Chapter 31 – Decisions and Missions
Everyone fell silent upon hearing what Thor had said. The tension in the room was palpable, as if the air had thickened around them. Thor looked at each of them with calm determination in his eyes and continued:
— Even if it's just a legend, at worst I'll only waste a bit of my time. But… what if it's true? What if we do nothing? Things could turn out very badly.
His words echoed through the room like a warning. Stoick, arms crossed, listened intently. He furrowed his brows, lost in thought. After a moment, he realized his son was right. If they ignored this possibility, someone else might go after it — and that person might not have good intentions.
He let out a heavy breath, then looked straight at Thor and said:
— Since you've already made up your mind, my son, then I support your decision. But before you set sail, we'll need to rebuild a proper ship so you can travel safely. That could take a few days.
Thor gave a single nod and replied:
— That's fine by me. I can wait.
He turned his gaze toward Moana, who had been silently observing everything with calm resolve. He softened his tone slightly as he asked:
— And what about you, Moana? Are you okay with leaving in a few days?
Moana nodded firmly, her voice steady when she spoke:
— It's fine by me. I'll be ready when the time comes.
— Then we'll depart as soon as the ship is ready — Thor said with a small, confident smile playing on his lips.
There was a sense of certainty in his voice, as if he had already accepted everything that would come.
Hiccup looked at his older brother, conflicted but resolved. He stepped forward and said:
— I want to go with you.
Thor blinked in surprise. That hadn't been what he expected. He turned toward Hiccup and replied, his voice more serious now:
— Brother… once I leave, it'll be up to you to protect Berk, along with Toothless. That's something only you can do now. Besides, I have two important missions for you.
Hiccup tilted his head slightly, puzzled.
— What missions?
Thor paused. He glanced between Hiccup and Stoick, his expression becoming more somber. A heavy silence fell over the room. Finally, he sighed and spoke:
— Father, brother… there's something I've been keeping to myself, but now I need to tell you both.
Stoick leaned forward in his chair, his eyes narrowing with concern.
— What is it, my son?
Thor looked down for a second, then back up. His voice was steady, but there was a tremor of emotion underneath.
— Mom… she's alive.
The words struck like a hammer. Stoick and Hiccup both froze, stunned by the revelation. Their eyes widened, and Stoick immediately stood up, gripping Thor's shoulders tightly.
— What do you mean? Your mother is alive? Explain everything, now!
Thor met his father's gaze, his own filled with urgency and a trace of guilt. He began to explain slowly, choosing his words carefully:
— Father, I've remembered everything since I was a baby. That night when Mom disappeared… she wasn't attacked by a dragon. She left willingly. She went with the dragon by choice.
The silence was deafening. Stoick's jaw tightened, disbelief flashing across his face.
— Then why… why didn't you tell me this before?
— Because I wasn't sure she was alive — Thor said honestly. — I didn't want to give you false hope. I needed to be certain first. I only confirmed it much later, when Shiro and I were flying over the region. I saw her from afar, riding a dragon. She was fighting against other vikings… freeing captured dragons.
He paused for a breath, then continued:
— And even after that, I kept quiet because, back then, all you wanted was to kill dragons. You hated them. If I had told you, it would've led to a serious fight between you and Mom.
Stoick slowly sank back into his chair, letting out a long, weary sigh. His shoulders slumped. Deep down, he knew Thor was telling the truth. He knew Valka's strong will — once she made a decision, changing her mind was almost impossible.
After a moment of silence, Thor turned toward Hiccup once again.
— That's why, brother, I'm giving you a mission. Make Berk a place where people and dragons can live in peace. Show the world it's possible. And… find our mother. Show her that Berk is no longer the same place she left behind. Convince her to come home.
He placed a hand gently on Hiccup's shoulder and added:
— And the second mission… is to search every corner for the fragments of this so-called Heart of God. Whatever this thing is, it's important. I can feel it.
Thor gripped both of his brother's shoulders now, staring him in the eyes.
— Can I count on you?
Hiccup looked into Thor's determined face. The weight of everything pressed down on him — responsibility, family, duty. But in that moment, he found clarity. He drew a deep breath and nodded firmly.
— You can count on me, brother.
Stoick watched both of his sons standing together. A spark of hope warmed his heart. A faint smile crossed his face as he thought to himself:
"Our family will be together again soon."
Just then, Astrid, who had remained quiet all this time, stepped forward and gently took Thor's hand. She gave him a tug and said:
— You guys can finish planning tomorrow. It's getting late. Time to head home.
Thor looked around at his family one more time. He nodded, then turned to leave. Alongside Astrid, Shiro, and Moana, he stepped out, offering a final glance over his shoulder — a silent promise — to his father and his brother.
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