Chapter 1
Vidar gripped his gut in a vain attempt to stop the bleeding, if he was lucky he could reach the Bifrost with all his organs accounted for. He had been the strongest champion of the Norse people…yet against what assailed them his power had been for naught.
Asgard burned around him, a fire even Surtr himself could not have hoped to match…truly, for he too had fallen when Musphelheim collapsed upon itself. The people called this Ragnarok…yet the prophesized Ragnarok would have been far kinder.
A great beast loomed behind him, completing its work of laying their once proud city to waste. All their armies…their champions both gods and mortals had fallen. Only those that had reached the Bifrost in time may still live…however briefly.
The creature…the Trihexa…the dreaded apocalypse of all creation rampaged, ensuring not a single brick would stand for future generations to know that Asgard had ever been. If the stories were to be believed…there would be no future generations. Vidar looked away…not wishing to stomach its horrific twisting form any longer.
Victory looked within their grasp not long ago…as the chief deities of every mythology across all worlds had put aside their differences in an effort to seal the beast away so that it may never threaten creation again. Even their Lord Odin and Lady Freyja had reconciled and focused all their power to aiding the effort.
It had not been enough.
Despite the cumulative effort, the Trihexa had overpowered them all…slaying each in turn until finally it was let loose upon Midgard. That was where the forces of the Red Dragon Emperor…The Pervert Dragon himself had stood against it with all his allies and those called friends…even foes. They had all fallen…even the Great Red and Ophis lay among the slain…The Trihexa's power far beyond what any imagined. It was theorized it had amplified its strength from the slain deities…but no way to determine the validity of these claims.
Midgard was the first of many worlds to burn. The walking calamity moved on…assailing the Gates of Heaven…the Pits of Hell…Olypmus had crumbled along with all who lived there. They had no news from the other mythologies and it was safe to assume the same had befallen them. The Trihexa's swath of destruction knew no limits and in time finally reached the shores of the Norse Pantheon. Once upon them the oncoming storm had moved with brutal power and malice…the eight other realms had fallen…only Asgard remained. The last vestige of morale remaining was the cry that they had held out the longest…that the strongest warriors of creation now remained…but Vidar knew better.
We survived this long solely by the whims of fate…the Trihexa had saved us for last…
"My lord!" A tall muscular woman called out as he flung open the doors to the Bifrost, immediately slamming them behind him. Despite her muscular build she retained her feminine beauty which her incredible skill alone could match. She was the warrior Sif and the final true champion remaining to their ranks.
"Why is the Bifrost not open?" Vidar demanded, this was no time for courtesy. "We must escape wherever we may!"
"It…is open my lord."
Vidar's face paled…the rainbow bridge extended before them; however it disappeared into nothing. Once truly opened the chosen path would appear before them…all that stared back was the empty void of space. The blank void…not a single star shone back.
There is truly nothing left…we are the last of all life…
As that last bit of hope fled from him the doors burst open, the first line of remaining soldiers perished in an instant. Sif leapt into battle…cleaving one of the talons cleanly from the emerging claw. Such a feat would have gone down in song…but there were none left to sing. The wound healed instantly…and Sif joined those that came before. A torrent of flame entered the room, bathing Vidar in heat as he slowly faded away.
We go…to what might lay beyond…if even that still exists…
The flame billowed past all in the room, striking the roots wrapped around the dais in the center of the chamber…the last roots of the World Tree Yggdrasil. Before the Trihexa's wrath, the roots had reached all throughout the nine realms and beyond…with the fall of each world they had shriveled, those that existed in the room all that remained of the once colossal tree spanning the cosmos.
The roots dried and cracked, disintegrating out of existence as the beast concluded its work…the Twilight of the Gods and Mortals had come at last.
But…in its overwhelming victory…the bringer of death had neglected a single piece…a fragment barely larger than an acorn fall from the roots before the fire could consume it. Rolling across the ground it tumbled into the open, directionless Bifrost…disappearing into the blackness of space…and time…
Japan…Present Day…
"A dangerous situation currently unfolds," the reporter announced on the television. "A housing complex has caught fire with rescue teams working diligently to bring it under control. Word is that everyone in the building was evacuated safely, however reports are still scattered…"
The building was engulfed in flames; firefighters were successful in keeping the blaze contained, however despite their efforts the building would not last much longer. Hundreds of people bustled, helped, yelled words of command and well wishes as they worked as hard as they could. In an instant…everything grew silent. The people were still there as was the fire…but all had completely frozen, stopped in their tracks with the rest of time.
An old man suddenly appeared amidst the chaos, he wore a blue and gold robe leaning him to appear as some form of royalty. A long white beard stretched down to his stomach, despite his surety of steps he only retained a single eye, his left missing and replaced with a gold eyepatch.
Beside him walked a beautiful woman, she had long silver hair reaching down to her ankles garbed in armor that would have caught the eye of any man who beheld it. A large white and blue breastplate shimmered on her ample chest, the fingerless gauntlets, boots and hip-guards matching in color. Her midriff would have been bare if not for the inclusion of a black leotard beneath her armor…a true Valkyrie of Asgard.
The two walked inside the building, the flames no longer a threat to them. The older gentleman strolled in as if he had not a care in the world while the woman was ever vigilant…acting as if enemies may descend at any moment. Neither were affected by the inexplicable phenomena that had ceased time around them.
"Allfather," she started at length. "Are you certain this is the correct place? What would it be doing here?"
"That is what we are here to find out Ms. Rossweisse," he replied, using his response as an excuse to eye her up and down as he was want to do. "The greater question is how it is here ANYWHERE at all."
Rossweisse nodded, taking in the destruction stopped in time around them. Another altercation between Angels, Fallen Angels and Devils with mortals being caught in the crossfire…it was the first time she had entered the realm of a different mythology despite still being within Midgard.
The two continued their frozen journey until they reached the third floor of the doomed building. Rossweisse looked down to find a young man lying prostrate on the ground. He was amidst the flames; blood trickled from a wound on the back of his head caused by a falling beam. He would never make it before the rescue crews could put out the fire.
"He is the only living being in this building," Rossweisse reported. "It MUST be him."
"Formerly living," the old man known as Odin corrected. "This blow killed him…but you are right nonetheless."
Rossweisse knelt beside the body; touching the back of his head gently. As a Valkyrie she could judge those who died…witnessing their final moments to determine if they were worthy of Valhalla.
Time rewound to her, the flames receding into the walls, the furniture reconstructing and righting itself…within a matter of seconds the room was as it had been not long before. A monstrous shape filled the door; large black wings blocking out the light of the hall. Before it a small girl cowered in fear, behind her stood a swordsman wearing a long trench coat. Despite the majesty of the swords he wielded the swordsman had a manic, almost deranged look on his face…blood drenched each of his blades. They were both completely focused upon each other and heedless of the innocent girl between them.
As they charged, a shape darted out of the next door room…it was the young man who now lay dead before them holding a broken board of wood. In a flash he grabbed the small girl tucked under an arm, twisting so the incoming wing struck the wood he held in his free hand…splintering it and throwing the two into a nearby support beam.
The two monsters clashed, laying waste to the room, but the humans were safe. The young man threw away the useless twig remaining as he smiled at the little girl awkwardly, trying not to scare her.
"A-are you ok?" He asked, rubbing the sore spot where his head had struck the beam.
The little girl nodded with a sniffle, wiping tears from her eyes. "Look out!"
The man spun around, the beam he had crashed into cracked and fell forward. With no time to move he pushed the girl hard towards a side exit.
"RUN!" He screamed before his world went black.
Rossweisse opened her eyes, back in the present, wiping a single tear that had fallen down her face.
"He did indeed die in this battle. He was protecting a young girl from them." Rossweisse recalled their trek inside…remembering a crying toddler being tended to by a paramedic…she had made it out. "He succeeded…technically speaking he is worthy…albeit barely."
