The forthcoming storm
So it was the dawn of another peaceful day,
when the old mage finally reached the castle's gate.
Entering the throne room, he shivered, filled with guilt.
He bowed humbly to his king and then said unto him:
"Sire, I am compelled I fear, to bring you disastrous news.
The bright crystal, woe on me, is now in hands vile and cruel."
At these words, the king glared at his unconscious mage.
He rose his eyes and stood for a while, fixing emptiness.
"Oh what a tragedy," he said. "This will surely seal our fate.
Without the crystal's light, the realm is defenseless."
Distressed by such bad news, the king was lost in his despair,
when came up to him an old man wearing a long white beard.
It was the last of the elders, the wise man of the realm.
He locked his stare upon his king and said unto him:
"Sire, all hope is not lost, there is a way to slay the evil lord.
He who holds the sword of truth can defeat this one if he's stout and pure."
Then the king ran his eye over the people