Chapter 14

[Mission: Master the Art of Fighting Without Using Your Legs.]

[Ivar the Boneless may not have been the strongest in wars or agile battles due to his disability. However, when it comes to one-on-one fights, Ivar perfected his technique with swords, axes, bows, and other weapons, making him a formidable foe in duels.]

[Time Limit: 3 Months]

[Reward: Uncommon Grade Summoning]

[Penalty: None]

(Hahaha, what a fucking bad joke...)

(It must be making fucking fun of me.)

I thought upon seeing the mission details. If I left Ivar this time, I wouldn't know when I'd see him again or bring him with me. 

This process could take days, weeks, or months to do safely and without raising suspicion.

However, given the time limit for the mission, such plans basically became impossible. 

The system was essentially forcing me not to abandon Ivar to obtain the rewards for this mission.

(Are you challenging me?)

(Do you think I'm incapable?)

(Who the hell do you think I am?)

The system was challenging me and, to some extent, mocking me. 

Many would say that the absence of a penalty means that the system is helping me. 

However, to me, it meant the opposite. 

It meant that the system considered me incapable of accomplish this mission.

If the system had believed I was capable, it would have imposed a penalty, based on the idea that I could have achieved it but I failed due to laziness, incompetence, external factors, etc.

On the other hand, by giving me the mission without imposing any sort of trap or penalty, it was as if the system was telling me not to worry, that it knew and was aware of my incapability and thus would not punish me.

This not only annoyed me but also irritated me.

This anger and arrogance were unusual for me. Since, even in my past life, I always tried to be humble and keep my feet on the ground.

I don't know if the system was affecting me, or if the blood running through my veins, from the Targaryens or the Martells, was clouding my judgment.

But at this point, it didn't matter...

I knew that if I failed in my tactics and plans, in the worst case, I might not only lose the reward but that also Ivar could be executed.

(I won't let myself be controlled so easily.)

I thought, trying to calm my feelings.

However, even while having this on mind, the fact that obtaining the reward would help me considerably would not change, and in the worst case, even if Ivar dies, at least I could absorb him.

"Ivar, I'm going to give you 2 options."

I told Ivar with a serious tone in his native language so that William and the others wouldn't realize what I had planned.

Tone that only caused Ivar to chuckle, as after all, I was still a child trying to speak seriously.

"I'm listening."

Said Ivar with curiosity.

"1. I can try to have you come with me right now."

I told Ivar, raising my right index finger.

"Then what are we waiting f-"

"However, you run the risk of losing your tongue, being poisoned, or in the worst case, dying."

Upon hearing option 1, Ivar immediately responded, but before he could continue, I interrupted him by mentioning the consequences and dangers.

"Option 2."

"I leave you waiting here for a few days, weeks, or months, depending on the state and situation."

"This option would ensure your safety and well-being."

I explained to Ivar, making it clear the gravity of the decision he was about to make.

"Hahahahaha!"

Ivar laughed.

He laughed as if he had heard the funniest joke of his life.

"Alexander, I'm a Viking."

Said Ivar, stopping his laughter and speaking in an arrogant tone.

"Lose my tongue?"

"I already lost my legs."

"Why the hell should I be afraid of losing something so insignificant?"

Ivar said indignantly.

"Poison?"

"Death?"

"Please, don't insult me."

Ivar continued, speaking with more and more conviction and arrogance.

"I'm not afraid of death."

"I welcome it with open arms"

"After all..."

"I'm a Viking."

And with those last words, Ivar finished his speech, staring me directly in the eyes.

"We'll leave now then, get ready."

I told Ivar, not even asking if he truly wanted to proceed with option 2, as I wasn't stupid enough to ask again after what he had just said.

"William, please prepare the horses and equipment to take Ivar to our current residence."

I told William. My words however, caused him to show signs of doubt and uncertainty on his face, as he believed what I was trying to do was dangerous and imprudent.

"William, please."

"Have faith in me."

I told William, looking him straight in the eyes, trying to calm him and show him that I had everything planned out.

My words and attitude seemed to be enough, as William did not try to stop me again and simply signaled his soldiers.

