The snow crunched underfoot as Sera and Zayzal ambled through the village, the whitewashed world around them seemingly holding its breath. The village's rugged dwellings stood resilient against the cold, their chimneys puffing out thin wisps of smoke.
Sera's emotions were tumultuous. Every footstep Zayzal took was a step closer to his departure, and she wasn't ready. Not just yet.
“You don’t have to come with me if you don’t want to.” Zayzal suddenly said, kicking the snow on the ground. “This is your home. It’s not exactly right of me to ask you to come all the way to Greece when there might still be troubles out here that your family may need to face. So, don’t feel too pressured and just do what you think is right.”
Sera didn’t have anything to say to that. If it were before all this craziness, she would’ve most likely accepted, but now she couldn’t decide.
‘Should I stay here and help my family? Or do I take this opportunity to see the world and…’ She thought before glancing at Zayzal, ‘...get stronger?’
Her rationality was telling her that the village needed her and she should stay, but she really, really wanted to get stronger and wasn’t sure if it would be as simple without Zayzal guiding her. Not to mention, the two made a good team, and she was confident they could deal with many situations together.
Soon, the two went their separate ways, their thoughts drifting to other things.
Walking around the center of the village, where Zayzal saw some of the villagers handing out food, he grabbed a few dried pieces of jerky. Bowing his head as thanks, he meandered off, chewing on the jerky.
The place seemed mostly cleaned up after just a few days. The blood was all gone, and the corpses were taken care of without an issue. He could still see the sadness in a few of the villagers’ eyes at having lost their brethren so suddenly, but they carried on making sure to honor the dead by trying to get the village back to normal.
‘Well, I guess I better get started.’ Zayzal thought, excited to start helping the villagers get stronger. His first stop was Gunnar’s house. He wanted to check up on the man and also have him ask around if there was anyone who wanted to get stronger.
***
Two days later, early in the morning
Zayzal was sitting in a large wooden room, his eyes bright and clear, and his injuries from the other day were no longer bothering him. He was wearing a brown wool tunic with a black cloak over it, something Sigurd had gifted him since his clothes were mostly ruined. However, it clashed oddly with his modern hiking boots.
In the room's ambient glow, Zayzal was surrounded by the same intricate carvings he had seen throughout Sera's family home.
A large, ornate wooden table sat at the center of the room, laden with old scrolls, quills, and ink pots. The table bore the marks of countless hours of work, likely a place where many village decisions were made.
The house's vastness was accentuated by the high vaulted ceiling, its wooden beams showing evidence of master craftsmanship.
There was a gentle creaking, and the door opened. In came Chief Sigurd and Astrid. Their presence filled the room instantly, especially the former’s.
"Zayzal," Chief Sigurd greeted, his voice deep and resonant. “So, it’s almost time for you to leave, huh?”
Zayzal nodded, “Yes, Sir. I think I’ve done almost all I can in this short amount of time.”
“Mm.” Sigurd hummed in affirmation. “Well, the village’s enhancements have been rather… shocking.”
“Shocking is an understatement, Dear!” Astrid lightly punched her husband’s arm. “The whole village has turned into a horde of bears in human skin! With the strength we have now, I don’t think we would’ve lost a single person the night of the attack!”
Turning to Zayzal, she walked over and grabbed his hands. “Don’t mind that loaf. He won’t say it, but we’re truly thankful. With this, our chances of surviving against the unknown have improved significantly.”
Zayzal smiled and nodded, accepting her gratitude. “No worries, Ma’am. It’s the least I can do to convince my ‘guide’ to join me~!”
Astrid chuckled, knowing he was just joking yet talking about Sera.
Over the last two days, after a handful of people experienced the process of getting stronger as well as a better understanding of their talent, the whole village was in an uproar. Literally.
Gunnar and a few others all ran around the village beating people up after receiving his guidance. They couldn’t help it. They were stronger than everyone else and wanted to show off. Not in a bullying kind of way, but more so to determine a hierarchy.
However, it didn’t stop there.
Chaos ensued as they tested their newfound strength. Trees were destroyed, stone paths were cracked, and walls of houses bore the brunt of their enthusiastic punches.
Children watched in awe, idolizing these transformed individuals and aspiring to be like them when they grew older. Elderly folks chided them about the importance of restraint while secretly wishing they, too, could relive their younger days with such vigor.
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When asked how they got so strong, they pointed at Zayzal.
Since then, he has been hounded by these Vikings all day!
Fortunately, there were only a few hundred residents, and after every successful test, he became more and more confident. The only problem was that using his talent cost energy. It wasn’t a crazy amount, and he would passively restore it over time, but he did have a limit to what he could do.
Still, thanks to more and more people getting stronger, along with them all having a similar-colored orb, the time needed to help each one became shorter as they all shared their experiences.
Through this, Zayzal was once again stunned by how efficiently this village worked. Not an ounce of effort was wasted. Ever.
He had even assisted Astrid and Sigurd last night. They were the last people to receive his ‘guidance’, despite it not taking more than a few minutes.
