章 14: Family Always Comes First

Soft footfalls wandered down a stone pathway, a lone figure seemingly lost in thought. It was the end of the week, a few days since her confrontation with Sǫl, and it was the only time she could go see her family. As she strolled home, the conversation she had with Sǫl repeatedly played out in her mind, only frustrating her as time went on. His words though true, cut deep into her, and nothing had been able to ease her mind since then.

The same thoughts plagued her mind, 'What can a girl like me do in this situation? How do I help that boy accomplish his goals?' She was at her wit's end, doubt and frustration having free reign over her psyche. Days had become monotonous and felt like torture, while nights had become sleepless trying to figure out a way to change not just Sǫl's situation but also hers.

If she did come up with a solution that helped him by some stroke of genius, wouldn't he feel grateful to her? Maybe even request for her to become his personal maid permanently, cementing her position by him. She didn't care about what others would say about her as a consequence of being associated with Sǫl. From their time spent together, she knew who he was, and that greatness was buried deep inside.

Call it a woman's intuition or whatnot, but she genuinely believed in him. The aging spring breeze brushed by, filled with the breath of life, the essence of the earth. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath soaking in the sensation. It was akin to a healing balm soothing her troubled heart while the strain after a hard day's work abated.

Heading through town, she was met with other like-minded individuals as they trekked back to their respective homes after a hard day's work. She ambled by various stores and workshops, the people inside cleaning up and prepping the place for the day's end. Someone from across the street had noticed her amongst the throng heading home, calling out, "ESJA!!! OVER HERE GIRLIE!!!" She could just make out a raised hand peeking over the numerous heads in that direction, so with it acting as her beacon, she squeezed through the mass of weary bodies.

"Auntie Katla!!!" Esja exclaimed, waving at a heavyset woman as she emerged from the crowd. Taking quick steps towards her, they embraced, Esja looking like a child compared to the woman. Auntie Katla was big-boned, shall we say, but despite her physical appearance, she was as sweet as honey.

"How've you been girlie? I haven't seen ya in a while. Are they working you too hard at the Illugi mansion?" Katla inquired while scrutinising Esja's entirety, her brows furrowing when she noticed her marred hands. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary, for the untrained, most maidly duties involved somewhat hazardous work—sewing, washing, sweeping, and cooking, to name a few. It wasn't uncommon for young maids to have fresh scars due to their clumsiness or inexperience.

Esja shyly tucked her hands into the pockets of her overdress before replying, "Not too hard. I mostly attend to Sǫl in addition to some other chores. Other than that, I've been in good health auntie."

Katla's eye widened at the mention of that name gripping the poor girl's shoulders forcefully, causing her to let out a yelp. "Don't tell me you mean Sǫlmundr, the late Valk Ljós' son!!! He's the cursed child!!! Why would they force you to attend to him!!!" Katla spat, shaking the poor girl back and forth like a ragdoll. The display reintroduced her to the concealed stigma surrounding Sǫl but did nothing to sway her, only galvanising long-held convictions.

The outburst had drawn the interest of those close by, so before the situation worsened, Esja interjected, "Auntie! Perhaps we should discuss this somewhere else? Away from prying eyes," she cautioned, gesturing to the nearby crowd with her head. Realising that she was right, Katla swiftly dragged Esja into her store, shutting the door with a loud slam.

As Esja stepped into the store, she was instantly hit by an earthy herbal scent, gently wafting around her like the caress of a long lost lover. The store had numerous shelves stocked full of jars and containers ranging from the tiniest beaker to wooden barrels more than twice her size. Katla made her living by selling tonics and elixirs, though they weren't aimed at warriors but the everyday man. Their effects ranged from providing a stamina boost to minor healing and were an essential remedy that kept the thralls going amidst their gruelling workloads.

Katla stormed past Esja towards the back of the store before continuing her tirade. "Those damn Illugis!!! How could they force you to attend to that boy!!!" In her outrage, she slammed her fist into the wooden counter.

*CRACK*

Splinters erupted from the impact, brute strength sending her fist through the wooden board. Not wanting her auntie to cause any more damage to the store, Esja tried to soothe her worries. "Auntie, it's not as bad as you think. Sǫl is a good child, one of the most well-behaved ones I've ever seen. I know what others say about him, but I don't believe a word of it."

Her words seemed to work as Katla soon calmed down, but she was still distressed. Who wouldn't be after knowing someone close to them was interacting with 'that' child? Looking at Esja, who was staring at her with eyes full of sincerity, she felt helpless. This girl was too young and naïve to realise her situation. "That's not the point. The boy has damn near no chance of becoming a warrior, nor is he of any significance to the Illugis. He has no future… and yet you still want to follow him?"

"I-I believe in him, auntie. Even if it doesn't work out, I won't have any regrets," a resigned smile graced her face as she uttered those words as if this was her only path forward.

