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M: TSIA Chapter 64: Viking Tradition
🕑 Added 2025-01-20 12:44:55 +0000 UTCAfter they established their country, much like the wandering tribes in Asia that eventually adopted Han culture, these conquerors began to integrate Roman and Christian cultures into their society, creating a unique blend of old traditions and new influences.
Nevertheless, the traces of Viking tradition remain, especially in the language and culture of the people.
For example, the names of the days in English still reflect a strong influence from Norse mythology.
"Wednesday," for instance, comes from "Woden’s Day," which refers to Woden (another name for Odin), the chief god in Norse mythology known as the ruler of wisdom and war.
Similarly, "Thursday" comes from "Thor’s Day," which refers to Thor, the god of thunder famous for his hammer that can destroy anything in its path.
The English language itself is a descendant of the dialects of Germanic tribes that migrated to England in the early centuries, bringing with them many elements of their rich culture. Although the elite cultures of Europe and America—such as philosophy, art, and religion—are heavily influenced by Greek, Roman, and Christian traditions, their folk traditions remain rich with elements of Germanic and Norse culture, which continue to live on in everyday life.
Another example is the Christmas tradition that is popular in the West. Hanging a Christmas tree, which has now become a symbol of winter celebration, does not originate from the Scriptures, but from the traditions of Germanic tribes that honored the Nordic forests as their ancestral land.
The evergreen tree that remains alive in winter is considered a symbol of eternal life and is often used in ceremonial honors. This tradition, although it has undergone transformation over time, remains an integral part of the celebration that commemorates birth and new hope.
Due to the significance of Norse mythology to Western culture, collections of Norse mythology literature have become some of the most abundant after classical Christian texts. This reflects how this mythology, although no longer a major religion, continues to be an important part of Western cultural identity, both in art, literature, and popular culture.
Lance chose two books related to the study of Norse mythology from the antique bookshelf, carefully browsing through the aged texts, and then found a quiet corner in the prestigious Rose Reading Room.
The room was filled with an elegant atmosphere, where classic books were neatly arranged on gleaming wooden shelves, and warm chandeliers illuminated the space. Calmly, Lance began to read various documents and discussions recorded within, savoring every word that connected myth to historical reality.
Lance did not know how long he had been immersed in those books until he finally felt another presence beside him. Two people sat in the chairs next to Lance, and soon, a soft whisper reached his ears.
"Dr. Strange, you don’t need to accompany me here."
Doctor Strange?
This name sounded very familiar, and suddenly an image appeared in Lance's mind. He turned away from the page and saw two very recognizable faces.
The person speaking to the arrogant doctor was none other than Rachel McAdams, or more precisely, emergency doctor Christine Palmer. Lance smiled inwardly, realizing that they were not the type of people who usually visited the library. So, what were they doing here?
Doctor Strange, or more commonly known as Stephen Strange, leaned back with an indifferent posture. Strange's calm voice echoed in the room: "Don’t get me wrong, I’m not here to accompany you; I just don’t want to get caught up with those two couples. I just finished two surgeries, and I just want a good rest. The environment here is better than in the hospital."
Christine Palmer pursed her lips, looking at Strange with a gaze full of mixed feelings—not admiration or awe, but with a hint of disgust. "I don’t understand, Doctor Strange, they are so pitiful, you could clearly save them, but..." Christine's voice trembled slightly, even though she tried hard to lower her tone, the anger remained clearly suppressed behind Christine's words.
Lance could feel the tension between the two, even though they were trying to keep their conversation sounding casual.
Strange's face was filled with a clear expression of disagreement. "They are not the only ones suffering," Strange said firmly, his voice slightly louder than usual. "You know, despite all the limitations, I still have to handle so many operations every day. There are older patients who have lived for years in unbearable pain."
"There are also those whose careers depend on their recovery, like athletes who need their bodies to survive. And now, you’re asking me to ignore all of that just out of sympathy for an elderly couple who can't even afford the consultation fee?"
Strange let out a small laugh, a sound filled with sarcasm and cynicism. "Haha, I won't do it. I won't help them just out of 'pity.'"
Christine bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with deep disappointment. "Stephen, don't you have even a shred of sympathy?"
"I want to correct you," Strange said without changing his expression, his voice remaining flat. "What a doctor sells is not compassion, but skill."
Strange paused for a moment, letting his words sink in, then continued in a calmer yet firm voice, "Christine, I used to think I could save everyone too. But when I actually became a doctor, I realized one thing—despite them calling me 'The Hand of God,' I am not the real God. I can't save everyone... As hard as this reality is, that's the fact."
Christine looked at Strange with a sharp gaze, clearly disagreeing with what Strange had just said. With a cynical tone, Christine replied, "So, you prefer to pour all your energy into the rich and let the poor die in front of you without caring at all? Strange, the more I hear you speak, the more I am convinced of one thing—you are a cruel person!"
Strange straightened his posture, then adjusted his sitting position as if trying to show indifference. He responded in the same neutral tone, as if Christine's words had no effect on him: "No, I am just a very efficient person."
