A delicate balance 1.20 - ING. VERSIÓN

-I have everything- said Viggo, with his quiver crossed with a rope to his chest, the bow hanging over his right shoulder and the axe in his left hand. He looked at Atreus, Faye and Kratos who were standing in front of him and with their backs to the door of the dark wooden house. The day was clear and birds could be heard singing in the distance.

-Don't relax, boy- Kratos said -if you do it may be the end-

-I knows. I should always expect the worst. Assume nothing. And always anticipate an attack-

Kratos let out a growl and nodded in a soft gesture, with an attentive and stern look. Viggo made a small smile and then looked at Atreus, standing ahead of Faye. His eyes were red in an expression about to cry. On the other hand, Faye was standing behind him, her hands on Atreus shoulders as a consolation.

-I'm leaving Atreus, but I'll be back with a lot of gifts- Viggo said with a small smile.

Atreus nodded in a firm gesture and stood, watching.

Viggo looked at Faye, the woman who was able to melt the heart of the terrible warrior who was his master. A mysterious woman, who helped others, but who in turn hid many secrets. For starters, Viggo recently learned that the axe his master wields originally belonged to her.

-I'm leaving aunt- said Viggo.

-Take care of yourself Viggo and as my husband said, don't relax- said Faye -only perseverance will give you the victory you seek-

-I know, even though, I am with my family I will continue to train-

Faye nodded and gave him a little smile.

-Well- said Old Xiao, appearing from nowhere as if it were a mirage until it materialized -I hope you're ready-

-I am, come on- said Viggo.

Old Xiao looked at Kratos, be nodded, and the old man also nodded in a sign of understanding. Then he looked at Faye and Atreus, made a funny smile and raised his right hand to say goodbye. Then took it to Viggo's left shoulder and they disappeared.

-o-

The next instant, Viggo saw an extensive grassland-covered meadow up to the great wall surrounding the city of Orario. The sky was clear and the wind was blowing sning the long grasslands. At the same time, Viggo's red hair was combed back by the strong drafts.

-Are we at home?- asked Viggo.

-Yes, we are on the outskirts of Orario- said Old Xiao, pointing his right hand at a long line of carriages and carts. All were heading towards the entrance of the city, made up of a large arch and a fence that was currently elevated. If you looked at it from afar, it looked like a big mouth with sharp teeth. Xiao continuous –that's the entry–

Viggo began to walk on his own with an expression that could only be anticipation. However, Old Xiao put his hand on his shoulder and stopped him. Viggo turned around and looked at him sternly.

Old Xiao let out a sigh at seeing that moody expression and said -Viggo, as advice, I will tell you to try to learn the good and discard the bad-

Viggo looked to the side thinking of the words, let out a growl, and looked him in the eye again –I don't know what you mean– he said in a strict tone.

Xiao let out a sigh and shook his head –whatever– said –now listen to me. I will come in a month for you. I will take you to the place of the test and once you are there, you will have to face by your own means what is ahead-

-I know, Grandpa- said Viggo in a firm tone -I've been training for this for a whole year-

-You're not ready yet, so don't trust yourself-

-I know, my teacher reminds me every day-

-So don't go overboard just because you feel like you're stronger, what did Kratos tell you?-

Viggo took the axe in his left hand and raised it to the blue sky. He looked at the whole body, from the knob to the head of the axe. He nodded as if coming to an agreement and said –the strength of every weapon comes from the heart, but that it is tempered with the mind and only discipline can give us victory-

-That's it, so persevere, stay vigilant and always attentive to your instincts. Right now they are your best weapon-

-Yes, Grandpa, thank you very much- Viggo replied in a kind tone. Under the axe and looked at the old man of Asian factions and kind appearance.

-It would be nice if all the time you went like this, it's more pleasant-

Viggo denied with a smile and began to walk ahead, without saying goodbye, or say where he was going, as many times towards his master. Old Xiao stared as he moved through the grasslands as the wind messed up his hair. At this moment, with the thin and youthful appearance, it looked like a burning phosphorus. However, Old Xiao hopes that it will turn into a powerful mountain of fire.

Viggo kept walking through the grasslands, slowly approaching the large caravan at the entrance to the walled city. In the row you could easily count 10 floats of dark wood and golden moldings. In addition to forty humble carts. Many nobles from other lands came to visit the city of the gods. On the other hand, the villagers came to try their luck. Orario is a place where you can thrive if you have enough courage.

Viggo heard the rose of his feet with the grass as he approached the caravan. He could also hear people chatting and others arguing. Everyone was grumpy from the slow progress. Once get to the road, Viggo walked down a cobblestone road. Pass by looking at the large black horses pulling a luxurious chariot with glass windows, dark wood, and golden edges. The horses had short hair, black as night and shiny. The mane was cut and tied into small buns along the back of the neck.

-Hey, you! Stay away from the horses, you're going to dirty them- said the coachman of the elegant carriage. He was sitting in the front seat, wearing thin, clean clothes, while pointing at Viggo with a whip.

