Chapter 8

Over a year has passed of Helga, and Sven training. Six months ago her grandmother passed, and her grandfather lit their house on fire to pass on to the underworld with his wife. Sven was there to console Helga through this tough time. It brought the two close together. All the training and they still had no idea what kind of tera Sven was. Although Sven continued to cultivate every night with Helga and could feel the lunar energy swarming into him. He still couldn't use magic and even Helga can't understand why. Sven has finally mastered the breathing techniques, and deep meditation Helga taught him. He now kept his body regeneration at a halt to save it for important moments. After training with Helga for so many battles he understood that sometimes his regeneration was too strong, and would quickly burn itself out. Which would slow down the rate of healing in the more critical moments of the battle. He also wanted to be able to battle as honorable as he could against regular human opponents. He has learned to launch the fireballs at will now, and his claw transformation is now instant. Which finally allows him to feel confident in anything to come his way.

Sven was waking up in his house and could hear someone at the door. It was probably Helga. For the last six months, she finds any excuse to visit Sven. Claiming to have left things, or needing to discuss cultivation. Even though it changed nothing for Sven since he can't practice magic. Sven was adept at combat, and many other things. However, he is dense to the hints Helga has been leaving him. She didn't push too much for she understood that it was only a year since Sven's lover had passed.

He walks to the door to open it, but to his surprise, it's Lilith at the door.

"What are you doing here?" Sven asked

"I've come to check on your progress. Helga tells me you've come along way, but you still can't discover your ancestry. I think it's time you went to meet a friend of mine. He is a very powerful seer and might be able to help you find the answers. You must travel to Vinland. He is the leader of a tribe of natives, and you will have to seek him out after arriving. I could take you there, but you could use the experience traversing the sea. I have some coin to ease your travels. You will need to travel east to Breka and find a ship to travel to Vinland. When you get there you must journey out, and find the border of the Cree tribe. Show them this, and they will guide you to the man." Lilith said while handing Sven a gold plate with an odd insignia on it, and a heavy pouch of gold coins.

"Why do you keep helping me?" Sven asked because he never understood why she intervened that day.

"I watch for activity on the earth of awakenings. When I can make it in time I try to help get them out of harm's way. Also having someone owe you a favor is always nice. With your situation, I'm just intrigued by what you are, and what you will become. " Lilith said as she opened a portal, and left.

Sven put on some thick leather armor and pants. He gathered his shield and collected his sword. Extinguishing the hearth, and saying goodbye to his home for the past year. Walking down the path to visit the graves of his father and Bethany. It was only a year since the incident, but those days on the farm feel like a lifetime ago. Bethany held a special place in his heart, but he was ready to move on. He was about to leave when Helga came running to him.

"Where are you getting ready to go?" Helga asked.

"Lilith told me a seer could help me if I went to a place called Vinland. She gave me some money and told me to travel to Breka to find a ride. I was getting ready to visit you, and tell you thanks for all your help." Sven replied.

"Did you plan on going without me right?" Helga said with a look that gave Sven chills.

"I didn't think you wanted to go. You always brought up how you didn't want to train me. so I figured you wanted me gone when I was done. I was gonna come back, and visit after." Sven replied.

"We are sticking together cause you might still need my guidance. Yeah, you're still lacking in some areas. When among the humans we have to use our weapons to try not to stand out. So you will need someone watching your back because you slouched off on weapons training. " Helga said

She was trying to convince Sven this was her only reason. When really she had grown feelings for him and didn't want him to just leave. She hated the thought of being alone here but was too proud to admit it.

"I'll be back, and ready to go by lunch. If you leave without me I will track you down, and make you pay!" Helga threatened.

"Okay calm down, ill wait I promise," Sven replied quickly

He may have grown closer with Helga, but he still feared making her mad. Out of all their spar sessions, Sven is only ahead by one. Sitting outside on the steps he waits for Helga. He was wondering what kind of place Vinland was. It's been so long since he has been around anyone but Helga. He once had dreams of raiding, but it seems so far away. There just seems so much more important things to do. If he were to raid would he really be much different from the men who attacked his village? Was also another reason for his loss of interest in raiding.

Helga was finally walking back up. She was wearing her usual black chest armor, gauntlets, and thick black leather pants. She had her bow in hand, an ax on her waist, and a shield on her back. Her hair was braided, and it was the first time Sven ever saw her like this. He couldn't help but think to himself that Helga was rather gorgeous. It was something he would forget from time to time due to her mood swings.

"Alright lead the way," Sven said with a smile

"Just make sure you keep up. Be sure to not let your guard down either. We never know what we could come across on the road." Helga lectured as they began their journey.