Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women

The three brothers finish constructing their armor and prepare to fight the giants. However, the giants appear before they have time to put on their armor. Each of the brothers rushes out to battle. Anodos defeats his foe. He sees that the two brothers have won their own battles but died. Anodos, having completed the first worthwhile act of his life, looks behind him and sees his shadow still with him, though it was absent the entire time he was in the tower working with his brothers. Returning to the tower, he sees the two brothers’ useless armor lying empty.

The old king admires the armor his sons made and asks Anodos to leave his suit of armor so it can be displayed with the others. He knights Anodos with the sword of his youth held in a shaking hand. Anodos spends some time in the court, enjoying the round of parties and gaiety. He is admired by men and courted by women, but his shadow is never far from his mind. At last, he tires of the round of pleasure. Putting on a suit of splendid armor given to him by the king, he departs.