Odin nodded at her words, delving into his robe, producing a ring with his sigil upon it. Gently he held it up to the boy's body…causing a deep blue light to emerge and cover him. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary…until the light fell upon his right hand. Instantly, it shimmered and changed to a bright teal almost green coloration…upon closer inspection a silhouette had appeared around his hand. The silhouette was of a gauntlet stretching to his elbow…it seemed to be made of gnarled roots yet retained a metallic sheen to it. Odin hid the ring within his robes, the boy's arm returning to normal as the mystic light dimmed.
"Prepare the Bifrost," Odin commanded. "We are taking him back."
"But Allfather!" Rossweisse protested. "Do we not risk an incident if we bring back a mortal from a differing mythology?"
"Yes…but no one has yet come to claim his soul," Odin clarified. "Besides…this little piece of him is from OUR mythology…that gives us some claim. You do know acting so uptight over a man is the reason you don't have a boyfriend right?"
The Valkyrie's demeanor changed, she bit her lower lip and appeared to be doing all in her power to hold back tears.
"N-now is not the time for that Allfather," she squeaked out. "I am serious!"
"Still making my Valkyries cry dear husband? I suppose not much has changed."
The two spun to behold a newcomer walking equally unharmed through the ravaged building. It was a voluptuous woman; despite the maturity of her bearing she looked to be almost the same age as the silver-haired warrior with purple hair braided expertly and what appeared to be vines and other assortments of nature. She was clad in Valkyrie armor only gold in coloration and much more ornate with a trailing green cloak.
"Lady Freyja," Rossweisse bowed politely. "I did not know you would be here."
"Of course you didn't dear girl," the woman replied. "That's because the forgetful lech beside you did not deem to inform me of this little…outing."
"I uh…just did not wish you alarm you my dear," the old man rationalized. He had started sweating profusely as he spoke…the woman was clearly not buying it. She groaned upon realizing he couldn't stop staring at her body…if only he'd been so committed when they were together…
"Uh huh, and here I thought you may have been trying to sneak out with ANOTHER of my Valkyries…I am not certain whether this reason is better or worse." She stepped past him, looking over the slain boy…her eyes falling upon his right hand. "How is this possible?" She asked, her playful demeanor falling away to allow her Queenly nature to shine through.
"I do not know," Odin sighed. "All of Yggdrasil is currently accounted for…yet there you have it…a fragment when there are no missing fragments…quite the riddle."
"I cannot believe it has come to this…but I agree with you," the Goddess stood back to her full height. "We must reincarnate the boy and get him behind the walls of Asgard immediately."
Rossweisse raised her hands to protest but immediately gave up. If the implications of this could upset both the Aesir and the Vanir…who was she to argue?
"Excellent," Odin reached out his hand, bathing the young man in a golden light. "Once back I can make him my ward…try to determine…"
"Oh no," Freyja stepped in front, pushing him back with a check from her sizable breasts. "If I recall YOU were the one who insisted your assistants all come from MY Valkyries and my retainers from your Einherjar…or has my memory faded after a few millennia?"
"Well…no but I…" he tried, but the argument was already lost. As always his perverted lecherous tendencies had been his downfall.
"We may train him TOGETHER once we return home," Freyja insisted, her eyes burning with determination and vision. "Besides…I have been looking for a new retainer, the boy…is mine. Who is he?"
Odin raised his hand; signaling a bird to swoop down towards him. The bird was a raven, but no ordinary raven. The avian shimmered in and out of sight with each passing second and glimmered the color of emeralds in the sky. As it passed over the raven dropped a single parchment into the Allfather's hands. Clearing his throat the Norse God started to read.
"Seventeen years old, he hails from the United States with his ancestry tracing back to English, French and Germanic roots. Nothing out of the ordinary at a glance…an orphan, no family to speak of…he was visiting Japan as part of a cultural exchange program; his name…is Dorian Held."
Chapter 2: Hired in Asgard
Fire burned around him, flames so hot his skin felt like it was melting. He stumbled through the ashen remains, nothing but charred bones and debris greeted him. At first he thought it was the building he was to call home during his time in this country…but it became apparent the land he stood upon far more foreign than anywhere he could have stood on Earth. Far off…too far he could make out the shape of a colossal beast, a monster. Despite the vast distance he could make out its silhouette…how tall must this behemoth be. Seven heads atop seven necks snaked through the sky, pausing in its rampage…pausing to turn…directly towards him…
"RUN!" Dorian shot up in bed, his immediate thoughts a continuation of those he had before blacking out. The dream remained blurry and elusive, like a great haze upon his mind.
He was in bed…but no bed he had ever seen before. The mattress was so large he could have slept comfortably beside at least four others. The sheets were soft and inviting for him to remain…if it wasn't for the adrenaline pumping through him tricking his body into believing he still may be inside the building he wouldn't have left.
Dorian rolled over, shocking himself as instead of a simple tumble over the side he instead went flying across the room…slamming into the wall with a crash. Stumbling to his feet the sudden realization reached his senses…he was not wearing his original clothes.
He had been relaxing in the building where he and the other exchange students were being put up. He had barely gotten dressed in blue jeans and a simple grey t-shirt before he'd heard a commotion from the neighboring room. He was now dressed in unfamiliar clothes though he had to admit the bronze long-sleeve undershirt was quite comfortable albeit a bit restricting. He unhooked the first button at the edge of each cuff and rolled the sleeves up to his elbow. Over it was a thicker sleeveless tunic completely black save for the collar which had a flare of deep red. His pants were of the same material and color scheme as the tunic…he was barefoot.
"Wh…where?" He stuttered, there was no one around to answer, yet the question slipped out nonetheless.
The bedroom was pristine, more majestic than anything he had ever seen. The walls seemed to glisten in the sunlight beaming in from the far off balcony. Pillars at regular intervals dotted the room, upon each was carved figures…men…women…beasts, no two seemed the same. The one connecting theme to them all was the inclusion of vein-like branches winding up each one made of aquamarine…or something similar. Perhaps he could recognize something outside on the balcony…
The door handle clanged loudly, warning him that someone was entering. Thinking fast Dorian dove behind one of the pillars, obscuring himself from the front door. He could hear the soft patter of bare feet enter, based on the sound the visitor had approached the bed and stopped…no doubt taking note of his absence. The footsteps returned, approaching his pillar, Dorian slowly rotated around upon noticing they were walking past…heading for the balcony.
He caught sight of her as she glided past, seeming to miss his presence. Once at the balcony she proceeded to glance each way…was she looking for him?
"You have no reason to hide," she called out. "We tended to you while you slept!"
Dorian felt the blood rush to his cheeks as he beheld her. The woman had shining strawberry gold hair braided expertly into ponytails that were then subsequently wrapped atop her head like a crown. Her gown was pure silver with green trimmings held up by a strap around her flawless neck, other than that the attire was strapless and left her back and shoulders bare. It took immense willpower for Dorian to not settle his eyes on her ample bosom as he looked her over, hoping something about her attire may answer the question of who she was…and where he was. She had wide sleeves reminding him of the old fairy tales of princesses trapped in towers…though he could not help but notice beneath them she had ornate thick leather bracers, lending a sense of delicacy and strength all at once.
I want to trust her…but I need to know more.
With silent footsteps, Dorian tip toed to the door which had been left slightly ajar. Without arousing suspicion he slipped out into the hallway. They were equally as intimidating as the décor of the room within…was he in some kind of palace or castle?
Ornate tapestries dotted the walls depicting what looked like battles. Warriors stood in ranks with spears forward. The enemies they were arrayed against were twisted and difficult to make out. Some were hulking brutes, misshapen serpents and other monstrosities. Dorian stuck to the shadows as best he could while make his way through the hallway. His heart lifted upon noticing a door ahead, sunlight beamed through. Hoping it was unlocked he pulled on the handle.
