Contradicting the exaggerated portrayal of Thor as a brawny figure was the rumor of his low intelligence. In the most exaggerated versions of the tale, he's depicted as a mentally challenged adolescent who couldn't count to ten or distinguish left from right.
A tragedy was afoot due to a severe misdirection of rumors.
The main character of this tragic comedy simply scratched his head after hearing these absurd rumours and muttered, "Oh, is that so? Quite exaggerated," then left without further ado.
Perhaps Thor's blunt and straightforward demeanor could be a source of such rumors. Regardless, everyone was relieved to see the situation did not develop in the negative direction they had worried about because of Thor's simplicity.
Aside from his simplicity, Thor's sense of responsibility and duty was said to rival that of Tyr's, especially in light of the current situation where human spies were increasingly appearing around Niflheim Valley. All the young people had taken up hunting knives and bows, constantly patrolling and maintaining vigilance. The cousins volunteered to guard the outermost perimeter, dedicating every moment to meticulous inspections and not overlooking the slightest trace of suspicion.
Standing in stark contrast to their commendable spirit was the brutal reality — a combination of factors such as lack of intelligence, vast territory, a shortage of personnel, and cold damp weather conditions stacked up against them.
They had no way of knowing when or where the enemy would launch an attack. Each person was responsible for a large area, and the time spent monitoring was very prolonged. Then there was the relentless chill.
Even the elves, who were accustomed to the mountains and forests, could not avoid emotional strain in such harsh conditions. Restlessness, pessimism, and despondency gradually gnawed at them.
Thor, aware that a bow drawn taut for too long would snap, timely introduced humor to alleviate the underlying tension.
"So, what did Brynhild's letter say? The chieftain has been looking stern these past few days, and I've been scared to approach him."
"Even if you're not afraid of the old man's temper or him pulling your ear, don't ask him. Otherwise, should something happen, don't complain when he scolds or hits you."
The latter was more likely. Regardless of how tall and strong Thor was, if the old chieftain fell ill because he asked inappropriate questions, Thor would undoubtedly take a beating.
"It's unreasonable. I'm just worried about Brynhild. She's a girl, it's her first trip far from home, she has no siblings of the same race by her side, and she's ventured to a dangerous place where everywhere you look, there are houses built of stones, and humans walk around. Anyone who claims not to worry is likely lying."
"If Franz were the one to go, I'd probably worry even more. No, it might even give me a headache."
"Err... am I that much of a handful?"
"Don't worry unnecessarily. Brynhild is an intelligent and steady girl. If anything serious were to happen, the elder chieftain wouldn't hide it from us."
What exactly had happened? This question also plagued Tyr and the others. If something untoward really happened, the chieftain would not conceal it out of consideration for their feelings. They would somehow come to terms with it. If she was unfortunately held captive, although that would be terrible, at least the tribe would be summoned to discuss strategies and make arrangements.
The elderly man, who had been through numerous trials, had never deceived the villagers. Yet, after reading Brynhild's letter, his silence was troubling and disconcerting, making it even harder for the citizens to cope.
Despite multiple reflections on the sequence of events, Tyr could not conceive what could have possibly happened to the tenacious girl. What was written on that piece of cloth, which was destroyed and burnt to ashes? The only certainty lay in the elder chieftain's emotional state–it wasn't one of sadness or resentment, but rather, an exasperated helplessness.
"She should just return soon, so we don't have to worry aimlessly… eh!! What is that!!"
In the vast sky, a black speck rapidly enlarged to form a rapidly approaching black cloud in the eyes of the two elves.
"It's a dragon!!"
"What's going on?! Why would a Black Dragon come to this remote valley?!"
The courageous elf warriors summoned screams from their trembling bodies. Compared to a human army of a thousand, the might of a dragon was an entity of a different dimension.
Even a Less.Dragon–a variant species whose intellectual capability was far less than the true Dragon Clan that could understand other species' languages and possess their own unique culture–has terrifying strength. They possessed claws and fangs that could effortlessly rip through metal, and breathed fire that could melt rocks. A small elf village was akin to a light appetizer in the voracious eyes of a Black Dragon, notorious for its brutality in tales.
The flight path of the Black Dragon was now clear–it was headed for the elf village of Niflheim.
"Damn big thing! Look at where you're going!!"
His bow, drawn to its full extent, roared as an arrow whistled into the sky.
The distance between the Black Dragon and Tyr far exceeded the lethal range of the bow and arrow. Even a lucky shot would merely scratch its scales. A miracle could hardly be expected.
It was a provocation.
Ancient beasts like these could tolerate a declaration of challenge from powerful beings amongst Dangerous Species, humans, and beastmen. However, a presumptuous act from a feeble, tiny being would be a direct insult to the prideful Dragon Clan–not to be taken lightly. Only when the foolish offender is torn to shreds and reduced to ashes can their fury be placated.
This is precisely what Tyr had in mind.
The sword shot into the sky with a screech, prompting his tribe to immediately take evasive action. Using the terrain and his much smaller stature compared to the Black Dragon, as well as his familiarity with the surroundings, Tyr could engage the dragon momentarily and delay its actions.
As for the rest, there was no more time to think.
"Don't make a foolish, futile move. Nidhogg will not give any attention to such small motions. Your hard work won't bear any fruit, and it will only cause trouble for your tribe."
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PS: I am continuously grateful for the feedback and modifications made by Qidian's editor Dousha. I've always been bad at naming and writing intros, and the previous title lacked grandeur. Thank you, editor, and thank you, readers, who have supported this book. I hope you can continue to provide feedback to improve this book. Thanks.