A new life

Chapter 3

They had already been traveling by carriage for almost an hour when they reached the place that the girl indicated. But they stopped a little before reaching the place because right in front of the door of the little girl's house, there was a group of people. They noticed that each of those people had rare tattoos, they were alert to anything that might happen.

Björn got out of the carriage to see who those strange men are.

"Don't go out." I'll take care of the situation. ”Björn said as he took his ax and readied it for whatever was to happen.

There were approximately 7 men at the scene. Björn gave a yell to get his attention. Among the group of people, a man came out when he heard the scream. A bald man with a scar on his face, which crossed his face, from chin to forehead, and passed through his right eye, measuring approximately five feet three inches. Dark-skinned tousled eyebrows and a matted beard. He looked like a giant.

He positioned himself in front of Björn and said by looking directly at him and pointing an accusing finger at him.

"What are you and that Japanese woman doing in this place ?!" He - He told Björn in his language. - And why are you coming in a car ?! Are you coming for me !?

Björn quickly realized that this man is also a Viking, but that interests Björn very little.

- I'll just say one thing ... If you don't get out of the way, I'll get you out of there myself. - Björn said as he got ready to fight.

- Little Viking if what you want is a fight I will please you. - Said the great man who looked like the head of the band. - To avoid your rapid death we will fight without weapons, hand to hand. So you will learn who's boss here.

Hearing that, Björn threw his ax to the ground and stood guard.

"Come and show me what you're capable of!" - Björn said without fear.

The man began to walk slowly towards Björn. He raised his fists and stood guard to begin the confrontation. Quickly his men made a circle around them.

Björn is the first to attack. He ran like a maniac toward the man, as he yelled in unison. He barely enters the guard as the man hits him on the torso. The man did not flinch, with a quick movement he grabbed Björn by the neck with his right hand and threw him to the ground. The young Viking stands up as fast as he can, as soon as he raises his head, he watches his opponent with his elbow raised. The poor boy didn't have time to dodge and was elbowed in the head. Björn, receiving that blow with that enormous force, falls headlong to the floor. He is stunned and nearly unconscious.

You could hear the laughter of the men who were around him.

"Now you're not so rude HAHAHA!" Come on, get up. - Said the man with the scar on his face.

The young Viking begins to get up as he can, with his body shaking and stunned by the blow, he manages to stand up and stands guard to continue the fight. The big man was surprised that he was conscious after that impact, at the same time he realizes that Björn is standing but he is not fully conscious. So he without hesitation he throws a direct blow to the face with enough force to kill Björn. The young Viking dodges the blow as best he can and with bestial agility, he slides between the great man's legs and climbs on his back. Björn starts hitting the man on the head nonstop, he looked like an uncontrolled animal. That man was surprised that a young man of just 15 years old had so much willpower and that he could give him so much fight. But he decided to end this once and for all. That great man decided to use his great weight against young Björn. He jumped up and fell backward onto the floor on top of Björn. Only the body of the young Viking was heard being crushed with great force against the floor.

Björn was left on the floor lying unconscious and without any strength.

The man got up and looked directly at Björn, he noticed that he was still alive.

"You had a good fight boy." - Said that great man with a bit of arrogance. - But you still need a lot of experience to defeat someone as strong and great as me.

Right after that. The man lifted his foot and was about to crush Björn's head like a grape. When that man was ready to crush the head of the young Viking, he runs the girl from the float to observe that he was passing outside. The first thing the girl sees when leaving the float is Björn on the ground about to be crushed. When she saw that her Savior was about to be killed, that poor and defenseless girl gave a shocking cry that could be heard for a kilometer around.

The man with the scar on his face stopped when he heard the scream, just before smashing Björn's head. He turned his head to see who had screamed and saw the little girl. All of his men fell silent and were stunned.

The great man opened space and began to run towards the girl. Björn regains consciousness and observed what happened. He was very scared by what that beast could do to the defenseless girl.

When the man was in front of the girl he fell to his knees and hugged her. Björn was very confused, himself the man who was going to smash his head to death, now he was crying on his knees.

- At last, the captain found his daughter. - Said one of the men who were near Björn.

- Are you OK? Who helped you get back home? - The great man asked his daughter.

The girl simply pointed her finger at young Björn who was dying on the ground.

- It was the dad. He rescued me from the bad men who wanted to beat me, he healed me and brought me home.

Everyone was stunned in silence watching the dying Björn. There was a great silence until a voice broke it.

"They're not going to lift the boy!" - Shout the girl's father - Help the poor boy!

The men quickly picked up Björn and sat him in the cart to tend to his injuries. The great man approaches Björn, thanked her for saving and caring for his daughter. He then introduced himself.

