Chapter 2 : The Return of the Storm
Year 4096 ADO
[1]Vintr, Norheim, Midgard
Gods and Monsters,a popular game kids play where the kids are divided into 2 groups,one group plays intoJotun monsters and the other are Aesir gods.the rules are simple,the Aesir will chase the Jotun and slash them with a fake weapon of their choosing.
However if the jotun reaches the aesir's throne the jotun becomes the ruler of Asgard and the nine realms.basically letting Jotun control the loser for the rest of the day.and the opposite is true.Think tag with a few extra steps.
But none of that excited me as the coin betrayed me by choosing tails which meant I was the monster again.
''Ahh!! what!This game is rigged,this the 4th time today,can i please be a Aesir,just this one time.''I begged Eva.
''Not gonna happen buddy,u know the rules,u want to be an Aesir,then u have to defeat me. Little Eva said while she pretended to unsheath a wooden sword.
''Fine,you want to do this the hard way i see,well then catch me if u can Aesir,''I shot off like lightning…doing my best to run away.
''Wow,you're just as sneaky as a Jotun,You know what, i'm going to give you ten seconds of headstart.''she said while using the wooden sword to scratch her the back of her head.
''10...9…8…7…6…5…If i was you i was gonna run faster.4..3..2.1…ready or not here i come.''
I had ran 12 meters at this point,however Eva didn't seem bothered by this.
Eva just murmured an incantation which tripled her speed relative to me. Which was cheating by the way.
I was close to her throne,which had a flag next to it.The distance was exactly 2 ,5 meters away.
For the 1st time in a while I could smell victory as it would be the 1st time I won since three moons ago.
''Yes I'm almost there,come on…you are a jotun monster.''
''Push past your limits and run faster.''I said while dashing to the flag, one meter away when I was struck by a wooden sword.
The nerve of this girl to throw a sword at me,what if iwas seriously hurt…
''Not so fast Jotun!I told you that you were not gonna win.''Eva said as she sat on my back.
''Get off me filthy Aesir,I need to take my revenge.''signalling Eva to get off him.
''Give up drengr,your reign of terror has come to an end.''Eva said while pointing her wooden sword at me.
''never,I am the mighty powerful —- ''
BLAARREEE!!!
The village horn was sound, It could mean one thing.''It's him, Siegfried is back.''
I ran off to the port to meet him.
''Three winters, and now he's back. My brother—the great Siegfried—has returned.''
I didn't waste another second. My tunic wasn't even fastened properly, but it didn't matter. I sprinted out of the playground, Eva trailed behind me.
The air was cold, biting my cheeks as I went down the well-worn path through the village.
My small but definitely developing frame darted between the early risers—farmers and fishermen preparing for the day.
Women stoked fires in their hearths, and children rubbed sleep from their eyes.
Heads turned as I passed, curious smiles spreading across the villagers' faces at the sight of my eagerness.
They had all heard the rumours, of course. It had only taken one cry from the watchman on the hill for word to spread like wildfire—Siegfried Stormbringer had returned from his voyages.
As I ran, I took in the familiar sights of the village, now lit with the golden warmth of dawn. The wooden huts with their rough-hewn walls, the chimneys already puffing thin trails of smoke, filling the air with the earthy, comforting scent of pinewood.
Snow clung to the edges of rooftops, glistening in the morning light like tiny shards of crystal.
Near the port of the village stood two statues that captured the attention of all who passed. The largest was of Thor, the village's revered patron god.
Carved from ancient oak and weathered by generations of offerings and prayers, the statue depicted Thor in a pose of raw strength, Mjolnir raised high and his cape flowing as if caught in an eternal storm.
His eyes, chiseled with a deep-set determination, seemed to watch over the village, challenging any who dared threaten it.
Nearby, though smaller in stature but no less imposing, was the statue of Odin. Fashioned from a mix of wood and stone, its presence was hauntingly wise.
The Allfather was depicted seated, his spear Gungnir at his side, and his one good eye seemed to peer through time itself.
Ravens, carved with intricate detail, perched on his shoulders, and runes etched into the base of the statue glowed faintly under the moon's silver gaze.
These statues stood as remainders to any invader that two of the mightiest gods were the protectors of this village.
My heart raced as i reached the edge of the village and skidded to a halt by the shore, my gaze immediately drawn to the mighty drakkar anchored in the fjord.
There it was—a ship unlike any i had ever seen. Siegfried's ship stood proud against the gentle lapping waves, its prow rising from the water like a beast from a legend.
The dragon-headed prow, carved with fierce precision, seemed to stare out over the village with a watchful gaze. Its eyes were painted a deep, menacing crimson, and the carved scales along the dragon's neck glistened with a sheen of saltwater.
The sail, once bright red, was now faded, its edges frayed and patched from rough seas and harsh weather.
Yet it still caught the wind with a proud defiance, a symbol of resilience and victory over whatever trials the sea had thrown at it.
