[ Astvar ]

“His god? Well…”

[ Eric ]

“My apologies but I can’t say who blessed me.” I cut in on a conversation.

[ Masked Warrior ]

“Are you hiding something?! Are you blessed by evil?” Said one of the masked warriors.

[ Eric ]

“Of course not.”

[ Masked Warrior ]

“Then show us the mark!”

The masked guard was still telling me to show the mark but I still denied his request. He grabbed his sword and said.

[ Masked Warrior ]

“Show the mark or I’ll check it by force!”

While Astvar was panicking and thinking about what to do I had no other choice than to use my trump card. False Fear. Definitely everyone around me felt that and even the knight was scared to move his sword. I didn’t want to catch everybody's attention but it happened quickly. The knight with a longsword grabbed the other knight with a sword and lowered his weapon. He was the only one not affected by False Fear… He definitely is strong… He was the strongest among them. The one who didn’t hide his presence.

[ Riglid’s Captain ]

“I’m deeply sorry for the actions of my fellow Riglid… I promise that won’t happen again.” Said the knight with a longsword or Riglid? Is that what they are?

The Riglid that offended me left and others showed us the place where we would stay. It was near the Church Of Sol. The guardian of the Pure Sun clan is goddess Sol. She is the one who gave the power to scare monsters and strength for Riglids to defend the clan. On the opposite side of the church, there was a king's palace where we will come to talk with the king.

I know it’s a Vikings world but this city looks more like a medieval European city. Buildings made of stone and wood. Most of the buildings are tenements. I almost feel at home. Almost if not for the almost fanatic way of believing in their god… Everywhere I look there is a sun. On doors, banners, and clothes. Even on the path… stones were arranged to look like a sun.

What worries me a bit is that our inn is right in front of the barracks… Almost for the whole time, I felt the presence of this ‘Riglid’. One thing sure is interesting about them. I never saw any of them without a mask. Even when they were sweating because of the training. They had their mask on, no matter what.

I hoped I could rest for the rest of the day… But Astvar wanted to take a tour around the city since he wasn’t here for five years. I hope there aren’t any people like in my world yelling “The end is near!” What a pain in the ass they were…

The city has two lively places. One is everything around the church… because where else could it be… and to my surprise there is a plaza with many restaurants around and a statue. It was a statue of a warrior. There was a stone sign under it. “When the sun is in the sky, the sunlight will guide you to safety. Barnir The Sun Warrior.” It looked like Astvar knows who he is because he kneeled in front of the statue.

[ Eric ]

“Astvar. Can you tell me who he was?”

[ Astvar ]

“Barnir was like you, blessed by the god. He was blessed by Sol. There was a fight between believers of Sol, goddess of the sun, and Mani, goddess of the moon. Barnir was the one who led the main force in the last battle and defeated the lead priest of the Mani church… and he was my father.”

[ Eric ]

“For real?!”

[ Astvar ]

“Yes. That’s the main reason why the Pure Sun is helping us. Out of respect for that man. Of course, I earned some of it by myself too.”

[ Eric ]

“What did you do?”

[ Astvar ]

“Well… I liberated our village and that’s basically how I became a Jarl. It was a long time ago but I’m still alive and the people of our village remember it pretty well.”

[ Eric ]

“Liberated? You mean it was ruled by another clan?”

[ Astvar ]

“Yes. Blackwood clan.”

[ Eric ]

“And how did you get your title?”

[ Astvar ]

“That… Is a kind of sensitive topic for me…”

[ Eric ]

“Oh… Sorry for asking…

[ Astvar ]

“No problem…”

We were walking for an hour and I noticed that Astvar knows this place pretty well. I know that he lived here in his childhood but did it really not change that much after this many years? He also is recognized by many people. Almost everyone greets him. We stopped only once. In front of the bakery of Astvar’s close friend.

[ Young Man ]

“Long time no see Astvar!” Said the young man with short blond hair.

[ Astvar ]

“Landrir! You have grown so much! And you’ve got hair on your face! You’re finally a man. Your father would be proud.”

[ Landrir ]

“I know he would… Especially when I finally have my own family.”

I noticed someone standing behind Landrir. Small head peaked to see who he was talking with. Landrir pushed a small girl so she wouldn’t hide behind him. It was a small girl with long blond hair, blue eyes, and a white skirt.

[ Astvar ]

“You have a daughter? Happy to hear that.” Said Astvar as he kneeled in front of the girl.

Astvar wanted to introduce himself to the little girl but she was focused on another thing. At first, I thought she was looking at me but she was actually looking at Skyge who was lying on my shoulder. She pointed her finger at him and whispered “Doggy”. I usually avoided any integration with children but I guess she just warmed my heart since I fell here. I taped Skyge's nose to wake him up. He barked at me but in such a cute way, that girl’s eyes were sparkling even more than earlier. I kneeled in front of her and grabbed Skyge with both of my hands. I showed him to her from up close.

[ Eric ]

“This is Skyge.”

[ Daughter ]

“Sky…ge…” She whispered.

It only took me one blink of an eye to lose grip of Skyge and see him in the girl’s arms with her joyful smile. While she was happy I heard Skyge’s internal scream.

[ Landrir ]

“This is my daughter Alice. Sorry. She is very shy around people.”

While Astvar talked with Landrir I talked with Skyge telepathically. I was watching how the girl was happily playing with Skyge.

[ Skyge ]

“Help me!” Said Skyge but Alice heard only a howling little puppy.

[ Eric ]

“Why?”

[ Skyge ]

“She is killing me!” Said dramatically Skyge.

[ Eric ]

“I know she isn’t… She isn’t even ten years old…”

[ Skyge ]

“You’re a bad master!”

[ Eric ]

“No… You’re just a crybaby…”

For a while, he was complaining until he got tired and surrendered to the will of a small girl. I didn’t even notice but Astvar and Landrir went inside and came back with a few pieces of cake. One piece for each one of us. Seeing that the girl gave me back Skyge and said.

[ Alice ]

“Wait!” She ran inside a bakery and came back with shortbread. Without a word, she took Skyge off my hands again. Skyge seemed annoyed at first but he changed his mind when he noticed food in front of him.

[ Eric ]

“So that’s how you began to like me…”