-I haven't even touched it- said Viggo disdainfully, step past the horses, looking at the big, calm eyes. Cross the caravan horizontally and leave the horse behind.

-Barbarian- the coachman mumbles when he sees him walk away

That comment caught Viggo's attention and he looked at his body. He was wearing clothes made of animal skin. He nodded, as he was feeling very hot and did not know why. He took off his leather jacket and walked with his torso bare. Then he advanced alongside the carriages until he reached the entrance for the people advancing on foot. This one was only the width of a normal gate, you advanced through a tunnel under the wall and arrived in front of a group of guards.

The line was 20 people, so Viggo got in line and waited. At the same time, he devoted himself to looking at the beautiful carriages, the blue sky, and the great wall. It felt like in a dream, but it was true, he was back at home.

Half an hour later, it was finally Viggo's turn. He passed through the tunnel, under the great city wall and advanced inside, where a woman sitting at a desk with a pile of papers on each side and five guards behind her were waiting for him.

Viggo stood in front of the desk and with a calm smile said -hello, I'm Viggo Dragonroad, I would like to enter the city-

The woman raised an eyebrow, she knew that name very well, adjusted the frame of her glasses and examined Viggo. He didn't look like a Dragonroad, much less the son of one of the great goddesses of Orario. However, reaching the blood-red hair, she frowned.

-Young Viggo, can you prove your identity?- the woman asked.

-No, you see, I was traveling-

The woman rests her elbows on the table and interlay her hands –well, we'll do this: You'll go to one of the guards and wait in the Customs offices until someone comes for you. I tell you from now, without a document I cannot let you in, but instead of kicking you out, I will give you the opportunity to prove that you are the real Viggo Dragonroad-

Viggo narrowed his eyes with an annoyed expression, clenched his right fist, and his bones thundered. However, he nodded and said -ok, I hope you know where my family lives-

-I don't know, but I know where the goddess Hephaestus lives-

-You could also talk to Aina, from the Adventurer Guild. She is one of my father's wives-

The woman clenched her nod, but nodded, finding the words reasonable. In that way, Viggo was led by one of the guards to a large two-story building. He sat on a bench and waited for someone to come and get him.

Half an hour later, Aina, Flora and Tatsumi arrive. By then it was 3 p.m.

-Viggo, Viggo!- began to shout Flora all over the customs building. She seemed to be desperate looking for her brother. Aina and Tatsumi followed her, until they found a young red-haired barbarian. He seemed to have just come down from the mountains. Very wild, dressed in skins, bare torso and carrying an axe in his left hand.

Only Flora immediately recognized him and jumped up to hang herself on his neck –silly, dumb, dumb– she said as she hugged him. But what looked like a scolding turned into a cry. Flora embraced him with all her strength and continued to cry, while everyone looked at them.

-Flora, I'm here- said Viggo, patting him on the back as a consolation.

Flora stopped crying and turned away to look at him with her big eyes full of tears. With blonde hair and a kind look just like his mother, she was a sociable person.

-You are very skinny- said Flora, running her hands through her eyes to wipe away her tears -and why do you dress as a barbarian? It's some weird new fashion of the Great Viggo-

Viggo froze for a moment and was ashamed to have called himself that at some point in his past. He looked away and put his hand to his face to scratch his right cheek.

-No, it's just that where I was training it was necessary to dress like this-

-Naked?-

Viggo looked at his body and noticed his naked torso of defined muscles – this is only because it was now hot– he said, took the leather jacket on top of the bench and showed it to her –where I was very cold, a whole world of difference with Orario-

-Well, you're going to tell your sister everything you did-

-Are you, my mother?!-

-No, I'm your older sister and if you don't start talking, my fists of love will let go of your tongue- Flora said, raising her little fist of light skin and delicate construction.

Viggo looked at Tatsumi who was standing behind Flora and them both grimaced full of discomfort. Technically Viggo was the eldest of the three, but by the power of Flora and her little fists of love, she was the oldest.

-Let's go home, I'll tell you along the way- Viggo said to Flora, then walked by Flora's side and looked Tatsumi in the eye. His eyes were torn just like his mother, with dark hair and a calm expression –How have you been Tatsu?-

-Well, nii-sama- replied Tatsumi.

Viggo made a gentle smile as he heard him speak that way. Mikoto, Tatsumi's mother, had educated him with the forms of his homeland. Viggo stepped forward and gave him a hug. Tatsumi froze, but the next moment hugged him and began to sob.

-Always, always you are such a hard head. That's why Dad sent you away, silly- he said.

Viggo felt sad to hear him sob and remembered Flora's words. Then he remembered his attitude from a year ago, and his eyes filled with tears. Viggo felt a warm hug on his back and looked up to see a beautiful green-haired elf.

-I'm sorry, auntie- said Viggo -I wasn't ignoring you-

-I know- Aina replied in a sad voice as she hugged the two of them -I've known them since they were little, and they were always together. I could only imagine what they feel when they separated-

Then Flora came over from the other side and also hugged them.