chapter 15
After her meeting with All-Father, Amora was escorted back to Loki’s chambers. Draco was impatiently waiting for her. She had assured Odin that she was only here to find Loki, once she finds she will back to Nidavellir. Odin cannot refuse this as other council members were present and he had to maintain the pretence that Loki’s disappearance was affecting him as much as it was affecting Prince Thor, even if council did not care much about Odin family drama.
As soon as she reached the rooms, Draco could breathe easier. He was afraid that Odin might send her back and as of right now no one could help him bar Amora, not even Queen Mother is that knowledgeable in Astral Projection.
Loki had a habit of storing some of his Seidr in gemstones. He had pooled some of his Seidr in Blue Sapphire. Loki had another one of the reserves on Midgard, even Draco didn’t know where it was. Just that it was White Moonstone. The runes were drawn on them which made them a perfect conduit of reserving his magic for him.
Draco showed her the Blue Sapphire which reserves his magic. He felt the warmth and affection coming from the Gemstone as his Seidr recognised Draco’s magic. It was as if they were caressing his magical core with such fondness that he nearly broke down.
“This can help me.” Draco declared.
Amora sighed.
It was of no use trying to change Draco’s mind about Astral Projection. She reluctantly agreed to help him. She knows that if she didn’t help him Draco will try on his own and then he will definitely get adrift. Loki will kill her if she lets anything happen to him. It will be better if she helps him follow the link and find Loki.
So, they started working on Astral Projection. One of the most important things for Astral projection is that the projectors mind palace shall be impenetrable. And Draco is master in mind arts. His mind palace is impassable. Even, Severus Snape could not break through his shields, And he was one of the best Legilimens in Wizarding World.
But Since Loki was not to be found his mind palace is in shambles. He hadn’t sorted through the mess that is his mind. So, First Amora ordered him to perfect his mind palace again. It nearly takes him a week. But after his mind palace is sorted, Amora checks his shields. Which, are of-course inaccessible.
Then, Amora teaches him to Project on Asgard itself. She teaches him how to make oneself invisible and inaudible by telling him to spy on council meetings of Odin.
Draco was eavesdropping on one of the Odin’s meetings with other realms delegators, where he saw Helblindi. He was asking Odin about Loki’s whereabouts. At first, he didn’t recognize that person talking to him was Helblindi as he looked fairly Aesir rather than a frost giant. Then he remembered that Frost Giants had the ability to shapeshift. So, he must have shapeshifted himself into a mix between Aesir and a Frost Giant. He had worn all the metal and leather that the Asgardian wore, but they were Violet in colour. His midnight blue hair was pulled back and tied with Golden satins. He had trident in his hands. He had covered all of his skin, he went as far as to wear gloves. His face showed Aesir skin colour but the markings on his face were Frost Giants. As if he didn’t want anyone to forget his true heritage and how they have survived thousands of years of ruin.
Odin had asked him the purpose of asking about Loki’s location to which he said that Loki is Laufey’s son and therefore, Rightful King of Jotunheim. He wanted Loki to take the Kingship of Jotunheim and help them build themselves. Of-course Odin had ulterior motives. Of-course he had demanded for their surrender for eternity in exchange of Loki. And he says that he cares about Loki, Draco thinks scornfully.
He decided not to say anything about the meeting to anyone. And asks Amora to further expands his studies.
He then projects to Helheim, and greets Hela.
He projects to Nidavellir and watches dwarves forging weapons.
He projects to Midgard, where he learns another secret. He watches as captain America woke up from being in ice for nearly seventy years. He finds several Hydra bases which he stores them in Hydra pile of his mind palace.
When Amora is confident in his capabilities, she teaches him how to follow the Link through his magic first. As his minds walks and walks through the link until the end all he feels is cold.
They blend the runes for Astral Projection and the bond runes.
Draco sits in middle of the Rune circle in Sukhasana pose. He has blue Sapphire in his right hand and The Ring on his left hand. Amora smiles as he closes his eyes and sinks deep in to his mind. He follows through the bond Link and ends up somewhere. He doesn’t know where he is but he knows certainly he can go back to Asgard. It is an alien planet. That much is obvious.
The land is barren, there no source of light except the stars and constellations. He can feel his eyes adjusting to the darkness, with a spell that lets him see through the utter vacuum. The land is completely destroyed. He sees the half torn stone structures that he can imagine were buildings. He can see the asteroids rotating around the planets as if waiting to fall and tear the planet in half.
He walks around the torn building like structure and see the stone throne. So, someone is here.
Behind the throne he sees an unusually bed like rock. He looks around and sees that all the stones are usually steep and sharp at the edges. He can see ropes around them but there is no one tied to it. He ties calling out Loki’s name in this desolate land. He knows no one can here him except Loki. So, he became as loud as he can.
He can feel the magical exhaustion creeping in. Somewhere at the back of his mind he knows that if Loki does not want to be found he will not show himself. He was hurt before he fell. He thinks no one cares about him. But, he can feel Loki’s magic and something equally, if not more powerful. He moves around the rock and sees a snake hissing. He backs away hastily before he can think, then relief floods as he realizes and that no one can see or hear him except Loki.
He runs a hand through his hair. He looks like a mess he knows. His hair has lost all its shine, bags under his eyes. Although he was lithe before, now he is unnaturally thin. He sniffs. He hates that if Loki is here, he could see how weak he has become without his presence. He doesn’t want Loki to feel guilt after all that has happened.
He squared his shoulders. He knows he only has moments left before he is exhausted. “Loki, I can feel your Seidr trying to reach out to me. I do not know why you are hiding yourself from me but I need you to come back to me. I need you to come home.” Draco tries sounding stern. But he fails. He breaks down at the last word and falls to his knees. Sobs racks through is body as he cries for the first time after Loki fell. He never showed his weakness to others. But with Loki it was always easy.
He can feel Loki’s Seidr caressing his hair, as if trying to gently comfort him. But all he can feel is more pain and his absence.
“Please, I need you to come back to me.” He whimpers. He can feel his body giving in, exhausted mentally and magically. He closes his eyes as he feels his mind goes back to Asgard.
He misses the Forest Green eyes looking at him before he vanishes.
He misses an alien creature walking to the throne with a sceptre in his hands.
He looks up at Amora who is sitting there waiting for him to open his eyes. Curiosity shining in her eyes and he falls unconscious.