Tyranny of Steel

Berengar awoke the next day, his body sore all over from the physical contest he had endured the day before. One thing that became immediately noticeable was the complete and utter lack of sight in his right eye. He quickly touched the wound and noticed a scar that was almost identical to the one he had prior to his body's rebirth. 

With a heavy sigh, Berengar climbed out of bed and realized that he was completely naked. Rather than get dressed, like one might do first thing in the morning, he was quick to rummage through his belongings in search of one particular item. 

After several moments of searching, he found what he was looking for. A crystalline sphere, whose color was gold. It was only after Berengar gazed upon this device did he sigh in relief. Without hesitation, he pulled out his boot knife from among his belongings and slowly, but surgically, removed his blinded eye, like he had done during his time in Egypt. Once the socket was empty, he gently placed the golden gemstone in its place. Where it rapidly transformed into a functional eye. 

With his sight regained, Berengar fell back onto his bedding and sighed once more while he reflected on everything that had occurred the day before. He didn't even have time to process his emotions while he was fighting the same brother he had killed nearly fourteen years prior in yet another battle to the death. 

The look of hatred on Lambert's face, and the claims of what he would do should he be given a second chance at life. It would appear that hell had transformed the boy into a monster. It was only now that Berengar realized whether it be in this life, or the next, there would be no chance at reconciliation between him and his brother, a thought that weighed heavily on his heart. 

It was while he was thinking of this, that the door the door to the longhouse opened, to reveal the figures of Siv and her mother Brynhildr, they gazed upon the naked man, and his chiseled body for several seconds before he realized the state he was in. 

The young girl immediately blushed and ran out the door, while Brynhildr wore a seductive smile on her mature face. Perhaps this was the chance she was looking for, but the Icelandic beauty was quick to take advantage of the situation. She placed down her basket of eggs before walking to Berengar's side.

"My gods, are these the scars left over from your duel? They're so... manly... Here, let me help you get dressed!"

Though Berengar wanted to reject the woman, his body was still sore, and thus he was ultimately left with no choice. Brynhildr did her best to help the man get dressed in the clothes which were provided by the hidden village, before aiding him on his walk to the dining table, where she was quick to prepare breakfast. It was during this time that Siv reentered her home, not daring to look Berengar in the eyes. 

In a moment of curiosity, Berengar activated the eye of Horus and used it to survey the thoughts and general feelings the mother and daughter had towards him. The aura Siv was presenting was one of overwhelming embarassment, while the one that surrounded Brynhildr contained an intense lust.

Ultimately, Berengar de-activated the divine artifact in fear that if he gazed upon the mature beauty's feelings for him much longer, then he would lose control of his own emotions and act in a way he otherwise shouldn't. 

Before long, Brynhildr brought out a few plates worth of food, and set them down on the table in front of her guest and young daughter. There was a lascivious smile on the woman's face as she grabbed hold of Berengar's wrist and whispered something suggestive in his ears.

"I do believe I promised to take care of you should you survive your previous trial..." 

Though Siv did not dare look Berengar in the eye, she could tell that her mother was trying to tempt the man, and was quick to intervene. 

"Mother, I believe Berengar has another trial today. So you should cook some more eggs and sausage so that he has enough energy to complete it."

A look of disappointment appeared on Brynhildr's face as she realized that her own daughter was, for lack of a better term, cockblocking her. She could only sigh in defeat and go back to the kitchen, where she prepared another serving for her guest. 

After eating his fill, Berengar left the longhouse without saying a word, not wanting to get any further involved with the mature beauty and her young daughter. After all, the last thing he needed was to sire a bastard in this faraway land. 

When Berengar entered the village, he was once more greeted by the Seeress, who was surrounded by the entire clan. There was a stoic expression on her eerily beautiful face as the woman declared the next trial. 

"Since your arrival in this village. Odin has demanded you pass three trials. While you may not have realized the significance behind these tests, there has always been a hidden meaning behind them. Firstly, you demonstrated your courage and tenacity by fighting a creature superior in strength and size to yourself, with only your own means. 

For your second trial, you have corrected your past dishonors by defeating a man who should have rightly killed you if you had not relied on petty trickery to emerge victorious. In doing so, you proved your ability in combat, something all warriors should take pride in. 

Now, for your third and final trial, you will leave this hidden land and climb up the nearest mountain. From there, you will stand at the top of the world and gaze into the fiery bit below, where you will jump into the pool of molten magma.

If your faith is strong, you will find yourself whisked away by the rainbow bridge to Valhalla. However, if your heart wavers for even a moment, you will plunge to your death. Ultimately, it is up to you whether you live or die..."

Berengar nearly shat himself when he heard of this trial. Wrestling a polar bear, fighting a spectral image of his long deceased brother to the death, these were easy things to accomplish, and required the strength of the body, more than that of the mind. However, to have faith in anyone besides himself, and willingly throw himself into the jaws of death. That was a true challenge for the man. 

Every instinct in Berengar's body wanted nothing more than to retreat and abandon this foolish quest. Yet, he had come so far, and the path ahead of him was clear. If he succeeded in this endeavor, if he chose to put aside his logic and reason, and show faith in Odin, he would finally learn the answer as to why he was brought into this world, and what the gods had planned for him. But was the answer to this question worth his life? 

Berengar stood still for some time, not knowing whether or not he would be able to achieve this leap of faith. Or so he thought. In reality, he had been subconsciously making his way towards the top of the mountain while lost in his own mind, pondering the pros and cons of this trial. 

When Berengar finally awoke from this stupor, he was standing at the edge of the volcano. He knew not how many hours had passed, or how he had managed to find himself in this exact spot. Perhaps the journey in itself was the work of the gods. However, as he stared into the fiery chasm below his feet, his heart began to palpitate. 

If he took one step back from this cliff, he would fail the trial, and never be able to learn of his purpose in this life. However, he would be able to return safely to his family, and live the rest of his life in the ultimate luxury. 

No matter how Berengar thought about it, if he were to take a step forward, he would most certainly fall to his death. It was only logical that such an outcome would occur. However, in his mind, he also knew that there were many things in this world that defied the laws of physics, or at least his current understanding of them. He had seen and heard with his own eyes and ears the figures and voices of supernatural beings. 

He had come into contact with these deities, and in some cases, even felt their flesh with his own hands. Even if logic dictated only death awaited him, how could he rationally defy what he knew to be true? The gods were real, and they had been guiding his journey in this world from the very beginning. Thus, after careful consideration, he stepped forward and allowed his body to fall into the active volcano. 

As Berengar fell closer, and closer towards the pool of magma below, his mind wanted more than anything to curse himself out for being so foolish, yet an aspect of his character whose will was indomitable was certain, in his faith, that he would not die from this trial by fire. Just as he was about to close his eyes and embrace his death, a rainbow appeared in front of him and whisked the man away from the fiery pit that was just millimeters below. 

In its place appeared a rainbow bridge, known as Bifrost, and on the other end of this bridge, was a great mead-hall, whose roof was made from shields, and whose rafters were fashioned from spears. After exhaling in relief, Berengar took one step onto this rainbow bridge and walked forward towards the entrance of Valhalla where Odin and his Einherjar lie waiting for his arrival. 

---

If you're not reading this on Webnovel, consider supporting me by donating at https://ko-fi.com/zentmeister