Viktor had begun asking Eric to help out more with his adventuring affairs.
"Eric," Viktor began, his voice a little hesitant. "I want to learn how to...well, how to be an adventurer. Can you teach me?"
Eric looked at him with surprise, then smiled slowly. "You want to learn swordplay? Tactics? Survival skills?"
Eric was a decently young man, only thirty four years of age, and was still agile and strong enough to continue being an adventurer even now. After all it was how the Fritz family made most their money.
"Yes, all of that." Viktor said, nodding in affirmation. "But more than that. I want to learn how to... survive out there."
The older man's eyes narrowed slightly, a thoughtful frown creasing his forehead. "This isn't just about wanting to help around the farm more, is it?"
Viktor didn't reply immediately, glancing away for a moment before meeting Eric's gaze again. There was a new fire in his eyes, a determination that hadn't been there before.
Eric sighed and ran a hand through his hair, looking at the young man before him as if seeing him in a new light. "Alright," he agreed, nodding slowly. "I'll teach you what I know."
And so they began their training, the fields around their house replaced by the rugged terrain surrounding their farm. Days became weeks and weeks turned into months. The days were filled with rigorous training; sword fighting in the morning sun, survival skills under the scorching midday heat and strategic planning under the cool evening stars.
Eric was a tough but fair teacher. He pushed Viktor hard, testing his limits and then pushing them further still. But he also knew when to pull back, when to offer encouragement or advice.
Each passing day only seemed to fuel Viktor's drive. He could feel himself growing stronger, faster. He was becoming an adventurer and every bruise, every scrape was a mark of his progress.
But it wasn't just his physical abilities that were changing. His mind was sharpening too. He learned how to strategize, how to think on his feet. He became adept at reading people and situations, his senses heightened to the complex dance of human interaction. Every glance, every subtle shift in body language was a clue, a piece of the puzzle that would help him understand and adapt.
All this while, Viktor wrestled with his dual identity. There were nights when he'd awaken in a cold sweat, the ghostly echoes of a royal past sending shivers down his spine. He found himself speaking in tongues he didn't remember learning, recalling memories that felt as if they belonged to someone else.
Yet, amidst the turmoil, he found solace in one constant – the land. The simple act of caring for the farm and the satisfaction it brought was an anchor that kept him grounded. Sometimes, after a long day of training, he'd sit by the edge of their fields and simply watch the corn stalks dancing in the gentle breeze. The sight was therapeutic, a balm for his disturbed soul.
It also helped that Eric and Rose were always there for him – their unwavering love and support acting as a beacon during his darkest hours. It wasn't uncommon for Rose to bring him freshly-baked pastries on particularly grueling days or for Eric to offer wise counsel when he seemed especially troubled.
As months turned into a year under Eric's tutelage, Viktor found himself transforming from a common farm boy to a skilled adventurer capable of standing on his own two feet. His unsteady steps had grown confident; his hands that once trembled holding a sword were now firm; his mind more alert than it had ever been.
One chilly morning as Viktor squinted against the sun's glare reflecting off his dulled sword, Eric approached him with a solemn expression etched on his weathered face. The older man's hands were tucked into the pockets of his worn breeches, his broad shoulders hunched against the crisp fall air.
"Viktor," he began, moving to stand alongside the younger man. He paused for a moment, seemingly hesitant. Then, drawing in a deep breath as though steeling himself for something, he finally spoke. "It's time."
Viktor glanced at him with a puzzled frown. "Time for... what exactly?"
Eric turned to face Viktor, his gaze unwavering. "Time for you to venture out on your own," he said simply.
The words hung heavy in the air between them.
"Out?" Viktor echoed, the reality of Eric's statement not yet sinking in. "You mean... leave the farm?"
Eric nodded gravely. "Aye," he confirmed, his voice gruff and filled with an undertone of melancholy.
"But why?" Viktor protested, feeling a sudden surge of panic wash over him. This farm, Rose and Eric - they were his family, his home. The thought of leaving them was unfathomable.
"It's not that we want you gone, lad," Eric explained gently. He placed a steady hand on Viktor's shoulder, giving it an encouraging squeeze. "But you've outgrown this place. There are things out there that I can't teach you, experiences that you need to have for yourself."
"But I'm not ready..." Viktor murmured weakly, more to himself than to Eric.
"Viktor," Eric called out firmly, forcing the younger man to meet his gaze.
Searing memories twisted in his skull, the horrible, brutal things he had done just years prior before he had met the Fritz family. And inside their was a consistent message etched on his soul, something both Viktor Fritz, and Kirchner seemed to agree upon.
"You can't kick me out." He said coldly.
Eric took a step back, fear flashed in his eyes for a moment.
"But then, his expression hardened. "I'm not kicking you out, Viktor," he said, his voice steady. "I'm asking you to go forth and learn."
Viktor felt a surge of betrayal. He had come to view Eric as a father figure, a guiding beacon in his life. His words now felt like a punch to the gut. "You're abandoning me..." he muttered, voice raw.
Eric shook his head sharply, stepping forward to grip Viktor's shoulders firmly. His eyes held the younger man's gaze with an intensity that brooked no argument. "Listen to me, Viktor," he commanded. "I would never abandon you! You are more than just a farm boy under my wing - you have become like my own son. I am proud of you, and I believe in your potential."
Viktor blinked in surprise, taken aback by Eric's revelation. He had known that Eric cared about him, but hearing the older man's affirmation aloud had a profound impact on him.
"But why must I leave?" Viktor asked again, the fear in his heart replaced with dread.
"Because this farm... this village..." Eric gestured around them, his gaze sweeping over the fields they had worked side by side on for the past year. "It's too small for you now. You've outgrown it."
His tone was firm but there was a sorrow in his eyes that mirrored Viktor's own feelings of loss.
Eric sighed heavily as he looked at the young boy, at only thirteen and a half it seemed as if his eyes had seen horrors comparable to the most seasoned warriors.
"Never mind. How about instead you work with me? You'll come with my on my adventuring missions, how does that sound?"
Viktor's eyes widened at the unexpected offer. Working alongside Eric during his missions? It was something he'd often daydreamed about, but never thought would become reality.
"Do you mean it?" he asked, hardly daring to believe his ears. He looked up at Eric, his eyes shining with a mix of apprehension and excitement.
Eric gave him a small smile and clapped him on the shoulder. "I wouldn't have suggested it if I didn't."
Viktor's heart pounded in his chest. This was a chance to see more of the world, to learn from one of the most skilled adventurers he knew. He had always admired Eric not only for his strength and skills but also for his wisdom and kindness. Being able to learn directly from him was more than Viktor could have asked for.
"I... I would like that," Viktor stammered out, trying to keep his excitement in check.
Eric's smile widened into a full grin. "Good," he said, releasing Viktor's shoulder and stepping back. "We'll leave at dawn tomorrow. Pack your things."
As Viktor watched Eric stride away and merge with the golden evening hues, a rush of emotions surged within him - elation at the prospect of adventure, anxiety about the unknown, and a sense of loss at leaving behind the life he knew.
He turned his gaze towards the farmhouse in the distance - Rose would be preparing dinner by now - and sighed deeply. He knew he had a hard conversation ahead but couldn't shake off the feeling of anticipation that buzzed in his veins.
Next Chapter: 33-Into The Wilds