Bloodlines of the Ancient Pantheons

Chapter 626: DCXXVI. The Sixth Sense

"None of what you think about the King is true... he may be a formidable warrior, it's true, but... he also forced all of us to abandon Krypstorm just as we were about to achieve the mission. Anyway, I'm not here to talk to you about him, but about our Dag! Mother, Brann's weapon is not a simple weapon, but a powerful relic capable of killing the Frostsinners!" Gridd continued, deflecting the conversation and turning to her mother, upset by her words.

"What? What are you saying, Gridd? What does the Frostsinners have to do with my son?! Why can't you live a normal life like all the warriors of Skjold?!" Asa inquired, who was not pleased to hear of the Xis for the umpteenth time.

"Asa..." Egill said, joining the conversation and attracting the attention of the old Shieldmaiden, to help Gridd wriggle out of that delicate conversation.

"Egill, why didn't you direct these boys on the right path? Why do they have to meddle at all costs in matters bigger than them? Not a day goes by in my life when I don't pray for their health, hoping they're safe... I find out that they have become strong and famous warriors, overcoming the fame achieved by their mother and approaching that of Brann and then? They get lost in this nonsense! My heart won't hold up for long" she replied, with tears in her eyes, as if she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

"They don't need to be guided by me, quite the contrary... your son Dag proved to be a man beyond all expectations and gave us all a purpose, a meaning, something worth continuing to fight for. Traveling to Krypstorm we discovered things we never imagined... a prophecy, for example, written in an ancient book. It tells of a warrior capable of exterminating the Frostsinners and traveling from one planet to another! That warrior is Dag, Asa! Your son is the key to break the chains of our slavery!" Egill exclaimed, resting both of his hands on the table and speaking with an open heart, hoping that she and Eirik would believe his words.

"Prophecy? What kind of prophecy are you talking about?" Eirik intervened, anticipating his mother, who could not believe that even the wise Egill had helped Dag follow his revolutionary path.

After that question, Egill tried to briefly but concisely explain the question of the Crystals of the Elements, explicitly saying that what contained the flame of the first Sun was embedded in Dag's weapon, previously belonging to Brann.

The Hammers Of Thor's Master of Healing continued to speak uninterruptedly for more than an hour and his two interlocutors hung from his lips, storing every word in their hearts.

Finally, after that difficult talk, both Asa and Eirik sensed that Dag's real role in that world was not simply to fight in a Clan and increase his popularity: both of them remembered the special way Dag has looked up at the sky since he was a child, they remembered his daydreams and his perennial hope in a better world.

"So... this man is saying that Dag..." Eirik whispered, looking at her mother and noticing that she too had remained speechless, not expecting her old friend to tell her something like that.

"The Crystals of the Elements... I've never heard about this story... how did you know about all this and how do you make sure it's all true?" the Shieldmaiden exclaimed, resting both of her arms on the table and leaning forward, eager to know more.

Gridd and Egill looked at each other and for a few seconds, they felt a strong empathy thinking of Dag and everything they had gone through to realize that that young warrior had a much more important destiny than anyone else.

"Why would I ever tell you a falsehood, Mother? What would I gain? Don't you even believe your daughter's words now?" Gridd said, making Asa realize that Egill's words just before were true and that the time to have doubts was over.

"It's not about that, Gridd... Dag... Dag is just a boy! I remember like it was yesterday that he couldn't even hold a wooden sword in his hand, and now... now is down there, in Krypstorm, an uncharted land full of pitfalls to fight against unknown warriors and save the world from destruction! How can I, I can't believe everything you're telling me! My little Dag... why didn't he come back with you?! Why did he decide to commit suicide like this?!" Asa yelled, who could no longer hold back the typical pain of a mother who knows she no longer will see her son.

"We have only obeyed Einar's orders, Asa. You're probably right, if we went back in time I'd stay with Dag, trying to help him with my advice, as I've always done. yes, you're right about that. But... you said something inaccurate... Dag is no longer just a boy, he never really was," Egill interrupted, taking Gridd's side and continuing the speech for her.

Eirik looked at the old Master of Healing, unable to believe that an anonymous person like Dag had gained the respect of someone so important and famous among warriors throughout Skjold.

"Egill, my friend... how can I not be worried?! At night I have horrible dreams, I happen to think about everything that can happen to my son and... now that I know he's alone over there... my hopes will slowly begin to fade. I die at the mere idea that I can no longer hug him" Asa continued, who immediately after being able to pronounce these words began to cry sobbing.

Old Egill, seeing his friend unable to hold back all that pain, got up and walked towards her, intent on showing her his true feelings.

Under the watchful eyes of Eirik, who immediately sensed that the man would do no harm to his mother, Egill placed his hand on that of Asa, clutching it in a gesture of fraternal love.