《Viktor's Wraith》


 Blood on snow

    Ch-1 Blood on snow


    It is snowing and the sun is starting to rise, warm sun rays fall on Viktor¡¯s face through pine trees covered in snow. Artur, a tall man with a big build and broad shoulders, has a thick beard and eyes of a soft emerald hue, shimmering with kindness. He looks towards his 12-year-old son Viktor.


    {Artur is a form of the classic name Arthur. In Old Welsh, its meaning ¡°bear king¡±}


    Artur picks up Viktor as he is playing in the snow.


    ¡°Viktor, let¡¯s go back inside. You¡¯ll catch a fever if you keep playing in the snow.¡±


    Viktor smiles and hugs his father, and Artur takes him inside the house.


    Viktor¡¯s mother, Sasha, stands in the soft morning light filtering through the kitchen window. Her silhouette is framed by the golden hues of dawn. Strands of her chestnut hair escape from her loose bun, framing her face with a gentle, lived-in beauty.


    ¡°Breakfast is ready,¡± Sasha says.


    As Sasha places the final touches on breakfast, Artur and Viktor enter the kitchen, drawn by the inviting aromas. She greets them with a radiant smile.


    ¡°I made your favorite dish today, honey,¡± Sasha says.


    Hearing this, Viktor smiles. He is a shy kid and doesn¡¯t talk much.


    Artur takes his place at the head of the table, his presence both strong and gentle, while Viktor and Sasha sit on both sides.


    Sasha starts to serve the hot cheese pancakes.


    ¡°Please spread some sour cream and raspberry jam on the pancakes,¡± asks Viktor. He loves the sweet and tangy flavor.


    As they finish eating breakfast, Sasha heads to the barn to milk the cows. Viktor runs behind his mother to help.


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    Artur also starts preparing to head for work; he is a lumberjack.


    He grabs his coat, and suddenly he hears screams coming from outside. Artur¡¯s heart clenches. They were Sasha¡¯s.


    Without hesitation, he grabs his axe and heads outside. The distant crowing of a rooster and Sasha¡¯s silhouette against the sun catch his eye. She struggles in the grasp of three men¡ªstrangers with eyes like shadows and wearing dark cloaks. Viktor is crying in pain because of a wound on his right eye.


    Artur¡¯s pulse roars in his ears. He charges, the axe an extension of his rage. The men turn, startled.


    ¡°Let her go!¡± Artur¡¯s voice cracks, the axe raised high.


    One of the men, a shadowy figure with an air of cold authority, draws a knife. Artur swings his axe with primal force. The blade connects with the man¡¯s arm, sending the arm flying and blood staining the snow.


    The other two men, momentarily stunned by Artur¡¯s strength, exchange anxious glances. The one holding Sasha, with a cruel smirk, slits her throat.


    ¡°Protect Viktor,¡± Sasha¡¯s last words are a desperate plea.


    The second man, his face obscured by a hood, turns to Artur with a chilling calm. ¡°Where¡¯s the old man?¡±


    Artur¡¯s heart pounds with grief and rage. His voice trembles, raw and defiant. ¡°You¡¯ll get nothing from me¡±


    The second man¡¯s eyes narrow, revealing a cold resolve. ¡°If you don¡¯t tell us where he is, we¡¯ll make sure your son suffers too.¡±


    Artur¡¯s rage surges, each breath a battle against the pain. ¡°I won¡¯t let you touch him.¡±


    The man¡¯s expression remains unyielding.


    Filled with rage, Artur charges at the second man. He swung his axe aiming for the man¡¯s heart.


    he tried to block the attack with his blade but the axe breaks the blade and lodged into the man¡¯s chest. The forest absorbed his dying gasp


    Artur, fighting through his own pain, growls, ¡°You think you can tear apart everything I love and walk away?¡±


    The third man, the most imposing of the trio, sneaks and slashes Artur. ¡°Enough talk. If you¡¯re not going to cooperate, just die.¡±


    Artur charges at the third man with all his strength, his axe swinging in a desperate arc. The man meets his blow with a parry, their weapons clashing with a harsh clang. Artur¡¯s injured knee slows him down, but he presses on, fueled by a primal need to protect.


