Gunnar stood, utterly confused about the conversation flowing from his mother and grandmother to the tall, but quiet man named Narrick. Was there something he was missing? He felt as if he had only heard half of a conversation and was trying piece together a riddle from what he had heard.
"Is there something wrong with me? Do I have some problem that needs to be treated?" He looked up at Narrick with question and irritation in his eyes. "If so this is the first that I'm hearing of it."
Narrick's quiet chuckle of amusement further irked the young Everforge but before the boy's temper could erupt Narrick appeared before him in an instant. A pressure seemed to fall over Gunnar, squeezing him and at the same time putting a feeling of fear in his mind.
But the moment that fear of the pressure and the man behind it entered his being, a feeling of anger and dissatisfaction came upon him. As if his very being rebelled of being suppressed, that it despised the very feeling of fear.
While watching this change come over the boy a feeling of satisfaction and grim amusement deepened in Narrick's mind. "Your very blood cries against even the smallest suppression and antagonizing, It seems it runs in you stringer than it does your older sisters. Unfortunately, it only strengthens the flesh of your mother and older brother with no other benefits."
The man Looked at Gunnars family and nodded. "By my family's very creed I must watch over the boy's growth. But as he is of that line I will have to call one of his own to come when I can awaken his bloodline further. no one else but one of them could teach the boy properly, and I know one who knows how to keep her mouth shut properly so I can call for her to come when it is time."
"What the hell are you all talking about?! Tell me wha...?!"
Sheila promptly subjugated the boy with a slap to the back of his head. "You will watch your tongue before your elders Gunnar. Due to an agreement with your grandfathers family, no one who knows of your bloodline outside of the main line of the royal line of their races blood can tell you officially about your heritage except your grandfathers family. That is due to their agreement with the rulers of their race. And until you fully awaken as one of them or meet the strength criteria we cannot even reach out one of them to tell you. So if you are dissatisfied then get stronger quickly."
Gunnar's frustration seemed to bubble over for a split second as a fury seemed to flash burn its way through his system, but before it could explode out into action, Risa gently pulled him into a hug and spoke softly in his ear.
"I know it's frustrating, I didn't get to learn about it until I was in my second year of the Refined courses. But just take it slow and do what you do best and the tie will come before you know it. I have absolute faith in your ability to get there. Besides!" She grinned standing back to her full height after bending to speak in his ear. "You still have to beat the ever loving shit out of your cousins and ever other Balder you come across. Bring shame to Ron Balder by pointing out his lack of judgement and his cowardice at your birth little one!"
Gunnar took a deep breath then nodded his young head. He would have years of living and training in The Forge before he could realistically do anything about his sperm donor or his paternal families issues with appearance. Nor did he have to power to force information about his ancestry from then giant Narrick or his gramma Sheila.
"One step at a time. One strike at a time." He nodded.
His mother nodded. "Until the blade is forged." She rubbed his head while smiling, then turned to her mother.
"Now, let's finish the tour and get these two settled in before we have to be escorted out by the smiths."
As the tour was officially started by Rennor, Gunnar's mind was already planning his path through the basic courses and beyond. A fire beginning burn into coals that glowed as if ready to heat a blade up to forging temperature or to bring the heat up to temperature for hardening or tempering. A quiet glow that only needed a puff from a bellows to blaze to life.
The immediate path forward seemed to be a long a boring one, several months of training with an assortment of teachers and alongside students who might be at a much lowers starting point than himself but Gunnar couldn't lie to himself and say that he wasn't looking forward to the challenge just a little.
Cassie brushed up alongside him and raised an eyebrow. "Pence for your thoughts?"
"I am looking forward to the challenges and the fun we will get to have in the near future. As well as the chance to cause some chaos when we get started with the war games." He smirked. "I know I will eventually get my ass handed to me but when has that ever stopped me."
She rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Nothing ever has and I'm betting ever will take that will for absolute chaos away from you. But it definitely will get you hurt one of these days. That I am very sure of."
"Well I had better stick close so that you can look out for me." Gunnar's smirk turned slightly wicked. "If you pull my fat out of the fire enough maybe brother Hart will look back at you one of these days."
Cassie face paled then reddened before punching Gunnar in the gut. "I should never have let you find out!"
He tried to laugh even as he held his stomach and gasped for breath. "You know I fully support you—hahahahaha— sorry but your face—hahahahaha!" Laughter fading Gunnar got serious. "We need to work together and show up the other barracks. But first, lets kick ass in the survival games."