Solveig the Great, Pt. 1

CAIN

“Solveig?”

He’d been in this miasma of confusion ever since he got to this crude place. His port of call, obviously, was to find Solveig... but he couldn't even manage that.

Every building in this place was made of wood, and the walls around him were just big logs.

But the weirdest part?

Cain couldn’t interact with anyone. He clearly brushed past people. Folks with white-blonde hair… they really looked remarkably like Solveig herself.

Was... was I in the ancient past?

"So it's true, then! You really are the Useless One!"

Cain raised an eyebrow. Who’s that?

There was a boy and a gang, pointing a finger at a little girl.

Well, it was great that little girl was practically the same as her current incarnation; just without so much of a child’s body.

Solveig was adorable as a kid…

But this was not a happy memory indeed.

So he simply…

Observed.

\\

S!OLV###EI—G

Solveig was panting, her hand gesturing exactly how her clan chief had taught her, how countless nights of practice had drilled into her, how the heroes of her clan had instilled in her…

And yet… nothing came out!

Solveig bit her lip. "But I'm trying… really, really hard!"

Erling sneered. "So what? I still wouldn't want you protecting me. Not even a little bit! When the Demon King comes, your useless spells will do nothing!"

"I’m n-not useless!!!”

This was really, really bad. Ever since Solveig's tribe found out that other, smaller tribes were already getting stomped out by the Demon King's army, the adults said every kid in the village had to learn magic early. That way, everyone could protect themselves and their friends too.

And unfortunately... Solveig was the worst friend in her village. By far!

"Fireball!" she screamed, throwing her hand out doubly hard this time.

But, as usual… nothing happened.

The other kids around her started to giggle.

Solveig squeezed her eyes shut, feeling her tears drop onto the dirt.

“Come on, look around you!” Erling jeered. “Everyone else can do it. Even little babies can do it better than you!”

Solveig sucked in her snot and tensed her muscles again. “Just… you… wait! Fire—”

Poof!

H-Huh…?

A white billow of smoke came out her finger tips. In any other circumstances, Solveig would’ve thought it was an improvement.

But other kids were watching. Whose laughter was now at the top of their lungs.

“See?!" Erling shouted. "Useless! Why'd I even wanna be your friend in the first place?"

He pointed a finger at her.

“That does it! I don’t wanna be your friend anymore.”

“Yeah, you’re gonna die really badly if you are her friend,” another kid said.

Then another: “Yeah, she’s a lost cause. Let’s just scram.”

“W-Wait!” Solveig hiccupped. “I can do it this time! I swear!”

They began to walk away anyway.

Fresh, hot tears spilled down her cheeks before she could stop them—her chest burned something awful, like something was about to burst! “Please… don’t leave me alone…!”

Then, Solveig’s hands moved once more.

"Fireball!”

On and on she went.

“Fireball!”

But as usual…

“Fireball…”

Solveig just. Couldn’t. Cut it.

“Oh, crud!” she heard Erling scream. “Her old man’s here!”

Solveig cracked open her eyes. H-Huh?

A broad silhouette blotted out the sun over the training ground.

She just knew it had to be him.

Daddy…

He stood stock-still with his fists clenched, his signature battle axe hanging on his back, looking his usual scary self.

“What seems to be the problem here?”

Like a flock of chickens, the kids scrambled.

She quickly turned her head, wiping at her tears as her dad walked forward. Only when they were all gone did she face him.

“Solveig… honey… what’s going on?” he asked. “I could hear you from the other side of the village.”

“It’s…” Solveig steeled herself, shakily forming a smile, because that’s what heroes did. “It’s nothing! The others were just jealous of my amazing power!”

“That’s… great, honey.” Solveig’s dad sighed. “Let’s just head home, okay?”

Solveig simply smiled. “Okay!”

\\

A blur. 

Training. Training. Some more training. Naps. Eating like a pig. Then training again. 

Solveig got better at things, gradually. It wasn't instant. Yet it got easier to train day by day... until eventually... she felt entitled enough.

\\

Two years later…

Daddy’s voice could be really loud when he wanted it to be.

“TAKE COVER, SOLVEIG!”

BOOM!!!

The ground shook as the boulder struck the shack above Solveig, structural confetti raining down.

Daddy had run and shielded her from the worst of it.

"You okay, sweet pea?" Daddy asked, brushing dust out of her hair.

"M'kay," she mumbled into his sleeve.

Outside, something big roared.

Then she heard the door slam open. Mommy came running inside, her finger gripping her twin axes till they were bone-white.

“Are you alright?! Is she—?!”

“She’s fine.”

“Thank the gods.”

Mother shut her eyes and blew out a long breath. Her hair was a mess—splotches of soot ran across her cheeks. “Our warriors are struggling. Mages, too.”

Daddy chuckled. “I can tell.”

BOOM!!!

"By Do-in's beard, will these ogres EVER let up?! I just re-did the tiling!"

"You already know the answer to that," Daddy said, still stroking Solveig's hair. It felt nice.

“It was rhetorical.”

“Aye.”

“Gods, where’s your bloody brother when you need him?”

“If he’s not here, it’s probably for a good reason.”

“Damn sorcerers and their self-important lives.”

Dad chuckled. “I try to get him to settle down, but he just won’t listen!”

“He told me once you were never going to settle for anything—you know, with your title and all.”

“I was simply an angry young man. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“So it’s up to the adults, then.” Mommy threw an axe at him, his big right hand catching it out of the air with a thunk. “Just like old times?”

“Just like old times.” Daddy turned to face Solveig, pushing away the locks on her hair. “Now, Solveig…”

Goosebumps flared everywhere.

Did this mean…?

They were going to do it. They were really going to do it! “Uh huh? Uh huh?”

“I need you to stay inside.”

…

...What?

The words just refused to make sense no matter how many times she turned it over in her head.

"But… But you promised… You said when I got good enough, I could—”

"I know what I said. And you have been making lots of progress. Just… not today, okay?” Daddy stood up. “Today, you stay inside."

…No…

It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair at all! She could throw three fireballs at once now, you know?!

But it didn’t seem to matter to them either way. They were already halfway to the door.

Even through her pouting, Solveig caught her father glancing back at her, just for a second.

"Stay safe, okay?” he said. “Love you."

Solveig strained to smile. "...Love you too."

The door shut behind them.

And once the door shut fully…

“ARGH!!!”