The morning breeze blew gently, carrying the scent of wet leaves and pinewood that was familiar in the Viking village. Zeco, Carla, Charlotte, and I stood in the front yard, right between rows of ancient stone markers and the melting snow.
Charlotte stood with her arms crossed, her thick mustache twitching as she sighed. "The air here always makes me crave bean soup… or at least a snack."
Carla chuckled. "You're always hungry, aren't you?"
"I'm not hungry," Charlotte replied quickly. "I'm just maintaining my metabolism!"
Murphy walked slowly toward us. His gaze was deep, full of meaning. No tension… only a feeling that tightened the chest. He stood directly in front of me.
I looked at him in silence, then lowered my head for a moment. Then, in a soft but steady voice, I said:
"Thank you… for everything, Murphy. For your strength, your faith, and your guidance. Without you, I wouldn't know who I am… or who I need to become."
Murphy extended his hand and gently tousled my hair like the father I never had. His touch was heavy—not from strength, but from the emotions it carried.
"I only showed the way. But the one who walked it… was you, Hiro."
A slow smile appeared on my face. "I'll keep walking it. And I'll become stronger than I ever imagined."
Murphy turned to Zeco. "And you?"
Zeco stepped forward. His face was serious, but his eyes held deep respect.
"I want to go too. I can't sit still while the world changes. My brothers… let me leave."
Some of the Vikings watching from a distance stayed quiet. One of them gave a small nod.
Murphy placed his hand on Zeco's shoulder. "Be my eyes, out there. Protect them. But also… find your own answers."
Zeco nodded. "I'll protect him."
Charlotte suddenly stepped up, patting the dirt off her boots. "Hey, don't forget me. I'm coming too. The world needs more cool dwarves, don't you think?"
Murphy looked at her with gentle eyes. "You have courage many don't, Charlotte."
Charlotte grinned. "And an amazing sense of humor. Just don't call it stubbornness, okay?"
Carla gave a small smile beside me. The four of us began walking away from the village slowly. None of us looked back.
But I knew… Murphy remained standing there. Not looking at us, not calling out. He only stared at the morning sky, painted with shades of blue and wispy clouds. A proud smile clearly etched on his face.
That night, Viking Village Main Hall
In the large room lit only by the bonfire's glow, the Viking brothers gathered. The atmosphere was tense. All eyes were on Murphy, who stood tall in the center of the room.
He took a deep breath.
"There's something… you all need to know."
Silence fell.
Murphy bowed his head briefly, then looked at them one by one.
"…Something I can't hide anymore."
But before he could continue…
"That's enough," said one of the eldest brothers, standing with clenched fists. "We already know. And because of that, you know the law."
Sighs of disappointment came from many directions. Some lowered their heads in sadness. Others clenched their fists, holding back the anger they could barely contain.
Murphy only nodded slowly. No regret. Only acceptance.
"If that's the price for the choice I made… then so be it."
The Next Day…
The headline exploded across the country:
"Murphy the Legend to Be Executed – Major Violation Shakes the Viking Brotherhood"
But one thing remained hidden: Zeco didn't know.
He was far away, out there, alongside Hiro, Carla, and Charlotte—who was sitting on a crate, munching on an apple while rambling about "how sleeping under the stars is way better than Viking stone beds."
They marched toward the future, carrying the spirit and legacy of the legend who had made the greatest choice of his life.