Zayzal marveled at the relationship the villagers shared. They had turned their village into an intricate machine, where each person played a pivotal role in ensuring it functioned seamlessly.
It was no wonder they could overcome obstacles and adversity with such efficiency. The genuine care and concern they had for one another translated into an unwavering bond.
Chief Sigurd seemed to read Zayzal's thoughts. "Our strength lies not only in the physical prowess but in our unity," he stated. "Many years of living close to the wilds has taught us that we survive better when we work as a unit."
Astrid nodded in agreement. “But it’s not just about surviving,” she added gently. “It’s about thriving. Our village may be small, but we have hearts full of love and courage. That’s why our children grow up with strong morals and ethics. We teach them the importance of unity and family from the day they are born.”
Zayzal felt a surge of admiration for these people. “That’s amazing… and rare. In this day and age, it’s hard to find people with such a strong connection to a single other person, much less a whole community.”
“That’s why we don’t go to the city. Too much… cowardice.” Sigurd muttered in disgust. He would rather die than live amongst those weak, selfish savages. He felt his muscles shrink whenever he entered a well-insulated, air-conditioned building.
The conversation flowed, and soon, Zayzal figured it was about time to leave.
Zayzal took a deep breath, savoring the scents one last time before speaking, “Chief Sigurd, Astrid, I stopped by mainly to bid you farewell and express my gratitude for your hospitality.”
Chief Sigurd slowly rose, extending a firm hand, “It has been our pleasure, Zayzal. You’ve changed our village, probably in more ways than we could imagine. We will remember your name for generations to come.”
Zayzal took the offered hand and felt the grip's immense power, a testament to the changes he’d caused in the village. “Just try not to let it get to your heads. The world is changing, after all. I have a feeling that this is just the beginning.”
Astrid gave Zayzal a motherly hug, patting his back. “You take care of yourself out there, you hear? Try not to die on the mountain.”
Zayzal smiled wryly and gave her a pat on the back before stepping away. “...I’ll do my best.”
A soft laugh rippled through the room at that statement. The mood was lightened, but the air was thick with bittersweet emotions.
With their farewells done, Zayzal made his way out of the house and into the village's heart. Word had gotten around about his imminent departure, and a sizable crowd had gathered to bid him goodbye. It was humbling to see young children, warriors, and elderly folks all turning up to say goodbye to someone they’d known for just a few days.
“Zayzal!” a familiar voice called out.
He turned to see Gunnar approaching, his massive frame even more pronounced after undergoing Zayzal’s treatment.
“You’re not leaving without saying goodbye, are you?” Gunnar teased, wrapping Zayzal in a bear hug.
“Never,” Zayzal managed to gasp out, feeling like a rag doll in the giant’s embrace. “Thanks for everything, Gunnar. Look after this place.”
The Viking nodded, releasing him. “Always. And if you ever need a hand, don’t hesitate to come back. We owe you that much.”
Zayzal smiled, making his way through the crowd, receiving well wishes, gifts, and mementos. It was touching to see the outpouring of genuine warmth.
As he approached the village entrance, he was surprised to see Sera waiting with a mischievous grin on her face and a pack on her back. “Took your time saying goodbye, didn’t you?”
Zayzal rolled his eyes and smiled, “Well, it’s hard when you make so many friends.”
Sera punched him playfully, “Don’t get too cocky, Dragon Warrior. Now, let’s see if we can find that buried car of yours.”
Zayzal raised an eyebrow at that. “Oh? So, you decided to join me?”
“Of course! I have to protect your dumbass from danger!” Sera pounded her chest righteously.
However, Zayzal wasn’t so easily fooled. “Hah?! Is that really it? Are you sure it’s not because I can help you get stronger?”
“As your bodyguard, it’s only right that you make me stronger!” Sera stared into Zayzal’s eyes and said, almost as if she was doing him the favor.
The two of them chuckled before they went silent, unsure of what to talk about next.
“...Did you say goodbye to your parents?” He broke the silence.
“Yup~!” Sera nodded. “They weren’t surprised by my decision.”
“Well then, let’s go!” Zayzal exclaimed, stepping out of the village without looking back.
“Do you have a car?” Sera suddenly asked, causing Zayzal to freeze in his tracks. She stifled a laugh as she watched his face get paler, but she also realized that maybe the way back to Greece wouldn’t be so easy.
“Ahhh… Shit.” Zayzal muttered with a sigh. “I took a plane here and rented a car, but…”
Staring off into the distance, all he could see were clouds and snowfall, with nothing else in sight. No notable markers or trails were there that could lead him back to his car. Hell, he couldn’t even tell which way was North or South.
“I have no clue where we are or how to reach it!” He yelled out but soon remembered something else and couldn’t help but tremble. “That’s if it’s not buried under six feet of snow by now!”
“Pfft-Hahahaha~!” Sera finally couldn’t hold herself back and burst out laughing. She gave him a few pats on the back and walked away. “Well, it seems like you might need a guide. Good thing I decided to tag along.”
Zayzal turned to her, a wry smile on his lips, “So now I’m the damsel in distress, huh?”
Sera grinned, her teeth showing brightly against the backdrop of snow. "It seems that way."