- Ronno called me, I'm the captain of a Russian Viking ship. This is the house of my wife and mother of my little girl. Less than a year ago I left in search of new land but returned as soon as I found out that my wife had died of an illness. When I got home the person who had been when my daughter told me that she had disappeared a couple of days ago. But thanks to you she is with me again, I owe you a lot, young Viking. If you ever come back here and need help, look for me. ”That man said as they treated the wounds of the badly wounded young man.

Björn was so tired and sore that he just nodded and smiled a little. He was happy that the girl was back with her family.

After that Björn said goodbye to the girl and they returned to the ship. After spending a few hours they reached the ship. They explained everything that happened to the captain who gave an answer that no one expected.

-HAHAHA! Look how they left you Björn. Next time choose your enemies better. - Said the captain between laughter as she held her head.

After that, the captain gave the signal to raise the anchors and set the course for Japan.

After spending about a month they arrived safely in Japan. Björn was surprised to see the docks of Japan everything was very colorful and striking. But what Björn liked was the trip he had with these merchants, one that marked his life and made him forget the tragedies that he had lived through.

At the end of this entire journey, a bitter farewell is approaching between the kind merchants who saved his and Björn's lives. He has to take a step forward leaving behind all the good times and bad memories, which he will carry with him as an impulse to achieve great things.

After taking some time to try one last meal together. Björn wondered what would become of him and where he would have to go on his journey through a new world alien to everything he knew. The captain offered him to stay with them, become a merchant and travel every corner of the world with them, but Björn refused since he felt that this was not his way to go. Björn was a very believing Viking and he believed that the Norns had a different destiny for him than the captain offered him. He is a Viking, his destiny is on the battlefield.

The women, as a last gesture of affection, gave Björn the location of a remote place, on the heights of a mountain, because it is said that ninjutsu masters live there, which was said to receive anyone who was looking for a purpose or a way forward in your life. Björn knew that because he was a Viking they would not accept him anywhere so he agreed to go there in hopes of being accepted and not judged. This is how Björn says goodbye to his shipmates and the great captain, who he will never forget.

Björn without further ado ended the sad farewell and headed in his new direction. As he walked he took the last look back to see the ship for the last time and the people with whom he shared almost 3 months of his life, all the merchants were on the dock saying goodbye to him with their hands raised and watching it go away.

Björn followed the instructions given by the captain and reached the entrance to the mountain that he had to climb. It was huge, it had a great torii gate, it had a long way, so long that Björn can't see where it ended. The mountain was a vivid green color and was full of sakura trees. He began to go up to the place where he had to go, he did not know where the place was, they had only told him to walk the path to the end. It was not long when it got dark and as the young Viking did not know the place he was lost in the dense darkness of the night. It was one night with a new moon and a sky sparse with stars. Björn recalled what his father taught him: "When you get lost, look for the highest place in the area so you can see the whole panorama and find your way again."

After remembering that, Björn tried to climb a nearby mountain, but not being able to see well due to the dense darkness, he tripped over a stone and began to roll downhill. As he rolled he hit himself hard over and over until he finally reached the bottom and was knocked unconscious in a cold gloom.

But luck smiled once again at Björn. A man was walking around that place. The kind man without knowing who the young Viking was and without knowing what he was doing lying in that place, guessed where he was going because the people who went up that road are only looking for one thing. He picked it up and carried it on his shoulders and then left it in the place that Björn was looking for.

A place that by opening its doors to Björn would seal his fate and make him a unique warrior in the world.

Hours passed. The dazzling sun came out, the same one that caused Björn to wake up. As soon as he woke up he realized that he was bandaged and in pain, lying on a mattress that was on the floor, inside a small room with some strange decorations, a wooden floor, and a sliding door that was made of paper and wood.

A shadow of a man was observed behind the door. Björn with his crude Japanese asked:

-Who's there? - Björn said a little scared.

- Fate brought you here. You don't have to worry about where you are, ”said the calm and slow voice of an old man.

After that, a few minutes passed and the door was opened by a young girl with long, straight black hair, she has a ponytail and 2 strands of hair fall down the sides of her face. Slightly thin in complexion, with delicate white skin, she was wearing a shinobi shuzoku. She came in with a tray that had clean bandages, an ointment for the bruises, a special cup of tea to help him relax, and a note. After changing her bandages and tending to her wounds, he handed the note to Björn.

"Don't go ... I still can't read Japanese." Could you read it for me? - Björn said

The girl took the letter and began to read the:

- “I hope this helps you feel better. Soon you will be healthy to start your training. If you don't want to be in this place, the door will always be open. I know what you are and where you come from. You will be welcomed here on one condition only, to follow and respect the path of ninjutsu. "