"What do you mean?" Dani's brow furrows that analytical mind of hers already working overtime.
Heimdall's acid-green eyes sweep across the table like searchlights. "She speaks of the Dark Prophecy. We've already witnessed this realm's destruction once during Ragnarök—rebuilt it from ashes and—"
"—And we pray fervently that Moretemis shall not succeed where others failed," Frigg interjects, her tone tight with concern. "Your victory is crucial, both of you."
The memories slam into me like a battle axe—nights spent in smoky longhouses, drinking mead while village elders spun tales of Ragnarök. That apocalyptic clusterfuck tore through the realms like a hurricane, leaving dead gods in its wake. Thor, that mighty bastard, went out like a true warrior, taking down that world serpent even as its venom killed him. Tyr lost his final battle, and Freya fell in flames—one by one, those immortal powerhouses dropped like flies. Only a handful crawled out of that cosmic shitstorm alive—Odin, Heimdall, and that chaos-loving prick Loki, who probably orchestrated half the carnage himself.
And my father... Magni. However, finding out his fate is a whole different kind of gut punch. Guess fighting ancient darkness runs in the fucking family.
Next to Frigg sits some pretty boy who looks like he's never seen a day of actual combat—all golden hair and perfect features, decked out in pristine white and gold armor that's probably never tasted blood. Everything about him screams privileged prince, from his perfectly styled hair to the way he carries himself like he owns the fucking place. The kind of immortal who's probably never had to fight for a damn thing in his life.
"Forgive my manners," Frigg gestures to the golden-haired boy. "May I present our son, Baldr. He shall accompany you on your quest."
"The fuck he will," I growl before I can stop myself. The last thing we need is some pampered prince tagging along.
"Rhyland…" Dani hisses, gripping my arm in warning.
"Baldr's wisdom, earned in the halls of Valhalla itself, shall light your path," Odin's voice crashes like storm waves. "The secrets of our realm flow through his veins as surely as the waters of Urðarbrunnr. His knowledge shall prove as vital as Mímir's counsel in the trials ahead."
The pretty boy has the nerve to look smug like he's just been handed the keys to the kingdom. Great. Just fucking great. Another immortal complication we need to add to this shit.
Dinner drags on like a fucking funeral march, the silence broken only by Odin's sporadic interrogation of Dani. He's grilling her like she's on trial—her take on this cosmic shit-show, and how much she looks like Bryn. That name alone sends Dani's emotions ricocheting through our bond like a pinball.
"So, any chance I could get a face-to-face with this long-lost sister of mine?" Dani asks, her casual tone barely masking the hunger for answers.
"Indeed. Bryn commands Valor's Watch, training our Valkyrie warriors," Odin rumbles. "That should be your next destination."
I can practically taste Dani's anxiety through our link, and the unspoken questions about her father clawing at her insides. But my girl's too bright to poke that hornet's nest now. Instead, she focuses on the issue hanging over us like a guillotine.
"Okay, I have to ask. The Soul Stone," she says, her voice steady as a sniper's aim. "Rhyland told me of its origins—how it was made. But how did it end up broken?"
Damn, good question. One I should've thought to ask when they dropped that bomb about my mother's power.
"An excellent question, indeed, Little Huntress," Erik nods, his tone as stiff as his posture.
Frigg sets her silver fork down, her voice soft. "Loki," she breathes, like the name itself is poison. "That trickster shattered the stone, scattering its pieces across the Seven Realms like seeds of chaos."
Of fucking course. Leave it to that trouble-loving prick to turn a simple task into a realm-wide scavenger hunt.
"I'm assuming he had a reason—"
"He sought to thwart our victory over the Shadow Lord!" Odin's fist crashes against the ancient table with thunderous force, making the vessels dance. His single eye blazes with the fury of a thousand burning worlds. "Once again, the Trickster's poisoned words and serpent's schemes wound the halls of Ásgard deeper than any giant's blade. The prophecies were known to him, carved in the roots of Yggdrasil itself!" His voice drops to a rumble. "Yet he chose the path of Chaos, betraying not just his kin but all Seven Realms. Even now, his treachery echoes through Ginnungagap's depths."
The pieces click into place like a jigsaw puzzle made of pure fuckery. Leave it to Loki to turn a weapon of mass destruction into his personal game of hide and seek. That sneaky son of a bitch probably sat back and laughed his immortal ass off while watching everyone scramble to find them.
"Well, on the bright side, we've managed to snag all three pieces," Dani offers, but I can feel her nerves fraying through our bond. "Well, sort of…" She lays out the truth that might blow this feast to Hell.
"This outcome was foreseen," Frigg intones. "The path to reclaiming what was lost shall be fraught with peril. I have witnessed it in the threads of fate—a great battle, an enemy reborn, and a sacrifice that shall shake the very foundations of the realms."
Yeah, no fucking shit. When has anything in our lives been simple? At this point, I'd be more surprised if the universe didn't try to bend us over and—
"You must tread carefully," Frigg warns. "The forces you face will test you in ways you cannot imagine. But remember, even in the darkest of times, hope remains. You two are the key to salvation—never forget that."
I watch Dani swallow hard, plastering on that fierce smile I know too damn well. But I feel her terror spike at Frigg's words.
"What of the Zephyrite stone?" Erik inquires, his refined tone cutting through the doom and gloom like a blade. Trust Mr. Stoic to keep us focused on the mission.
"The Elemental Nexus," pretty boy Baldr finally decides to grace us with his voice, speaking like he's announcing the second coming. His perfect face lights up with excitement. "Getting there isn't exactly a casual stroll through Zephyria's elements and beasts. You'll need warriors—realwarriors—to reach it."
