“We were just a village in a kingdom small but proud

  life was simple, people kind, and fields were always ploughed

  then the hero swept away our army and our king

  overnight my family was stripped of everything

  The hero of the empire was as strong as he was cruel

  his magic ushered in that evil empire’s iron rule

  now the empire’s fallen, but the dead will not return

  if there’s a hell for heroes then forever he will burn”

  The elder fell asleep after they talked a little while

  the pilgrim simply nodding as he wore a bitter smile

  he rested for a while but soon was back upon the road

  burdened by a debt he couldn’t pay but might’ve owed

  Morning came and still he walked along a dusty path

  passing fields which long ago had faced his fiery wrath

  still he felt the magic of his battles in the air

  everywhere he fought for glory now was dead and bare

  He came upon another town and hoped to rest his feet

  but there was not a living face around him for to meet

  there he found some water and a room where he could stay

  but there he found no comfort and he soon was on his way

  He didn’t dwell in any broken house or barren field

  nor wonder if he’d ever see a broken village healed

  maybe if he travelled far enough he’d find a place

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  where poverty and hunger weren’t on every person’s face

  The more he faced the evidence of wars that he had fought

  the less he felt like staying in the old empire to rot

  “so there are places not even a hero can protect

  but still I did my best to have a positive effect”

  He reassured himself that he had always done what’s right

  that it was fate and not his heart that haunted him at night

  the shadows were just remnants of the battles he had won

  surely he could rest now that his glory days were done

  Living off the land as he enjoyed when he was young

  eating any fish he caught or any fruit that hung

  after many weeks and months of travelling alone

  wearily he swore he’d make a better life his own

  He found a city on the road that seemed to be alive

  it wasn’t perfect but it was a place he could survive

  there he’d start again and do more simple jobs to live

  and take whatever payment that the guild in town would give

  He found a bar where maybe he could find some work to do

  a friendly patron smiled and offered him a drink or two

  the pilgrim didn’t hesitate and shook the patrons hand

  and claimed he was a mercenary from a foreign land

  The two enjoyed a drink together talking of the town

  but the pilgrim noticed gradually the bar had settled down

  when he looked behind him at the other people there

  every eye was on him with a cold, suspicious stare

  Someone pointed to a wall where several posters hung

  and when the pilgrim noticed it he almost bit his tongue

  the faded picture hanging in the centre of the wall

  was a wanted poster of the hero known to all

  The man who bought his drink had fallen off his chair in fear

  the pilgrim new his only choice would be to disappear

  he ran toward the door and chaos hit the quiet bar

  and news of his existence spread before he’d gotten far

  The city soon was overcome with panic, fear, and rage

  rumours had already spread, he’d fled the empire’s cage

  soldiers, knights, and volunteers all ran into the street

  to kill the man who led the world to hell with his deceit

  “Someone stop that monster please, before he kills again

  burn him like he burned alive so many brave young men

  the leader of the empire’s reign of pain is in our hands

  let us take revenge and kill the demon where he stands”

  The wanted man just ran with all his might, not looking back

  away from all the vengeful cries of those who would attack

  he fled into the woods and ran until he couldn’t stand

  far away from any life he ever might have planned

  ~