Not far from Ragnar’s home was a huge patch of dirt, that was easily capable of holding over fifty beefy Vikings. When they arrived there was already many Vikings sparring against one another in attempt to hone each other’s skills. Or at least that’s what Syn hoped he they were doing although he kept seeing some strikes that seemed … slightly fatal if they hit. However, despite all the possible life ending attacks every Viking had a stupid smile on their faces, so Syn guessed it was normal.

He followed Ragnar’s family across the sparring arena making sure to avoid accidentally getting involved in anyone’s fight. They reached the far corner where there was a large open space available beside a small wooden lodge. Placed outside the structure’s wall was a row of weapon racks holding a variety of weapons such as swords, shields, axes and even spears.

Ragnar approached the weapon racks and looked back towards Syn “Do you have any preferences?” he asked. Syn shook his head. Ragnar then proceeded to grab two single-handed steel swords that looked like they’d been recently sharpened and handed one of them to Syn. He expected it to feel uncomfortable and strange in his hand, but weirdly it felt completely natural like he’d finally recovered a missing part of his arm.

Lagertha and the children excitedly took their places outside the sparring arena and Ragnar started to put a bit of space between him and Syn.

After a few yards Ragnar turned and raised his blade “Are you ready?” he asked. Syn raised his blade and nodded and instantly he wished he hadn’t. Since meeting Ragnar the only way Syn could describe the man would be a friendly apex predator however, now he was just an apex predator and Syn was clearly his prey. As soon as their spar started, Ragnar covered the distance between them in the blink of an eye. His sword came swinging towards Syn’s neck however, Syn instinctively raised his sword to block it. Thankfully the inhuman reflexes he’d obtained since getting here hadn’t vanished. Steel clashed against steel and vibrated through the air. Ragnar began to put all his weight behind his blade, and Syn soon discovered the man was much stronger than he looked however, it was still futile against Syn’s strength. With a quick burst of force Syn flung Ragnar back, sending him skidding across the dirt wide eyed. After he came to a stop he casually spun his sword and readjusted his stance.

A smile then grew on his face “So you’re even stronger and faster than you look. I’m starting to see how you defeated the Skinwalker” Ragnar stated. Instantly he dashed across the arena and Syn readied himself. The Viking king struck towards Syn’s side, forcing him to quickly twist his body to block it. However, unlike last time Ragnar didn’t try to overpower Syn instead he quickly pulled his sword back and launched another attack. Syn was barely able to block the second attack and when the third one came down on his head he was forced to leap back. Ragnar didn’t give him a second to recover as he bounded forward his sword ready. A blur of slashes was unleashed on Syn, but he was somehow able to repel every single one right before they threatened to rip him apart. Once again he was saved by his battle instincts. Syn assumed that any ‘normal’ person would be slaughtered by anyone of these attacks and after glancing at Ragnar’s expression it seemed like he was right. Every time he deflected a blow Syn could swear there was a flash of surprise in the man’s eyes. Syn felt like he was doing well however, soon he was forced to start retreating in order to survive Ragnar’s attacks. It felt like every slash or thrust grew faster, stronger and had cleaner technique than its predecessor, like Ragnar was slowly holding back less and less as the battle went on. After a few more seconds Syn crumbled under the pressure. Ragnar swiped his sword to the side, instantly following up with a rapid strike that stopped directly on his neck, the cold steel sending shivers through Syn’s body. Ragnar’s speed and power had now far surpassed the Skinwalker from the woods.

‘Is he like me?’ Syn questioned after considering the feats he’d just witnessed.

Ragnar eyed Syn curiously before finally lowering his sword allowing Syn to relax “Who trained you?” he asked.

“Nobody” Syn said truthfully, before taking a deep breath. Only releasing how exhausted and erratic his breathing was after trying to speak. When was the last time he was out of breath he wondered.

“Nobody?” Ragnar questioned as he leisurely walked around he stopped for a moment and gazed over Syn’s shoulder curiously, but Syn was too busy catching his breath to care why. “So you are self-taught?”.

