Vagary

Chapter 10: “ Silver ”

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“ You robbed me of my life. I could have been human- I could have been alive, but you took my heart and you murdered it. You made me into this”

- Emilie Autumn, The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls

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Mid-winter, 1455, Jöterbog, Holy Roman Empire, Earth

" It will be three thalers, sire." The woodsman put the given silver coins in his pouch.

"Have a nice day, Arentz," the stableman gave him a nod after loading the woods he purchased and riding away on the marketplace's muddy road.

The blond man started to pack up his small stand, it was the last goods left. The man set to the road to his small hut in the woods outside of the village, where he lived with his wife and stepdaughter. 

The winter sun was setting when he reached his home, He dismantled his mule inside the small barn across the hut. He checked the stash of firewood and saw it was depleting. He decided to crack new wood into the stash while he could and walked into the logs he previously chopped.

As he started to chunk the logs with his axe, he heard the crying of his stepdaughter. He was indecisive in looking out for the toddler, the stupid child must have fallen off from tripping over even the simplest things as she always did. With a tired sigh, he marched towards the crying.

When he reached the little girl, sitting on a trunk with her scraped knee, he saw his wife rushing to comfort her. She gently picked the girl up and cradled her in her arms, soothing her with soft words.

"It's okay, my little moon," His wife cooed, her voice filled with love. "Let me see your knee."

As the woman inspected the scraped knee, she noticed something strange. The wounds were glowing with a faint blue light, and to the woman's amazement, they began to heal before her eyes. The little girl's toddler hands and eyes shimmered with the silver-blue light as she unknowingly used her budding powers to heal herself.

Stefan was a man deeply entrenched in his beliefs, witnessing the scene, and saw only what he feared most - the manifestation of witchcraft. He stormed towards them, his axe raised, intent on putting an end to what he saw as an abomination.

 " What sorcery is this, woman?" the man's accusing voice was harsh, his eyes wide with fear and anger. 

The woman's heart missed a beat and her gray eyes widened in horror at the sight of his hulking husband's booming rage. She held her child protectively, shielding her from the man's wrath.

"No, Stefan, please!" the woman pleaded, her voice trembling. "She's just a child. Please don't hurt her." 

"I should have known it was the spawn of the demon I was raising, " the lumberjack spatted, " Move, wench. Or I will end you as well! "

The woman, her eyes filled with pleading, tried to reason with her husband. She held his axe-holding arm, "Please, she is just a child. Please have mercy!" 

His wife, was a defiant spirit, her disdain for Stefan evident in her every gesture and word. Often he succeeded in sniffing out her disobedience with violence, putting the insolent woman in her place. She should be thankful that an honest hardworking man like him took pity on a widow like her.  

 "I will not let anything happen to her," she declared, her voice filled with determination. "She is my daughter, and I will protect her with everything I have." The man fumed with anger, with a swift motion, he raised his hand and struck the woman across the face, the sound of the slap echoing in the small woods. The woman staggered back, a trail of blood smeared across her pointy chin.

The woodsman raised his axe, and a dark look played across his groggy features. The toddler's gray eyes fearfully looked back at him.

Suddenly his body clenched, he couldn't move.  In horror, he saw his wife slowly rising, a mad glint on her features.

He saw her auburn hair turn silver, flowing around like a halo, her gray eyes glowing with the same color. Her palms are wide open and glowed with the same silver-blue ink dancing through them. The forest darkened with shadowy gloom.

Stefan, finally realizing the grave mistake he made, desperately tried to set free. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't move an inch. "Vala, I am deeply sorry, please let me go," 

His axe flew into the woman's hand, " I warned you," the woman bent her neck in a sickling snap, " You, disgusting pig." She was utterly terrifying.

With that, all hell broke loose, everywhere cowered crimson with the man's agonizing screams.

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May 23, 2013, Planet Ria

The pale sun hung low on the scarlet horizon as the group journeyed southward, the landscape changed around them, transitioning from gigantic trees to a dense forest with smaller ones to rolling hills and rocky terrain. The air grew colder, carrying with it the scent of wildflowers and earth, a stark contrast to the warm, sultry air of their previous surroundings. As the four of them journeyed southward, their footsteps echoed softly in the dense forest. 

