to save

　　the ghostly image of the elder`s grey and withered face

　　would leave his mind when he was far enough from that old place

　　"I`ll never be as helpless as that tired, silly man

　　poverty`s a punishment for fools without a plan"

　　the pilgrim reassured himself that he had no such fate

　　no trials, quests, or challenges would leave him in that state

　　The longest night of winter came and passed without a fight

　　the pilgrim spent his evenings by a campfire burning bright

　　his stores of fruit had long since given way to hunted game

　　he`d never tasted better meat prepared on open flame

　　Around the end of winter, then he happened for to meet

　　a merchant riding west to sell his wares upon the street

　　speaking of a paradise for those with gold to spend

　　where adventures start and treasure hunts are known to end

　　The merchant wasn`t young but both his eyes were sharp and blue

　　the boy explained his journey, and he asked if it was true

　　that if he travelled far enough, adventure could be found

　　somewhere to fulfil the quest, to which he had been bound

　　The merchant was impressed despite the boy`s naivete

　　he`d come so far relying on his luck along the way

　　"Just like you, I left my home to chase a dream of wealth

　　with luck and friends, I find myself in riches and good health

　　I`m rich enough to spend my free time riding to and fro

　　seeking out the treasures that I dreamt of long ago

　　follow my tracks south and you`ll be happy that you did

　　and if you come upon my auction, kindly place a bid"

　　The pilgrim listened eagerly to every word he said

　　luck and friends aside, he wanted battlefields instead

　　"tell me is there somewhere in that city I can fight

　　can I battle demons there, and show the world my might"

　　"Pilgrim, in that city sitting quietly by the sea

　　you can buy a dream come true for quite the modest fee

　　just be sure you have some luck when you walk through the gate

　　misfortune comes to any fool who notices too late"

　　South the pilgrim ventured, as the merchant did advise

　　visions of a sprawling city burning in his eyes

　　he`d earn his way and soon afford the best that gold can buy

　　a legendary sword with which he`d pierce the very sky

　　As he walked he looked in awe at field after field

　　so vast he couldn`t possibly imagine what they`d yield

　　"could this all be meant to meet a single city`s needs

　　a man could spend a hundred years keeping back the weeds"

　　When cobblestone replaced the dirt beneath his tired feet

　　and wooden fences turned to walls of brick along the street

　　the pilgrim in his fourteenth spring came over one small hill

　　to find a sight so grand in scale it nearly made him ill

　　Just an hours` walk ahead he saw a wall of stone

　　taller than the tallest tree the woods had ever grown

　　built around a city full of buildings big and tall

　　near a port so full of ships he couldn`t count them all

　　He hoped to find some work before he found a place to sleep

　　not expecting anything worth having would be cheap

　　his father always told him to work hard or else be smart

　　this would be the very day his quest would truly start