133 lines
3.1 KiB
TeX
133 lines
3.1 KiB
TeX
\herosection{Song of the Third Way}{chapters/2025.09.16-SongOfTheThirdWay/image/song-of-the-third-way.jpg}
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\DROPCAP{../../dropcap_c/dropT.png}wo kingdoms lay side by side, \\
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their borders drawn not by rivers or mountains \\
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but by ancient grievances.\\
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Each believed the other a curse, \\
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and for as long as anyone could remember, \\
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they had been at war.
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Into this land wandered a bard named Selen. \\
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He sang not of kings or battles, \\
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but of rain falling on roof tiles, \\
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of a mother's quiet breath \\
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as she rocked a child to sleep, \\
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of the stars in the sky that looked down \\
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on friend and foe alike.\\
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Wherever he sang, \\
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children would gather, \\
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their faces luminous,\\
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while their parents listened from the shadows, \\
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afraid to hope.
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One spring, \\
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both kingdoms heard of Selen \\
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and sent emissaries to claim him.\\
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The Northern general \\
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offered gold beyond imagining \\
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if Selen would compose a war hymn \\
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to stiffen his soldiers' courage.\\
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The Southern general promised him\\
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a palace and servants \\
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if he would create a song \\
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to strike terror in enemy hearts.
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Selen bowed to each in turn, \\
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then vanished into the wilderness \\
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before either could bind him.
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For months, \\
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no one knew where he had gone.
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But deep in the valleys, \\
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Selen visited small villages \\
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that lay beyond the reach of armies.
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There, \\
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in the dim light of cottages, \\
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he sang softly to the children.
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He taught them melodies simple enough \\
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to hum while carrying water, \\
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impossible to leave behind.
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The children learned quickly, \\
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passing the songs among themselves \\
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until the songs had become \\
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the warp and weft of them.
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The war raged on, ever more senseless.\\
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Castles burned, \\
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borders shifted, \\
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armies rose and fell.
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Yet beneath this storm, \\
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something unseen was taking root.
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A farmer would hear his child humming \\
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and find his own bitterness melting away.
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A soldier, \\
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home on leave, \\
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would weep to hear a melody \\
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he did not know he remembered.
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The song spread quietly, inexorably.
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Years passed.\\
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The war, \\
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like all wars, \\
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finally collapsed under its own weight.
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The last generals died \\
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with curses on their lips, \\
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never knowing why their armies \\
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had lost their taste for slaughter.
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When the smoke cleared, \\
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the two kingdoms lay in ruins --- \\
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leaderless, \\
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weary, \\
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and strangely silent.
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Then, from a hillside, \\
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a single voice began to sing.
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Others joined, \\
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timid at first, \\
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then stronger, \\
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until the valleys rang with a music \\
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no sword could silence.
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The children Selen had taught were grown now.
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They gathered \\
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not to rebuild thrones or armies, \\
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but to weave a new harmony \\
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between once-divided lands.
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In place of borders, \\
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they planted orchards.
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In place of war banners, \\
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they raised wind chimes \\
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to catch the breeze.
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As for Selen, \\
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no one could say where he had gone.
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Some claimed he had walked into the sea, \\
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carrying his harp.
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Others swore they had seen him among the singers, \\
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smiling quietly before slipping away.
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But all agreed on this: \\
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his song had not ended.\\
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It lived in them now.
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And whenever the world seemed ready \\
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to fall again into darkness,\\
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a child's voice could still be heard — \\
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singing.
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