It had been at least a week since last the hero slept

　　but he was getting closer now to where those shadows crept

　　he`d find their source and do away with them once and for all

　　never more to see their smiles or hear their eerie call

　　And finally, like music to his ears, he heard a cry

　　the welcome sound of some great battle echoing nearby

　　"over that great hill is where the evil things appeared

　　there`s no enemy in all our history more feared"

　　The young boy hid behind the hero when he heard the sound

　　both could feel the battle through the shaking of the ground

　　all of the horizon was a cloud of dust and smoke

　　his voice full of excitement one again the hero spoke

　　"Don`t stray far from me lad, you`ll be safe behind my sword

　　you`ve helped me out, so I`ll teach you to fight as a reward"

　　he smiled and placed his shaking hand upon the boy`s small back

　　and on they went to find some evil monsters to attack

　　The hero seemed to know where he was going suddenly

　　the layout of the battlefield was plain for him to see

　　the front line was still distant as he met the army`s rear

　　where thousands of young soldiers dwelled in injury and fear

　　He quickly took a blanket from a nearby empty bed

　　and wore it for a cloak, pulling it well over his head

　　he brought the boy with him and few eyes fell on him for long

　　passing through an army to which he did not belong

　　He couldn`t see their faces well through all the smoke and dust

　　but felt like he was home when he could smell the blood and rust

　　the injured lay upon the ground like barely living graves

　　and in the wind the smell of death came rolling by in waves

　　He came upon a tent which seemed much larger than the rest

　　the kind where generals conspired, the kind which he knew best

　　the guards in heavy armour just outside the tent were strong

　　but when they tried to stop him, they were sleeping before long

　　He took the boy inside and with his face still hidden well

　　he saw the generals and his enthusiasm fell

　　he hadn`t thought of what races he might encounter there

　　but when he saw both elves and demons, tension filled the airThis story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

　　A dozen leaders dressed in armour grandiose but worn

　　looked upon the sudden uninvited guest with scorn

　　confused at why the elves would be in demons` company

　　the hero thought it would be best to burn them all quickly

　　He started to prepare the magic needed for the flame

　　ready to fulfill the fated task for which he came

　　but suddenly a cry rang out that startled everyone

　　"what on earth could you be doing here my foolish son"

　　A man with golden eyes stood up and ran toward the child

　　and for the first time in a very long time, the boy smiled

　　"you should be at home, it isn`t safe for children here

　　the evil undead armies grow in number by the year"

　　The boy looked at his father and his smile began to fade

　　recalling life before the sudden journey he had made

　　"there`s no one left at home, the poison came for everyone

　　no one even had a chance to heal themselves or run"

　　Everyone fell silent in the tent, the hero too

　　their sadness and frustration was a feeling that he knew

　　"I passed through many towns to reach the city where you`re from

　　I saw no living person, so a poison must have come"

　　The hero felt the evil was the same as he had fought

　　but still he hadn`t found the information which he sought

　　"I understand your tribes have been afflicted by a curse

　　tell me of its source before the war grows any worse"

　　More and more the hero wanted just to quickly leave

　　the elves` and demons` unity was painful to believe

　　but politics had never been his passion or his skill

　　and such a feeble army wasn`t worth the time to kill

　　"How can you not know of the great evil which we fight

　　no one in these lands is unaffected by the blight"

　　a man whose face was hidden under thick and beastly fur

　　threw his cold suspicion at the sudden intruder

　　"I didn`t come here just to speak with demons of this sort

　　someone tell me quickly, or is time not running short"

　　he forced himself to hide his instinct to kill such a beast

　　he could deal with demons once the greater threat had ceased

　　"You dare call me demon, are you sick or just plain dumb

　　where could one as blind and ignorant as you be from"

　　the others in the tent who had been mourning silently

　　started looking at the hero more suspiciously

　　"Why do you not show your face, and what`s the boy to you

　　you seem almost human, but that surely isn`t true"

　　the hero`s patience starting waning as the air grew hot

　　but then he was distracted by the young boy that he`d caught

　　"Please just tell him where the monsters are and he will go

　　he was blessed by fairies and that`s all you need to know"

　　the boy approached the hero and though still his eyes held fear

　　he was sure no greater chance at help would soon appear

　　At first the leaders thought the tale was to absurd to heed

　　but when they looked more closely at the hero they agreed

　　it was clear the magic he possessed was truly great

　　something which could only be bestowed on one by fate

　　"It`s true that while our southern neighbours battle humankind

　　help repelling evil here is growing hard to find

　　if your fate has brought you here to aid us in our war

　　all that we can ask of you is help, and nothing more"

　　The father spoke while looking at his son with teary eyes

　　"fate is often hidden from us, but it never lies

　　I will tell you what we know about this evil scourge

　　and dare to hope that through your presence hope will soon emerge"

　　"I care not for your talk of fate, my journey is my own

　　whatever business demons tend to, it is yours alone

　　tell me what you know about the shadows and their lord

　　and do not think to stand between those shadows and my sword"

　　Even as he spoke he felt their presence somewhere near

　　he`d work with demons if he could escape that ghastly leer

　　at that very moment as the tent was dimly lit

　　the sleepless hero`s hands were shaking more than he`d admit

　　"To know those shadows, you must be quite powerful but cursed

　　and if you`ve seen them more than once, than you may be the first

　　while fairies are the hands of fate which guides our every breath

　　shadows are the agents of the twisted hand of death"

　　~