Dorian tumbled backwards as the handle came off with a snap. He had pulled on it as hard as he could due to how heavy it appeared...he had surprisingly succeeded in sliding it open a crack before the handle broke. The fall was too loud as the crash echoed through the hall, not wanting to wait for anyone to investigate the sound Dorian scrambled outside into the sun.
His jaw hit the ground as the scene opened up before him. He stood at a side entrance to the building…which he could see now was absolutely gigantic. An immense courtyard stretched out leading to a bridge of epic proportions. The building was isolated, the bridge connecting the palace in which he stood to a glimmering city far away. The skyscrapers towering in the distance were unlike any architecture he knew. They rose higher than he'd ever seen, the designs diverse and uncountable…he didn't even know what to call half the geometric shapes many had been fashioned into. The ones he could categorize were grand in scope, some floating above the ground and statues just as tall standing like colossal giants beside them.
It was awe inspiring…so much so Dorian very nearly missed the army standing between him and the bridge.
Hundreds of men and women…thousands stood in rows arrayed in glistening silver armor and weapons. Their discipline was perfect; even as Dorian stumbled outside they had all twisted their heads back towards him simultaneously…their eyes locking onto him in an instant. It was quite intimidating.
"Oh…sorry…wrong door," was all Dorian could think to squeak out before taking a large step backwards into the door he opened, slamming it shut behind him. "Maybe the next will…"
The woman from the room was standing directly behind him…having caught up to him during his moment taking in the sights. Her arms were crossed and her face left the impression of restrained annoyance.
"Done running?" She asked, her voice calm and stern.
Dorian looked up at the ceiling and scrunched his face as if deep in thought before turning to her with a silly grin.
"Not quite," he ducked past her, ready to take off down the hall.
The woman seized his wrist…locking her fingers around it like a vice. Despite running at full sprint Dorian snapped back, the woman completely unfazed. With a flip of her arm she sent the young man flying, slamming into the marble with a crash. Despite his impact the floor remained as pristine as ever. Before he could recover, the warrior maiden placed her knee into his back, holding him down with an expert hold twisting his arm painfully backwards.
"Ok…ok" he groaned, unable to move under her herculean strength. "Now I'm done."
Back in the Bedchamber…
Dorian sat cross-legged on the bed, the woman stood across from him, arms crossed once more. She had not taken her eyes off him since they had returned to his room.
"So…are you going to tell me what I am doing here?"
"My mistress has been informed of your awakening…we shall await her here."
"Any particular reason you kidnapped me?"
"We saved your life," a voice from the hall interrupted. A newcomer with gold armor and purple hair entered the bedchamber. Behind her followed another absolute beauty with long silver hair and matching armor to the first minus the ornate cloak. Dorian locked his gaze upon their eyes to prevent wandering; realizing that while their tight form-fitting armor did not show much skin…it seemed quite alluring all the same.
"You mean the fire?" Dorian asked, feeling somewhat at ease with the new woman's motherly smile and cheerful aura. It was far more inviting than that of the cold, serious girl with impossible strength. "The last thing I remember was…"
"Dying?"
He froze at her words, a cold chill riding up his spine.
"I thought you saved my life."
"Well we did," the woman smiled teasingly. "Though I never said we got to you in time."
"I…died?"
"Yes, but we brought you back," she quickly answered. No doubt she was noticing the cold sweat breaking out on the young man's head, he looked like he was about to start hyperventilating at any moment. "Your body is perfectly fine if that's what you're worried about…in fact you are better than you've ever been."
"Better than I've ever been!?" Dorian exclaimed, leaping to his feet from the bed. The blonde-haired warrior woman tensed up as if she thought he might try something. "You are talking about me just dying like it's nothing! Who are you people?"
The purple-haired woman leaned back, resting a hand on her hip. "What do you know about the Mythology of the Norse people?"
Dorian stared blankly at her, attempting to remember the exams in his middle school history courses during his time studying in England. "You mean like…Odin and Thor, Ragnarok and the Norse Pantheon?"
"Not the best examples to start with, but you pass. Yes…that is us; you are currently residing within the halls of Asgard."
Dorian let out a soft chuckle, he had seen the golden city in the distance…but for it to have been Asgard…THE Asgard home to the gods of Norse legends…it was utterly ludicrous. "So…if I may…who are you?"
"I am Freyja, Queen of Asgard and the Vanir." she seemed to grow taller with her proclamation. With a coy smile she leaned closer to him. "And the vision of absolute beauty among all nine realms as the goddess of fertility and passion."
Dorian's face lit up red at her words.
Freyja's smile at his shyness was contagious as she continued, motioning towards the blonde woman. "She is Thrud Thorsdottir, and the silver-beauty behind me is Rossweisse. They are Valkyries, though only Thrud remains in my service. Rossweisse recently took up a position working with my disappointing husband and is here on his behalf."
I'll just ignore that disappointing husband part, Dorian mused, glancing over at Thrud, recognizing the manner of her surname.
"You are…Thor's daughter? THE Thor?"
She nodded once, the fringes of a smile betraying the fact she was proud of that fact. Suddenly Dorian praised his decision to not attempt further escape in her presence.
"No wonder I got my ass handed to me. A pleasure to meet you." He turned towards the newcomer behind Freyja. "It is nice to meet you as well Rosevice."
"That's Rossweisse," she corrected him.
"Right…sorry ma'am," he fell back onto the polite title, fearing making another mistake. "You have to admit this is…pretty heavy. I mean I'm just a normal guy…why would you bring me back from the dead?"
"Well, first off…you aren't a normal human anymore…not technically."
Dorian raised an eyebrow.
"Be proud, from what Rossweisse tells me and my husband you fell protecting a child. Such selfless action in battle allowed us to reincarnate you as an Einherjar."
"An anher…what?"
"Former warriors," Rossweisse clarified. "Those who fell in battle but are given the honor of joining their ancestors in Valhalla until the time of Ragnarok."
"But…I've never fought a day in my life…not counting a few scraps on the schoolyard as a kid…"
"Oh?" Freyja looked disappointed in his claim. "Did you not fight to ensure the survival of that little girl? Not all combat requires swords and shields dear boy."
Dorian did not know how to react, everything was happening so fast, and he had just been preparing to start school in a new country…
"So…I have to stay here…forever?"
Freyja just stared at him, her look seeming utterly focused and serious. After several seconds she burst out laughing, he wasn't sure whether he should be worried or join in.
"Under normal circumstances Einherjar's wouldn't even be in Asgard, you'd be in Valhalla eating your fill of food, battle and women until you would be called to war…your case is…special however, I feel it would be best for you to remain here for the time being for your own protection."
"And…how long will that be?"
"You are not a prisoner if that is what you are thinking," Freyja assured. "There were…extenuating circumstances leading us to finding you when we did."
"And…what are those circumstances?"
"Hold out your right hand."
Dorian hesitated as if he were worried she would bite it off. After a moment of delay he reached out towards her…holding it in front of him hanging in the air. Freyja took hold of it, turning it over to inspect the palm, fingers, joints and back.
"Do you…feel anything?"
Dorian shook his head, other than the hairs standing on end due to a beautiful woman holding his hand he felt nothing else.
"Hmmm, try focusing on your hand."
"Um…focus on what?"
"Anything…so long as it is meaningful to you."
Dorian closed his eyes, focusing solely on his hand, his mind flashing through all that meant something to him. Saving the little girl…the schoolyard friends he had met and missed over the years due to his constant multicultural travel. The beauty of the city he now found himself in, the Valkyries who had saved him. His love of the violin that had likely burned in the fire…
No matter what he thought about…nothing changed.
"Sorry," he shrugged, lowering his arm as it grew hard to hold up.
