[Viking]
At some point during your childhood, you probably found yourself saying that you couldn't wait to grow up. You're looking to break free from all those restrictions that have been laid out for you in the past.
Even though we can't predict if we'll look back and regret growing up, wishing we could have stayed a child forever, one thing's for sure. It's going to happen, no matter what.
You might find it hard to believe, but at this moment, I'm grappling with some inner turmoil about it. The more I learn, the clearer it becomes what era I was born into.
It's a given that everyone will eventually face death, but for someone like me, who has always lived in a modern world free from the chaos of war, the thought of being caught up in such turmoil sends a chill down my spine.
In today's world, you can think of robbers as bandits. Both are out to take what isn't theirs, but there's a key difference between the two. A robber might leave you alive after all the chaos they cause, while a bandit often presents a much darker fate, giving you the chance to end up as their slave.
Can you believe it? The thought of becoming a fucking slave is just mind-blowing. Do I need to break it down as clearly as I can? Whoever purchases you essentially gains control over your life. They can pretty much do whatever they please, and even if it leads to your unjust demise, their king won't bat an eye.
I probably should have seen it coming, but in this situation, I can easily get caught up in that nasty cycle, especially since I'm still just a kid.
If there are bandits attacking this village, just know that I'm gone. There's absolutely no chance I'm going to let them turn me into a slave.
"Don't worry, Viktor. This village is safe. You won't come across those barbarians this far north," Leif said, lighting the end of his pipe with a casual flick of his wrist.
Lounging comfortably on a stack of wood, he would occasionally draw from the tapered end of his pipe, letting out clouds of smoke that billowed like thick, white snowflakes.
"By the way, where did you hear all this from? I was quite taken aback when you just came up to me and started talking about slaves."
"You know, everyone talks about it from time to time, and I got a bit curious, so I decided to come and see you. There's no one in this village who knows more than you do, Uncle Leif." It looked like my compliment took him by surprise. He couldn't help but let a smile spread across his face, growing wider by the moment.
"That's right, when it comes to experience and knowledge in this village, I'm the one who knows it all."
Uncle Leif gave my head a gentle rub, and then his eyes shifted back to the horizon. As I followed his gaze, I noticed a flurry of activity near the sea, with people bustling about, each caught up in their own tasks. It looked like they were putting in a lot of effort to get the boat out of the warehouse.
Since they still had quite a distance ahead of them, they figured placing some logs under the boat would be helpful. This method would make it easier to push their vessel into position and anchor it safely in the sea.
When they finally succeeded, their hands shot up in triumph, and their roar echoed all the way over here. The scene unfolded repeatedly, and eventually, there were over five boats gliding across the water.
Uncle Leif puffed on his pipe as he spoke, "Check them out, I can't help but feel jealous at their excitement. I can only hope they can catch some big prey."
"Aren't you going to join them? I thought you knew the most about the ocean!" I didn't intend anything by my question, but then Uncle Leif suddenly let out a cough.
"Listen, Viktor—everyone has their own responsibilities. This village is still growing, and it's all about teamwork for the greater good. My role here is to make sure the goods are delivered for trade."
"Oh, really..." I tilted my head slightly, a gesture that perfectly captured my confusion.
I get what Uncle Leif was saying. I was just having fun with him. Since I had a sense that this was the right moment, I decided to ask something else that was still connected to the topic:
"So, what about the responsibility of protecting this village from those troublemakers? Is that what a Viking is supposed to do?"
Uncle Leif burst into laughter, and for a brief moment, I felt a twinge of worry that he might not respond. But then I realized that all I needed was a little patience. After taking a long puff and releasing it slowly, he opened his mouth:
"You can protect this village without needing to be a Viking. Being a Viking doesn't determine if you do good or bad things," Uncle Leif said, giving my head another rub. I was getting pretty annoyed with that.
"Being a viking is truly an honor. it signifies that you are a brave warrior, plain and simple," he added.
I didn't have any strong reaction to it because I wasn't that into the whole Viking thing from the start. But I have to admit, every time I hear stories about them, it still gets my blood pumping.
"So, are there any Vikings hanging out in this village?" This was my true aim, and I made it clear to him just how eager I was to hear his response.
"How can you not see it? There's one right in front of you!"
We locked eyes for what felt like an eternity, and as the moments stretched on, he finally burst into laughter, unable to contain it any longer.
"No way, are you actually a Viking, Uncle Leif?" I exclaimed, struggling to mask my irritation.
Is this for real, or is he just joking around? This middle-aged guy, always spinning tales, I'd much rather buy into the idea of him fighting a Kraken than think of him as a Viking.
When it comes to physique, my dad definitely has the edge over him, and I'm fully aware that he's just a blacksmith. If I were to consider another solid candidate, it would be Thors.
"Don't underestimate me. my courage and determination are just as fierce as any Viking's. During my lengthy voyage across the ocean, I unexpectedly crossed paths with them and came to understand the warrior spirit I possessed. They extended an invitation for me to join one of the mightiest Viking clans."
Here we go again.
Feeling fed up with his ridiculous tale, I cut him off and asked again, "What about the others? Are there really vikings in this village?"
Uncle Leif's body went rigid for a moment, and I could sense that he was reluctant to dive into the topic. It felt like I was going to be left hanging without an answer today.
From the beginning, I sensed that this situation had nothing to do with me being a kid. Uncle Leif appeared to be intent on keeping this information under wraps, and it was the uncertain look on his face that led me to think there was more to the story.
Is he still uncertain about the information he has? That could be a possibility.
"Oh no, I totally forgot I had something else on my plate," Uncle Leif exclaimed, his voice tinged with urgency as he scrambled down from the wood pile. "Viktor, let's meet at my place with the others like we always do. Don't forget, you won't want to miss Uncle Leif's story time!"
"Is he for real?" I quietly grumbled to myself after watching him dash off. His acting just now was pretty terrible, especially considering he thought I would fall for it like those other three-year-olds.
As I strolled home, a familiar sense of dissatisfaction settled in. Once again, I found myself unable to unravel the mystery surrounding Thors. I had hoped that his name would finally be revealed and Uncle Leif would share the secret about him. But instead, he just took off, leaving me in the dark.
As I settled onto the bed, the chill that had wrapped around me gradually faded away, giving way to a cozy warmth that gently urged me to drift off to sleep. As I stirred awake that night, the lingering feelings of dissatisfaction were nearly out of my mind. Still, I suddenly realized I had completely overlooked Uncle Leif's story time scheduled for today.