The prince had grown as wise as he had strong in recent years

he’d use the hero to dispel his army’s growing fears

under the pretense of raising up new brave young knights

the hero’s weakness would not be revealed in any fights

Instead, he’d stand beside the prince and stand above the rest

guiding young aspiring knights to do their very best

and from the first appearance of the hero in this roll

he truly did become the weakened army’s heart and soul

No longer did he wield a sword against the northern foes

now he wielded only words until each battle’s close

he watched his knights take up the lead and charge their enemies

proclaiming that the battle would be theirs alone to seize

The prince was satisfied that with the hero standing tall

the empire’s knights renewed their will and gave the war their all

he even started thinking that it may be for the best

that every knight could put their growing powers to the test

A generation of new talent sprouted from their force

the hero’s words of inspiration showing them their course

and he looked on as two armies with which he’d been allied

kept alive a bitter war that long since should have died

If only they would listen to the message which he’d brought

he’d already won the war that all of them now fought

but for all his efforts he was powerless to speak

the fire and ice he wielded were now gone and he was weak

And so the prince would wave him like a flag across the land

a promise to humanity that all of this was planned

and though it left him bitter there was solace in one fact

during this event the capital was not attacked

His family would surely be at home now, safe and sound

and even if for no one else, for them he’d stand his ground

before his eyes the battlefield expanded far and wide

and heroes and their rivals had emerged on either side

Very few remembered when the fighting had begun

fewer still recalled thinking it could be quickly won

demons fought with passion to avenge their fallen lord

humans fought to save their lives, if not for some reward

Into war without an end the empire gave its all

and everywhere they fought his soldiers saw him standing tall

they followed him and sang those songs until their throats were dry

and every word he spoke became his army’s battle cry

Years went by while battles waged before him day and night

like he was a spectator just betting on the fight

the prince would go ahead and be the hero on most days

but many others had a chance to earn the prince’s praise

The hero had become a symbol, just a waving flag

and after many times retold, his tales began to drag

the songs he heard no longer told of only things he’d done

the songs became the stories of the knights and everyone

The prince approached him one night, troubled sorrow on his face

“I think it’s time the hero disappeared without a trace

you still owe me an end to this war, but I owe you more

it’s time that you prepared yourself for what may be in store”