Orario has lost his champions 2.226

—You're not adventurous— Siegfried said as he looked at Viggo across the bonfire. Red hair, blue eyes, his clothes looked like those of a barbarian living in snowy mountains or forests.

—How do you know?— Viggo asked with a smile on his lips

—You go bare-chested, according to what I read in a book, all adventurers have the crest of the family on their back. When you cut off the branches, I could see your back, you didn't have any kind of mark—

Viggo smiled more and more astonished at the boy. He thought he only had one fate with the goddess Bishamon, but it was more special than he seemed. He had an educated speech, a lexicon of more than two words and had access to books with information about Orario. This was not as simple as fishing an ordinary adventurer. Well, whatever, Viggo was going to be king of the gods sooner or later, he was going to have to deal with this kind of scenario. However, the empire? It was a place extremely far from Orario, almost as far away as Telskyura itself, on the South Sea.

Viggo lifted his shoulders and said —That's not to say anything. We fight and if I win, you go with me to Orario—

—I don't think so, it's not a good idea— said Siegfried, he quick to finish eating his skewer and continue —you'd better go, I have some problems. I don't want to involve you; you don't seem to be a bad person—

—Better yet, problems are fun— Viggo said with a big smile, —as a child I liked to fight the ruffians of Orario, I was a hero of justice, something silly, but a hero—

Siegfried chuckled as Viggo referred to himself and said —seriously, buddy, better go, they'll hurt you—

—Siegfried, what happens is that you are a child who does not know how to differentiate the right from the left. Let me stay here, I'll teach you what a warrior is—

The next instant they heard Viggo's horse neighing and falling to the ground. Viggo got up and looked into the distance, two arrows had been shot at his head.

—Who is the son of the big bitch who killed my horse? Give your face if you don't want me to rip off your limbs with my hands— Viggo shouts at the top of my lungs in that thick, intimidating voice. He didn't realize it, but Siegfried gave a spine when he heard it.

—Insolent savage— a voice was heard coming from the darkness of the grasslands. In the distance advanced a group of armored warriors with large and beautiful horses.

—Viggo, don't fight, they're not bad people— Siegfried said, standing up.

—If they kill my horse, they're more than bad people— Viggo said.

The group of armored horsemen walked to a stop ten meters from Viggo. One stood out more than the rest for his short stature, at most, one meter and sixty centimeters. The rest of the knights in armor measured almost two meters. However, the short gentleman was the most direct, unsheathing from his back a huge claymore sword almost as big as him.

—Put down your toy if you don't want to eat your threats— Viggo said.

—Insolent— shouted the knights, drawing their swords —you are threatening her majesty Erica—

—I don't care who they are, if you're not polite, don't expect courtesy— replied Viggo leaping forward and advancing the ten meters in an instant. He arrived in front of the knights and handed each one a punch in the pit of his stomach. They all instantly fell to the ground without being able to do anything as Viggo pierced them as if he were a ghost.

—Sister, sister— shouted Siegfried, horrified, ran to the smaller knight, and took off her helmet only to have blond hair fall to the sides of a young face. Siegfried looked at Viggo and shouted at him —you killed my sister—

—Brat, you don't know anything about anything. I was lenient, just knock her unconscious— Viggo replied —now explain why they killed my horse?—

Siegfried Schtauffen, future head of the Schtauffen house and younger brother of Erica Schtauffen, belonged to the empire located in the extreme northeast of the continent. Siegfried with only ten years had left home only half a year ago to become strong and return when worthy of his position. However, Erica, his sister, pursued him leaving everything in the hands of her mother. Simply put, just trouble.

Viggo sitting in front of the bonfire listening to the story while Siegfried took care of his unconscious sister on the other side —do you really want to become strong? — asked

Siegfried passed a damp cloth over his forehead to his sister Erica, with delicate feminine features. She was wearing white armor with an emblem like a red trident on her chest.

—Yes, that way, we won't embarrass my father— Siegfried replied.

—You are an idiot, there is no father who is ashamed of his son unless he does something very foolish that harms the innocent. For example, you and your pretensions, dragging your sister to the center of the continent. You Siegfried are just a child, if you are smart, you will go back to your sister, take care of, grow, and strengthen yourself while protecting everything you have—

—It's not that easy— Siegfried said.

—You're just running away, looking for the most comfortable thing for you— Viggo added and got up.