“… It is … complicated” Syn said as breathing started to recover. He didn’t really feel like telling them he just randomly obtained his skills this morning fighting undead warriors and a monster, they probably already thought he was weird enough or that he been born a freakishly strong superhuman, he doubted that make him seem more normal.

“We’ll talk later” Ragnar told him softly before smiling, “When there is less of an audience”. Confused Syn looked around. He thought it was only Ragnar’s family watching him get his ass kicked however, soon found out all the surrounding Vikings had stopped their sparing to watch.

“Great” Syn grumbled ‘No pressure’.

“Shall we go again?” Ragnar asked. With a silent sigh Syn nodded and raised his sword.

“Remain calm” Ragnar grinned, “Pretend as if it is only me and you here”. He then readied his sword and got into a fighting stance.

In the few first moments the field was silent, both of them remained motionless. Syn analysed the Viking king but couldn’t find a single opening, Ragnar’s stance was seemingly flawless every attack Syn thought of making would easily be counted or blocked. Why he knew that he still didn’t know but after frying his brain he decided wait.

Ragnar then made the first move. He moved faster than he had all session but to Syn’s surprise he easily reacted.

‘What?’. He clashed with Ragnar and when the next attack came Syn quickly blocked it, again with no issues. It was like his already enhanced senses and instincts had become even more advanced. The battle began to slow down, and he could process every move Ragnar made.

Ragnar let loose and overhead swing, but Syn side stepped avoiding the strike before then instinctually unleashing his own slash at Ragnar’s torso. Syn prepared himself to stop the blade before impact like Ragnar had but suddenly the Viking king moved at rapid speeds.

‘He's still holding back’. Ragnar stepped to Syn’s side deflecting his attack and then shoulder barged into him with newfound strength. Syn was sent stumbling back and was barely able to recover his balance in time to block Ragnar’s next strike. Their blades locked together, and their duel suddenly transformed into a battle of strength. It should’ve been a guaranteed victory for Syn, but Ragnar had somehow gained unreal strength and was pushing back against Syn even threatening to overpower him. Syn didn’t understand how the Viking king had suddenly gained this power, but he wasn’t finding it very ‘fun’. Suddenly Ragnar’s expression changed and became colder and possessed a slight hint of anger.

“Stop holding back” Ragnar commanded sternly. Instantly he then kicked Syn hard in the side sending him recoiling back.

‘Holding back? What is he talking about?’. He was fighting for his goddamn life here, he couldn’t hold back even if he wanted to. Suddenly Ragnar was in front of him, and they were once again locked in a battle of strength. Except this time it felt nowhere near as even, veins protruded and strained against Syn’s skin as he tried to hold back Ragnar.

“I’m not holding back” Syn grunted as his feet dug deeper into the dirt. Without saying a word Ragnar bashed Syn’s sword away and unleashed a sharp painful kick into his chest sending Syn to the ground. Ignoring the pain he rolled backwards avoiding Ragnar’s incoming sword and quickly clambered back up to his feet.

“You are. Whether you realise it or not” Ragnar told him before charging forward. He then unleashed a bombardment of strikes. “Stop holding back” Ragnar said again annoyed as he almost decapitated Syn. “Are you scared you’ll hurt me?”.

“No” Syn growled.

“Then what?” Ragnar questioned before launching a knee into Syn’s gut and pushing him back across the dirt. Ragnar then continued to chip away at Syn each attack growing angrier than the last as Syn failed to what the Viking commanded.

“I know you have more inside you Syn. Show me your true strength! No matter what happens” Ragnar shouted. Syn attempted to slash out towards his neck however, his blade was swatted away, and he instead received another sharp knee to the abdomen as Ragnar covered the distance between them in less than an instant. Syn keeled over slightly holding his stomach while backing away.

