As the sun began its descent, casting long shadows through the forest, Torstein stirred from his nap under the oak. But as he made his way back to the village, the peace was abruptly shattered.
From the dense undergrowth, a group of boys his age emerged, their leader Ulf at the forefront. Ulf, a boy who had tormented Torstein for as long as he could remember, sneered at him with contempt. "Look who's here, the scholar without his big brother to protect him," Ulf taunted.
Torstein's heart sank. He knew what was coming and braced himself. Despite his training, he had always detested violence, his nature inclined more towards the tranquility of books than the brutality of fists. The boys circled around him, their jeers echoing through the trees.
What happened next was a blur of pain and fear. Torstein tried to defend himself, to dodge the blows that came his way, but he was outnumbered and outmatched. Each punch, each kick, felt like a hammer against his body. He fell to the forest floor, the taste of blood and dirt mixing in his mouth.
The boys eventually left, their laughter a bitter echo in the quiet forest. Torstein lay there, bruised and broken, the pain throbbing through every part of his body. He tried to stand, to walk, but his legs wouldn't support him. With grim determination, he began to crawl, each movement a test of his will.
The journey back to the village was excruciating. As he reached the outskirts, the villagers looked upon him with empty eyes. Their gazes held no sympathy, only judgment for a boy who dared to be different. No one stepped forward to help; they saw his suffering as the consequence of his choices. Torstein dragged himself to his house, his body screaming in agony. He crawled under his blanket, the sobs wracking his body as he cried himself into a fitful sleep.
Meanwhile, his brother Erik returned from the hunt with their father, triumphant with their catch. The sight of blood on the floor of their home sent a jolt of panic through him. He rushed to Torstein's room, finding his little brother bruised and battered, a sight that ignited a fury within him.
Without a word, Erik stormed out of the house, his mind set on finding Ulf. His brother's pain had become his own, and the thought of Torstein suffering at the hands of those bullies was unbearable.