The village of Nordfeldt sat on a broad plain where the northern winds blew hard and unrelenting. It wasn't a place of luxury or wealth, but for most who lived here, it was home. For Leif, though, Nordfeldt was little more than a harsh testing ground — a place where each day was a lesson in endurance.
Seventeen-year-old Leif was taller and sturdier than most in the village, with piercing eyes the color of a stormy sky. But while his build suggested strength, his life was far from easy. He was often given the heaviest chores — lifting bales, hauling water, and chopping firewood — and the villagers treated him more like a tool than a person.
Leif didn't complain. He was grateful to have a roof over his head, even if it was a modest one, and a few coins to his name. He took pride in his work, even if others took advantage of his quiet resilience.
One morning, as the sun began to peek over the horizon, Leif carried a heavy sack of grain across the village square. A group of boys nearby paused their chatter to watch, whispering to each other as Leif passed by.
"Look at him go," one snickered. "Does he even feel anything? Bet he's more ox than man."
Leif's face reddened, but he kept his head down and continued walking. He'd learned long ago that responding only made things worse. Besides, he didn't mind his strength; it was his, a part of him, something he didn't need to hide. If others didn't understand it, that was their problem.
As he reached the barn, Leif caught sight of Edda, a kind but stern woman who acted as the village healer. She watched him with a thoughtful gaze, as if seeing something others missed. When he set the sack down, Edda approached him.
"Leif, you carry yourself with a strength that doesn't come from mere muscle," she said, a hint of mystery in her tone.
Leif shrugged. "I don't know about that. Just doing what needs doing, I suppose."
Edda gave a small smile, though her eyes remained serious. "Strength can be a gift, Leif, but only if you understand it. You have something most others don't, and one day, it may lead you to a path you don't expect."
Leif furrowed his brow, unsure what to make of her words. But before he could ask more, Edda turned and strode off, leaving him with the sack and his own thoughts.
The rest of the day was uneventful, and by evening, Leif found himself by the village's quiet pond, the reflection of the stars dancing on its surface. He had come here often since he was a child, feeling a strange sense of comfort in the silence and the stillness of the water.
As he sat by the water's edge, he thought about what Edda had said. She was one of the few people who spoke to him kindly, and her words lingered in his mind. Strength could be a gift, but why had it been given to him?
He was jolted from his thoughts when he heard a rustling in the bushes nearby. Leif rose to his feet, tensing as he peered into the darkness.
From the shadows stepped Astrid, a girl his age who lived at the edge of Nordfeldt. She was a skilled hunter and as quick with her words as she was with her bow. Seeing Leif, she smiled and gave a small wave.
"Out here by yourself again?" she asked, her tone playful.
Leif nodded, relaxing a little. "Just thinking, I guess."
Astrid sat beside him, brushing back her blonde hair as she looked out at the water. "Thinking about what? I doubt it's the weather."
He chuckled. "Just wondering if there's…more to all this. Life here is fine, but sometimes, I feel like I'm meant for something else."
Astrid was quiet for a moment before she responded. "Maybe you are. And if anyone deserves to find out, it's you."
Leif was taken aback by her words. Most of the villagers ignored him, but Astrid saw him differently. She saw him as someone with potential, not just another farmhand. For the first time, he felt a spark of hope, a feeling that maybe, just maybe, he could do something greater than just survive.
As they sat together under the stars, Leif felt a sense of belonging he rarely experienced. Here, in the quiet of the night, he was no longer just the boy with unusual strength. He was simply Leif.
Little did he know, his journey was about to begin — a journey that would test every ounce of strength he possessed and reveal the true reason for the power he carried within.