Xenophanes was focused on raising Askild, Askild had grown to be a prominent warrior and had made a very distinct name for himself on the battlefield.

Xenophanes loved watching him fight and with Raumarike stalling in their onslaught on Vestfold for years, they kept Asmund on his feet. Xenophanes had not met up with Asmund for those years as he had his kingdom to rule.

They defended against raids, and Xenophanes was beginning to lose the glow in his eyes as he realized the world of Vikings was filled with bloodshed and death, this was no way for their people.

"Askild, why do you raise your blade?" The King asked, having invited the younger boy to his chambers, Askild was confused by this question because he was sure he already knew.

"I want to protect Kattegat," Askild responded but this was a generic answer.

"And what if you can protect Kattegat without blood, will you take it?" Xenophanes tossed this question up in the air.

"Hahaha! I do not think peace can be maintained without blood. Fear is what is important and power brings fear.." Askild said proudly. He was not wrong but Xenophanes did not like that a child was speaking like this. It showed everything wrong in their world.

A place where kids were killed and did inconceivable things, there was something wrong in the world and Xenophanes did not know where to start.

"Askild, don't you just want to be a kid?" Xenophanes wanted to know how the mind of the kid under his wings worked.

"I aim for Valhalla! Is something wrong with you, King Xenophanes?" Askild because something was strange, Xenophanes was not sounding like himself but before the conversation could go any further, a man barged in.

"King Xenophanes, Raumarike has broken through the defenses of Vestfold! King Asmund is requesting your assistance!" The man shouted and Xenophanes looked serious because he knew with certainty that Vestfold would fall, and nothing was standing in the way of Raum The Old and Kattegat.

"We need to go to their aid.." Xenophanes muttered but Askild was not a fan of this decision.

"My king, pardon me but do you think this is a wise decision?" Askild asked, he could ask because he had established some sort of relationship with the king.

"Wise decisions are for wise men, we fools have to play our roles," Xenophanes responded. He was going to risk it all for the sake of Asmund. He was not going to let a single blade touch him but this decision was the beginning of the divide between Askild and Xenophanes.

Xenophanes rode to the rescue of Vestfold with over 5,000 men behind his back.

They rode past numerous mutilated corpses, this showed that the men that did these killings took their time in humiliating their victims.

Askild tagged along because there was no reason not to, he was interested in seeing Xenophanes in battle as it has been a very long time since he has seen his king raise his blade.

He wanted to relive the moment he began to worship the man that had the feats of the strongest man alive.

"King Xenophanes! I am so glad you came!" Asmund greeted him, the man before him looked like an empty husk, he had dull eyes and this was not surprising as the war had taken the wind out of him. He looked tired and wretched.

"Are you okay, friend?" Xenophanes asked, taking him into his arms as both men embraced one another. Xenophanes was different from the last time they met, which was seven years ago.

"I am well, the king of Raumarike is one of the most despicable people I have seen. He disrespects the corpses of our dead and there is no way to find out his next move." Asmund gushed, he told Xenophanes everything he needed to know about the situation.

This man was a depraved genius and Asmund, who lacked experience, could not keep up with him. Maybe his predecessor would have had more luck.

Xenophanes and Asmund had never lost a battle before and this was something they were proud of because it showed the world that they were unstoppable together.

They walked on the battlefield. Where the final battle was to be fought, with their army amassing a massive ten thousand men. These were overwhelming numbers.

But they met an empty field or so they thought, a closer look showed a single man sitting on a horse. This was the famed Raum The Old, he was a powerful man that grew stronger as he aged because he knew how to break his enemies. He knew how to break their most powerful asset which was their mind.

historical

"He is alone?" Askild asked, he was confused because there was no way he was strong enough to take an army as big alone, even if he was Odin himself, he would have difficulties.

"Careful! This man is a crafty bastard!" Birger said. He was familiar with his tactics as he had fought multiple times on the frontline already.

He respected Xenophanes, Xenophanes' strength was more accurate but his older brother reaped the benefits of another's work and this was the problem in inheriting a reputation that was not his, he attracted enemies that were interested in testing it.

"What do you mean?" Xenophanes asked Amsund's younger brother but before he could answer, he saw multiple bodies come into view behind the lone man.

"W-What is this?" Asmund asked, his eyes widening in horror as he realized who they were fighting. Xenophanes' face did not change but his eyes dimmed in sadness.

"They are kids.." Xenophanes muttered, realizing that these were kids ranging from 5-9 with swords in their hands. The murmurs behind them got louder and louder as well.

"Asmund, we are fighting fucking kids..!" Xenophanes repeated but this time, his face did change. It was a look no one had ever seen on him. For the first time, Xenophanes was angry.