In the weeks that followed, there was chaos everywhere

　　all around the castle, gossip filled the awkward air

　　a little house was granted to the hero and his wife

　　but this was not this start of such an easygoing life

　　Every day the hero suffered greatly at a school

　　learning proper etiquette and every law and rule

　　while he trained, the elf became accustomed to the land

　　there were many things it took her time to understand

　　After he was well accustomed to the castle ground

　　the hero took some time to take a walk and look around

　　he was rather pleased with what he saw on this recess

　　no matter where he looked, there was no trace of a princess

　　The king, as promised, sent for an instructor for the man

　　to help him fight more like a knight, at least that was the plan

　　the hero met his tutor near the castle in a field

　　carrying some wooden swords and one great wooden shield

　　"So you`re the reason that old king came knocking at my door

　　here I thought the kingdom didn`t need me anymore"

　　he threw a sword and shield toward the hero and he frowned

　　then took a stance and dug both of his feet into the ground

　　The hero picked the wooden tools up, then he shook his head

　　"if you fight me you`ll more likely end up hurt or dead

　　do you know some magic, or do you just fight with wood"

　　the young man`s arrogance was clear and quickly understood

　　The older man before him smiled and threw his sword away

　　"come on then, if you can talk like that, then let us play"

　　the hero dropped his shield and then without another word

　　flew toward the old man like a young and hungry bird

　　He meant to end the fight with haste as gently as he could

　　killing some old man would hardly do him any good

　　he swung the wooden sword to sweep the old man off his feet

　　and then abruptly found it was his own complete defeat

　　Somehow the old man had moved behind the hero`s sword

　　and with a gentle push the mighty warrior was floored

　　"you`re as fast as you are strong but dumber than a log

　　it`d be more difficult to hit a sitting frog"

　　The hero noticed then, the old man didn`t need a blade

　　just a fraction of the old man`s power was displayed

　　an aura had surrounded him, that felt as hard as steelIf you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

　　the hero couldn`t fathom how such energy would feel

　　He summoned fire as quickly as he stood up from the ground

　　once again he charged the man as sparks swirled all around

　　a flaming sword extended from the flailing hero`s hand

　　the flames that now surrounded them continued to expand

　　The old instructor`s eyes were wide with shock for what he saw

　　but once again he braced himself without a sword to draw

　　and when the hero brought his flames upon the old man`s head

　　he found himself upon a pile of burning grass instead

　　The fires receded quickly as he rolled across the field

　　dizzy from the power that the old man had revealed

　　he walked through all the fire as if it wasn`t even there

　　and with a kick, he sent the hero flying through the air

　　When the hero stood up and recovered from the blow

　　he saw the old man out of breath and moving rather slow

　　"you may be much stronger than this ancient retiree

　　but you`re as poor a fighter as I`m sure I`ll ever see"

　　The hero was embarrassed by how easily he fell

　　the old man`s strength was worthy but a simple kind as well

　　the aura of a man who`d trained his whole life to be strong

　　it was clear he`d trained his swordsmanship his whole life long

　　"I guess for a pirate, your technique is rather good

　　but the way you swing a sword is meant for chopping wood

　　honestly, I`ve seen no man less suited for the sword

　　you`re so much a farmer`s child it almost makes me bored"

　　"You don`t know my destiny, and you don`t know its weight

　　living by the sword can be my one and only fate

　　by the king`s own order, you shall teach me how to fight

　　to be a hero isn`t just my duty, it`s my right"

　　The hero knew he could have killed the old man with his fire

　　but learning how to fight heroically was his desire

　　he knew a hero must be strong, but skilled enough as well

　　heroes were not known for turning battlefields to hell

　　The old man would`ve liked to end his tutelage right there

　　but since the kingdom needed heroes, he`d try to be fair

　　"you might do more harm than good with magic used like that

　　I`ll try to make a royal knight out of a farmer`s brat"

　　Awkwardly, the hero`s education soon began

　　fighting every day according to his tutor`s plan

　　though the hero had the strength of fifty men or more

　　he couldn`t match the skill the former knight still had in store

　　The hero did progress in time, his master taught him well

　　and he could train the whole day through with just one healing spell

　　every day for months the young apprentice only trained

　　ever grateful for the skills and knowledge he obtained

　　On one sunny summer day, while sparring in the shade

　　the king himself came by to check the progress that he`d made

　　"have I waited long enough for him to learn to fight

　　will those nosy nobles find his swordsmanship polite"

　　The young man raised his head and spoke without a moment`s pause

　　"next time they all see my skills, they`ll greet me with applause"

　　he swung his sword around to demonstrate the skills he`d honed

　　but when he saw the demonstration his old master groaned

　　"Though he`s strong, your highness, he`s not fit for swordsmanship

　　he`s more suited to a farm or some old pirate ship

　　any power given him, will only serve his pride

　　you could only pray that luck would keep him on your side"

　　The young man just ignored his master`s words and summoned fire

　　putting on a show before the king, with one grand pyre

　　"am I not heroic in my strength and in my goal

　　let me show this kingdom that I`m worthy of this role"

　　The king and all his escorts cheered and shouted happily

　　"the hero that we need has come at least, oh finally

　　our neighbours to the north grow stronger with each passing day

　　soon I`ll need a hero who can keep those fools away"

　　Once the scene had quieted the king then turned his gaze

　　"tell me old man, have you seen such strength in all your days"

　　the king spoke coldly to the old instructor on his knee

　　but the man was not intimidated easily

　　"Yes, I am convinced that he could play the hero`s part

　　but I promise you, he`ll never have a hero`s heart"

　　the king was quite displeased to hear the veteran`s report

　　and scoffed before he threw the old man back a curt retort

　　"Let`s see how you fair against him then, if you`re so sure

　　you should have no problem since your own heart is so pure

　　if you cannot kill him, he will graduate today

　　let us leave the choice to destiny, is what I say"