Once the man with golden eyes had spoken, it was set

he’d risk his life together the man that he’d just met

the hero was suspicious but content with what he’d learned

and with the matter settled their war meeting was adjourned

The father left his son behind, protected by his friend

he’d see his mother once again before the battle’s end

the hero wasn’t quick to let the young lad leave his side

but understood the father’s will was not to be denied

He’d reunite with his own sons before much time had passed

then he’d be the mentor to a new hero at last

he said goodbye and that he’d soon be back with tales to tell

the boy was scared but found the strength to wish the hero well

The hero and his escort then set off on their new quest

to give the hero a fair chance to do what he does best

they passed through all the smoke and dust where sick and dying lay

until the sound of pain and steel were not so far away

Through the smoke the hero couldn’t see the army’s size

but by the sound its number came to him as a surprise

“how many of your kind are currently at war right now

how did you all come to be so common anyhow”

They passed by several camps as the approached the battle front

the hero thought of all the demon’s he’d soon have to hunt

each camp held a massive force to match the empire’s own

the thought of them attacking his home chilled him to the bone

“I guess you’re not from any northern family I know

but you’ll find cities like my own no matter where you go

something I must ask you though before we join the fray

I feel the magic of my home in you in some strange way”

The hero was reluctant to discuss his family

but trusted that the man would guide him onward faithfully

“my wife and sons are from a line of elves not unlike you

but as I understand it those with golden eyes are few”

The elf grew silent for a while with somber distant eyes

“the things you say are too fantastical to not be lies

my wife and I were all that made it out of their alive

the humans who attacked left not a single soul alive”

He cast a small illusion just before them as they walked

drawing up an image of his village as they talked

“yes, I’ve seen this place before, it’s where my wife is from

closer to the demon lands than one would hope to come”

When the hero said her name, the man suddenly cried

“if I couldn’t feel her magic, I would swear you lied

knowing that another from our clan survives somewhere

makes me feel a better fate may be my son’s to share”

The hero waved his hands at the illusion of the man

and tried to change the subject to the nature of their plan

“I heard it said that what you fight is not a normal foe

tell me more about them, tell me everything you know”

The man dispelled the vision and he dried his joyful tears

elated by the first good news he’d heard in several years

but as the sound of battle grew, so did his sense of dread

stumbling as he tripped over the rubble and the dead

“All that I can say is that they’re evil and they’re strong

they’ll fight the strongest warriors we have the whole day long

I know that you have power but ensure you’re heart’s prepared

it’s not rare for those who see them to run away scared”

Suddenly a hand reached up to grab the hero’s arm

something crawled out of the ground which caused him great alarm

a creature made of only bones with eerie glowing eyes

and though the hero wasn’t hurt he jumped back in surprise

His escort brought a sword down on the boney creature’s head

and though its skull was crushed it still seemed very far from dead

it turned around and swatted at the elf with just one hand

and when he fell away, its strength was clear to understand

The hero drew a breath, then bathed the skeleton in fire

but it would not burn quickly as the hero would desire

instead he summoned ice and froze the undead thing in place

then smashed the frozen creature into dust without a trace

The impact of his magic was enough to clear the air

and blew away the dust and smoke that hovered everywhere

finally he clearly saw the battle he had found

a scene that made the hero smile the more he looked around

A demon army barely holding back a hellish force

all at once the hero knew he’d found the shadows’ source

the enemy nought but monstrous skeletal remains

a sight that stirred the hero’s blood still coursing through his veins

An enemy so evil that it filled him with no doubt

that these were monsters like the ones he’d always sung about

with two swords of ice and fire he dove into the fray

laughing as he smashed all of the undead on his way

No one would have guessed that he had been awake for days

he tore through monsters to the sound of countless demons’ praise

his presence there was like a breath of fresh air to them all

his power was like destiny itself had come to call

The demons even rallied to assist in his attack

together they all forced the neverending undead back

through the night he cast his fire to light the brutal scene

a hero to the world who fought the wretched and unclean

~