Return to Sanctuary

“Eiric!” Astrid squeezes Eiric as he returns home, spinning him around as he taps for air, “My dear boy. We spend too much time away from each other. How was everything?”

Sigrun explains the journey to their parents and Brynja over dinner. With Freydis’s decision now final, the three plan on continuing the journey without her.

“Of course, we’ll have to get a lot stronger before we leave” Sigrun said.

“I agree. We will help you against the protector here of course, I believe most of us have personal grudges to settle with them. Do you think we can win, Torsten?” Brynja said.

“With Astrid at our side, yes. Astrid, I think it is time you begin training with Eiric as well. He is a drawn to the sword, you will be an excellent teacher for him.” Torsten said.

“Oh, but he’ll be afraid of me afterward. Eiric, your mother can be scary when in a fight. Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer to focus on magic?” Astrid said.

“I think I use both a lot. But I would like to improve my swordsmanship. Mom, please teach me.”

“Well, I can’t say no to you. Fine, you’ve been warned. We’ll begin your training tomorrow, but I’ll need time to prepare. Watch Eydis for me later, ok?”

“I will.” Eiric smiles at Eydis who waves her hands at him with a large smile.

“Good. Alvis did contact me as you all returned home. What do you think, Keldan?” Torsten said.

Keldan’s eyes have been fixated on Vilgur since their return. He can tell when the boy is bothered by something but can’t pinpoint what it is that keeps the youngling quiet.

“Keldan?”

“Oh! Sorry. The group going against the protector would be us, Alvis, and Ingrid. Tyran will never support this venture, and the younglings of the captains are not ready for such a battle. Furthermore, it’s best to leave someone here able of protecting everyone. We are stronger now, and we know what we are up against, but it will still be difficult.”

“But you believe it is possible.” Torsten said.

“I do. Everyone here understands true power. It is what has made our training since effective, and the reason only we can go up against the protector. This will be good for you three as well, you will understand what you must fight in the other realms after this. Your preparation here will not be enough, you will need to become even stronger in the next realms, and hopefully gather allies able to help against the protectors. But trust in who you have with you for Mithold, we will not fail you.”

“Cheers to that!” Brynja said, “We get to watch the great Astrid in combat again. And this time, her shield will be unbreakable!”

“Cheers!”

Astrid spins with Eydis in her arms before handing her off to Eiric.

Next to Eiric is Sigrun, a girl who Astrid believes to be a blessing as great as Eiric and Eydis. Astrid worried about Eiric after discovering his blessing, but it is Sigrun that has kept Eiric happy and safe since. She could ask for nothing more in her son’s partner, she even feels undeserving to have someone like her.

“Sigrun, you’re as beautiful as Nattlina.” Astrid said as she embraces Sigrun.

“N-not at all. Mom was a beauty.”

“And I spent many years at her side, trust me. It makes me happy to see you two together and happy, I’ll make sure you succeed on this journey. Prepare yourself for tomorrow, Eiric.”

“Yes mam!”

Astrid stands alone deep inside the trench north of Sanctuary. Large beast and monsters peer at her from behind trees. Most humans would have been mauled the moment they stepped in between the trees at such an hour, but the woman standing before them is a being far stronger than most.

After scanning the area, Astrid stretches. It’s been years since she has been in a fight as Torsten never wished to risk her being harmed.

Despite being the revolutionary’s greatest weapon, Astrid despises fighting. She believes that is all she is good for, something that Torsten must remind her is not true every day.

Her time has come however; they will need her against the protector of Yggdrasil. Astrid must fight.

Two blades of magic appear at Astrid’s side. After a single deep breath, she disappears. Every beast and monster peering at her is sliced in two. She reappears, left leg high before she spins and makes a graceful landing.

“Hehe, the weak are gone. Did you come to gather their residual magic?”

A tall creature with the skull of a goat for a head stands a few steps away from Astrid. A wendigo. known for preying on those near death, the creature is amongst the strongest monsters that appear in the forest of Mithold. Rare, but well known for how dangerous they are.

They tend to go only go after those near death, or those that fear them; however, Astrid’s magic is far too enticing not too chase.

“Try your best.”

The wendigo lunges at Astrid who dodges with ease, dancing around the creature and landing small slices at their body. Its attacks are relentless, fast enough to kill even the best of Solgrad’s soldiers in a second, but unable to get close to Astrid who spins and jumps around them while laughing alongside the moon.

Their fear building, the wendigo raises four runes above their palm.

“Yes. This is a good warmup.”

The spell summons roots to attack Astrid. She dashes forward, cutting and dodging each root that aims at her, even surprise attacks are useless as Astrid continues forward without fail.

The wendigo remains still. They are outmatched, a possibility they never even considered. It is not just Astrid’s natural strength that is overwhelming, she has power far beyond that which they considered. Yet, fear is replaced with awe.

Astrid’s movements are like that of a dancer. Her flips stellar, her spins magnificent, and, as she jumps high into the sky, the light of the moon emphasizes her beauty.

Astrid smiles before dashing down from the sky.

Eiric blocks Astrid’s strike. Torsten warned him, but nothing could have prepared him for his mother’s fighting style and the sheer difference in their strength.

At best, Eiric can block each attack but the flurry never ends. Furthermore, Astrid is impossible to predict. Her style has no pattern, her imagination near infinite as her body dances through the battlefield.

Her attacks become heavier as time passes. While the difference in strength is insurmountable, the difference in stamina stuns Eiric. Astrid doesn’t breathe heavy, and her smile never fades.

Still, Eiric improves. Each block is followed by a counterattack, and his enhancement becomes better by the minute. Although he cannot fight like Astrid, her lessons have improved his swordsmanship tenfold.

“Try it, Eiric.”

Astrid wants Eiric to use his light step in battle against her, but he fears harming her. Still, her constant taunting works and he focuses to aim only at her sword.

Eiric dashes forward at the speed of light, aiming to slice through his mother’s blade and claim a moral victory. His blade swings down, its speed creating a sonic boom.

In an instant, Eiric’s blade is stopped by Astrid’s two fingers. Stunned, Eiric wonders if he is caught in an illusion.

“How?”

“Your mother is one tricky opponent. Hyah!” One swift kick sends Eiric near Vilgur and Keldan who train together.

Their training is composed of battles and strength training, the two locked in a desperate push to gain ground on the other. Keldan is far stronger, but Vilgur refuses to give an inch without giving everything he has.

“What is it son?!”

“I failed! I don’t know what to do.” Vilgur takes a half step back before conjuring even more strength, the two remain in the same position.

“We don’t always have an answer, but I will say that you should do what you believe is right. You’ve been like this since you returned.”

“If I want to do that then I must get stronger.”

“I will help you.”

The two warriors unleash their magic, Vilgur no longer succumbing to the fear of his father’s overwhelming magic. Sheer grit and will keep him in the battle, the terrifying strength just before him not enough to make him surrender. Imminent defeat no longer a justified reason to stop.

“Ahhhhh!” Vilgur pushes.

“Huh?!” Vilgur wakes next to Eiric under the shade of a tree. Ahead of them, Keldan and Astrid train together, “What happened?”

“You fainted.” Eiric said.

“What. I failed again?” Vilgur digs his finger into the ground.

“I don’t think so. I thought you were really cool.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even when you fainted, Keldan struggled to push you back. Your will is a lot stronger than your consciousness. Even Sigrun was impressed.”

“Honey! Don’t tell him that, he’ll never let it go.” Sigrun said as she handed them both water.

Vilgur smiles. For once, he believes he is becoming stronger.