"This isn't just about you, girlie. You know how much your family depends on you to get a permanent position with the Illugis. You can't throw this opportunity away because of your feelings," Katla rebuked, trying to talk some sense into the girl, but she remained stubborn despite the well-meaning advice. It somewhat shocked Katla, seeing the sweet girl she had known since they were a baby so adamant about something. Her thoughts churned, searching for an explanation, 'What has that boy done to bewitch my dear Esja? No, surely not. Esja's always been a quick-witted girl and knows when to draw the line. There must be something else I'm not grasping here.'

"Then convince me, Esja, because if all you are going on is feelings, I'm sorry, but I will tell your parents. They mean as much to me as they do to you," Katla ordered her tone, leaving no room for denial, crossing her arms while looking down on the girl. Seeing as the conversation had reached this point, Esja knew she could no longer deflect from her auntie's inquiries.

She took a moment to find the right words, "Well, in all honesty, Auntie, Sǫl has been having difficulties with his training. As it stands, it's likely he won't get past the general classes. But while there's still a slim chance if I could provide him aid, even if he fails, wouldn't he feel grateful? And in the case he does succeed, doesn't that also help me?"

Katla snorted at the thought of an Illugi repaying their debts. "That's the sort of thinking that will end with you being discarded like a defective tool once you're of no use. But this does indeed present a good opportunity. If you could make the boy dependent solely on the aid you provide, he will have no choice but to keep you around. And if he does manage to make it to the second stage of training, your status will also rise. Let's see…" After some brainstorming, a devious grin spread across Katla's face. A shiver ran down Esja's spine as the large woman started going through the shelves, searching for something.

"Ah!!!" exclaiming, she pulled out a small glass bottle with a narrow neck and spherical body, purple liquid swirling within, "Here it is, Magni's Blessing. It's one of my most popular elixirs, but not for what one might expect. Ignoring its effect of boosting one's stamina and chi levels, the reason it's so popular is that I add a bit of Twisted Hugrshroom to the mixture. The customers get hooked to its mild psychedelic properties and always come back for more."

Esja was speechless, mouth agape at the revelation her auntie was essentially making all her customers addicts. "Hahaha… These are all tricks of the trade to keep the customers coming back for more. After all, a girls gotta eat, right? If you're worried about the boy, don't worry, the elixir won't harm him in any way, though he will have a craving for more," she justified, offering the elixir to Esja, cheeks an apple hue.

"Thank you auntie, but I can't take this. You've already done so much for my family that we could never repay your kindness," Esja shook her head while pushing the small glass bottle back into Katla's hands. The action only reaffirmed Katla's decision, there was no way she would let sweet Esja be taken advantage of by the Illugis, plus they were practically family and owed her nothing.

"Now, now, don't be stubborn, girlie. You're like a daughter to me, and there's no way I'm gonna let you get taken advantage of by those Illugis. Kindness is a good thing but being too kind won't do you any good Esja—remember that. Here," Katla unceremoniously shoved the elixir into one of Esja's pockets as breath filled her lungs, ready to protest, "don't say a word. If you must, once you get a steady income, you can pay off what you owe. But for now, just treat them as my gift to you." Looking at the kind smile on Katla's face, Esja reluctantly accepted the elixir and was unceremoniously pushed out of the store by Katla before she had a chance to change her mind.

Shouting her thanks one last time, Esja rejoined the stream of people heading back to their abodes, the slight heft of the elixir in her pocket keeping her mind occupied the rest of the way. Her family lived on a small plot of land in the city's outskirts where farmers and their families tended to live as they had to run their farms. Her family weren't farmers, though, but potters.

They lived here because the land was cheap, and it was relatively close to the quarry, where clay and other similar materials for their business were gathered. Her mother spent all day shaping and firing vessels while her father lugged sacks of dirt back and forth from the quarry. But two people could only do so much, their income barely enough to keep the whole family afloat.

A small stone cottage peeked out over the horizon, grey smoke billowing from its chimney. Esja slapped both her cheeks putting on a bubbly demeanour. Her parents already had more than enough worries, and she wasn't about to add another to their list. Sǫl was her responsibility, so she would figure this out by herself. Her steps quickened as she hurried towards the cottage, towards home.

As the girl approached, two small children about the age of ten ran up to her, jumping into her embrace. Shouts of joy and laughter were heard inside the humble lodging as the girl ushered her siblings through the door, a family finally reunited.

If the young girl was asked if there was one thing in the whole world that could stand the test of time, overcoming hardships and suffering, her response would be family. It was a bond that had transcended time and space, demanding her do whatever it took to keep them safe, for they were intertwined, unable to exist without the other.

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Magni: the son of Thor who, at three days old, lifted a giant's foot off his father's neck, freeing him. It means might.