    The third man slashes at Artur, the blade slicing through his flesh. Each strike is met with Artur¡¯s unyielding fury, each bruise a testament to his love. He catches the man¡¯s blade with his bare hands, the metal biting into his flesh, and he twists the wrist, disarming him. Artur¡¯s fists rain down with a savage intensity, breaking every facial bone, until the man lies dead in the snow.


    Artur¡¯s strength begins to fade. His chest burns, vision blurs, each breath a struggle, as he crawls towards Sasha.


    He nestles closer to Sasha and turns to Viktor. His breathing is ragged, each gasp a struggle. He rips his shirt to make a bandage and ties it on Viktor¡¯s wounded right eye, trying to keep his voice steady. ¡°You¡¯re going to be okay, Viktor,¡± he says, forcing a smile.


    Viktor¡¯s sobs mix with the cold wind. ¡°But, mama and you¡ª¡±


    ¡°don¡¯t worry son, mama¡¯s just resting and I¡¯ll be right here. You have to be brave for me son. I love you, Viktor... You need to go to the grandpa¡¯s house, tell him what happened.¡±


    ¡°Just go,¡± Artur says with a tremor in his voice, though it is filled with desperate resolve


    As Viktor trudges down the snow-covered road, Artur¡¯s strength wanes. He looks towards Sasha, her body lying in the snow, a lifeless silhouette against the white blanket. Artur¡¯s blood-soaked fingers brush against her cold cheek, tears mingling with the snow as he cradles her.


    ¡°I kept my promise,¡± Artur whispers through his pain, his voice breaking. ¡°Forgive me. I tried.¡±


    His breaths grow shallower, each one a struggle. As his vision darkens, he feels a deep, wrenching sorrow. *If only I were healthy. If only I could move faster. I could have saved you.


    With a final, shuddering breath, Artur lies beside Sasha, his breaths growing fainter as he clings to the last remnants of life. The snow continues to fall, blanketing the scene in a chilling silence.


    ---

 Echos of the past

    Chapter 2-Echoes of the Past


    The snow fell gently as Viktor trudged through the forest, his breath forming clouds of mist in the cold morning air. Each step was a heavy reminder of the chaos he had left behind, the warmth of his parents¡¯ love now replaced by the cold grip of grief. His small frame was weary from the journey, but the memory of his father¡¯s last words drove him onward.


    The forest seemed endless, a maze of towering pines and snow-covered ground. Viktor¡¯s young mind was numb, unable to fully grasp the horror of what had happened. He wasn¡¯t thinking of revenge or anger; he was simply confused, lost in a world that had turned upside down in an instant.


    After what felt like an eternity, Viktor spotted the small cabin through the trees. Its wooden walls were sturdy, weathered by time, yet it stood as a beacon of hope amidst the overwhelming silence. Viktor approached and knocked on the door, his knuckles brushing against the rough wood.


    The door creaked open, revealing a tall, slender figure. Kaavi stood there, his eyes¡ªa keen, penetrating brown¡ªseemed to peer straight into Viktor¡¯s soul. Despite his age, Kaavi¡¯s movements were fluid, his body still strong, a testament to the energy he drew from the environment around him. His kind face, framed by short brown hair, was both comforting and mysterious, hiding a depth of experience that Viktor could only guess at.


    ¡°Welcome, Viktor,¡± Kaavi greeted, his voice steady yet somehow soothing. ¡°Come, warm yourself by the fire. You¡¯ve travelled far.¡±


    Viktor, heavy-hearted with loss, found solace in the old man¡¯s presence. He stepped inside, feeling the warmth of the fire begin to thaw the cold that had seeped into his bones. Kaavi guided him to a chair by the hearth, his touch gentle but firm.


