[The name is Faxi]
I haven't mentioned this before, but it turns out that I speak another language besides english without even realizing it. As I came into this world, it all felt like second nature to me until I eventually lost sight of it.
According to what Uncle Leif mentioned, the ground beneath my feet is actually Iceland, and the language we're speaking is Old Norse. Just like any kid my age, I'm still figuring things out, so I often have to choose my words carefully to make sure the person I'm talking to gets what I'm trying to say.
It's not that I'm an expert on Old Norse or anything, but people seem to think I'm some sort of young genius who can effortlessly soak up knowledge from my surroundings. It's kind of funny how they praise me for it. I totally see where they're coming from, but I have to disagree. Living in a remote village has its perks, especially when it comes to language. The folks around here tend to use the simplest words, which helps me grasp the meaning and remember things more easily.
I think if I move to a bigger town, it might be challenging for me since I still need to get a handle on some of the more advanced terms they use. So, I value what I have right now.
Let's set the language aside for just a second because I've got something cool to share with you all. After Ylva once again turned down my request to take me to the place she had promised, she shared something different with me instead.
In a corner of the village, there's a lively training ground where the young folks gather to hone their fighting skills. Here, they engage in spirited bouts, showcasing their swordsmanship. When they manage to best their opponents, they earn a sense of glory that fills them with pride and accomplishment.
So, today, I decided to check it out, and what I found was pretty disappointing. What Ylva said was definitely not accurate. She even tried to stretch the truth to pique my interest. I'm sure she felt relief when I finally took the bait and eased up on my persistence regarding her promise.
Well, she pulled it off.
"What the heck? What's up with the young people? Aren't they just kids my age? I can't spot any real sword skills around here. All I see are a bunch of kids flailing wooden swords while getting lost in whatever fantasy world they're diving into."
It looks like my irritation didn't go unnoticed, as it wasn't long before someone came up to me and asked, "You're Viktor, right?"
Noticing my silence, he quickly added, "You don't remember? I was there when we all gathered around, listening to Uncle Leif's story."
Even though he explained it that way, I still couldn't quite remember him. It wasn't my fault that there were always more than a dozen kids gathered around whenever Uncle Leif kicked off his story time. With so many faces in the crowd, this chubby kid didn't stand out to me, and I can't even recall anything about him.
Not wanting to hang around in this awkward moment, I jumped right in and asked him, "So, what do you know about this game?"
"The name is Faxi, btw. So, about this game—it's interesting. You've got two sides going head-to-head, and they refer to it as a battle that's been going on for a century. It's all about proving who's the strongest."
Ignoring his name, I asked once more, "Why didn't you join?"
Faxi's bright smile quickly faded, replaced by a look of sadness. He watched the battle unfolding before us with a hint of envy in his eyes and then said, "They only let kids six and older join. Honestly, I feel relieved. My parents said that this game can be dangerous."
"Did I have to wait another whole year just to join in on their children's game?" I let out a soft mumble, a wry smile creeping onto my face, but it quickly shifted into a wave of annoyance.
"Who wants to stick to that rule? We're old enough to join in," I said, stepping onto the battlefield. With each step I took, I felt a solid confidence beneath me, yet it appeared that Faxi interpreted my movements as nothing more than sheer recklessness.
"Wait, Viktor! If you don't get ready ahead of time, you're going to end up get hurt. I mean, you don't even have a sword!" Faxi shouted, desperately trying to stop me as he tugged at my hand. In response, I pointed at the sword lying just a short distance away.
"Can't you see? We're right in the middle of a battlefield! You can find your weapon just about anywhere," I said with a cheerful tone. Without a moment's pause, I bent down to grab one of the swords scattered around us.
Meanwhile, the duel between the two sides drew nearer to where we were standing. They appeared completely oblivious to us, even as their fight intensified and they tumbled across the snowy plains. I quickly urged Faxi to lift his weapon.
Eventually, they became aware of us. The fighting paused for a brief moment, and one of the leaders from one of the factions called out, "What are you doing here? You're interrupting our battle!"
He was clearly older than me, but our body sizes were pretty similar, so I didn't feel too intimidated. Instead, I felt a rush of excitement, almost like a burning fire was propelling my arm to swing.
The tip of the sword I was gripping struck his head with a solid thud. Luckily, he had on a leather protective helmet, which softened the blow a bit, making it less intense than it could have been. Despite my unexpected move catching him off guard, it stirred up some anger in him. But before he had the chance to respond, I jumped in and shouted:
"I'm the leader of the third faction, you mother fucker. I came from the west to defeat you losers! hahahaha."
I intentionally made a bold and arrogant statement, and, as expected, the outcome was just what I anticipated. The battlefield, already in disarray, spiraled into even greater chaos as my arrival sent fresh waves crashing over everyone, leaving them feeling completely overwhelmed.
Oh, right! I almost forgot to mention that Faxi was part of my faction, too. It was a small faction, just the two of us, and I felt sorry for him. He was definitely a newbie that I brought along, so it didn't take long for him to struggle and fall.
In case you forgot, this wasn't an actual battlefield. The weapons everyone was using were all made of wood. I got so caught up in my excitement that I ended up taking the game way too seriously.
In the end, this was my first time joining, and seeing everyone unhappy made me realize that I had probably overlooked many of the rules, too. But who cares? I had a blast, even if my entire body was aching afterwards from the way they all teamed up to take me down.
For quite a while, I became a regular at this spot, eager to join in on the game. Initially, they tried to keep me out, but eventually, they relented. The faction I formed gradually attracted new members, all thanks to the wild antics I pulled off on my first day.