No One Is Your Enemy; You have no Enemy At All - Vinland Saga Manga

The innocent Kid Thorfinn lived a jolly and carefree life in Iceland called Gotland with a wonderful family. His father Thors was an Elite warrior who left the wars behind and lived his life as a farmer with a family. His father Thors created a peaceful village far away from the other world. Thorfinn is so energetic and playful kid running around the village and listening to stories told by his uncle Leif about adventure and sailing all around the sea. Thorfinn is curious and wants to explore other worlds and become a warrior like his father. While his father strictly declined to take a sword to kill anyone. And Thors mentioned, “ No one in the world is your enemy. There is no one you need to hurt ”. 

Father Thor's old comrade Floki, drags him back to war by threatening Gotland village peoples. Thors sets sail with a small crew, including Thorfinn, unaware that it is a trap. Askeladd, hired by Floki, attacked Thors ship members. To protect his son and crew, Thors surrendered when Askeladd took Thorfinn as a hostage. Thors, being an unmatched warrior, defeated Askeladd’s men without killing anyone. Askeladd, impressed by Thors' strength, wanted to honour his bravery, but his men, following orders, ruthlessly killed Thors. When Thors dies in the arms of Thorfinn, He makes Thorfinn a rageful kid who wants to defeat Askeladd in an honourable duel to avenge his father.  

Seeing Thorfinn go from a sweet boy to an emotional killer is actually kind of heartbreaking. Askeladd is the best antagonist in this manga. He's a cunning, scheming, and manipulative man. Taking the lead of the mercenary gang. Askeladd, used Thorfinn’s rage to fuel their band and fight enemies, treating him like a pawn in the war. But Askeladd also played a vital role as a mentor throughout the young life of Thorfinn. Thorfinn learns that the only way to survive in this world is to treat everyone as your enemies and answer brutality with even greater brutality. This was completely against Father Thors’ philosophy. After Askeladd’s death, Thorfinn was left completely lost, stripped of the one thing that had driven him for years revenge. Now With no purpose, he ended up being sold into slavery and sent to work on Ketil’s farm. There, he met Einar, another slave who had suffered huge losses in war. Unlike Thorfinn, who had become numb and detached, due to the regret of killing mountains of people. This brings a nightmare for Thorfinn. 

Einar still held hope and determination. As they struggled together, their bond grew stronger. Not just as fellow slaves, but as brothers who lifted each other. Einar admired Thorfinn’s strength, while Thorfinn found himself learning from Einar’s resilience and optimism. As they worked side by side, Thorfinn finally realised mistakes he made and opened up about his father Thors’ dream, a land where people could live in peace, free from war and violence. Inspired by this vision, Einar stood by him, and together they shared a new purpose: to create Vinland, a place where no one would have to suffer as they once had.  

In the end of manga, Thorfinn’s journey is a tragic reminder of how war and revenge can strip away the joy and innocence of a person, turning them into a ruthless killer. His transformation from a cheerful child to a hardened warrior is the result of endless violence and hatred, driven by the desire for revenge. Similarly, the ongoing war in Ukraine and conflicts around the world continue to shatter lives, turning peaceful people into survivors of brutality. It’s a harsh reminder that war doesn’t only destroy nations, but also the humanity of individuals. In times like these, it’s more important than ever to embrace peace, love our neighbouring countries, and live harmoniously because the true strength of humanity lies in kindness, understanding, and the ability to coexist peacefully.