“Maybe another time then” Ragnar sighed. He raised his blade for the finishing slash when suddenly something inside Syn changed. He snapped and rage overflowed his body. All his pain vanished, and he lashed out against Ragnar’s sword. Ragnar’s arm was sent flying wide, and his stance completely broken. Just like he’d done to Syn all fight, Syn gave him no time to process what happened. Syn could’ve placed his sword on the man’s body and ended the fight there but with all the rage flowing through him all he wanted to do was cause pain. Moving faster than he ever had and he planted his foot deep into Ragnar’s chest.  The Viking king was launched off his feet and flew through the air until he came crashing down into the earth a few metres away. Instantly all his children gasped and glanced over to see them all their faces completely stunned including Lagertha, whose neutral expression had dissolved into wide eyes and open mouth. Seeing their expressions instantly dispersed all the anger inside Syn and he let out a deep breath returning to normal.

‘What just happened to me?’.

Ragnar didn’t stay down for long and after a few seconds started to get up off the ground. Suddenly Syn felt as if something was wrong, like a sixth sense screaming that he was in danger.

‘Has it gotten colder?’. A terrifying aura leaked from king Ragnar and on pure instinct Syn’s muscles and tensed as adrenaline poured through his veins. It seems as if Syn wasn’t the only person to feel this way as he could hear all the Vikings begin backing away from the two of them and gather on the opposite side of the dirt patch.

“Syn” Ragnar said bluntly as he lifted himself from the ground. Shivers ran down Syn’s spine and instantly he readied himself. However, the fight Syn was expecting never came and instead Ragnar burst into joyful laughter leaving Syn completely stunned.

“I knew I sensed into inside you. You just needed a little push” he exclaimed, “That last kick … I can’t remember the last time I’ve been hit that hard. In fact I can’t remember the last I’ve been pushed that far in a fight”. A wide grin shone on his face as clapped Syn on the back and guided him off the sparring arena. Syn glanced down at the man and suddenly realised Ragnar was covered in sweat. Syn could’ve sworn he’d looked completely fine during their battle and even when he kicked him at the end Ragnar, looked exactly like he had when they started. In fact during the fight ii was starting to piss Syn off that nothing he done to the man had any effect.

“Father! Syn! That was amazing” Ubbe shouted excitedly, and his two brothers quickly became just as eccentric. Ragnar left Syn’s side to join his family, catching Ivar in his arms when the boy suddenly launched himself into the air. Syn thought the boys would be upset with him after seeing him hit their father, but quickly found that wasn’t the case.

“I’ve never seen anyone strike father that hard before” Ubbe said to Syn mesmerized, “How did you do that?”.

“I have absolutely no idea” Syn shrugged. Ubbe began bombarde him with questions he had no idea how to answer until Lagertha came over and saved him guiding her son back towards her husband. After the children calmed down Ragnar placed Ivar back on the ground and wandered over to Syn to take back his sword.

“Father!” someone suddenly shouted. The voice emerged from the distance. Syn and Ragnar turned around to see Hrolf and a young man and woman sprinting towards them. The woman had long, curly strawberry blonde hair, light blue eyes and a wooden bow over her shoulder. The man caught more of Syn’s attention, he looked exactly as Syn imagined Ragnar would in his younger years having the same blonde hair, athletic build and piercing blue eyes. The only difference was this man had a taller frame standing just slightly taller than Hrolf. Instantly the two of them instantly joined up with Lagertha and the kids bringing Ubbe and Ivar into a hug.

“I thought you were dead” Syn heard the man say. Hrolf joined up with Syn and Ragnar instead.

“You fought?” he asked his brother glancing at the blades in their hands.

“Yes” Ragnar responded, “Syn here is even stronger than he looks”. Hrolf turned to Syn and eyed him curiously however, before the man could do anything Ragnar clapped Syn on the back.

“Come and meet my eldest children” Ragnar said as he guided Syn over to the rest of his family. “This is Bjorn and Merida” he then turned to his children, “This is Syn Veroir the man who found and rescued Ubbe and Ivar”.

“Thank you” Merida said quickly with a slight bow, Bjorn however just eyed him curiously until Merida elbowed him in the side.

“Thank you for finding my brothers” Bjorn said while shoving off Merida’s elbow. He then offered out his arm and Syn quickly clasped hold of it.

“Come now” Ragnar suddenly spoke up, “Now that we are all together, let us eat”.