The curse of Icho
In a little village faraway there lived a young warrior, he was brave, fierce and proud like many other warriors before him but something was missing, he didn’t know what it was but he yearned for it. The warrior took his horse and his weapons and prepared to go on a journey, for he thought to himself “whatever I am searching for must be out there and if I remain in this little kingdom I shall never find it”. He traveled until he got to the next kingdom where he decided to rest for a while, an old woman in that kingdom asked him, “Young warrior what do you seek?” and he replied “I yearn for something, something I have never seen and do not know, and I shall not rest till I find it.” The old woman took him aside and gave him a golden horn, “take this” she said “it brings help for the bearer, now go home and seek no more” the young warrior thanked the old woman and marveled at the golden horn but still he yearned. “I must go to the next village” he said to himself and if I see nothing better than my golden horn then I shall return home.” The warrior continued his journey until he got to the next village, in that village a young man asked him “young warrior what do you seek?” and he replied “I yearn for something, something I have never seen and do not know, and I shall not rest till I find it.” The young man took him aside and gave him a golden flask and said “take this, whatever drink you put in it renews the strength of the drinker, now go home and seek no more” again he marveled at the golden flask but still he yearned. “I must go to the next village” he said to himself and if I see nothing better than my golden flask then I shall return home.” The warrior continued his journey until he got to the next village, in that village a child wearing golden shoes asked him “young warrior what do you seek?” and he replied “I yearn for something, something I have never seen and do not know, and I shall not rest till I find it.” The child took him aside and gave him the golden shoes and said “take this; the wearer shall never be weary no matter how far he goes.” As soon as the young man put the shoes the child laughed long and hard “I am Icho” she said, “I came to you as an old woman and a young man, I warned you not to seek anymore but you would not listen now you must bear my curse.
It is said that till this day the warrior searches and though his heart is weary he cannot stop, for the curse of icho is a fierce yearning for more, a hunger which can never be satisfied.