Despite the change in scenery, the witch remained unusually distant, her thoughts elsewhere. 

The prince watched her closely, his keen eyes taking in every detail. He noticed the way she would sometimes flinch at unseen horrors, or how she would trail behind the group, lost in her world. 

But as the days passed, Nova's nights became plagued with restless sleep and haunting nightmares. She would toss and turn, her mind swirling with images from her past, each one more terrifying than the last. And then, one fateful day, while she was awake, she experienced something altogether different.

As they rested by a campfire, the woman suddenly went silent, her gaze distant. Her friends watched her with concern, knowing that these moments often preceded one of her nightmares. But this time was different.  Her eyes glazed over, and she seemed to be seeing something that others couldn't.

In her mind, the young witch saw a vivid memory, not her own but someone else's. She was standing on a battlefield, surrounded by chaos and carnage. She fought fiercely, wielding a dragon bone bow and a short sword with expert skill. She saw a young woman's reflection from the back of a shiny shield, the owner of whom she slaughtered with her short sword. The reflection looked exactly like her, but taller and with sharper features, stark silver hair cascading down her back, clad in a soldier's uniform. It was a brutal scene, and yet there was a deadly precision in her every move.

Her friends shook her worriedly, their voices distant as they called her name. When Nova finally snapped out of her trance, she brushed off their concern with a forced smile, insisting that she was fine. But she kept the vision to herself, unwilling to share the disturbing truth with her companions. She asked for their permission politely, to get some air. 

The raven-haired man raised his brows in curiosity. Their relationship remained sour, their interactions tinged with tension and distrust. However, it was clear to him that whatever she was experiencing was deeply troubling, so he decided to linger behind her.

Loki approached the woman at her pace, his expression unreadable. "You've been quiet," he remarked, his tone casual. " The annoying buzz following wherever you go has gone, unusually. Is everything alright?"

Nova glanced up at him, her eyes tired but guarded. "Just tired," she replied, her voice lacking its usual fire. "Long day."

The prince observed her closely, his curiosity piqued by her sudden change in demeanor. Despite his annoyance, he couldn't help but be intrigued by the mysterious woman before him. He was aware of her growing silence and detachment during their journey just like everyone else, a stark contrast to her previous cheerful and chatty nature. While he found her current state less irritating, he also found it less interesting. He missed the way she used to agitate him, providing him with a source of entertainment during their travels.

"Are they the same as the visions you saw on Midgard?" he asked, his voice soft but probing. "Did you see anything new?"

The witch's jaw tightened, her eyes flickering with unease as she met Loki's gaze. "No, it's different," she replied curtly, her tone clipped. "It's nothing. Just a bad dream."

The man raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her reluctance to share. "Different how?" he pressed, his curiosity getting the better of him.

The woman shook her head, her patience wearing thin. "I don’t want to talk about it. This is my problem, not yours," she retorted, turning away from him. her tone firm.

Loki was intrigued further by her response. "You couldn’t be more wrong, witch.  I'm tired of waking up every night because of your jolts," he snapped, his patience wearing thin too. "If you won’t accept my help then you need to get a grip on whatever is haunting you on your own."

Their voices echoed through the trench of the rocky cliff they found themselves, growing louder with each heated exchange. 

Nova bristled at his words, her eyes flashing with anger. "I'm trying, okay? It's not like I enjoy these nightmares," she retorted, her voice tinged with frustration. “ And since when are you so interested in helping me?”

Before their argument could escalate further, a sudden chirping noise caught their attention. They turned to see a small creature looking like an old grandpa, no bigger than a squirrel, with a bright red conical hat and pointy shoes. It was a gnome, a mischievous creature known for its tricks and short temper.

Her eyes lit up with curiosity as she cooed at the gnome, trying to communicate with it. "Hey there, little guy. What are you doing out here all alone?" The creature chirped and started to talk to the woman incoherently.

