Sygr

Long ago, the Xeia of Time foretold that one day reality would be torn apart by conniving magicks, and that a champion would arise from the mortals to rescue even the gods. Alfatr did not trust that a mortal-born would be capable of this, and saw to it that a child was born who was precious to the Xeia. He was raised by a humble farmer and his wife who named him Sygr after a dream they had shared that he would one day make their family royalty. Alfatr forbade the Xeia to interact with Sygr until he came of age, so that he could truly experience what it is to be mortal.
But it was clear from the very start that Sygr was no ordinary child. He was already walking by the time he was only a year old, and he ate all the food his parents had been saving for the coming winter. By his second year he knew basic words, and could pick up hay bushels with ease. When he was three their farm was attacked by a giant serpent with four eyes and a wicked horn protruding from its forehead. It gobbled half their flock before Sygr halted it with a staggering blow. The serpent recoiled from the strike cackling with laughter,

"At last I've found you! No ordinary human could throw a punch like that!"

Without explanation the giant serpent burrowed into the ground and disappeared. Its words greatly concerned Sygr's parents, but another year passed without further incident, and Sygr continued to be of great help around the farm.
Turns out there was one in Allshaven who was jealous of Alfatr's authority over the Realm of the Xeia, and who had designs to use Sygr's strength for his own purposes, known only by its name, Fii'exti. This Xeia declared that entrusting their fates to mortals was folly and that on Sygr's thirteenth birthday he would fall.
By his fourth birthday Sygr was going to market with his parents. One day, during their return home, they were stopped on the road by a half-dozen oversized beasts fighting amongst themselves. His parents were afraid, and dared not approach the commotion, but Sygr felt no such hesitation. Strange music echoed over the noise of the chaos as he walked calmly into the middle. The giant beasts froze and stared, towering menacingly over him. The odd rhythm of drums stopped as he stared right back at them like he was their leader,

"My parents and I must be getting home and you're in our way. If anyone of you is still itching for a fight, bring it on! Whoever can best me will be named King of the Beasts!"
  "Silly boy. A mere mortal stands no chance against the Xeia of the wilds." Sneered the Wolf, but the rest said not a word, for they could feel the intensity in Sygr's words. They each walked away into the forest, vowing to accept his duel one day. His parents rejoiced and they returned to their farm without further hindrance.

The First Challenge:
Sygr continued to be a beacon of hard work and compassion through the next year, his efforts extending to the admiring townspeople of the nearest village. One day, after he had turned five, mole holes popped up all over the nearest town, causing damage and injury. Out of one hole appeared the Ferret Xeia, Alim. Sygr grabbed a nearby hammer and swung it at the ferret’s head, but it disappeared underground, re-appearing from a different hole.

“Try as you might! You’ll never hit me!” It teased, popping out of one hole then the next.

Sygr just took a giant breath, inhaling so much it inflated his chest. He hopped down into the nearest hole and let out a bellow so loud it shook the earth. The force and extreme volume of it drove Alim completely above ground, collapsed on itself like an extra long noodle.
Sygr hopped back out of the hole with his hammer ready. The Xeia cringed as he swung with all his might. The hammer slammed into the ground an inch to the left of its head.

“Never burrow under this town again!” He commanded, and Alim crawled away into its tunnels, muttering its agreement.

The Endless Storm
Another year passed, and six year-old Sygr was already the size of a teenager. Even his parents had difficulty at times remembering how old he was, but never seemed to think anything was odd. That summer they were experiencing a storm that seemed like it would never end. The unusual surplus of precipitation soiled the crops, and his parents' reserve stock dwindled. If they didn’t go into town soon they would starve in the coming winter. They couldn’t risk any animals getting spooked and lost, so Sygr volunteered to carry their goods to town by himself. Once they had loaded the cart, he took a hold of the reins and started walking. He whistled as he went, unperturbed by the pouring rain and raucous winds around him. When he arrived in town everyone was inside, taking cover from the storm.

“Where are all my friends?” He wondered aloud so they could hear him. “I have come to share my goods, but the wind has chased them away!” Then one of the villagers replied from the safety of their hut,

“That giant bird unsettles the air with every flap of its wings, and its cries threaten to smite us from above!”

So Sygr climbed the neighboring mountain, slamming his hands and feet into the rock for something to hold on to as a torrent of rain soaked the cliff’s surface. The thunder and lightning intensified as he ascended, the legendary Roc anticipating his approach.
When he finally reached the peak, just above the clouds he found her waiting for him in a massive nest with a trio of eggs. Sygr hesitated in realizing this, and the Roc seized the opportunity to fall upon him with a flurry of attacks. He struggled to keep up with her, being careful not to damage the nest, but she was relentless. Her protective instincts took over and his eyes widened in horror as a gust of wind knocked one of the eggs loose, which rolled off the edge of the cliff.
Without any thought for his assailant he threw himself off the cliff after it, catching it firmly against his chest. But now he was free-falling with increasing speed. In a flash of feathers his descent ceased, and he felt himself rising back into the air on the back of his opponent. They landed back in the nest, where the Roc expressed gratitude to him for saving her child. He told her about the plight of the townspeople below and was heard. She said that she would leave after the next moon and flap her wings more sparingly. Now, once each year, she comes back to raise a new clutch and Sygr protects them while she hunts.

