War and Fortune 2.239

A week had passed after Viggo's experience in the painted picture of meditation. Now he was in front of the gate of Kain's house, accompanied by Sakura and Ana, who always accompanied him.

The day was clear, there was a spring breeze, and it did not take more than two minutes to open the door of the house with a white façade.

—Nii-sama— said Tatsumi, with dark hair and slanted eyes, who went out to tend to the one she was looking for.

—Good morning, Tatsu— said Viggo, with shoulder-length red hair and a smile on his lips. He was bare-chested, a thick belt with a lion's head at his waist, and a red tunic that covered him to his knees.

—Good morning, Tatsumi— Sakura and Ana said at the same time, twins with purple hair, dark clothes, and leather breastplate. Each one was next to Viggo as if they were guarding him.

Tatsumi looked at her brother and sisters-in-law from the door. Under the five steps to the hall, walk to the door and opened. Then he could see Viggo in a better way. Above it seemed to be the same as always, but Tatsumi could see the fear in Viggo's gaze. He was another Viggo, not the friendly and brave one of always. Something had happened to him that had made him fearful. Tatsumi only heard from her father that Viggo was training, doing something very difficult that worried the goddess Hephaestus.

—How are you, nii-sama?— asked Tatsumi, looking into his eyes. Although they were born the same year, Viggo was a head taller than him.

—W-well, Tatsu, y-you have nothing to worry about— Viggo replied, showing a broad smile.

—I understand, nii-sama. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask me— Tatsumi said.

Viggo nodded and said —I'm coming to see d-dad—

—Oh, he's in his workshop. Since early he has been ordering—

—I understand, permission— Viggo said and passed by Tatsumi, but Sakura took him by the hand and stopped him. Viggo looked at her and then looked at the ground.

—Come, Viggo— Sakura said with a worried expression —let me guide you—

—Yes— Viggo replied.

Tatsumi stood at the door and watched as Sakura, Ana and Viggo waved goodbye and then traveled down the side to go to the flowery courtyard of the Dragonroad.

—Maybe what kind of training is nii-sama doing that ends up like this?— asked Tatsumi.

Sakura and Ana held Viggo by each arm and led him along the way through the flower islands. They saw at the back of the courtyard the apple tree that Hephaestus planted years ago. The white chair and table under the shade of the tree were empty. On the other hand, on the left, behind the house, you could hear the noise of someone piling up metals next to a blacksmith shop that looked more like a rustic house with a smooth surface.

Viggo, Sakura and Ana traveled to Kain's workshop. They saw the large plates and pieces of metal stacked on the sides. It seemed that someone was getting rid of everything. The door of the workshop was open, and from it came a tall white-haired elf wearing a leather apron stained with dark grease and other substances.

—Father— said Viggo as he approached.

Kain was carrying a wooden box with waste when he saw it. He smiled in a friendly way, put the box aside the blacksmith shop and stared at him —that's my boy, I see you much, much better—

—Y-yes, father thinks— replied Viggo.

—Yes, boy, you look much better. Don't worry, for now it's okay. Since you're young you must go through these things, but over time you'll get used to it—

—I—I don't understand how p-pass alone helped me to have a more balanced mind— said Viggo, stopping in front of his father.

Kain stared at him with a sad and kind smile. He took off his apron, looked at Sakura and Ana —good morning to you two— said —thank you so much for taking care of my boy—

—It's nothing, father— Sakura said —Viggo is my husband, it's normal—

—Yes, but I'm still angry— Ana added, looking at Kain with a grudge.

—Ana— said Viggo —we speak it—

—Don't worry, boy— said Kain —you better tell me your complaints and keep nothing to yourself. She suffers for you, she values those kinds of feelings— he looked at Ana and went on —I'm sorry, girl, but there are things we all need to do. Viggo doesn't have time, so he must do things the hard way—

Ana, with her two long purple pigtails nodded and stared at him. Her eyes were watery, but she didn't cry.

—Come here, boy— said Kain —Viggo stepped forward and Kain gave him a big hug. Viggo thought it felt too good to be loved, the hugs, handshakes, and caresses. They made you feel protected.

Kain turned away from his son as he held his shoulders, watching the state of his gaze and expression. When Viggo had left the painted picture, it was a mess, mad was the only word that fit. He was crying and afraid of being left alone. The one hundred and twenty days of forced meditation did so much damage to his character that he could not even return home and has had to live in Tsubaki's house. The one that now only stutters were a great progress.

—Come, son— Kain said with a smile, patting him on the shoulders.

—F-father, we better start small. I, do not a-am in good co-conditions—

—Yes, I know, I know, but if I don't do my best your mother will hang me— Kain said with a funny smile.

Viggo let out a chuckle, Kain turned around and walked to the blacksmith shop. Sakura and Ana took Viggo's hand and accompanied him inside. The forge was off and the tools on the worktable.

Kain stopped by the desk and said —Well, let's start with the basics. Know the name of the tools and their usefulness—

—Well, that's good— Viggo said with a complicated smile —I remember some, but not all. I will do my best, f-father—

—Sure, boy, let's take it easy. Once you feel better, we will start tempering metals and when you are well, we will process the steel with embers—

—Ember?—

—Yes, I temple and process all my metals with embers. Your mother and Tsubaki use charcoal and other methods to increase the heat of the forge, but I prepare my own embers. That's why my blacksmith shop is so good, and I can create special weapons—

—F-father h-has a lot of tricks—

—Hahahahaha— Kain laughed —when you're as old as me, you'll also have your own tricks—

Inside the workshop, Viggo and Kain talked about all sorts of things related to blacksmithing and metal processing. Of course, Kain talked to Viggo about simple, easy-to-remember things. Viggo was not able to work seriously. However, the support Sakura, Ana and his father helped Viggo speak naturally. The stutter was less and less noticeable.