The prince, on the other hand, scoffed at her attempts, mocking the creature's intelligence and belittling the woman in the process. "Honestly, I don't know why you bother. These creatures have the size of a peanut for a brain, they hardly possess any wit to understand your stupid gawking," he remarked, his tone dripping with disdain.

The gnome, offended by his insults, began to chirp angrily, gesturing wildly with its hands. After showing one of its fists inside its open arm while troublesomely grinning his face, suddenly, Loki felt a swarm of tiny hands climbing up his legs, sharp teeth biting at his skin. He roared in frustration, trying to shake off the gnomes, but they were relentless in their attack.

Even the gnome Nova had been cooing at joined in the assault, showing its razor-sharp teeth and with a cute battlecry,  jumping at the man’s face. He called out for the woman’s help, his pride momentarily forgotten in the face of the relentless assault. " Get them off from me. Do something!"

Once she stopped her uncontrollable laugh at the arrogant god’s predicament, the witch focused on her magic and unleashed a burst of energy that sent the gnomes scurrying away, their chirps fading into the night. The said man, slightly bruised and humiliated, glared at the woman, his pride wounded. 

"Thank you," Loki admitted begrudgingly, rubbing his sore legs. "I suppose the seidr of yours has its uses after all."

There was a pause, an unspoken tension as they started to walk back to the campsite. The usual arrogance of the god seemed to falter as he struggled with his next words. He glanced away, his jaw tightening before he finally spoke again.

"Look," The prince began, his tone less sharp, "I know we've had our... differences. And I won't pretend that I'm not skeptical of you or your intentions." He hesitated, his eyes flickering back to hers. "But our survival depends on working together. So, for now, let's call a truce."

The witch raised an eyebrow, her expression wary. "A truce? You think you can just say sorry and we can move on?"

Loki's lips curled into a bitter smile. "I'm not asking for forgiveness, nor am I offering it. I'm merely suggesting a temporary alliance. We must trust each other, at least enough to get out of this place alive."

The woman considered his words, her eyes searching his for any sign of deceit. She had seen enough of his tricks to know that trusting him blindly would be foolish. But she also knew their situation was dire, and they had little choice but to rely on each other.

"Fine," she said slowly, her tone measured. "But don't think for a second that I trust you completely. You may be like an onion with too many layers, Loki, but I'm not sure if there's anything worthwhile beneath them."

His smile turned wry. "Fair enough. And don't think I see you as anything more than a means to an end. But for now, we need each other."

Nova sighed, nodding in reluctant agreement. She stepped closer, her hands glowing with a soft blue light as she reached up to heal the scratch on his cheek. "Hold still," she said, her voice gentle but firm.

Loki stood motionless, his tall, lean frame rigid with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. His sharp features softened in the fading light, the shadows accentuating his high cheekbones and piercing green eyes. His raven-black hair, slightly tousled from the recent skirmish, framed his face in an almost ethereal manner. 

Her touch was surprisingly soothing, the warmth of her magic contrasting starkly with the cool evening air. As the blue hue from her hands enveloped his pale skin, he felt an unexpected sense of calm wash over him.

The woman’s appearance held an otherworldly beauty. The soft glow of her magic illuminated her soft features like a halo, casting delicate shadows that highlighted her soft  cheekbones and the gentle curve of her plump lips. Her long auburn locks, slightly damp from the humidity of the forest, cascaded over her shoulders. 

He never noticed she was nearly a foot shorter than him until now, her gray almond-shaped eyes were filled with both caution and determination as she worked. The fading scent of rosemary and Lilium lingered around her, a soothing contrast to the harshness of their surroundings.

"You're surprisingly skilled," he remarked, the words seemed to carry more weight than he intended, as if he were genuinely impressed. His gaze lingered on her longer than usual.

Her eyes met his, and for a moment, there was a flicker of curiosity and trouble between them. "I know, " she replied, her voice steady. The prince gave an amused huff at the witch’s haughtiness.