—Short time skip—

After a short trip with Ivar, we were now at the entrance of Water Gardens.

The guards, though doubtful and cautious about the new addition to our group, still let us through.

After all, whether they liked it or not, my presence and the fact that William had allowed Ivar to accompany me were sufficient proof that Ivar was not someone who would threaten the safety of my sister, the princess, or myself.

I expected this and knew it wouldn't be a problem.

The real problem was not the guards or my family's knights, as with one word, they would simply have to bow their heads and accept what I said.

The real issue was...

My family.

My uncle, my father, and even my sisters, just wanting to protect me, could order Ivar's execution at any moment.

My task in my current situation was simply to convince them that Ivar was an ally and not an enemy.

"Well, well, look who dared to return after abandoning me again?"

Those were the words that greeted me inside my room after I entered, and they came from my sister Tyene, who was pouting.

"Sister!"

I said in a cheerful and childlike tone, causing Ivar, who was behind William, to laugh in a mocking way as if he had heard and seen the funniest joke of his life.

"Sorry for leaving you again; I wanted to see the outside world!"

I replied again.

"Will you forgive me?"

I asked Tyene, trying to be cute and take advantage of my child appearance.

"How could I not, little brother!"

Tyene said excitedly as she ran to hug me and pat my head.

"However, don't lie to me."

Tyene spoke, this time with a colder and more calculating tone.

"If that were all, I wouldn't be here waiting for you..."

"I came for him..."

Tyene said, pointing to Ivar, who until now had been behind William.

"Alex..."

"I don't care if you go out, play, or even cause mischief. As long as you're safe."

Tyene continued, speaking with increasing concern and affection in her voice.

"And that's just why I can't allow a stranger to be so close to you."

Tyene said with a cold tone, ending her sentence and making several guards appear in my room.

"Sister, I can explain."

"He's not a stranger, he i—"

I said, trying to explain and excuse Ivar's presence and sudden appearance.

However, halfway through my explanation, a voice interrupted me.

"Let me introduce myself, my Lady, I am Ivar."

Ivar said with a polite and courteous tone.

"You may not know me and may not know of my existence."

"However, I would be more than happy to tell you about my identity and origin."

"In private..."

Said Ivar, looking at the other guards.

"My Lady, we will not leave you al—"

One of the guards near Tyene said, only to be interrupted by my sister.

"William, is he someone trustworthy?"

My sister asked William, to which he simply nodded his head.

"Leave."

Tyene said, making with a single word all guards leave the room.

Once everyone had left my room, Ivar turned his gaze towards Tyenne and thanked her.

"In the past, I was one of the slaves rescued by Lady Elia, and I also served under her for a time."

Ivar continued with his story, following the script that we had planned before coming.

"However, as you can see, my Lady, that was before my injury."

"William found me and asked me to be the weapons master of the young Lord."

Said Ivar, pointing and looking towards William.

"William, is that true?"

Tyene asked, looking at him as well, to which William simply nodded his head again.

"I see..."

"William, I'll ask you again, but this time I'll get straight to the point."

"Is Ivar a danger to Alexander?"

Tyene reiterated her question, but this time with a threatening tone. To which William simply nodded his head again.

"I see."

"Ivar, if you have lied to me, or harm my brother, or if I even see that you are a danger to him."

"I swear by the gods, I will have you tortured and killed in the worst and cruelest way possible..."

Tyene said with the coldest tone I had heard from her so far.

"That said, please leave. I want to play with my little brother."

Tyene said, ending the conversation and saying a phrase that seemed almost unthinkable coming from the person who had just threatened several people with torture and death.

(Sorry for the long and boring chapters. I know it's a lot of text for such few events. I'll make sure this doesn't happen in the future. However, I ask for your understanding, as I did it this way because it would be illogical for Alexander to suddenly bring strangers and have everyone accept them as if nothing happened. These kind of chapters will only continue maybe until the next summon, as I plan to use time skips from now on. Also, even though it seems that everyone was unaware of the guards. Please just let me make clear the William and Ivar were aware of the soldiers and guards and that they only ignored them.)