"No matter," she assured him. "We can broach that topic another time…how does a job sound."
"A…a job?"
"Yes, I need a retainer…someone to assist with daily work, the occasional outing to fulfill oaths and the like. Perhaps act as an impromptu bodyguard…what do you say?"
"Wh-what about my school? The academy will surely be looking fo…"
"No need to worry about that, we have some allies among those who run your academy. As far as the faculty is aware you had an emergency that required your immediate attention back in the states and left before the fire started. They send their well wishes and pray you can return to continue the program another day. You will receive education while you are here of course…and if you are worried about wages and benefits I assure you they are quite agreeable, more so than for my husband's assistants."
The silver-haired Valkyrie fidgeted awkwardly behind her at those words.
"You keep mentioning your husband…is he…Odin?"
"That is his name, yes," she narrowed her eyes annoyed at his mention. "Though you will never hear me call that ungrateful lecher thus."
Gotcha, bad subject.
"I…suppose I would be honored," he answered hesitantly. But I don't know how good of a bodyguard I would make…again I have never fought in a real battle."
Freyja's lips pulled back into a truly devilish smile.
"Well we will have to change that won't we?"
Not long after…
Dorian found himself standing outside in a large yard flanked on all sides by combat dummies and shield targets. Freyja remained off to the side while Thrud and Rossweisse stood within the lines marked for the field.
"Well…" Freyja motioned to the tables. "Choose your weapon."
Along them were lined up wooden weapons of all shapes and sizes. He didn't recognize most of them but surely one of every weapon-type in the world must be there.
"Who…will I be practicing against?"
Freyja motioned towards Thrud and Rossweisse, the two women looked like they were ready to fight. Rossweisse wore her silver armor yet held no armament. Thrud had donned Valkyrie armor as well, however did wield a large broadsword thankfully also made of wood.
"Hopefully one at a time," Dorian chuckled, remembering Thrud's colossal strength far dwarfing his own.
"Don't feel up to both ladies at once?" Freyja asked, her double entendre painfully obvious.
"I…sort of have a thing against fighting women."
Thrud was the one who glared daggers at him for the statement. "I surmise you do not wish to strike a frail maiden?"
"No no no," nothing like that, Dorian assured her. "Counting yourself I've known no fewer than a dozen women who could kick my ass."
"Then why?"
"Well," Dorian struggled to find the right words. "It just feels…wrong ya know? I mean diamonds are nigh indestructible but you don't see people making weapons out of them just because you can. I guess…that's how I see women…as strong as the Earth…but precious beyond all worth."
Freyja could not believe her eyes, at those words both Rossweisse and Thrud's cheeks reddened. She had never seen the warrior-goddess so affected at the words of a man.
"You will have to leave that belief behind," Freyja warned him while the two women recomposed themselves. "No other Einherjar currently reside in Asgard which is under the protection of my Valkyries…other than the soldiers standing out front and my Husband above you are the only man in this fortress."
Well…that'll make things awkward.
Figuring he had no hope of matching Thrud's skill with a sword and being uncertain how Rossweisse would fight, Dorian reached for a wooden halberd…praying the increased reach might give him a fighting chance. Though his hope was…slim.
"Rossweisse will go first," Freyja proclaimed, knowing Odin would want his assistant to gauge the lad. "If you make it past her test you will face Thrud in weapon combat."
"Wait…if Thrud is for weapon combat then how does Rosewhice…"
"Rossweisse," the Valkyrie gritted her teeth in frustration. Raising her hands strange runes and symbols appeared at the edge of her hands, glowing brightly.
Dorian's eyes went wide as icicles formed on the surface of each rune, taking aim at him menacingly.
"No way, is that magi…"
He didn't get a chance to finish as they blasted towards him, the young man ducked at the last moment, the projectiles sailing over his head harmlessly to bore into the wall behind him. Only then did he realize how dangerous the situation was.
"But…I…don't have…magic," he grunted as he ducked, dodged and otherwise scrambled about to avoid her continuous fire.
"Not yet you don't!" Freyja called out over the sounds of battle. She couldn't help from smiling at how Dorian scurried about to stay mobile, it reminded her of a squirrel or other adorable rodent. Rossweisse was quite upset at the mispronunciation of her name and was taking things more seriously than Odin had requested her to. She was sticking to low-tier magic…but the Norse goddess was absolutely certain she may be trying to kill the poor boy. "You are an Einherjar now, strength is in your bones and magic is in your blood…try and counter!"
Dorian fell back; as the latest two frozen javelins buried themselves at his feet he looked across the field to the silver-haired Valkyrie currently winding up another shot. At Freyja's mention of strength he recalled his botched escape attempt…the door handle snapping off so easily in his hands.
Focus…
Dorian raised his hands towards her; trying to imitate the hand signs she had started the battle with. If there was one thing he could boast it was an excellent memory. To his utter shock and amazement, a rune similar to hers crackled to life in his hands, albeit much smaller and flickering on and off…clearly unstable.
Excellent, Freyja smiled, she knew she had sensed the potential they had seen in him bubbling to the surface. All he needs to do is hold that and prove he can…
Rossweisse's rune shimmered red, torrents of flame bubbling on the surface. In an instant a great ball of fire erupted, hurtling towards Dorian. He stood firm, his flickering rune growing larger and larger between them, by the time her attack neared him it was nearly as large as his body.
The rune flickered and died a moment before the fireball would have impacted, instead slamming into Dorian's chest and sending him flying backwards. He struck the wall with a painful crash….even Thrud flinched somewhat at the hit.
Only then did Rossweisse's scowl of annoyance fall away to concern, she rushed towards the edge of the field where he had landed. "Are you alright?"
As the dust cleared she could make out Dorian staggering to his feet, the vest he had been granted by Lady Freyja scorched and one of the sleeves was gone. Weakly he held up one of his thumbs, indicating he was battered…but otherwise fine.
A loud guffawing interrupted their moment of relief, glancing over Dorian spotted a large burly man approaching the field. The man had a thick grizzled brown beard with hair similarly wild and untamed. His chest was bare save an ornate fur cloak billowing over his shoulders. Metal bracers and matching deep blue leggings glistened as he walked also covered in assorted animal skins; he truly looked like a barbarian warrior from the old tales. Though Dorian could not help but feel he had a touch too many tattoos adorning his impressively toned and muscular chest.
"So this is the new Einherjar brought from Midgard? Not very impressive…did he die fighting a cold?"
Thrud turned to face the newcomer, planting herself between him and the field before he could come any closer. For a moment the warrior looked worried by her presence.
"This is a training session for Lady Freyja's retainer, your presence is unneeded brother," she scowled.
"Brother?" Dorian whispered to Rossweisse who had started helping him up.
"Modi Thorson," she replied. He is her younger half-brother.
Younger? Dorian was utterly confused. Between Modi's thick leathery skin and beard he had guessed his age to be almost thirty…yet Thrud appeared far younger, around Dorian's age. The women of Thor's family must have amazing genes.
"Then perhaps he should have a real opponent," the younger god sneered, his hand falling to the strange mace at his hip. "Toughen him up if I don't kill him first."
"Rossweisse and I were the chosen fighters," Thrud held her ground, no fear in her eyes of him. "If our Allfather sees fit to…"
"Her?" Modi laughed again as he pointed at Rossweisse, approaching her and the wounded Dorian. "The latest 'assistant' to my honored Grandfather?"
Rossweisse tensed as his focus fell on her, clearly lacking the confidence of Thrud.
"What…so desperate for a hero of your own you thought a newcomer to Asgard might actually fall for you? Trying to break your dry streak?"
Thrud took a step towards her brother, but a hand held her back. Freyja had stepped between her and the altercation, raising a single finger to her lips demanding silence.
