Freyrborn: A Viking’s Saga

The room went silent for a moment as Erik and Valthrun exchanged curious glances. Siegfried raised an eyebrow, amused.

Erik Stormbringer: Raising an eyebrow, his deep voice laced with amusement as he leaned back in his chair. "A Holmgang? Hakon, you do realize your brother could squash you like a gnat if he wanted to, don't you?"

Hakon: Turning sharply to face his father, his young face flushed with defiance. "I know, Father! But I've been training every day since he left last time. I'm not just some kid anymore—I can hold my own!"

Siegfried: A grin spread across his face, his arms crossing over his broad chest as he turned to fully face his younger brother. "You've got guts, little brother. I'll give you that." He stepped forward, towering over Hakon but looking down at him with clear pride in his eyes. "But guts alone won't win you this fight."

Valthrun: Chuckling from his seat by the fire, where he had been quietly observing. "Now this, I have to see. The pup challenging the alpha. Go easy on him, Siegfried—or don't. A little humiliation might do the boy good."

Hakon: His fists clenched tightly around the hilt of his wooden blade, his fiery spirit burning in his eyes. "Don't hold back, Siegfried. I want you to take me seriously!"

Erik Stormbringer: Smirking, though his eyes glimmered with fatherly pride. "Careful what you wish for, son. You might regret those words."

Hakon: Standing tall, his voice firm "I've been training every day since you left last time. I might not beat you, but I'll make you take me seriously. What say you?"

Siegfried: Laughing, his voice rich and full of confidence. "Alright, Hakon. You've got yourself a Holmgang. Let's see what you're made of."

The two brothers step outside into the crisp afternoon air. A crowd of villagers gathers, excited by the prospect of seeing the Stormbringer brothers clash. The training grounds are marked by a rough circle in the dirt, the edges trampled from years of use.

Valthrun: Looking at Erik while chuckling "This'll be interesting. The boy has fire in him, that's for sure. Reminds me of you when we were his age."

Erik Stormbringer: Smiling slightly, though his eyes are focused on the fight "Fire's good, but let's see if he can control it."

The brothers face each other, Hakon holding his wooden practice sword with both hands, while Siegfried stands casually, his arms crossed.

Siegfried: Playfully "I'll give you the first move, little brother. Show me what you've learned."

Hakon: Scowling, determined "You'll regret that!"

Hakon lunged forward, his strikes swift and precise. Siegfried parried easily at first, almost lazily, but as Hakon pressed the attack, the older brother began to shift into a more defensive stance, his movements growing sharper.

Valthrun: Watching intently from the sidelines. "The boy's not bad. He's quicker than I expected."

Erik Stormbringer: Nodding slightly, his arms crossed. "He's been working harder than ever. But Siegfried hasn't even started yet."

Eventually Hakon managed to land a solid blow on Siegfried's side, causing the older brother to stumble slightly. The crowd gasped, and a wide grin spread across Hakon's face.

Hakon: Stepping back, his chest heaving with exertion but his grin widening, "Got you, big brother! You're not untouchable after all!"The crowd erupted into murmurs of shock and awe, a few cheers breaking out from the younger on lookers. Even the seasoned warriors in the crowd raised their eyebrows at the sight of the young Stormbringer managing to stagger Siegfried, albeit briefly.

Valthrun: Straightening from where he had been leaning, his tone both amused and impressed, "Well, well, the pup's got some teeth after all. That's a feat worth remembering."

Erik Stormbringer: Watching intently, his lips twitching into the faintest trace of a smile. His voice was calm, yet carried pride. "The boy's been training harder than I thought. He has his mother's fire."

Siegfried, meanwhile, had steadied himself, rubbing his side where the wooden blade had struck him. His grin turned sharp and dangerous, his silver eyes gleaming with amusement but also a hint of warning. He rolled his shoulders, the tension in his muscles shifting as if preparing for something far greater than what he had shown so far.

Siegfried: Laughing, though his voice carried a slight edge. "Not bad, little brother. You caught me slipping. But don't let it get to your head."

Hakon: Feeling the rush of adrenaline and the cheers of the crowd emboldening him, his grin turned a little cocky. "Maybe you're not as strong as you think, Siegfried! Maybe I'm finally catching up!"

The older brother's smile disappeared. His eyes narrowed slightly, the air around him growing heavy as his aura began to shift. The faint silver light that had flickered faintly earlier now flared to life, surrounding him like a stormcloud. The once-playful atmosphere turned serious, and the crowd fell silent, the weight of Siegfried's presence pressing down on them like a tangible force.

Valthrun: Raising an eyebrow, his playful demeanor giving way to slight unease. "Uh oh. The wolf's baring his fangs now. The boy might've bitten off more than he can chew."

Erik Stormbringer: Crossing his arms, his expression unreadable but his eyes gleaming with the knowledge of what was to come. "He's about to learn an important lesson."

Hakon's grin faltered slightly as he felt the sudden shift in Siegfried's energy. The silver aura around his brother pulsed, crackling faintly like lightning in a storm. The air seemed to hum with power, and Hakon's heart began to race as a feeling of primal fear crept into his chest.

Hakon (internal monologue): "What… is this? This isn't the Siegfried I was fighting just a moment ago. He feels… different. Stronger. Faster."

Siegfried's grin returned, but it was no longer playful—it was predatory, the grin of a wolf who had cornered his prey. He raised his wooden practice sword, holding it loosely at his side as he spoke, his tone calm yet filled with a quiet intensity.

Siegfried: "You wanted me to take you seriously, little brother. Alright, then. No more holding back."

