Chapter 35 – Four Days Later
Four days had passed since Thor had asked Gobber and Hiccup to forge the weapons. The mornings on Berk had settled into a calm rhythm during those days, filled with the cries of gulls over the sea and the sound of waves gently striking the shore. On that particular morning, Thor was stretched out in bed, his arm resting behind his head while Shiro lay asleep on his chest. Her breathing was steady and light, her small frame rising and falling with every breath.
The quietness of the room was broken when the door opened with a faint creak. Astrid stepped inside, followed closely by Moana. For a moment Astrid stood still at the doorway, the early sunlight spilling in behind her and outlining her figure. She took in the sight of Thor, still lost in sleep, with Shiro nestled against him. A faint smile curved her lips, a mix of amusement and tenderness.
— Come on, lazybones. It's time for you two to get up. We need to head to the forge and see how the weapons turned out — Astrid said firmly, though her tone carried a touch of warmth.
Thor stirred at the sound of her voice. His eyelids fluttered open slowly, heavy with sleep. He squinted against the light, stretching slightly before pulling the blanket higher up his chest.
— But it's still so early… Why don't we leave it for later? — he muttered, his voice hoarse with sleep, as he tried to retreat back into the comfort of the blanket.
Moana stepped forward, crossing her arms with a playful glint in her eyes. Her long hair swayed as she tilted her head, giving him a mischievous smile.
— Stop being lazy! The day is beautiful. You don't want to waste it lying in bed. Come on, up you go!
Without waiting for him to argue further, she grasped the edge of the blanket and pulled it off in one swift motion. The cold morning air brushed against Thor's skin, and he gave a low grumble of protest.
— All right, all right… you win. I'll get changed — he said with a sigh, swinging his legs over the side of the bed before heading toward the bathroom to wash up.
Astrid let out a quiet sigh of her own, though her expression remained amused.
— Sometimes he's such a complete slacker…
Her comment drew a chuckle from Moana, who was already moving toward Shiro. The girl stirred at the commotion, blinking drowsily. She rubbed her eyes with small hands before lifting her head, her voice soft and uncertain.
— Ni-san… where is he?
Moana crouched beside her with an encouraging smile and helped her adjust the folds of her clothes.
— He already went to take a shower. Come on, little one. We've got a busy day ahead.
Shiro gave a tiny nod, though she was still clearly half-asleep. She leaned against Moana for balance as she finished getting ready.
By the time they all gathered at the breakfast table, the air was filled with the smell of freshly baked bread and warm porridge. Thor sat down beside Astrid and Shiro, while Moana settled across from them. The clatter of wooden bowls and spoons mixed with the casual sounds of the village outside, creating a homely rhythm.
Astrid, unable to hold back her curiosity any longer, leaned slightly toward Thor as he took his first sip of water.
— Thor, how exactly are you going to bless the weapons?
Thor set down the cup, thinking for a moment before answering. His gaze drifted toward the table as he considered his words carefully.
— I'll give a fragment of my power to each of them. For example… I can place my strength into an axe so that whoever wields it gains part of my endurance. Or I could channel my thunder into a sword, so its edge carries lightning with every strike. I can even transfer my defense into armor, making the wearer harder to harm.
Astrid's eyes widened slightly at the explanation, and she immediately exchanged a glance with Moana. Concern was plain on both their faces. Astrid's voice broke the silence first, carrying a worried tone.
— But won't that harm you?
Shiro, who had been nibbling quietly at a piece of bread, froze. Her hand went still as she turned toward Thor. Gripping the sleeve of his shirt tightly, she looked up at him with wide, anxious eyes, waiting for his reassurance.
Thor noticed their expressions and smiled calmly, his tone steady and reassuring.
— There's no need to worry. I'll only use very small fragments. The energy spent recovers quickly… half an hour at most. It's no different from resting after a tough workout.
At that, the three of them let out a collective sigh of relief. Shiro leaned into Thor, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her face against his chest as if to confirm for herself that he was truly fine.
— See? — Thor said gently, stroking her hair with one hand. — It's all right.
The tension that had lingered around the table melted away. The atmosphere became light once again, filled with casual conversation and soft laughter. They shared food and small stories, the kind of simple moments that stitched their days together. Outside, the village bustled with its own rhythm, but for a while the four of them remained wrapped in the warmth of the morning meal, enjoying each other's company before heading to the forge.