Rossweisse's demeanor changed in a heartbeat, her eyes welled up as she bit her lip…nearly on the verge of tears. Dorian felt his heart sink, clearly the subject was a sore spot for her though he couldn't imagine why. With her beauty she must have…
"I…know I'm only an ugly Valkyrie virgin who has never had a boyfriend," she explained as Modi continued to leer at her mockingly. "But I am here at the bidding of our Allfather…my shortcomings have nothing to do with…"
A loud smack interrupted her thought; even Thrud and Freyja looked on surprised at what had happened.
Dorian had raised the wooden halberd he'd chosen for his training and slapped it into the side of Modi's head where it currently resided. The lumbering giant had not flinched in the slightest. More unexpected were the absolutely determined, piercing eyes the infant Einherjar was giving him.
"I don't know who you really are," he started, holding his ground. "I may not be the son of a god like you…but I seem to know a very important rule that seems to have been lacking in your education…you NEVER make a woman cry needlessly. Now apologize…if not I'd be more than happy to oblige a little sparring match with you."
WHAT AM I DOING? Dorian screamed internally. The brute standing before him was a literal legend...yet his uncaring cruelty towards Rossweisse who had been helping him had caused something in him to snap. It seemed every fight Dorian had ever participated in was initiated by bullies. He couldn't stand their kind in any meaning of the word.
Modi looked genuinely surprised and impressed, however it did not last. Turning from the Valkyrie he stared the young man down…literally as he had a good head or more over the young man's 6 foot 2 frame.
"You don't have the soul of one…but at least you have the spunk of an Einherjar. I suppose I can accommodate your…suicidal tendencies."
Modi unhooked the mace at his belt, holding it out he relaxed his grip, allowing it to fall to the ground. Despite its smaller size his chosen weapon impacted the dirt with a loud crash, sinking almost an inch deep. In a flash one of the wooden clubs lying on the tables rocketed through the air into his hand. His grip tightened around it menacingly.
"The next match is decided then," Freyja announced calmly. "Remember, aim to incapacitate…there will be no death or maiming here. All strikes and impacts will be treated as genuine."
"Of course honored Grandmother," Modi bowed to her, still grinning.
Dorian knew proper etiquette would be to bow to his opponent, but Modi didn't seem to have any wish to do the same and his anger drew forth a selfish side to him. Somehow…he wanted to make him hurt.
"Commence!" Freyja shouted, slicing her hand through the air.
Dorian took off, keeping low to the ground, his wooden halberd raised and ready…Modi did not even react as he stood on his side of the field grinning. With a grunt he swung his weapon sideways, aiming directly for his opponent's head.
Modi parried his swing with a wave of his mace, acting like it took the least amount of effort he could muster. Dorian corrected his swing and did it again, this time the lumbering giant simply knocked it aside with his free wrist…not taking the match seriously in the slightest.
"Point to Dorian," Freyja called out with a sneer. "Modi is forbidden from utilizing his left hand."
Modi turned to the goddess with a look of absolute anger. "That attack was pitiful!"
"I did warn that all strikes are treated as genuine," she tutted. "Were he of your equal status you would have lost your hand…this is a match to test the tactics of the opponent…not a mindless tavern brawl picking on those smaller than you."
Modi turned to Dorian, fire almost literally billowing from his eyes in absolute rage.
"Um…" Dorian took a step back. "Can you go back to not caring?"
Modi raised his mace, slamming it down as hard as he could, Dorian only barely dodged by such a slim margin a cut appeared on his face solely from the slash of wind. The weapon struck the field, a crack echoing in the air, somehow though the weapon did not break…Dorian praised the craftsmanship of even their training equipment.
His aim adjusted, Modi seemed to vanish, reappearing directly in front of him, mace swinging in a savage sideways angle. The weapon caught Dorian in his chest, forcing all the air out of his lungs. As soon as Modi's chosen implement struck his chest it shattered into a thousand splinters as the young man was sent flying.
Good lord, Dorian gasped, barely struggling to his knees near the edge of the field. The power behind the hit was tremendous, had it not been for a combination of his newfound strength and durability coupled with Modi having weakened the mace's frame with his previous hit he would have had his entire chest crushed in.
Modi looked to the hunk of wood remaining in his hand, throwing it away with a spit of disgust. Holding out his hand his real hammer wiggled free from the ground returning home in an instant. He sprinted towards Dorian who had just managed to get back on his feet, the burning sensation in his chest had not subsided and he couldn't move his wobbling legs; weakly he raised his right hand in an attempt to cushion the hit.
"MODI STOP!" Freyja boomed as he ran towards his opponent heedless of her words, Thrud simultaneously rushed towards the field…too slowly to stop him. "I SAID STO…"
The goddess did not have a chance to finish, as Modi's mace connected with Dorian's hand a great bubble erupted from his fingers, knocking the unprepared demigod backwards. Modi tumbled head over heel several times before righting himself, sliding to a stop almost twenty feet away.
"He…did it," Freyja smiled. "So all it took was a threat to his life."
I'll have to thank Modi for being so predictably easy to rile up.
Dorian stretched his arm as far from him as he could, he had no idea what was happening as the bubble of emerald-teal light receded after knocking away the lesser Aesir. The circular shape collapsed into snake-like tendrils which wrapped around his right hand and arm. He could do nothing but gawk at it.
The shifting almost liquid-like tendrils of energy hardened and took shape, forming what looked like an ornate bracer of the same color covering the back of his hand and stretching almost down to the elbow leaving his fingers free. The sheen gave off a metallic shine; however the bumpy surface and twisting strands sealing it around his arm reminded him of tree roots. In the center a rhombus-shaped gem was prominently displayed rotating through all the colors of the spectrum. After several seconds the color shifted to a dark azure and remained.
"What…what is it?" Dorian asked, attempting to pull off the unintended armguard to no avail. It was secured to him tight. Thrud had stopped her advance, staring in wonder at the object's appearance.
"What sorcery have you conjured?" Modi growled. Without awaiting an answer he tightened the grip on his mace, breaking into a full sprint he ran towards Dorian prepared to finish him off….raising his weapon high over his head and bringing it down.
His mace stopped in its tracks as Freyja appeared from nowhere between them, even Thrud and Rossweisse glanced back at the now-empty seat she had previously occupied. Modi's swing had been stopped…by only her index finger. With a single flick Modi was sent blasting backwards even harder than before…crashing into the back wall and leaving an artistic imprint of his body in the stone.
"What…is it?" Dorian asked again, he was shaking all over uncertain what to make of the object that had claimed his right arm.
Freyja approached the confused boy, pulling him up and holding him close, pressing his face into her impressive chest, stroking the back of his head tenderly with pride to calm him as a mother would. They almost didn't notice an old man walk up behind them from the shadows.
"Something never seen before," the Allfather Odin explained, trying to hide his jealousy at seeing the young man buried in his estranged wife's bosom. "A sacred gear not crafted by the Original God of the Bible…"
Dorian stood at the front of the room, feeling quite awkward upon realizing as expected he was the only man present.
"By special dispensation from Lady Freyja and the Allfather," the lead Valkyrie explained to the class. "Mr. Held will be joining us in our classroom sessions for the foreseeable future. I trust you will all make him feel welcome."
"Yes Lady Eir," the class replied in unison, their discipline was extraordinary considering none were older than Dorian.
"Very good, before we begin would you like to introduce yourself to the class?"
Dorian stepped forward awkwardly, quite amazed at how the classroom appeared. Despite the fact he was in a different realm standing before a room of literal Valkyries…it looked….normal. The unique architecture he had come to expect of Asgard was present, but factoring that out there were desks, tables, chairs...even a blackboard that currently had his name written out across it. The girls were wearing a white official school uniform with blue and gold accents matching the color scheme of the armor Rossweisse had worn the previous day. Dorian had been given his own set to wear as well.
