Sigrun

“Sigrun! Dear, did my naughty Eiric make you cry?” Astrid rushes over to Sigrun as she arrives with Eiric.

“He did. But I wanted to.” Sigrun said.

“You did. Oh, I see. Eiric never stops surprising me.”

“Ms. Astrid, I’m sorry. I don’t want to hate you. And thank you, for making mom’s gravestone.”

“Oh dear, you don’t need to apologize. You know, your mom was a great friend to me. You’ll always have someone you can trust in me. Ok?”

“Ok. Ms. Astrid, Eiric got hurt fighting to protect mom’s gravestone this morning.”

“Ah! I’m fine!” Eiric said.

“Excuse me?” Astrid glares at Eiric, “Were you going to tell me this young man?”

“I’m fine, I promise.”

“Tell me what happened.”

Astrid runs her finger across Eiric’s right leg before wiping it with a cloth. “Eiric, you did well to protect the gravestone. But I want you to call for mom and dad next time. We’ll be there in the blink of an eye. Now then, I have something to discuss with you father before breakfast. Sigrun dear, would you like to eat with us?”

“I have to tell my dad, may I come back?”

“Of course, Eiric, escort her for me please.”

“Yes mam!”

“Sorry. I knew you weren’t going to tell your mom.” Sigrun said.

“It’s ok, she always finds out if I have a secret.”

Sigrun steps in front of Eiric and stares into his eyes. “Have we met before?”

“Oh, well, it’s something you may not believe.”

“Tell me. I can feel it too. It’s like I know you, but I can’t remember.”

Eiric takes a deep breath, believing he can trust Sigrun with his most well kept secret. Furthermore, he hopes Sigrun will just laugh it off as his own imagination.

“In my past life, you were there. You were my friend. And, you helped me get here to find my family. I wanted to find you here again as well; I want you to be part of my family.”

“So you’re a reincarnation, do your parents know?”

“No, I don’t want them to think any different of me. You believe me?”

“Reincarnation is part of demon culture. But I don’t think I ever heard of a reincarnation keeping their memories. Was I pretty in your past life?”

“As pretty as you are now.”

“Aw, I see. I’ll keep your secret, but I’ve changed my mind. I’m not forgiving you for touching my horns. You have to take responsibility now.”

Eiric smiles from ear to ear. “Of course.”

“Come on then.” Sigrun pulls Eiric forward, much like in their previous lives. Eiric never resisted, the time spent with her his fondest memories from his past. He can only hope he will be enough.

“Vilgur spends most of his days training with dad, I like to practice my magic.” Sigrun said.

After a quick visit to her home, Sigrun returned with Eiric to enjoy breakfast. Torsten was most surprised of all after Sigrun declared that she and Eiric were betrothed.

“Keldan did mention you’re a prodigy. Hey, why not teach Eiric? I can’t find the time to do so, but learning from someone his age might be better. Eiric is a quick learner, but please bear with him.” Torsten said.

“Would you like to learn magic?”

“I’d like to.”

“Ok. But Vilgur said I’m a mean teacher. I won’t go easy on you just because we’re betrothed.”

“Aw, my little Eiric is already betrothed, they grow up so fast. Sigrun dear, make sure to eat lots.” Astrid said.

Torsten answers the door before as someone walks up to it. Both he and Astrid were tracking the person approaching their home for a minute, but they are impressed to know that Sigrun was also aware of their presence.

“Sir, we’ve found them off the sample you provided.”

“Wonderful!” Astrid stands and stretches, “Eiric, Sigrun, I’m leaving with Torsten for some important business. You two be safe. Eiric, remember what we’ve taught you.”

“Yes mam, I’ll always protect Sigrun.”

“That’s my boy!” Torsten said from the door.

Sigrun hides her blushing smile. “I’ll be in your care.”

After eating their fill, Sigrun and Eiric arrive at the northern river. It’s far from the gates and few pass through the area.

“I like coming here to practice. It’s quiet when Vilgur isn’t around. Oh, Vilgur will come around one day, I promise. He’s just very overprotective of his older sister. But I’ve chosen you now, congratulations.”

“It’s a dream come true… older sister?”

“Hehe, he always calls me his little sister. I’m eight years old, he’s only six.”

“Oh, I’m seven years old.”

“I’m older than you as well. That means my teaching will have to be even stricter. I’ll teach you everything my mom taught me, but we’ll be learning a lot together.”

