Apotheosis Dawn

For assorted reasons, some of them exciting in their own right, a traveler wandered untracked lands, lonely and anxious about his prospects. When he came across a stone building that resembled him in its solitude, a suspicious sight, he reckoned the risk of disaster better than the certainty. There he found succor.
"Welcome, traveler, to Yulril Abbey. You may stay here one day and night and then go away provisioned."
"Thank you. To what god is this abbey dedicated, that I might thank him?"
"We're waiting to find that out ourselves. Perhaps we erred in our order, but we trust one will come to us. Hm. You are the first layman to visit; are you perhaps the very god?"
"How could I be confused for a god?"
"No, of course that's impossible. Please come this way."
At the time the traveler thought nothing of having someone agree with him, but after he recovered his place in society, the abbot's tone became in his memory somewhat excessively firm. Nettled, he embarked on a course of greatness in both the political realm and in feats of personal courage, succeeding so well that the great admiration he earned during his life tranformed into a hero-cult after his death which justified itself to the priestly community through numerous confirmed miracles and prophecies. Yulril Abbey's cenobites never heard of it so far as anyone knew.
Finis

Telote's Saga

The custom of the kings over the Wilse was to invite to their weddings the hero Yitgand who had aided their ancestor in taking the kingship. Telait first ended the custom, saying Yitgand was surely dead as was everyone else who roamed alongside his grandfather's grandfather's father, and none blamed him for that except one.
For during the feast a man thrust himself into the hall who had greatness in both his stature and his age more than any could believe. He rebuked King Telait, saying that forgetting one man was nothing, but since he had remembered, he must have forgotten valor and honor instead. He then foretold that the issue of that wedding would be good for little, that it was a shame, and that it was no curse from him who was Yitgand but simply a sign of the age.
All went as he said. The king's son Telote's hands did not seek the sword or know what to do with one, nor did he have wit in counsel or speech. The king said he would reward the man who could rear him better. Yitgand came again, saying he doubted the result but had never shirked a challenge on that account. He had charge of Telote from then on.
Telait's son cast off his sluggishness and killed a hero shortly after, when he was twelve years of age. He followed that with countless deeds of bravery and open-handedness so that his enemies feared him more than shame while his friends were outnumbered only by men seeking his friendship. After he took the scepter from Telait's quavering hand he did still more. Every king whose ancestors paid the Wilse tribute did so again, and many were forced to it for the first time.
When Telote made up his mind to take a wife, he refused to bring back the custom, saying that he remembered valor well enough but disliked Yitgand for his harshness and odor. The wedding passed in peace. Yitgand said of it that the king's reasons were as good as any he ever heard and worthy of a bold man.
Finis

Challenge of Spring

The year-round theft! The criminal bold enough to flout the laws ought to exhibit daring in his targets as well, but few did. At last a heroic burglar declared his intention to steal the entire year and acted accordingly. The Jewel of Summer, the Jewel of Winter, and the Jewel of Autumn were in his little pocket.
"Oh, it's terrible!" What else could the gallery owner say? The Jewel of Spring was his responsibility but not his to sell, which he would have done just to sleep again. The police were sweating too. They had failed three times.
Around the gate they were posted, around the rear entrance, the side entrance, the balcony, and the equivalent entrances of every adjacent building. Disguised inspectors walked up and down the street as if pondering a purchase while custodes mingled with the visitors.
"But it's up here that it's best to wait, Falgunus!" Inspector Iagius told his custos.
"What makes you say so, sir?"
"The oath I took when I became an inspector to use my wits instead of sticking to rote procedure and claiming it's the fault of the regulations when I fail, Falgunus." What a striking figure he was on the roof across the street, watching over the gallery like a sympathetic god!
Suddenly, the alarm. Policemen scrambled all over the ground level, the second level, and the third and fourth, but the thief was ahead of them. He jumped up the first flight of stairs, leapt up the second, and so on, until he hopped up to the gallery roof and then crossed the street with a single superhuman bound. Right into the waiting arms of Custos Falgunus! The malefactor's panicked struggles availed nothing against the brawny limbs of the law.
"You see, Falgunus? The wizard-crafter made this seasonal jewel to absorb the very power of spring. The lesson is to look into the qualities of what you're guarding and not just the price."
Another triumph for Inspector Iagius!
Finis

An Incident in the Year 572

When the storms started, the Oddani prayed. When the storms continued, they asked their priests to use stronger rituals. When the storms worsened, they pleaded with Hobbell, one of the prominent men, to make use of his foreign connections and learn of some worthy ceremony or helpful god before they were ruined.
He said, "I know you are quick to act and quick to change your mind. First you must promise two things, that you will accord me noble honors and that you will do whatever I say in this crisis without punishing me later regardless of what you think of it, since you have admitted your helplessness." The other Oddani made the promises he demanded and begged him to do as he had undertaken.
Hobbell traveled somewhere, and when he returned, he had with him men from another land and an altar of the same sort. He commanded everyone to gather where his guests placed the altar. Heedful of their promises, the Oddani came.
They stood in silence for some time until one among them, a householder, Maffan by name, asked what was the purpose of the altar. Hobbell signaled and his men grabbed Maffan, dragged him to the altar, and slit his throat while the Oddani watched, still keeping their word. Hobbell dismissed them then to their homes.
The storms left their lands after that. Hobbell took the honors given him and sent cattle to Maffan's family, more than the dead man was worth. When asked why he had someone killed against whom he had no grudge or reason for rancor that the Oddani knew, he shrugged and said that was part of the ritual as he was told it, to give to the god the first who dared speak, for the storms raged at their weakness, who ought to be strong. Because of that, everyone honored Maffan as a brave man, and his son became prominent later.
Finis

Real World Precedent

After all, there are stage magicians in our world where we have the magic of courage and friendship.