The Race:
Now, as Sygr promised, these trials continued for the next several years. When he was seven he accidentally caught Pan in his hunting net who challenged him to a race. They were neck-and-neck until Sygr shouted,

“Look over there!” Causing Pan to instinctively pause and check for danger. Bursting with laughter Sygr raced past the finish line,

“You’re definitely faster than me, yet I still finished before you.”

Feat of Strength:
When he was eight he was visited by the great bear Ma’hoto. Tales of Sygr’s unusual strength had already begun to spread, and he currently held the title of the strongest creature in the land. He promised that if the hero could best him in a wrestling match he would bless their farm with abundance. The offer was too good to refuse and little Sygr squared up with the great bear Xeia who towered even over goliaths.
Ma’hoto let his weight fall into the boy to start, hoping to crush him. Sygr deftly rolled forward, wrapping his arms around a leg and letting his momentum carry him. The Great Bear lost its balance, falling onto its stomach clumsily. Sygr raced up his body, diving into a headlock as his opponent rolled to face him.
Impressed by his superhuman agility, ferocity, and determination, Ma’hoto tapped out early. He stated that Sygr himself was already worthy to be called “King of Beasts”, before returning to his mountains in the north.

The Unending Night:
When he was nine a darkness fell over his home. Livestock and civilians started disappearing, without even a trace of a culprit. Sygr knew there were only two beasts left to challenge him, but between them he couldn’t figure out which stalked his farm and hometown. In their desperation they laid enumerable traps while Sygr helped them build a wall around the village.
As days passed where the townspeople were unable to tell night from day, multiple traps were activated, but there was never any evidence of the culprit. Luckily, Sygr developed his own suspicions of this sequence of events, and told the villagers of a new plan he had concocted.
They went out into a nearby forest and collected a variety of little critters and birds. All of these went into a cage left in the middle of town. After some time the wily thief snuck up to the cage from the shadows, and once they found their way inside, it was time to feast! The unsuspecting huntress, Novicaa, was suddenly grappled to the ground by Sygr who had been lying in wait, hidden by the commotion of all the caged critters. She twisted and contorted her body but could not escape his hold.

“This box of snacks is our offering to you. Please accept this gift and find somewhere new to hunt.” He then left the cage door open as he left. Novicaa quickly ate everything in the cage and disappeared into the night, as the sun peeked over the horizon.

The Final Challenge:
When he was Ten years old the livestock from his parents’ farm started going missing again. One hot summer day, precisely six years to the date from when he had first encountered the squabbling animals, he returned to where they had met. Sure enough, the legendary wolf, Fenryr, was awaiting his challenge.

“So far you have bested each of my rivals at their own games. I will not be so easily overcome. Show me everything you have learned, and if it is not enough, I will eat you.”

With both of them eager to prove themselves superior, the two engaged in an intense battle that lasted four days and three nights. By the fourth day, it was clear that they were equal in power and this fight would go on forever. So they agreed on one final challenge. They would each grab on to one end of a rope and whoever let go first was the loser. Fenryr locked on, certain of his jaw strength, while Sygr wrapped his end around one hand and gripped it tight with his opposable thumbs. They started pulling at the same time, taking turns pulling the other towards them. Fenryr started shaking his head viciously trying to rip the rope out of Sygr’s hands. Sygr just went with it, his arms being yanked all over the place. Suddenly he looked into the trees behind Fenryr and cried,

“Hey look! A squirrel!”

“You think that would work on-” Fenryr started to retort, but Sygr yanked hard on the rope. He fell onto his butt as the rope slid loose from Fenryr’s mouth. Fenryr glared at him, and Sygr feared for a moment he would be eaten anyway for tricking him. Instead, the great wolf let out an abrupt howl, then looked back down at him.

“I like your style. Allshaven itself conspires against you. Let me join your side, and we will conquer the realms together!" Fenryr bit Sygr’s shoulder, just enough to leave teeth marks, as a symbol of their bond.

They returned together to his farm where Sygr said farewell to his parents. He knew his destiny would only attract more dangerous and unusual things and it was time for him to go out into the world so his hometown would be safe. The next day they celebrated with all his friends and neighbors, festivities that concluded with the Hero and his new best friend wandering off into the sunset.