And there, standing tall and unyielding on the shore, was Siegfried himself.
His broad shoulders draped in a thick wolfskin cloak that hung down past his waist, its fur dark a fitting adornment for a man who had wrestled with the elements and emerged victorious.
His leather armour was worn and scarred, bearing the marks of countless clashes with blade and spear, but it only seemed to add to his presence, as if each scratch and tear were a badge of honour.
His long blond hair was tied back in a loose knot, and a fierce beard framed his face, his jaw set with the confidence of a warrior who had seen the world and survived it.
His face was handsome with a touch of battle-worn hardness, with piercing blue eyes that held the promise of the stormbringer insignia . Small scars marked his skin, each one telling its own story of danger and survival.
Strapped to his back was a sword almost as tall as i was, its hilt adorned with engravings of wolves and serpents.
At his hip hung a dagger which was gifted to him by father, and around his neck, a heavy silver whale medallion had caught the morning light.
This was the man who had gone off into the unknown and returned, bearing the marks of his journey like a second skin.
Siegfried looked at me, a glint of recognition and a fierce pride in his gaze.
Next to me was my father,Erik Stormbringer. He approached Siegfried with a proud yet restrained expression.
His eyes, sharp and steady, assessed his son with pride , as if measuring the man who had returned against the boy who had left.
Siegfried saw his father and broke into a wide grin, spreading his arms to show off his bloodstained, dirt-encrusted armour.
Father smirked as he leaned back, his voice rough with dry humor "Look what the sea spat back onto our shores. You're not dead, then?A Shame—I was just about ready to carve your name into the stones."
Siegfried laughed, the sound deep and hearty, "It'll take more than a few monsters to end a Stormbringer. Or did you forget we have the name, old man?"
Father's eyes twinkled with pride as he stepped forward, giving his son a once-over "Words are cheap, boy. Any fool can come back breathing."
"–The question is, did you bring back anything worth drinking to?"
Siegfried grinned as he reached into his sack and pulled out a golden goblet encrusted with jewels, tossing it at his father's hand "If that's not enough, I've got chests full of gold and a story that'll make your beard turn white."
Father inspected the goblet. His face remained stoic, but the pride in his eyes was unmistakable "A story, eh? The goblet's fine, but a Stormbringer's worth is in his deeds, not his tales."
"–Tell me, did you shed blood for this, or did you let your men do the hard work while you played the poet?"
A flicker of irritation crossed his face before holding his father's gaze with an unflinching stare
"I cut down their captain myself. "
"–I watched his blood mix with the sea. And the gold?" He nodded toward the chests of loot being unloaded from the ship. "Taken from his own hall, while the rest of his men begged for mercy."
A satisfied smile tugged at the corner of father's mouth. He clapped a heavy hand on Siegfried's shoulder, the force enough to stagger a lesser man "That's more like it. A true Stormbringer takes what he wants and leaves nothing behind but ash and fear."
Siegfried leaned into his father's grip, his smile fierce and proud "Ash and fear, Father. Just as you taught me."
Father gave Siegfried's shoulder a rough shake "Good. Then drink, Siegfried. Tonight, you're a warrior in full."
Father nodded, signalled him that its time to say the thing.''A Stormbringer protects the innocent and weak.''He said
Siegfried's voice dropped to a near growl, "And raise his hand against the wicked strong."
''Both of them.For such this is the decree made by Thunder.''They said.
The Stormbringer family motto.
As Siegfried turned, his eyes caught sight of mother, Sigrun Stormbringer, standing at the edge of the gathering crowd.
Tall and regal, her crimson-braided hair fell to her waist. Her sharp eyes softened as they met his, a rare smile gracing her lips.
Her arms folded, voice warm but tinged with mock disapproval "So, my wandering wolf returns. I was beginning to think you preferred the company of storms and strangers to your own blood."
Siegfried chuckled, brushing the dirt from his cloak "Aye, but none of those storms could scowl half as well as you, Mother."
"Hmph. You look thinner. Have you forgotten how to eat while you're off chasing glory?"
"Just sharpening my edge, Mother. No soft bellies on the sea."
Mother tightened her grip on his arm, eyes scanning him from head to toe, lingering on the scars "Good. Keep that edge sharp, boy. But remember—there's no glory worth losing your head over."
"I know, Mother. The gods would have to work hard to take me from you."
"Aye. Just make sure they don't succeed." Gestured toward the longhouse, her expression lightened. "Now, come—you'll eat a real meal before you tell me all your tales."
As Siegfried's reunion with his parents was done, It was finally my turn.
I was four years old when Siegfried had sailed away, too young to understand what it meant to see someone go off into the unknown.
Now, at seven years old, I was old enough to feel the weight of his brother's absence, and even more so, the excitement of his return.I was abit nervous if he still remembered me.
"Brother! Do-Do you… do you remember me?"I said as I twiddled my thumbs.
[1]Norheim has 2 seasons only : Vintr=Winter,Sumar=Summer