    Kaavi¡¯s eyes lingered on the scar over Viktor¡¯s right eye, a stark reminder of the violence that had taken place. Without a word, he fetched bandages and began to tend to the wound. Viktor winced slightly as Kaavi carefully cleaned the cut, but the old man¡¯s touch was skilled and precise, bringing relief rather than pain.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a cut,¡± Kaavi murmured, more to himself than to Viktor. ¡°Nothing serious. You¡¯ll heal.¡±


    As Kaavi finished, he placed his palm gently on Viktor¡¯s head, closing his eyes. Viktor felt a strange sensation, as if a gentle breeze was passing through his mind. Kaavi¡¯s abilities were subtle, yet powerful¡ªhe could see, hear, and feel through others. In that moment, he relived the horror Viktor had witnessed. The images flashed in his mind: the struggle, the blood, Sasha¡¯s last breath, Artur¡¯s desperate fight.


    Kaavi opened his eyes, his expression sorrowful yet composed. He could feel Viktor¡¯s turmoil, the confusion of a child who had seen too much. ¡°You¡¯ve seen much for one so young,¡± Kaavi said softly, his voice a mix of compassion and authority. ¡°The pain in your heart is loud, and the questions in your mind are many.¡±


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    Viktor looked up at him, his eyes wide with fear and uncertainty. ¡°How do you know?¡±


    Kaavi smiled gently, a smile that held both comfort and sorrow. ¡°The echoes, Viktor. The surface of a deep well of emotions you¡¯re yet to explore.¡±


    Viktor shuffled his feet, feeling exposed yet not judged. ¡°How do you know these things?¡± he asked, his voice tinged with the confusion of a child who had just encountered the mysterious.


    Kaavi knelt before Viktor, meeting his eyes at level. ¡°In this world, there are those who possess gifts that seem like magic to others.¡±


    Viktor¡¯s eyes widened in wonder. ¡°Like the stories of old?¡±


    Kaavi chuckled. ¡°Yes, like the stories of old. Think of it as a rare understanding, a way to connect with the unseen, much like the wizards in the tales your mother told you.¡±


    As they sat by the fire, Kaavi began to share stories of Viktor¡¯s heritage, hoping to ease the boy¡¯s troubled mind. ¡°Your father, Artur,¡± Kaavi began, his voice steady, ¡°came from a proud lineage of warriors, a clan led by your grandfather. He was a man of great strength and honour, much like you will become one day.¡±


    Kaavi paused, his eyes reflecting a distant memory. ¡°After your grandmother passed away, I left the town to find peace in this forest. It was a time of great sorrow, but this place gave me solace. When your father met your mother, Sasha, he came to me, not just out of love for her, but out of a sense of duty to family. He asked for her hand in marriage and decided to live nearby, so he could care for both Sasha and me.¡±


    Viktor listened intently as the pieces of his father¡¯s past fell into place like the snowflakes outside the window. Kaavi¡¯s stories wove a narrative of Viktor¡¯s heritage, a tapestry of honour and sacrifice. As the day waned, Kaavi gently guided Viktor back to the present. ¡°Now, let us prepare to give your parents the sendoff they deserve, as befits their legacy and the love they shared.¡±


    As the evening set in, Kaavi led Viktor through the snowy forest, back to the place where his world had shattered. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a golden light on the snow. They reached Viktor¡¯s home, now eerily quiet, the warmth and laughter it once held forever gone.


    Kaavi worked silently, his movements sure and deliberate. He gathered wood and built a funeral pyre, placing Sasha and Artur¡¯s bodies gently atop it. Viktor watched, his heart heavy, yet still numbed by the shock of it all.


    Kaavi handed Viktor a lit torch, his expression solemn. ¡°It is time, Viktor,¡± he said softly. ¡°Give them the peace they deserve.¡±


    With trembling hands, Viktor took the torch and stepped forward. The flames flickered, their light dancing on the snow as he touched the torch to the pyre. The wood caught fire quickly, the flames rising high, crackling in the silence of the forest.