Before Hakon could respond, Siegfried vanished. To the crowd, it was as if he had disappeared into thin air, his silver aura leaving behind a faint streak of light. Hakon's eyes widened as he frantically scanned his surroundings, his senses screaming at him to move.

Hakon: Spinning in place, gripping his wooden blade tightly. "Where—?!"

Siegfried reappeared behind him in a flash, his speed too great for Hakon to follow. The younger brother barely managed to twist around, his instincts heightened by his training and the first-level aura he had recently unlocked. The faint glow of his own silver aura flickered as he swung his wooden sword in a desperate arc, aiming to intercept his brother's next move.

But Siegfried was too fast.

With a fluid motion, Siegfried sidestepped Hakon's swing, his movements almost effortless. In the same instant, he brought his fist forward, landing a clean and controlled punch to Hakon's chest. The force of the blow was immense—not enough to seriously harm him, but more than enough to knock the air out of his lungs and send him sprawling backward.

Hakon hit the ground hard, the impact kicking up a small cloud of dust. He lay there, gasping for breath, his wooden blade slipping from his grasp as his vision blurred slightly.

The crowd erupted into a mix of cheers and gasps, their awe at Siegfried's display of power mingling with concern for Hakon.

Valthrun: Letting out a low whistle, shaking his head with a grin. "And that, my friends, is the difference between a boy and a man. Siegfried didn't even break a sweat."

Erik Stormbringer: Watching as Hakon struggled to sit up, his voice calm but carrying a note of pride. "The boy's got heart, but he still has much to learn."

The fight is over.

Hakon lies on his back, staring up at the sky, his chest heaving. Siegfried walks over and extends a hand.

Siegfried: Smiling "Good fight, little brother. You've come a long way."

Hakon: Taking his hand, wincing "I… got carried away. Sorry."

Siegfried: Pulling him to his feet, shaking his head "Never apologize for being strong, Hakon. It's the Stormbringer way. Always fight with everything you've got."

He places a hand on Hakon's shoulder.

Siegfried: "Just remember—strength is more than power. It's knowing when to use it."

As Siegfried prepares to leave, Valthrun approaches Hakon with a wide grin.Valthrun dropped his sack and rummaged through it, pulling out a stack of thick envelopes sealed with red wax. He held one up and handed it to Hakon, who stared at it curiously.

Valthrun: "That was impressive, Hakon. Even though you lost, you showed real potential. This letter? "This, Hakon, is no ordinary letter. I've travelled across Norvold, seeking out unique children with potential. The ones who are strong, smart, or have a spark of greatness about them. This is your invitation to the Academy."

Hakon's eyes widened as he took the envelope, feeling a faint hum of energy radiating from it.

Hakon:

"The Academy? You mean… to become a warrior?"

Valthrun (nodding):"Not just any warrior, boy. The Academy is where legends are forged. If you've got what it takes, you'll train among the best. Only the worthy survive it, but the rewards are greater than you can imagine."

Hakon: Eyes wide, turning to his father "Father? What do you think?"

Erik Stormbringer: Laughing "I was going to arrange a test for you myself, but it seems my old friend has beaten me to it."

Hakon (confused):"A test? What test?"

Valthrun leaned in, his tone dropping into something more serious.

Valthrun:"The test is simple but profound. You see, Hakon, this letter you're holding isn't just a piece of parchment. It's imbued with Hurgr. For most kids your age, they might feel its presence, but only a select few can see it. Tell me, Hakon, what do you sense from the letter?"

Hakon held the envelope carefully, closing his eyes. He reached out with his senses, focusing on the faint energy radiating from the parchment. Slowly, he began to describe what he felt.

Hakon:"It feels… warm, like a steady flame. The Hurgr is golden, swirling softly like the wind, but there's a rhythm to it—almost like it's breathing. And it flows… like a river, steady and strong.It feels like the hurgr of this letter is pulling me somewhere,like it wants me to follow it ."

Valthrun's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He crossed his arms, muttering under his breath.

Valthrun (to himself):"This kid… he's more attuned than most adults."

He looked back at Hakon, his expression unreadable.

Valthrun:"Well, boy, you've surprised me. Most your age can barely sense Hurgr, let alone describe its flow and color.U're right,the hurgr of that letter is pulling/guiding you somewhere,its guiding you to the academy,if u can make it to the academy using only hurgr and that letter than surely u deserve to be in my academy. Seems I've got my work cut out for me, making sure you live up to your potential."

Hakon: Looking back at Valthrun, determination burning in his eyes "Then I'll do it. I'll prove myself."

Valthrun: Grinning "Good. But don't think being my nephew(Not really blood-related) gets you special treatment."

Hakon smirked, slipping the letter into his tunic.

Hakon: Grinning back "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Valthrun (chuckling):"That's the spirit. Just don't embarrass the family name, eh?"

Erik clapped a hand on Hakon's shoulder, his proud smile unmistakable.

Erik:"You've got a chance now, son. Make the most of it. The Stormbringers don't run from a challenge."

Hakon looked at the letter again, feeling the weight of his father's words and the opportunity before him. This was his chance to step out of his brother's shadow and carve his own path.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the Stormbringer family and their friend Valthrun stood together, the warmth of camaraderie and anticipation filling the air. Hakon held the letter tightly, his mind racing with dreams of the future. He didn't know what lay ahead at the Academy, but one thing was certain: his journey was just beginning.The crowd cheers as Siegfried boards his ship, setting off on his next journey, while Hakon looks down at the envelope in his hands, his heart racing with anticipation.

Internal Monologue (Hakon):"This is it. My chance to prove myself. Not just as Siegfried's brother, but as Hakon Stormbringer. I won't let them down."