"M-My name is Dorian Held," he announced to the class, bowing low. "It will be an honor to study alongside you."
A ripple effect of whispers and giggles spread throughout the room. More than one of the girls winked at him with a smile while the rest eyed him suspiciously no doubt confused as to why a man would be allowed among their numbers.
"You may take any available seat Mr. Held," the elder Valkyrie informed him.
Dorian walked past the rows, feeling every eye on him. He spotted a pair of open seats in the back, trying to keep his head down; he slid into the one nearest the window beside a blue-haired Valkyrie. She gave him a quick smile before focusing on the teacher.
"Excellent, now…today we will be studying reinforcement of runes. If you will look here…"
Dorian focused intently on the lesson, his amazement of learning that not only magic existing but he was capable of it not having yet died down. Despite his focus he could not help but think back on recent developments.
***PREVIOUS DAY***
"A Sacred Gear…" Dorian repeated as Odin and Freyja had sat him down within a large study chamber.
After the battle, the group had retired inside, the Norse gods purposefully ignoring Modi's unconscious body left in the corner. "He'll wake up eventually…hopefully with a bit more humility," Freyja had joked. Their assistants had accompanied them as well, Thrud standing beside her lady and Rossweisse took up position behind Odin's chair.
"Indeed," Odin continued. "They originate from the Original God of the Bible…devices granted to humans to perform miracles and enact his will among his followers."
Dorian looked over the glowing Azure gem in the center of his bracer. "If it was the Bible God who made them…why did you bring me to Asgard?"
Odin leaned back into his chair, sighing, his eyes subtly darting to each of the women in the room looking them up and down. Dorian assumed it must be a way he calms down…
"This particular Gear was not made by him."
Dorian sat in silence a moment, responding only after realizing the one-eyed god was not going to answer on his own.
"How…do you know?"
"We have…classified information that specifies no True Sacred Gears have been made in some time…yet yours is brand new and clearly not of artificial means. And that's not all."
"What do you know of Yggdrasil?" Freyja stepped in, alleviating some strain from her husband.
"Um, it is the World Tree…wrapped around Earth…Midgard," he corrected, trying to use their terminology. "Some legends specify it is responsible for creating the world."
"Well done, its branches stretch across the nine realms and while we don't know if it did create them…I would not be surprised if it did. Your Sacred Gear would have fused with your soul at birth…but your life essence masked it all these years."
Dorian nodded blankly barely able to follow what she was saying so far.
"When you died, that cover fell away…we were able to sense a piece of the Yggdrasil on Midgard…something that should have been impossible."
"Why impossible?"
"Because Yggdrasil is constantly growing, expanding across creation…and we are its caretakers. The tree is monitored at all times for any discrepancy, damage, a new world connected…you name it. You have a fragment of the tree bonded to your soul…when there is no missing fragment to be found."
"In addition…we have no records of any Sacred Gears in existence to possess cores originating from other mythologies…such a bond should be…impossible," Odin concluded.
Dorian looked over the device clinging to his arm once more, shocked that such an impossible item was right in front of him…a part of him…
"Your duties as my retainer shall commence tomorrow," Freyja commanded, her Queenly tone returning. "You will begin the day with studies of our culture and practical skills in the morning with the other Valkyries. The details have already been worked out, but come the evening…you shall be mine."
"Consider yourself lucky kid," Odin leaned back with a chuckle. "She hasn't requested my nighttime skills in years."
"Allfather!" Rossweisse called out behind him before Freyja could raise her hand to strike. "Please control yourself and stick to the matter at hand!"
Odin just groaned, leaning forward rubbing the back of his neck.
"Have to suck all the fun out of everything don't you?"
"I'll…be studying with Valkyries?" Dorian asked. "Wouldn't I learn with other Einherjar?"
"I did not think that would be…prudent," Freyja answered. "They learn little in Valhalla as their skills are meant to be at their peak before entering there. It is a reward more than a training ground. The training regimen of the standard warriors of Asgard would be…insufficient for you and Valkyrie are trained from a young age to harness magic, runes and combat all at once."
"Smile my boy," Odin slapped Dorian hard on the back. "Starting tomorrow you'll be a real stud."
Rossweisse finally stepped aside as Freyja's hand connected with the back of his head.
***PRESENT DAY***
"Block when you must, dodge when you can…and strike!" Thrud commanded.
Dorian complied, barely parrying her overhanded swing, though he could tell she was holding back considerably. He was informed he would attend general Valkyrie classes, however due to the nature of his Sacred Gear it was felt he should receive private lessons in combat apart from the rest. Thrud and Rossweisse once again rose to the task.
They had been fighting in a clearing just outside the Valkyrie training building for the better part of an hour. The class Dorian had been learning alongside had their own regimen…yet it appeared most had decided to forego their routine to witness his spar with Thrud. They were all leaning against the fence, watching on with bated breath.
"We seem to be rather popular," Dorian pointed out as he ducked a follow-up swing.
"Ignore them," she commanded. "Focus on me."
Dorian complied, but the eyes of dozens of girls was difficult for him to forget, he could only imagine what they were whispering. Ever at the forefront was the blue-haired Valkyrie he had chosen to sit beside.
Thrud knelt low, spinning to clip his legs out from under him. Somehow Dorian managed to jump in time, dodging her strike at the last possible moment.
"Your reflexes are improving," she complimented. "Bring it out."
Nodding, Dorian focused on his right arm. On command his Sacred Gear appeared, the process of bringing it forth infinitely simpler than the first time had been. Ooo's and aahh's could be heard from their unintended audience.
"Excellent," Thrud complimented. "Today I want you to flex its muscles so to speak. Try and use it."
"Use…it?" Dorian just looked at the bracer on his arm as if an instruction manual was about to appear. No matter how hard he stared nothing seemed to happen.
Come on…a little help here…I have an audience and everything.
As if taking pity on his request the azure gem in the center began to pulsate, the light spinning clockwise round and round. Dorian even held his arm out, aiming it away from the audience just in case. The light flared to an almost blinding degree before dying down…receding back into the bracer and shrinking to a single dot. Dorian shook his arm and held his ear up to it as if diagnosing a broken watch.
Before Thrud could remark, the dot of blue light blasted forth from the bracer, rocketing into the sky disappearing into the distance. For a half a moment Dorian thought he could see a circle…like a hole had been punched through the air itself, however after a single blink it was gone. The tops of numerous trees were sheered clean along its path. Many of the younger Valkyries ducked for cover at the beam of energy…all save the young blue-haired girl who remained standing.
"Is…is that normal?" Dorian asked, panting heavily upon the realization that the blast had fired while mere hairs breadths from his face.
"It is…expected," Thrud replied at length. "Many Sacred Gears require the wielder to be strong enough to call forth its power…it seems you do not yet meet its minimum requirements to do more than release the accumulated energy all at once."
Ouch.
"You can train your body and magic," Rossweisse stepped up, offering words of encouragement and extending a hand to help him up. Given time we will discover your Gear's purpose." Dorian smiled appreciatively at her words, gripping her strong arm and hoisting himself back to his feet.
Cheers could be heard in the distance; apparently his display of raw power was quite popular. Thrud hoped the girls wouldn't be so hesitant around him in the future…each one of them knew far more about magic runes than he and would be instrumental in expanding his knowledge.
"For now," Thrud interrupted again, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow. "It is past time to report to Lady Freyja, she was most insistent you meet with her as soon as our training was concluded."
"Right," he replied, eager to begin. "What is the fastest way to her office?"
"Did you learn the flight rune today?"
"Um…" Dorian grimaced, not recognizing that skill among the multitude that Eir had gone over during the hours indoors…
Frejya's Office…
A knock alerted Freyja to her visitor…he was late.
"Enter," she called out.