    Viktor stood beside Kaavi, watching as the flames consumed the pyre, carrying the essence of his parents into the night sky. The snow around them seemed to absorb the warmth of the ceremony, a stark contrast to the cold that had settled in Viktor¡¯s heart.


    Kaavi¡¯s voice was gentle but firm as he spoke the words of the warrior¡¯s sendoff, a rite that honoured the lives and valour of those who had passed. ¡°Be brave, Viktor,¡± he said, placing a hand on the boy¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Your parents¡¯ spirits are now free, and their memories will live on through you.¡±


    As the fire crackled and the last of the embers glowed, Kaavi turned to Viktor, his eyes reflecting the flickering light. ¡°It is just you and me now. We will live together, and I will teach you the ways of the world, just as your parents would have.¡±


    Viktor nodded, the gravity of the moment etching a new resolve into his young features. He watched as the flames dwindled, a sense of peace settling over the clearing. The ceremony had been a tribute to his parents, one that honoured their lives and the traditions of their clan.


    Yet, in the depths of Viktor¡¯s heart, where the warmth of the fire could not reach, there lay a small ember of revenge¡ªa quiet, persistent glow that whispered of unfinished business. It was not a raging inferno, but a steady beacon that would one day guide his actions.


    With the ceremony complete, Kaavi led Viktor back to the cabin, the warmth of the hearth a welcome respite from the chill of the evening. ¡°You are strong, Viktor,¡± Kaavi said as they settled in for the night. ¡°Together, we will face whatever the future holds, and when the time is right, you will know how to honour your parents¡¯ legacy.¡±


    Viktor felt the truth of Kaavi¡¯s words. In the old man¡¯s company, he found not only a mentor but a family. And as the stars twinkled above, Viktor knew that the journey ahead would be one of learning, growth, and the unwavering spirit of the warrior¡¯s way, tempered by the quiet resolve that now burned within him.

 chapter 3- The cycle of shadows

    Chapter 3-The Cycle of Shadows


    The snow-laden trees stood as silent sentinels; their branches heavy with the weight of the evening¡¯s events. Oldman Kaavi, his weathered face a map of sorrow and resolve, watched as the flames from the funeral pyre consumed the remains of Viktor¡¯s parents. The flickering light danced in the boy¡¯s emerald eyes, now dull with the weight of grief.


    When the last ember faded, Kaavi gathered Viktor in his arms, carrying the child back to the cabin. The bed felt too large, too empty for a boy who had lost everything.


    ¡°Please¡­ tell me more about Father,¡± Viktor whispered, his voice barely audible.


    Kaavi hesitated; his heart heavy. ¡°Rest now, Viktor. There will be time for stories when you¡¯re ready,¡± he said, pulling the blanket over the child. Viktor¡¯s eyelids fluttered shut, exhaustion overtaking him.


    Outside the cabin, Kaavi¡¯s gaze turned to the forest, his mind reaching out into the night. He called upon a raven perched high on a frost-laden branch, its sharp eyes becoming his own. Through the raven¡¯s vision, Kaavi saw the shadows moving through the trees¡ªintruders, a reconnaissance team sent to uncover the fate of the squad that had fallen to Kaavi¡¯s earlier wrath.


    Kaavi¡¯s body ached; a reminder of battles long past. His abilities, once nearly limitless, now drained him quickly. He could not sustain their use for long without the risk of collapse. With careful precision, he summoned the wolves and a bear, creatures of the forest he had long since bent to his will. They would assist him, but only if necessary. Tonight, Kaavi preferred to handle matters personally.


    The intruders, unaware of the danger, moved swiftly through the forest. They had discovered the remains of their comrades, a grim sight that hastened their retreat. They needed to report back, to warn their superiors of the power that lurked in this forest.


    Kaavi moved silently, his age-defying the fluidity of his movements. As he closed in on the intruders, he signalled for the wolves and bear to remain hidden. This fight would begin on his terms.


