The Chalice of Courage Pt3

“You walked many miles, Climbed this mountain To confront me, A dragon with the reputation Of being fierce! All to possess a so called Chalice of Courge. By doing all that you have done You proved that you already possess The courage you seek.” The dragon smiled once more As he saw understanding Washed over Leonid’s face, But soon followed sadness And disappointment. “Do not ever regret this journey. This journey was not to acquire a chalice, This journey was to unblock The spring of courage That resides in you,” Said the dragon. “This spring will never grow dry Unlike this chalice. This spring is natural And there will never be any side effects, And one day, this spring Will become a strong river.” These words made Leonid stand a bit taller. As it had turned dark, The dragon allowed Leonid To stay the night As the journey down Would be dangerous in the dark. The dragon and the young man Talked most of the night And it was quite late When they both fell asleep. The next day, After they said their good byes, And as Leonid was about to leave the cave, He turned back to the dragon. “Dragon, even though I could not drink from the chalice, May I, at least, see in it?” Asked Leonid, timidly. Understanding how curiosity Can gnaw at a person’s soul, The dragon tipped the chalice Low enough for Leonid to see in it. The Chalice of Courage Was empty. “Sometimes, we need something To aim for, For us to take the journey We need to take, Even if that something Is nothing at all,” The dragon said. Leonid nodded and left the cave. He made his way down The mountain safely And when asked, He said he had drunk From the Chalice of Courage. Leonid had gone on To becoming a great warrior, And only to those closest to him, He would tell the true story Of The Chalice of Courage.