101 CI. Help From The Pas (1/2)

Dag noticed with joy that the renovation of the Temple's main door had now been completed.

The high steel door was closed.

Dag approached, looking up, waiting for someone on guard to recognize him from the observation towers.

”It's Dag, open the gates!” someone yelled from inside the walls.

”Wow! You're so famous!” said Karl, looking around.

Dag did not answer, waiting for the door to open completely.

”Hello, Dag. You're back. And you got a company as well… I was sure you'd come back alone” Egill said, approaching the two travelers to welcome them.

”Master Egill” Dag said, bowing his head slightly out of respect.

Karl watched Dag and did the same.

”Did you get what you needed?” asked Egill, who looked closely at both Dag and Karl.

Dag touched the axe wrapped in linen towels and slamming his knuckles on it, the hard steel of its blades rang.

”Well. I'm glad you did it without any difficulty. Come in, let's go into the library and tell me everything” Egill continued, nodding to Dag, who followed him.

”Wait for me here, Karl. I think the Master wants to talk to me alone. I'm going to be with you again soon. Take a walk in the Temple in the meantime” Dag whispered to Karl, winking at him.

Karl nodded, obeying Dag's orders, who entered the library.

After entering, he closed the door behind him.

Before saying anything, he got rid of the heavy load he carried behind his back and uncovered the axe, placing it on the table.

”I think you remember this weapon. Am I right, Master?” said Dag with a satisfied air.

”I don't believe my eyes. It's Brann's axe. Amazingly, Asa has been able to guard it so thoroughly all this time” said Egill, who began to touch the blades of the axe slightly with his fingers.

”My mother, in addition to handing me the axe, also told me something. Something very important: the true story of this weapon and Eirik, Brann's brother” Dag continued, sighing.

”Eirik? I vaguely remember him. He died when bandits attacked him and Brann during one of their first expeditions. His body was never found”.

Dag looked Egill in the eye, with a look of understanding.

”You know something I don't know... right, boy?” asked Egill, sitting at the table.

Dag sat in front of him, saying: ”For all those years, my mother Asa never told me the truth about Brann. But she didn't do it out of malice, no... she did so as not to dishonor his name, which is still remembered today by the warriors of the most feared Clans of Skjold”.

Showing Egill the red crystals embedded in the eyes of the metal deer head, Dag detailed the story of Eirik and the Soul Fusion that tied his spirit to that weapon.

”This is shocking. I didn't know anything about this. Brann lied to all of us, this explains why he never wanted to talk about his brother. I thought he felt too much pain for his death” said Egill, touching his forehead with the hand and looking closely at the red crystals.