Dorian limped inside panting heavily. With no flight capabilities in his repertoire he had been forced to run the whole way to her chambers on the opposite side of the Palace. The one silver lining he could think of was the chance to work on his cardio.
"I'm…sorry…for my…tardiness," he gasped, finally approaching her desk.
The goddesses' table was the definition of organized chaos, covered from end to end in papers, documents and memos. Despite their uncountable numbers she worked calmly, signing some, filing others and responding to requests. The room was otherwise pristine, a roaring hearth providing warmth and ambiance in the corner. He could not help but smile at noticing a pair of small black cats lounging by the fire, their tails lazily whipping back and forth as they slept.
"I will have Rossweisse and the teachers focus on flight runes tomorrow," Freyja responded calmly. "How is your penmanship?"
"Immaculate," was his only response. He allowed a smile to slip through; across the various countries he had studied he had always been complimented for his handwriting."
"Excellent, then for now…please take a seat and write what I say."
Dorian complied, locating a blank piece of parchment and pen nearby, nodding when he was ready.
"Dearest Zeus, King of Olympus and highest among the Greek Pantheon," she started. Dorian was amazed to notice that as she was dictating the reply that she was simultaneously working on no fewer than two other documents. Her multitasking skills were flawless. "We are pleased that you agree with our proposition. When time allows we hope that you will see fit to receive our envoy to finalize the agreement. Until that time I pray you good health and safe travels. Your ally, Freyja, Queen of Asgard and the Vanir."
Dorian finished the letter, handing it off to her outstretched grasp. She quickly folded and placed it within an envelope, sealing it with an ornate stamp.
"So…Mount Olympus exists too?" Dorian asked hesitantly as she handed him another letter to take down.
"Of course," she answered quickly, still focused on her paperwork. "I am sure many of the mythologies you have heard of over the years exist. Creation is a big place, how was your first day?"
"It was ok; I still hope you have a backup bodyguard on hand. Apparently I do not yet meet the minimum requirements to use my Sacred Gear properly."
"I would be surprised if you did, few can wield their Sacred Gears while still human and you are but a single step higher up that ladder. The curriculum will last for several weeks. Study hard; train harder and we'll discover its purpose in no time."
"Thank you Lady Freyja!" Dorian felt much better. Her assertion felt genuine rather than a means to wave off his concerns…if he just worked hard…
"If you want to take it for a test run…next week Thrud will be fulfilling an oath to clear an undesirable hiding on Midgard. If you feel up to the task you may join her."
"I…of course Lady Freyja," Dorian bowed despite the fact he was still sitting. "I won't let you down!"
"See that you don't dear boy," she threw a motherly smile his way. "Now, come come, these letters won't write themselves. What was next? Oh yes, 'Good Azazel, we would be honored aid in the mediation of your dispute. Please provide a date and we may lay the groundwork for this momentous occasion…"
Later…
Dorian jogged back to his room, the hour had grown quite late to make up for his tardiness reaching Freyja for the first day of his retainer duties. He breathed a sigh of relief that she only had him writing her letters and filing old documents…they were tasks he actually knew how to perform.
Dorian had been provided a room of his own on the other side of the campus for obvious reasons. He even had a gorgeous view of a large tree outside his window though couldn't have even begun to guess its species but between the captivating lilac leaves and oddly luminous bark he did not care. According to Rossweisse, Odin had attempted to bunk him with the other girls but she'd shot him down immediately. He thanked her for that kindness…it was no wonder Freyja was so harsh on her husband with his habits. He could only imagine how awkward that would have become.
Nearing the building he stopped to catch his breath, having held a jogging pace nearly the entire way. It had not taken nearly as long as he thought, his new body was really something…perhaps he'd keep running at the end of the day and save flight for when he was in a hurry…
He jumped as an acorn bounced off the ground nearly hitting his foot. Taking a step back he glanced upwards towards its source. The tree bore no such hangings, however he spotted a small red and white squirrel peeking out from behind a branch having apparently thrown the projectile.
I didn't know they had squirrels in Asgard; he chuckled, bending down to retrieve it.
"It's ok little guy," he tried to sound as friendly as possible, holding out the acorn. "You don't have to waste your food on me…I won't take it."
The squirrel scurried down the trunk closer but maintained a distance from him, no doubt mistrusting someone so close to its home. Its nose was absolutely adorable as it twitched, looking him up and down quizzically.
"Ok then, cherry on top," he muttered to the tiny rodent. Reaching into his satchel he removed a small strawberry he hadn't finished from lunch. Squishing the acorn into the side of the fruit he held it out again, smiling as serenely as he could so as not to scare it.
The squirrel snuck closer drawn by the added promise of the strawberry. In a swift motion he snatched them both from his hand, bounding back up the tree to enjoy the meal amid the safety of its boughs.
"Enjoy!" Dorian shouted before making his way to his new home.
Pushing open the door to his room he stepped inside. It was a modest dormitory though considering every room was made for at least two and he was alone it was quite spacious. There were two beds across from one another overlooking a large window overlooking the grounds and tree nearby. From there he could see the field they had been training in earlier that day and the rainbow bridge, the Bifrost, beyond. He even had his own small kitchen space though he knew little of cooking…perhaps he could try to learn.
Much of the day's lessons had been on the forming and holding of basic defensive runes. The basic premise revolved around density over size, which had been the mistake he made during his spar with Rossweisse. He had been so focused on making the rune larger he completely missed that the bigger it got the thinner it became until it popped like a bubble. He would not make that mistake again. The entire way back he would create a tiny version in his hand as practice to see how dense he could make it. It was only about the size of a coaster…but it was a start.
Exhausted from the day and eager to start the next, Dorian stood before his bed, falling down backwards like a plank on top of it.
"Oof."
Dorian froze at the grunt beneath him, his eyes shot open as he rolled over…hesitantly glancing under the covers.
Beneath it was a beautiful girl, he immediately recognized her as the blue-haired Valkyrie from his class. The one who always seemed to be studying on her own at the desk beside his. She was dressed solely in a black leotard similar to Rossweisse's…no doubt the combat attire of a Valkyrie before she earns her armor. Her long hair was styled into a single long ponytail nearly reaching her waist.
"Wh-wh-wh-what are you doing here?" Dorian asked, immediately dropping the sheet back over her upon noticing how little she was wearing. "This is my room!"
"M-mine as well," the girl replied timidly, remaining under the sheet.
"But…Lady Freyja informed me I would be rooming alone!"
"I was informed we were one overburdened by the Allfather," the girl finally poked her head out from under the blanket. "I was selected to be the odd woman out to sleep with you rather than my sisters."
He probably lied to her too; Dorian shook his head, trying to ignore her poor choice of words.
"I-I'm sorry," he retreated to the opposite bed. "I can discuss this with Lady Freyja tomorrow. You won't have to room with…"
"But I want to!" The girl suddenly became bolder, throwing off the blanket entirely. Dorian diverted his gaze to the wall as if he were analyzing the paintings. "Though…the others would be jealous of my honor, please don't mention anything of my stay with you!"
"E-even though I'm a guy…?"
"You are the first man to study here with us…it is a once in a lifetime occasion and it would be my privilege to be your bunkmate!" Her eyes were practically glowing as she inched closer. "I-if I am too much trouble, I can help you with the curriculum…I am well versed in defensive runes!"
The young woman held out her hand, a familiar shielding rune shimmered to life in her palm. As Dorian looked on she generated a second, spinning in tandem the two layered themselves atop one another…creating what appeared to be an entirely new design as the two symbols met.
"You…can make more than one?"
"And combine their properties…I can show you…"
Dorian's ears perked up at the last part, he was looking for ways to improve as quickly as possible…a private tutor in the same building didn't sound so bad.
"Only if you are absolutely certain…you have a deal!"
