The courtyard was quiet. Just the sound of wind brushing against old wooden walls and dirt shifting beneath boots.
"GO!"
Ragnar charged fast, a straight, hard rush. Axel sidestepped on instinct, slipping past the larger man and snapping out a clean jab, it landed square on Ragnar's cheek. There was a soft thud, Ragnar was pushed back slightly but otherwise remained unharmed. Axel followed with a low kick that bit into Ragnar's calf.
Ragnar barely flinched.
He didn't need anyone to tell him why. Ragnar had a falna, a body strengthened with the blessing of gods. Naturally, he couldn't match him even if he had extensive training in his past life.
Ragnar nodded, acknowledging the damage that Axel was able to inflict without a falna.
Axel pressed forward, circling like a wolf, looking for an opening in Ragnar's stance, feet gliding smoothly across the ground. He feinted left, then slipped right, landing a quick one-two combo followed by an elbow to the jaw.
Ragnar's head snapped back a little, he actually took a step back, surprised.
"Damn," One of the Familia members whispered. "He's quick."
"Silence," Týr commanded. his eyes tracking the fight with an almost impressed gaze.
The murmurs quieted down out of respect for their god.
Ragnar's grin faded slightly. He stopped charging blindly and squared up, now respecting the man in front of him. "Alright," he stated. "Let's get serious."
This time when Ragnar moved, it was heavier, he was like a rampaging bull, impossible to meet head-on. He swung a wide hook, fast, but predictable in body language, Axel ducked under and countered with a hard body shot. But the counter barely moved Ragnar. Instead, the larger man pressed harder, wrapping an arm around Axel's back.
The world spun.
Axel's back slammed into the ground, dust kicked up into the air, as he coughed up dust.
Ragnar loomed over him like a mountain, raising a foot, Axel rolled to the side just as it crashed down where his head had been, he pushed himself up and reset his stance, jaw clenched. His body hurt, but he'd felt worse.
Axel couldn't let Ragnar bring him to the ground, he was finished if he was stuck in a wrestling match with a physically superior and heavier man, he had to keep his distance.
He charged this time, a flurry of jabs, hooks, and kicks came out. Ragnar blocked the first, ate the second, and caught the third. A heavy knee slammed into Axel's ribs, pain flooded his nervous system. But he endured, he gritted his teeth, twisting away,
Ragnar still stood, wiping a trickle of blood flowing down his nose. Axel with his impeccable technique got through his defenses more than a few times.
Comparably, Axel was in a much worse state, he was panting, not tired enough for it to affect his combat ability but he was close. His arms sported multiple bruises from blocking Ragnar's superhuman punches.
The only reason he was even able to stand right now was because of his skill, [Hardened Frame].
Axel took another step back, adjusting his stance. He felt the weight difference with every exchange. This was the gap between someone with a Falna and without. He was more skilled, cleaner with his combos, and blocked more blows, but he was still human at the end of the day.
He shifted forward again, this time with a fiery determination in his eyes.
[Tempered Rage} (Activated)
The next exchange was fast, too fast for most of the onlookers to follow cleanly, Axel slipped under a right hook, planted his foot, and cracked a tight elbow into Ragnar's jaw, he followed with a right cross straight down the pipe. Ragnar staggered back slightly, then came back twice as hard, unleashing powerful blows that his opponent dodge desperately.
Axel felt pure exhilaration and excitement flowing through his veins, this was the reason he decided to become an adventurer, this feeling, this raw emotion, he couldn't live without it. So he fought back harder, trading hooks, crosses, and jabs.
But Ragnar came back like a unstoppable machine, his fists hit like sledgehammers. One block sent Axel sliding back on his heels, even when he blocked it, Ragnar was getting faster too, becoming harder and harder to track, until...
"THUD"
A blow cleanly connected with Axel's face.
Axel stumbled, His vision sharpened again just in time to duck another swing but Ragnar's knee came up hard and fast, it buried into his side like a hammer blow. His body screamed, He tried to pivot out, but Ragnar grabbed his shoulder and swept his legs.
The ground came up hard again.
He coughed and pushed himself to his knees, sweat dripping down his jaw, every breath burned now, his muscles were heavy and aching.
His body wasn't built like Ragnar's, not yet at least, but he wasn't ready to call in the towel just yet .