    From the shadows, Kaavi emerged, his presence unnoticed until he was nearly upon them. The group¡¯s leader, a man covered in bone armour, a grotesque exoskeleton that gleamed in the moonlight, turned just in time to meet Kaavi¡¯s steely gaze.


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    ¡°You¡¯ve come far, only to meet the same fate as those before you,¡± Kaavi said, his voice a low growl.


    The leader sneered, his bone armor shifting as he drew a spear-like weapon from his palm, a sharp extension of his own skeleton. ¡°An old man dares to challenge us? You must be the one responsible for my men¡¯s deaths.¡±


    Kaavi didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he raised his arm, and the wolves sprang from the darkness, their fangs aimed at the unprotected members of the squad. Chaos erupted as the wolves tore through the men, leaving only the leader standing, his bone armor shielding him from their teeth.


    The leader¡¯s confidence faltered as he watched his comrades fall. He charged at Kaavi; his bone spear aimed to kill. But Kaavi was prepared. With a swift movement, he dodged the attack, his hand reaching out to grip the leader¡¯s arm.


    The man¡¯s eyes widened in shock as he felt his strength wane, his body betraying him. ¡°What¡­ what are you doing?¡± he stammered.


    ¡°Kneel,¡± Kaavi commanded, and the man¡¯s knees buckled under an unseen force, his bone armor creaking as he was forced into submission. Kaavi placed his hand on the man¡¯s head, delving into his mind to extract the information he needed.


    Flashes of faces, places, and orders flooded Kaavi¡¯s mind. The leader was nothing more than a pawn, sent with just enough information to fulfil his mission, unaware of the true power that orchestrated these events.


    ¡°You¡¯re expendable,¡± Kaavi said coldly, his voice devoid of pity. ¡°You don¡¯t even know who your master is.¡±


    Fear replaced the defiance in the man¡¯s eyes. He realized too late that his life meant nothing to those who sent him.


    Kaavi¡¯s strength was waning, the toll of his abilities becoming too much to bear. He needed to end this quickly. With a final surge of power, he commanded the wolves to attack. They obeyed without hesitation, their teeth shattering the man¡¯s bone armour and sinking into his flesh.


    The leader¡¯s screams echoed through the forest, his life ending in a brutal, bloody struggle. Kaavi watched, his expression unreadable, as the wolves finished their grim work. The forest fell silent once more, the only sound the soft rustling of leaves in the cold wind.


    Kaavi turned away, his body heavy with fatigue. He had sensed another presence earlier, a lone survivor who had fled the scene. The raven had searched but found nothing. The escapee had disappeared into the night, but Kaavi knew they would return.


    ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous to stay here,¡± Kaavi muttered to himself, his thoughts racing. ¡°They know where I am now. We¡¯ll have to leave tomorrow.¡±


    He climbed onto the bear¡¯s back, the massive creature lowering itself for the old man. With a weary sigh, Kaavi signalled for the wolves to follow as they made their way back to the cabin. The day had fully broken by the time they reached the clearing, the sunlight filtering through the trees.


    As they entered the cabin, Kaavi glanced at Viktor, still asleep in his bed. The boy would need to be ready for the journey ahead, for the world was far more dangerous than he could yet understand.


    Kaavi looked up at the sky, the soft silver light of the moon now replaced by the sun¡¯s warm glow. ¡°The cycle of the moon, its waxing and waning, teaches us the impermanence of all things,¡± he thought. ¡°Our time here is but a moment in the grand tapestry of life.¡±


    The raven¡¯s search had yielded nothing, but Kaavi knew the peace they had here would not last. The forces hunting them were relentless, and they would come again. But next time, Kaavi would be ready. For now, he needed rest, to gather his strength for the battles to come.


    As he settled into the cabin, the wolves and bear standing guard outside, Kaavi allowed himself a moment of peace. But in his heart, he knew that this was just the beginning. The fight for survival had only just begun.


    ---