The following link is to a short comic by Matt Rhodes, a fella some of you may know from his concept artwork on the Mass Effect series. In the comic, we follow a man on an epic journey to overcome hardship.

Click the link and read the comic before reading any further. You don't want to spoil the ending for yourself.

http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/comicsalliance.com/files/2012/03/myherobymattrhodes-d4sr1ot-2.jpg

Our protagonist is an everyman. He's still indoctrinated by Bluepill ideology. A decent guy who just wants to bring a flower and a smile to a pretty girl. But he doesn't understand the way attraction works. The girl knows this, and decides to fuck him. Tells him she doesn't like the flower he brought her, and sends him off to find a different one. He dutifully obeys like a good orbiter.

But the practical joke never plays out, because while our hero is away looking for the flower, the girl ends up riding off with a wealthy and powerful cult leader, enticed by riches and the scent of the dangerous.

So our protagonists sets out on a quest to rescue her. It's a beta-minded sentiment to be sure, but it works as an allegory for anything that you're willing to fight, sacrifice and persevere for. In spite of all the setbacks, all the momentary defeats, all of the pain and shame he must endure, he fights on, undeterred. Instead of giving up or letting himself become overwhelmed, he remains focused. He sizes up what he needs to do to overcome the current obstacle so that he can continue on his main quest. That's how you devour enormous undertakings - one bite at a time.

Finally (the comic implies that this is many years later), he is reunited with the girl, and his quest appears to be nearing its end. Only now, he becomes disillusioned. He realizes that he held a false ideal in his mind throughout his entire quest. She's ugly. And not just on the outside, but her very core disgusts him.

It might seem like a low point for him, since he was mistaken about women all along, and all his effort has been for naught. But lo, as he is backing away from the hag in disgust, he catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror. A glimpse of the man that he has transformed into. He becomes at once enlightened and sets off to begin a new quest, stronger and freer that he could have imagined.

The lesson of this comic? Women will come and go, but your quest will always be your quest, and your strength will always grow with effort. Make your quest your greatest purpose, and enjoy women along the way. It is the way of men.