"Focus your Mind. Breathe in and out, spread out your senses,"
Ragna did as Aksel instructed, allowing his mind to expand beyond the physical boundary of his body. He felt his Men...Psychic energy stirs, the energy fluctuating as it pushes a part of his consciousness into the Physical world. He felt his Internal senses probe his surroundings, his perception capabilities beyond what his physical senses could have sensed. He could tactilely feel the leaves around him, the flow of the air, and the sun that kissed his tan colored skin, his sight, smell, and hearing also enhanced.
"Now, push against my Psychic energy as much as you can," Aksel said. Ragna felt Aksel let out a tiny bit of his Psychic energy and felt it push against his Internal senses. Releasing more of his Psychic energy, Ragna directed his mental force against Aksel, pushing against the intrusion that would have happened had Aksel managed to transmit his psychic energy into him. Although he loved Aksel, he was not about to allow him to wander through his mind. Ragna successfully dissipated the Psychic energy burst that Aksel had sent towards him. Aksel was amazed at the ease with which Ragna was able to perform such a feat, especially without the use of Essence. It had been a week since they began their training, and at first, Aksel had started by releasing a small burst of his Psychic energy to test Ragna's Inner strength, but the boy had managed to keep up with him. Of course, as a Rune Sage, if Aksel used his full Psychic energy, there would be nothing Ragna could do about it. Which was why he used as little of it as possible to train Ragna. And in one week, Ragna had grown tremendously. He still couldn't use his Psychic energy in a real battle, but his reaction speed and reflexes had increased.
"That was quite impressive," Aksel said. He took a seat beside Ragna, passing him a canteen of water they had gotten from the lake. Every time after their training, he would make Ragna drink the lake's water to refine his Psychic energy.
"Thanks," Ragna said drinking the water. He felt the water cool his mind and relax it. Ever since he began drinking the lake's water, Ragna had felt a rise in the intensity of his Psychic energy. It was too bad that he couldn't use it to form a core to cultivate Essence. Ragna sighed as his thought process began to smooth out. His mind began to wander to the past few weeks. His mother had been busy with her duties, spending more time by the port where merchants from other kingdoms travel through the sea to bring their business. He had noticed that his mother seemed to take the security by the port seriously. "I have a question, Aksel,"
" What is it," Aksel said with a smile.
"What do the Vikings stationed at the seaport do," Ragna asked. "I know they're there to protect the Kingdom, but with Frodi's peace between the five Kingdoms, why the extra security at the port," Ragna was curious to know the reason why his mother was always bothered by ensuring that the port was fully secured.
"You're aware that Frodi's peace does not apply to the Faroe Islands to the Northwest," Aksel said. Scandinavia, the continent in which they lived was a supermassive continent, similar to the size of three continents from his former world. Norland was located in the central regions, but due to its sheer size, it also extends to the boundary line with the sea. To the northwest of Norland was Swedland and beyond it was the Faroe Islands. This archipelago was filled with tribes and clans that had no affiliation with any of the five Kingdoms. Due to that, there were always raid attacks from the Faroe Islands on the mainland. At least in the beginning of the Kingdom's formation, there was. But things had changed. Norland was the oldest and most powerful kingdom in the land, and it had long ago established its dominance. The Raiders from Faroe Island knew better than to send any party of raiders to Norland's territory. But just because Norland was powerful and lived in a peaceful time- as peaceful as this world could let them- that didn't mean Norland wouldn't protect their interest. So Ragna understood why the Port was an important site to protect. But he felt like there was more reason why Kattegat had more Vikings stationed here.
"Yes, but the islands haven't been a threat in a long while," Ragna said. Aksel eyed the boy in front of him. He was a smart and curious one for a little kid. He sighed thinking of what to tell him. Aksel decided to go for the truth.
"You know that most of Midgard is dead and broken," Aksel said.
"Yes," Ragna said. He had heard so many stories about it.
"Our Continent is the only remaining land that supports life in this dead desolate world," Aksel said. "Out there, beyond the vast sea are the Rune Walkers."
"The Rune Walkers from the stories," Ragna said.
"Yes. It's been nine hundred years after Ragnarok since the Rune Walkers began wiping all forms of life," Aksel said. "Our land is protected by what we call a Containment field,"
"You mean a barrier," Ragna said.
"Yes, a barrier. It prevents the Rune Walkers from coming to our land," Aksel said. "But there's a flaw to it. The barrier only keeps out the worse of the Rune Walkers, in exchange, the weak ones can slip through,"
"Really," Ragna said.
"Yes. They slip through and proceed to corrupt the Rune beasts that live within the sea close to us." Aksel said. Rune beasts were the equivalent of Mana beasts from his old world. Beasts that were born with their naturally formed Rune of power. "The Vikings exist to protect the ordinary folks. We exist to save lives. As the Earl of the village, it's your Mother's responsibility to lead the Vikings and ensure the safety of the people."
"So I take it she's leading a charge against the Rune Walkers by the sea," Ragna said. Aksel sighed. The boy was right. A couple of weeks ago, a horde of Rune Walkers had slipped through the Containment field, poisoning the sea creatures within it, multiplying the Rune Walkers. So Bestla had to lead a skilled experienced marine force to go out there and deal with them. Aksel was left to handle the administration of the village, and train Ragna.
"Yes, she is," Aksel said. "Don't worry. Your mother is the most powerful warrior in the village. A horde of fourth grade Rune Walkers will be a cakewalk for her." Ragna turned to stare at Aksel, and even though he had his gentle smile on, Ragna could tell that he was still worried. Ragna could sense his Mother through the bond they shared and he could tell from it, that she was alright and safe. Ragna was interested in knowing more about the Rune Walker's entities. He wanted to know how to compare the strength of these beings responsible for the near destruction of the world to his former strength. I guess every world always goes through some kind of world ending crisis. Ragna was quite familiar with the concept of the apocalypse as he had gone through his fair share of it. He had been born as a weapon, raised as one, and used as one. It was the reason why he wasn't bothered by the fact that he had reincarnated into a broken world.
"We should get going," Aksel said. "Your mother should be back by now."
"How often does the Rune Walkers get through the barrier," Ragna said.
"It happens from time to time. It's like a seasonal thing," Aksel said. Hmm, that doesn't sound good! Now more than ever Ragna was determined to grow stronger. He was beginning to feel a rush for his tenth birthyear to arrive.