"Oh thank you," the young Valkyrie lunged forward, wrapping him in an embrace. Dorian stood straight as a board, shivering as he suddenly realized she was rubbing her hands up and down his back. "The Allfather mentioned…that we can grow closer if you desire…"
Dorian's hand snapped out, gripping her shoulder and keeping her at arm's length.
"Th-the tutoring will be just fine…thank you. I don't even know your name, I'm Dorian."
"Of course I know your name," she giggled. "My name is Kara."
Freyja's Office...
"Report," Freyja commanded after Dorian had left for the evening.
"His strength is adequate," Thrud reported. As she spoke she produced a food bowl, sliding it towards the two cats Freyja ever kept by her side while making sure to scratch them behind the ears as they lapped up its contents. "It is nothing the legends will write of, though it has risen drastically above what he was capable of as a human. Given time and dedication he will make a fine warrior…if he lasts."
"And a fine man?"
Thrud lowered her head, obviously hiding the blush from the memory of the proclamation of his opinion of women.
"He…does not show any habits of the Allfather if that is your concern."
"And his Gear?"
"We may have a breach."
Freyja turned towards Thrud, interested for the first time in her report. "Explain."
"Dorian released all his accumulated energy from our sparring in a single blast. He did not realize it; however it was obvious his Gear…punched a minuscule hole in the realm for a fraction of a second. Something may have crossed over."
"It is capable of rupturing the fabric of the realms?"
"Apparently so, though Mr. Held is far from possessing the power to do any true damage."
"Who was it that came through?" Freyja groaned, burying her face in her hands as she full well knew the answer.
Days of Peace…
The following week proceeded for Dorian, each day he strove to improve in one topic at the very least. Fortunately for him the first rune as Lady Freyja promised had been the power of flight. He had some difficulty mastering it; however the entire class was more than willing to assist him. It seemed Thrud was quite the celebrity among young Valkyries and the fact he was receiving personal training from her caused a bit of that wonder to rub off on him by proxy.
"She is not alone," Dorian had remarked to Herja, a cute yet stern blonde Valkyrie who sat two seats ahead of him. She was more muscular than the others and had her hair tied up into a pair of buns on her head. "She is my personal trainer for martial combat…Roshweice has been tutoring me in rune manipulation and general magic.
The girl chuckled at his mispronunciation of her name; no matter how hard he tried he just couldn't master it. "No one's told you about her?"
Dorian shook his head.
Herja lowered her voice, "She used to be in this class not long ago, she never did anything that wasn't related to her studies...total social outcast."
"Aren't…we supposed to be focusing on our studies?"
"Not THAT much, she never went out with us after hours…she turned down EVERY invitation. She even refused to sneak on over to…say hi to the Einherjar that sometimes visited from Valhalla."
Dorian understood her last meaning but proceeded to just nod his head without drawing attention to it.
"Zero fun," Herja continued. "It got so bad we just stopped acknowledging her...eventually someone started calling her the ugly Valkyrie who's never had a Boyfriend and it just sort of stuck."
This time it was Dorian who let out a laugh, stifling himself upon realizing many eyes were now upon him during their self-study time. There was no way Herja was being honest with him.
"You have to be messing with me…is beauty measured differently in Asgard than on Midgard?"
"Not that I am aware of…why?"
"Then how in any meaning of the word is she considered ugly?"
Herja threw her hands up in the air, "I don't know how men think…but why else would she not have ever had a boyfriend yet?"
"That is a very good question…if she is considered ugly then I must say Asgard is populated with blind or foolish men."
Herja giggled at his last line.
"What's so funny?"
"Got a thing for your teacher?"
Dorian's cheeks flushed red; he buried his face in the nearby textbook and mumbled something about the passage about Thor's exploits being interesting. With only being a year younger than her he'd never pictured Rossweisse in a teacher role. Peaking over the top, praying to change the subject he spotted Kara. As usual she was studying alone, he had wanted to sit by her but remembered the request to keep the class from realizing they were rooming together…he knew full well how merciless the rumor mill could be. Even so he felt bad for her, she seemed so alone…not even once deeming to raise her hand to answer a single question despite her impressive knowledge. Could she have been ostracized by the others like Rossweisse for her above average interest in her studies?
As luck would have it, Rossweisse would be training him that day as Thrud watched from the sidelines. She had already put him through the strength and physical regimen she had developed. Her status as Thor's daughter was painfully obvious, if Dorian had to guess she was even stronger than Modi.
Without needing to be asked, Dorian raised a defensive rune, tacking on a second layer for good measure using the trick Kara had taught him. The first rune would provide overall defense while the second reinforced his elemental resistances. Rossweisse raised an eyebrow at the unexpected addition.
"You can overlap runes already?"
"Yes Ms. Roshwice. I have been practicing."
"That's…Rossweisse," her serene smile crumbled away into an annoyed scowl, even her hair seemed to rise up behind her as if attuned to the annoyed anger coursing through her. In an instant a half dozen runes started to appear over her shoulders each with various offensive elemental properties. Without giving him a chance to defend or apologize she launched her attack.
Dorian's defense held against the first barrage…and the second, though cracks started to form with the third. Focusing hard, Dorian lifted slightly off the ground, finally putting the flying rune he had learned and etched into both boots to good use. Rossweisse fired again, the fireball sailing past him as he evaded her attack and ducking past the next.
Rossweisse huffed, clearly frustrated at her lack of contact despite the purpose being to improve his skills…not kill him. With a quick inhalation, the annoyed Valkyrie lifted off the ground herself, matching he elevation in an instant.
Uh oh.
Dorian attempted to swoop around her, but she was much faster, cutting him off and twisting towards him. In a flash a yellow rune crackled to like in her hands, he barely had time to reinforce his remaining defenses.
It did not matter, a string of lightning erupted from her hands. A moment before they would have struck his strengthened barrier it forked, bypassing his defense entirely and striking him clean in the chest. Dorian spasmed in mid-air at the energy traveling through his body before plummeting to the ground…crashing into the dirt in a heap. Rossweisse remained on the warpath, falling towards him with an outstretched foot, clearly going for a drop kick.
"I'm sorry Ms. Rosh...ROSE!"
Rossweisse's foot stopped just before it would have impacted his throat. Her eyes had gone wide and a light blush was forming on her cheeks as she pulled back her attack, finally regaining her mature composure.
"Wh-what did you call me?"
"Well…" Dorian stumbled to his feet. He was surprised at how little the impact hurt, the fall would most certainly have killed a human yet he barely felt it. "I clearly have trouble pronouncing your name…I mean no disrespect I swear. So…until I get the hang of it…may I call you Rose?"
Rossweisse spun in place, coughing several times into her hand awkwardly. Even Thrud had leaned forward, a sly grin present on her face at the nickname she recognized.
"That would…*cough*…be acceptable for the time being….temporarily…"
"Thank you…Rose." She was absolutely adorable as she refused to make eye contact with him.
Ugly Valkyrie my ass…she couldn't be more beautiful. If she's ugly then I'm the second coming of Thor…
Not Far…
"It's sickening," Modi muttered, spotting the trio sparring across the field. He was expertly hidden thanks to the skills of his ally.
"I could not agree more," his associate replied, remaining to the shadows so only their silhouette could be barely made out. "The decrepit Allfather and his whore of a wife bring in those of lesser mythologies…enlisting even your honored sister in their…mixing. Perhaps a change in leadership is required."
"They have too many loyal followers, my father and sister among them," Modi fumed. In a fit of rage he punched a nearby rock, turning it to powder in an instant.
"Ah…but if something were to…befall our beloved Allfather then surely it would not be out of place for us to…step forward and fill the void?"
Modi glanced over, his face awash with both trepidation…and excitement.
"What did you have in mind?"
"What do you know…of the blade Hrotti currently residing in Asgard's vault?"