—Hello— said someone entering Kain's workshop.

Everyone looked over and saw a woman with red hair, short, beautiful smile, and voluminous belly. She was Hephaestus and was in her fourth month of pregnancy. Instead of her white blouse and black trousers, she wore a white dress with fine flower embroidery on the edges.

—Hello, m-mother— said Viggo with a big smile.

—Hello, honey, what are you coming for?— asked Kain —we agreed to take Viggo for lunch—

—I'm coming to see my son— Hepahestus said with a frown, really annoyed with Kain. Her child was always full of strength, courage, and smiles. Now it was pure stuttering and that look of fear. Hepahestus walked to Viggo and hugged him with all her might if she didn't crush his stomach.

—How are you, son?— asked Hepahestus with teary eyes.

—I'm w-well, mom, don't cry please, seriously, I'm w-well— Viggo replied, looking into her eyes.

Hephaestus nodded with a big smile, looked at Sakura and Ana, and said —Thank you for taking care of Viggo, you guys are the best, thank you, seriously—

—You're welcome, mother, it's our duty— Sakura said with a smile.

—Yes, mother— Ana replied with a serious expression.

Hephaestus looked at Kain harshly and asked him in a curt tone —What were you teaching him?—

—Nothing serious, just the name of the tools, their uses, and the ways of processing the metals— Kain replied calmly.

—At least your kind in that regard— Hephaestus said in an annoyed tone of voice.

—M-mother, I, we've talked about this— said Viggo.

—Yes, son, I don't scold your father— said Hephaestus looking at his son as the most important thing in the world.

—It's just nothing, not p-peles for n-nothing. This will pass and I will be the same as always—

—Yes, son, I know, you are my Viggo, I know you will be well—

Viggo nodded and looked at his father —father, please—

Kain nodded and continued to explain what he had to say regarding materials, ways of treating materials and the best methods. However, if the best methods part had gone unnoticed by Kain or Hephaestus, neither would be a great blacksmith. The argument started softly, with Hephaestus pointing out several of Kain's beliefs as mistakes until the latter became angry and told her that, if she was better, to explain instead.

—That's fine with me— Hephaestus said proudly —mortals know nothing— she looked at Viggo and said —Let your mother, the goddess of forging, teach you the real blacksmith—

Viggo took a deep breath upon hearing his mother and knew immediately that this would not end well. Kain and Hephaestus loved each other and would only argue about two things: their children and blacksmithing.

Hephaestus began like Kain, teaching the use of tools, talking about the different treatments of metals and her own beliefs. Of course, Kain also began to point out the errors in certain processes and in the end the two argued as if they were mortal enemies.

—Mom, Dad, me, that's not the best time— Viggo said, standing between the two.

Kain two meters high against Hephaestus of one meter and sixty centimeters looked at each other. Then they looked at their red-haired son, with that scary look and frowned. Both turned to look into each other's eyes and declared a truce with their eyes.

—Yes, son, I'm sorry— said Kain, then looked at Hephaestus and continued —I apologize to you too, honey. I shouldn't have acted like that—

—Yes, it's true— said Hephaestus —I'm sorry too, I shouldn't have taken it so seriously—

—T-that's better— said Viggo with a smile.

—Sure, leave it to me— Kain said with a renewed mood, looked at Hephaestus and said —you rest and talk a little with Viggo. I can do things on my own—

—Okay, I'd like chicken soup— said Hephaestus

—I'll do something special for you, but for the meat guys, right?—

Viggo, Sakura and Ana nodded.

—Would lamb be nice?— said Anne, full of hope.

—We'll see what there is if it won't have to be for the next one—

—I understand, Father— Ana said in a small voice.

Kain nodded with a smile, put down his blacksmith apron on the worktable, and went home. Behind him walk Viggo and Hephaestus arm in arm.

—Do you really feel good?— asked Hephaestus as they made their way through the side yard of the house with the large islands of flowers in sight.

—Yes, mother— said Viggo.

—I still can't believe how your father allowed such stupidity— Hephaestus said in a tone of voice full of reproach.

—Father, you are not to blame— Viggo said slowly to avoid stuttering —I chose, this challenge.

—I know, my Viggo has always been too hasty, I would like you to think things over more. Now you have Uriel and that boy Bell. You're going to have more children, it's not good to be seen unstable—

—Mother, Bell is also my son. Don't treat him like a pet— replied Viggo with a frown —he's special, he's good just like my Uriel. Both are mine, precious, don't differentiate them, it's ugly. I don't want Bell to feel sad like Ottar. With a foolish me, it's more than enough—

—Wow— Hephaestus said with a smile —to argue with your mother, don't stutter. I don't know whether to be offended or content—

—I, I'm sorry, mother, n-no, I wanted to offend you—

—Don't worry, I don't be offended. I just want you to be okay, nothing happens to you and no one to hurt you. As for Bell, I will do my best to accept him as my grandson, but he will never be a Dragonroad, just like Ottar. He will know someday; I hope you are prepared for that moment—

—Even if I'm not his real father, I will be because I will raise him, care for him, and love him. Please treat him well, think of him as if he were me—

—Okay, but I don't know if my mind and body can stand having two Viggo circling Orario—

—He, he'll be better than me, I'm sure—

—I know, son—