I discovered a journal left in the room of a tenant. I knew her name and her dark hair, but that was all I could know about someone who paid for a room. To pass the time left on my cleaning shift, I decided to open it and read whatever entry I found myself at. I found a poem, but not an artistic one. This was a recalling of events—a memoir.

A minstrel rumoured, far and wide
To carol ballads (outrageous lies)
His grail and cause—neither for gain
But to tell a tale: The Weapon’s Refrain.

"'Tis only a dream!"
The minstrel exclaimed
"But gird thyselves…
...will thou lift their pain?"

The myth advanced across the realm
A bard's song, a foe to be felled!
Allies assembled, strategies were contrived
A raven-haired girl, a dream to realize.

She collected her friends to challenge the tune
Naive to its nature, they would receive soon
A nightmare of strife, warbled by a man
This psalm was of the damned!

Spirited away, the girl and her friends
The Vortex sought to apprehend
She tore at their spirit with putrid gales
"No longer," knew the girl "is this a mere tale!"

The barrage of the Vortex posed an onerous task
Following her defeat was no light to bask
Next came the Inferno, his hellfire consuming
The girl began to feel her undoing!

Conflagrations from purgatory, ashes to swallow
Soon the Inferno's collapse, too, followed!
The trials imposed had yet to cede
Next came the Crag's stampede!

The field shifted around them with every ultimatum
Who would emerge, who would save them?
The Crag's besiege would soon be ended
Was there faith, any course to be mended?

The next came, emerging from darkness
An Ascian from memory? (or maybe his carcass…)
The only preservation: to break their own limits
But to the might of the Weapon, this was no finis!

Clad in azure, beaming gold
This was not the tale expected to be told!
Ruthless in Its methods, indulging in Its rage
The Weapon had set an ultimate stage!

Predation for Its prey
"The strongest spell", they say.
Suppression for Its blasphemers
But no hearts were ablaze as theirs!

Radiant hope and trembling fear
Intertwined, their true foe was here!
The allies joined closely for their mightiest blow
Strength so terrific, the minstrel would know!

A flash of radiance, new stars in the sky
The Weapon had met the end of Its time
Foes knelt before them, their victory was pure
But was it all really for sure?

The figment faded, dreams came to a halt
The minstrel was before them, absconding from fault
Dream? Reality? Could they tell where they stand?
All that remained was an idol in her hand.

I only heard whispers of heroes in this world; fairy-tales, at best. Someone so quiet doesn’t fit the frame of a hero who slays gods.

She checked out the next day, and I felt something as I gazed into her eyes; something different. She held that journal as she walked away, and I smiled. It really was her.

Chosen item: Gaelicap