---
The axe hit the stump with a satisfying thunk. Olaf turned to his daughter, Ingrid. Her blue eyes, inherited from her mother, shone with joy as she swung a wooden sword.
Her form was wild, but her spirit was bright. It reminded Olaf of Mari, his beloved wife.
He approached, his boots sinking into the earth. A gentle tap of his staff caught Ingrid's attention, and she playfully attacked.
Olaf parried her blows, chuckling. This was their special dance, a bond between father and daughter. After she tired, he'd try to teach her proper form again. He could almost hear Mari's laughter, teasing him for his attempts.
The thought of his wife warmed his heart. He was a lucky man, with a loving family and a peaceful life. He would protect them always.
---
Ingrid's arm jerked to a halt during her practice. Her focus cracked as her hold on the Seidr faltered. Astridr was off gathering some supplies for cooking, and Ingrid was glad of her absence.
She didn't know why she didn't practice when Astridr was around, but it felt too personal. Especially with her holding onto the strange power of Seidr. It felt like something she should do by herself.
It was helping her focus during the forms, but also pulled strange visions to her. The faces of the people were always muted or blurred and the actions stilted, but the emotions were so intense.
The thing that really confused her was the fact that the fire within her seemed to vanish when these visions hit her. Then, came the feeling of lightness and connection to everything around her.
It would always break her focus and bring tears to her eyes. Yet, the power that flowed around her made her feel like she could leap into the clouds and fly like a raven. She even tried a couple of times which lead to the pain of hitting the ground.
Astridr said they would reach the outskirts of Wyrdian this evening. Which made Ingrid distressed since they hadn't seen anyone else on the road in nearly two days. Something that Astridr even commented on since a couple people always passed through Merin a day.
It made Ingrid expect that the mighty 'city' as Astridr had called it, would simply be another burned ruin when they reached it. She didn't express it to the woman however, it seemed like something to plan for, but not talk about.
Under the effects of Seidr she could acknowledge that she had been quiet and cold to the woman since they left Merin. She didn't like someone seeing her so emotional, and it was worse that she couldn't control it in that moment.
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Now, she looked like a weakling who couldn't keep calm in a tough situation. Even if she had proved her strength by killing two Beasts yesterday and another today. A real Warrior was a master of themselves, emotions and all.
Picking back up her ax, though she didn't remember dropping it, she took a deep breath and pulled on the threads of Seidr once again. The air around her rippled and seemed to come alive to those watching.
A cloak of blue flame barely visible in the waning light of the day. One that Astridr watched with intensity.
The girl had been getting better at controlling the energy. While also calming down from her recent breakdown. Which was good to see, and the use of Seidr would help more with that given time.
---
"Just as one must learn the physical arts to heal," Frey spoke calmly, "One must understand the trinity of power for Seidr." Astridr loved these classes so much. Frey was a brilliant healer, and she DID have the power of a Shaman.
Though she rarely used the power for anything outside healing. In her own words, "This power was given to us so that we can overcome challenge, dishes aren't such a challenge."
"Wyrd, Seidr, and Megin follow the trinity and it's why the symbol of the All-Father is the Vaulknut." In the air she drew the interwoven triangles.
"If we see each of the three as Wyrd, Seidr, and Megin. Then each of their points is a Law of the power." holding up three fingers she counted them off, "For Wyrd there is; Fate, Balance, and Light."
A spark of golden light lit the room from her hand. It hadn't been too dark with all the windows, but the light it gave off was strong and steady. A blue-gold spark glowed from her other hand.
"Seidr is Connection, Calm, and Nature." Her eyes closed and her face scrunched up slightly before a red-gold light flickered chaotically between the other two. It held for only a second before burning out, but it still silenced the room.
"Megin is Power, Emotion, and Earth." Her words were clearly strained, from what Astridr didn't know, but she had never seen all three sparks before.
"A Shaman can create a small amount of Megin, and a Warrior can create a small amount of Seidr. Yet, this is a result of powerful Techniques of Heart or Mind, and causes great strain to produce." This broke the spell on the class.
"Does that mean you could cultivate both?!" Erick yelled, his blonde hair bouncing with his excitement. Frey mustered up the energy to give him a disgusted look.
"No, there is no way to absorb the energy created, just expel it as a spark." She sat down in her chair, "The body cannot handle the trinity, we are imperfect vessels."
---
The memory brought to her mind as she continued to watch Ingrid. Was it just the Technique was imperfect? Ingrid was clearly handling the trinity and growing in strength from it.
A visible Art manifestation like that cloak would be easy for a Drang Shaman, but would take until almost Karl Warrior. Yet, her she was using it without becoming a Drang Shaman. It was clear she was still at Initial.
At the same time it didn't appear like she had a grasp on her Warrior Art. Which she should instinctually be able to use a her level of Warrior. Astridr had a worrying feeling that the Art would be a hybrid of the two when she reached the same rank of both.
There were no records of the Champion of Humanity's rise to power, but Astridr hoped that she was seeing something similar to it now. But, that was a worry for the future. For now she had to navigate the time-bomb of Ingrid's emotions.
That and decide on a good course of action when they entered Wyrdian. Even if the road was quiet it didn't mean much, and she was sure the city was still standing.
But bringing accusations on a Clan for dishonorable actions? That was going to be a problem, and one she hoped Ingrid wouldn't make harder.