—Wait— Erica said in a lethargic voice and her eyes closed —apologize to my brother. He, he has done nothing wrong—

Viggo smiled and said —It's a good thing to have family, feel supported and everything, but every now and then it's good to tell your brother he's shitting him when he's really shitting it. Otherwise, he will be raised as an indulgent person. Believe me, you don't want that in your life—

—What do you know?—

—I'm Viggo Dragonroad, I was also born lucky. Son of the goddess Hephaestus and the elf Kain Dragonroad. Everyone loved me and that's why I thought stupid things like I didn't have to exert myself, I would be strong, I was born a demigod. However, life is not as simple as that. I was sent to train outside to straighten my thoughts and value what I had. I hope you don't suffer the same fate, Siegfried of the empire. Being away from family is enriching, but painful—

Viggo walk away from the group and walk in the darkness of the pastures towards Orario. The stars and the moon lit his way until he reached the forest, but the darkness and noises of the forest did not intimidate him, for that there were the forests of Midgar, plagued by undead and beasts hungry. Little by little his eyes got used to it and that helped him to increase his progress. If I kept walking at this pace, he would arrive at about three in the morning in Orario. The rapid advance of some small animal was heard among the foliage, the song of the owl and the noise of the crickets. From time to time the bellow of the deer escaping when Viggo passed very close, but nothing to scare him. No, nowadays nothing scared Viggo, for that there was the great eternal archdragon of the painted painting or the dark matter creature from the depths of the dungeon.

—When was the last time I set myself a challenge?— he asked himself in a low voice as he moved through the forest, jumped to the top of a rock a meter high and stopped —No, honestly, I have never dared anything. All the challenges have come from people who love me and want me to be a better person. However, I, never on my own, have never challenged myself to anything—

Viggo stood in the middle of the dark forest with a few beams of moonlight penetrating the foliage of the trees. His silhouette remained still on the rock, looking at the lived forest with all its creatures hanging around him.

—I see you like to meditate, good thing— Xiao said, appearing like a ghost in the middle of the forest. He raised his left hand and created a sphere of light —a little better —

Viggo smiled at the old Asian man, with gray hair, large entrances and dressed in a strange black collared robe. Under the rock, he advanced to the old man and hugged him.

—It's been time, Grandpa— Viggo said.

Xiao chuckled and said —Yes, it's been time, is everything okay?—

—Yes, all good. On the other hand, many things have changed, and I am worried— Viggo said, turning away from the primordial elder while looking at him with a smile on his lips —I have many worries—

—Yes, it seems, you've already said it twice— Xiao replied —Come, let's walk. I've never told your father, but I like to walk. It's as if you're picking up ideas from the ground and sorting them out until you find solutions—

—That's a pretty unique way of thinking— Viggo said.

Both walked through the forest with a small sphere of light above their head that illuminated everything within five meters around. That scared insects and animals.

—the old go... Kiara told me about some things— Xiao said, correcting his words, he was going to call her the old goat. Well, whatever, he thought. —Hera offered you help, she and Kain told you about kung fu. However, from what Kiara explains to me, they don't understand much—

—Yes, father said that with enough time I can reach kung fu—

—Yes, it's true. A supreme skill gained through hard work, but I don't think that's what you're looking for. You seek to have a more balanced and stronger mind, right?—

—Yes, Grandpa. The truth, no one has told me directly, but I have ideas that I will be the king of the gods. In that case, I worry about the state of Orario, what I must face and what will happen—

—Boy, your worries are normal, even if you didn't become king of the gods. However, worrying about what hasn't happened yet becomes torture. Try to live more in the present. A friend of mine says "Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift, that's why it's called the present"—

—In that case— Viggo said quietly and stopped —What's the use of my clairvoyance?—

Xiao turned around and stared into his eyes —by far, just don't obsess over what you'll do in the future. Live in the present, love now, strive now, look for a challenge, be better than yesterday. Then, when that time comes, you will do your best, and there will be no regrets left in your heart. Even if you can't, even if you fail, keep going. You, above all other people, are the ones who have the greatest advantage. You are like your father, even if you die, you can still exist, become stronger, and return to this moment—

—But that's not my intention—

—No, of course, it's not anyone's intention. Therefore, focus on being better and do your best, look for a challenge. Look for enlightenment and kung fu. Both things take time and dedication, but if you're willing to give it your all and fall into madness, you might make it. Holy heaven, you may attain what your father has never been able to—

Viggo stared at Xiao and nodded with a solemn expression.