Sigrun’s body glows as she cups her hands together. A small light blue rune hovers above her hand. “This is a rune. All magic derives from runes. The more runes you use, the more powerful it will be. My mom said many believe five runes to be the max level, but she heard that some can use even six.”

“Wow, what spells can you use?”

“Everyone has something they’re good at, I like ice magic. Ein frost.” Sigrun tosses frost towards Eiric.

“That’s really cold. My dad must be good with wind magic.”

“I hear that your dad is a very powerful element magic user. But there is more, runes that affect or are affected by emotions, curses, and rune magic. My mom said Rune magic is the most powerful and difficult. Oh, I can use a little of sorrowcraft, I’ll show you later. Here, I’ll teach you how to create runes.”

Sigrun holds Eiric’s hands. Her magic envelops his hands like a blanket. It rests on his fingers, allowing him to mold it like clay.

“Good. Each spell has its rune, you start with the element sign before writing the rest of it. The more you practice, the easier it will become. Want to try?”

“Yes.”

“Ok. Think of your magic like a hand, you can control it. Try raising into the palm of our hands.”

Eiric makes a valiant for a minute until he has success. Small pockets of his magic gather until they mix with Sigrun’s magic. It is in that moment that Eiric is sent deep into his mind.

Eiric’s breathing is rapid, the memories here loud and clear but difficult to digest given the amount. Many yell his name, Eiric focuses on them.

Sigrun is in many, crying and holding his lifeless body or begging him to grab her hand. In one, it is Eiric that holds Sigrun’s cold body.

“Eiric?” Sigrun whispers, her eyes distant and her panting similar to Eiric’s though she returns first.

Eiric returns, his breathing refusing to calm after the images he saw. He embraces Sigrun, hoping that what he saw was just in his head.

“E-Eiric, I don’t mind, but are you ok?”

“I.” Eiric pulls away.

“You can tell me. I want you to.”

“Ok.” Eiric explains his blessing, and the memories that help him learn, “I don’t know if it’s the future, there’s so many different ones. They can help me learn at times, but when there is a lot, it hurts my head.”

“So you’re blessed, that’s something we have in common then.”

“You’re blessed?”

“I am.” Sigrun raises a finger to her lips. Can you hear me?

“I can. How did you that?”

My blessing is called messenger. “I can send messages to people, all you need is a connection with them. Although it does have to somewhat strong for it to reach them. The longer the distance, the greater.”

“Oh, that’s helpful. Mine just gives me headaches.”

“Eiric.” Sigrun grabs Eiric’s hands, “I don’t know what your visions mean, but blessings can be dangerous. If it becomes too painful, let me know. I don’t want to lose you.”

“Does your blessing hurt?”

“It’s different for demons, or that’s what dad tells me. We all have blessings, but it doesn’t affect us like it does humans.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t change.”

“I hope not. Should we take a break?”

“No. I can do it; I want to learn and become stronger.”

“I’m plenty strong you know.”

“Then I have to train even harder.”

“Fine, at least become strong enough to carry me like a princess.”

“Of course. I’ll be strong enough to jump from mountain to mountain with you in my arms.”

“Now that you said it you have to do it! Give me your hands, we’ll work on your magic control. Once you get better, you’ll be able to use it to make yourself stronger and faster.”

“Ok!” Eiric continues his practice, though he struggles as the memories never come to help.

Hours pass, Eiric makes progress and stands next to the river to cast his first spell. He hopes to try Ein frost, though Sigrun says his affinity could differ. After learning the rune lettering, Eiric prepares himself.

“Ein frost.” No effect, he repeats himself until the string of memories return. Each chants a different spell, Eiric enduring until one is coherent. “Fjorir beam.”

“Look out!” Sigrun tackles Eiric to the ground as a tree hit by Eiric’s beam of light crashes down, “Are you ok?”

“I am, are you? I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.”

“I’m fine. That was amazing! Is this your blessing?”

“It’s called master of light, though I’m not sure if it is connected to the memories. Sorry, I’ve been afraid to use light magic since learning of what happens to the blessed.” Eiric holds his head, using a high level spell drained him of his magic and the memories leave his head in pain.

Sigrun pulls Eiric into her chest. “It’s ok. I’m here.”

“Mhm.” Eiric returns the embrace, his headache fading as he falls asleep in Sigrun’s arms.

Sigrun tightens her embrace on Eiric, crying as she does. “Eiric, thank you for finding me again. I promise, this time, I’ll find a way.”