XC. The Coming Back (part II)

"The fluid that I can condense from the gas that emanates from my skin, has impressive physical-chemical properties. By introducing it into the body of my deceased Master and then trapping it among the pores of the rock, I was able to block Magni's powers inside" he continued.

"This is incredible. I've never heard anything like that" said Asa, who finally started talking again.

"Mother, there's more".

"What is it? Tell me".

"Do you know a man called Egill?" asked Dag.

Eirik watched both of them without understanding what they were talking about.

Asa did not answer. She rose from the table, bringing the empty plates to the sink.

"He is one of the two Masters I have left. He is a very wise man and is one of the few who understood the reason why Magni cared so much about me. It's because of him that I had the chance to come back here and move as I pleased" he said.

Asa continued to fail to respond and began to dip the dishes in the water, cleaning them.

"Yesterday, he cast a spell on me, allowing me to travel in his memories"

Eirik, while he was sipping mead, spat it back into his glass.

"Travel where!?" asked Eirik, in disbelief.

"Mother. He brought me back to the day of that battle. I met him" Dag continued.

Asa stopped, dropping a plate into the water, on the bottom of the wooden sink. Then she lowered her head, looking down.

"Don't be afraid. I just want to talk to you about him. Now I know the truth. I just wonder why you told me a different version" he asked.

Asa turned slowly toward her sons, with tears in her eyes.

"What's going on, mother?! Why are you crying?" exclaimed Eirik, who began to be drunk, having exaggerated with the mead.

"I... I just wanted... that you had esteem for him. I wanted you to follow in his footsteps, to become a great warrior, like him. He came from Earth, like you. I thought this made you see things differently" Asa said.

"It was like that, indeed. It was until I saw with my own eyes what kind of person he was. He was a ruthless man who sacrificed the lives of his warriors for his own purposes" Dag continued.

Asa continued to cry, while Eirik fell asleep in his chair, his mouth open.

Dag got up and walked slowly toward her.

"I know about the emblem. I know that he unnecessarily sacrificed his life and that of the warriors of the two Clans. I know Egill forcibly dragged you away, otherwise, you wouldn't be here today. I know everything, mother. Now I want you to tell me everything you know. I want you to tell me the whole truth, once and for all" Dag said, pausing at a pace from her, who had her hands resting on the washboard.

"I didn't agree with him. That day, after that battle... I didn't want him to go any further. We had won yet another clash with Lies Of Loki. All I wanted was to go home and celebrate. But his ambition was superior to anything, even our love. I couldn't... stop him..." answered Asa, who could not stop crying, thinking back to that sad day.

Dag hugged her, stroking her back.

"You know it's not your fault. You did everything you could to keep him from making a mistake, but you couldn't. Now tell me about him, his powers... his weapon".

Asa looked up at Dag, looking him in the eye.

"What do you want me to tell you? What do you want to know?"

"Before you ran away, when you realized that Brann was doomed, you brought his axe with you, which you've jealously guarded since then. Why did you do that?" asked Dag.

"It was the only thing left of him that would last in time, without ever disappearing. I was terrified, it was an impulsive gesture" Asa said.

"Are you sure, Mom?"

"Of course, it's the truth!"

"That is a formidable weapon, full of powers. What do you know about the crystals embedded in it?" asked Dag again, who did not believe Asa was fully sincere.

Asa began to cry again, clutching Dag tightly.

"Brann changed from that day! That weapon wasn't just a source of power... it was his downfall!" she said.

"What are you talking about, Mom?"

"When Brann and I met each other, we were very young. We met in the Jernhest arena, just like you and Freydis. Brann was not alone, he had a brother, his name was Eirik, like your brother. Growing up, they joined the same Clan, the Hammers Of Thor.

Dag listened intently.

"They were two strong young warriors. One day, during an expedition with their Clan, they stopped in the village of Tyven, where they would have to pick up supplies to take to Temple Of Orn. In the streets of the village, it was rumored that just outside the town, there was the best blacksmith of Skjold, the only one on the planet capable of forging weapons capable of beating any enemy and performing legendary feats" Asa continued.

"A blacksmith?" asked Dag.

"Yes. His name was Vegard. Brann and Eirik, intrigued by the rumors, went to see with their own eyes. They made their way to the blacksmith, moving away from their companions. Brann told me every detail: they entered a cave and after walking a few meters, they found themselves in front of a stone door. On the door was an indecipherable inscription. It wasn't runic, nor was it Earthly language. Brann tried to hit the door repeatedly with punches. Just when the two brothers had given up, they turned to the exit and the door lifted".

Dag was astonished. He didn't know anything about this story and it was obvious that even his Masters didn't know about it either.

Asa walked away from Dag and returned to the table, sitting down. She was evidently shaken. Telling that story wasn't supposed to be easy for her, she probably never told anyone, who knows why.