Axel slowly pushed himself up, dirt clung to his forearms, his jaw was bruised, blood pooling in the corner of his mouth. Ragnar grinned as he saw Axel straighten his back, hands raising into his stance again.
The people on the sidelines stopped whispering. One of them swallowed audibly.
Ragnar exhaled slowly, "You're a tough bastard, huh." But before they could continue their slugfest.
"That's enough" Týr interrupted, he finally pushed away from the fence and walked toward the two of them, his steps were unhurried. When he stopped next to Axel, Ragnar stepped back respectfully, chest still rising and falling with the fight.
Týr looked down at Axel, who was trying, and failing to hide the pain he was feeling. His knuckles were bloodied. His lip was split, but there was no fear or grief in his eyes, just a stubborn, burning will.
"You didn't win," he stated simply. "But you fought well."
Ragnar crossed his arms, a faint smile tugging at his bruised mouth. "He hit me more than I expected," he admitted, proud that they were about to add someone this skilled to their ranks.
One of the Familia members added jokingly, "He almost made Ragnar back off."
"Oi, I'll double your training if you don't shut up" Ragnar warned with a snarl, although his small smile showed his true emotions
Týr's gaze didn't waver from the banter. "You're weaker," he said. "But strength isn't everything. You're skilled, trained, and don't give up easily.
Axel let out a shaky laugh, tasting iron in his mouth. "I don't… know how to."
Týr's lips curved slightly, not quite a smile, but close. He reached out a hand. Axel hesitated for a second, then took it. Týr pulled him to his feet in one smooth motion.
"You're officially part of our Familia," Týr said softly.
[Main Quest completed} (Join a familia)
Rewards: Quest function unlocked, Shop function unlocked, Brutality points are now convertible to skill points. 500=1
The four other Familia members were silent, their eyes following Axel differently now, not as some stranger, but someone who had earned a little respect.
"Go get yourself patched up with that lass over there" Týr pointed over to a young woman that's been watching them.
Axel walked over to the woman Tyr pointed at, he followed her to a room inside the compound.
The medical room was small but practical, lit by a few magic lamps. Two wooden beds sat against the wall with clean but worn sheets, Shelves held jars of herbs, bandages, and tools, The air smelled of dried plants and alcohol, it was quiet, simple, and steady.
Axel took a closer look at the woman that was treating him. She had a calm presence, she had soft, lightly tanned skin and beautiful green eyes that seemed to spot everything. Her light brown hair was tied into a simple ponytail. Her frame was lithe and agile, the kind that came from training, not comfort, she looked gentle, but not fragile.
She leaned against the wooden shelf, arms crossed, watching him with quiet amusement. "You're lucky he went easy on you," she said softly, the corners of her mouth twitching upward. "Ragnar doesn't really know what 'light sparring' means."
Axel glanced up, slightly out of breath but trying to keep his humor. "Yeah, I figured that out about thirty seconds in."
She walked over, stopping just a step away. "I'm Eir, by the way. Eir Halvorsdottir. Healer of this little bunch of misfits"
"Axel, Axel Thorne," He completed, giving a small nod. "I feel bad for you, he must send someone here at least once a day."
A quiet laugh escaped her. "Well, Axel Thorne, welcome to Týr Familia, consider this your first trip to the med room. It won't be your last."
She crouched slightly so she could check the bruise forming near his collarbone, up close, Axel noticed the way her sharp green eyes were able to spot the and dissect the injury instantly. Her touch was gentle but practiced.
"You've got good form, though," she said, keeping the conversation going. "You're probably better than everyone here in terms of technique, counting out Tyr-sama of course."
He glanced at her, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Yeah, But technique doesn't do much when the other guy can knock you out in one strike."
Eir chuckled quietly, reaching for a jar on the shelf. "Welcome to Orario." She dabbed a cool salve on the bruise, Axel hissed at the sting. "You'll get used to it."
After she finished with the salve, she wrapped up the bruise in a clean bandage.
"Thanks," Axel said gratefully.
Eir capped the jar and set it back on the shelf. "Get used to it, Axel-san. We take care of each other here, That's what a familia does."
.
.
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Authors Note: What do you guys think about giving the character's names a Norse vibe, does it ruin the immersion? Personally I think it's sick. Also I finally added some chapter names which makes the story feel so much more professional in my opinion.