Loki's lips curled into a small, amused smile. "Have you ever considered being an actual healer of the Realms?" Loki quirked an eyebrow, his voice taking on a more playful tone. "Eir would be impressed. I have good connections if you wish to change profession, you know." 

Nova's expression softened, let out a soft laugh, the sound light and musical against the backdrop of their dire surroundings. "I told you, it's for your good more than mine," she replied, her voice steady but with a hint of warmth.

The prince nodded a hint of amusement in his gaze. "I see that now. Perhaps there's more to you than meets the eye, Moonchild." 

Nova's expression turned sour momentarily at the mention of her heritage. She decided to say nothing instead. She continued to heal his cheek and other bruises hidden beneath layers of clothes, the blue light dancing around them.

"There," she said, stepping back, the serenity of the moment was ended. She finished healing the scratch on his cheek, the wound closed seamlessly under her touch. "Good as new."

Loki touched his cheek, the skin smooth and unblemished. " Maybe we might make it out of here in one piece after all."

The prince meagerly noticed the kind smile she offered to him didn't reach her eyes like before,  "Let's hope so, your Highness." 

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May 19, Royal Palace of Valaskjalf, Asgard

The pungent smell of ash and burnt skin was the first thing that met them as soon as they set their foot down the dome of Bifrost.

 Heimdall implied there's been more going on than they realized, the all-seeing guardian wished them luck after informing the Golden City was in chaos. 

The distant memories of his childhood rang through, Prem's eyes widened as he observed the Capital was in turmoil. Distant screams and whimpers echoed through the streets, and a dark cloud of smoke billowed far down the hills of the mountains. Einherjar soldiers marched down the streets, their voices booming as they announced for everyone to stay in their homes.

The chaos around them mirrored the turmoil in Thor's heart. Now, the city felt both familiar and alien, a place of ancient beauty marred by violence and fear.

As they hurried towards the Palace of Valaskjalf, the urgency of their mission was palpable. They needed answers about their missing friends, and they needed them now.

Inside the grand hall, the atmosphere was even more chaotic. Allfather stood at the center, engaged in a heated argument with the High Council members and the Head Einherjar. The room was a cacophony of voices, everyone talking at the same time, creating a discordant symphony of panic and authority.

"Silence!" Odin's voice thundered over the din, but the chaos barely subsided. His face was a mask of frustration and anger, his one eye blazing with fury.

"Father, we need to speak!" Thor called out, pushing his way through the throng of arguing officials.

Allfather turned towards the booming voice, and when his one eye met with his son his expression darkened further. "Not now, Thor," he snapped. "We are dealing with a crisis of unprecedented scale."

Thor's frustration boiled over. "Our friends are missing, and you refuse to help? This is not the time to ignore us!"

The old man's gaze hardened. "The city is under attack, and you bring me more trouble? I have no time for that blemish boy's chaos or your distractions. Do what you will, but do not expect my help."

Thor's eyes flashed with anger. His jaw tightened, and he turned away in frustration, his fists clenched. "Fine. We'll find our answers."

As they stormed out of the hall, Lady Sif caught up with them, her face tense with worry. "Thor, wait."

The blonde prince turned to her, his expression a mix of anger and desperation. "Sif, good to see you, we need your help. Do you know anything about what’s happening?"

Sif shook her head, her eyes filled with regret. "I can't help you this time, Thor. The city is under attack, and the situation is dire."

Prem's worry deepened. "What exactly is happening, Lady Sif?"

She glanced around, ensuring they were not overheard before speaking curtly. "Heimdall informed us about your friends, right then there's been an explosion occurred at the lower city market and the east wing of the palace, simultaneously."

"That’s where the infirmary... Oh no... Is my mother alright? Where is she?" Thor asked worriedly, his heart was in his mouth. He attempted to run towards the infirmary but Sif stopped him. "She is fine, don't worry. Allmother was in the gardens when the assault happened. Your father sent her with the guards to her chambers."

 "Oh, thank Norns." The prince let out a relaxed sigh, "How serious is the threat? Is anyone hurt? "

"There are plenty of casualties, and so far the responsible has been arrested but this thing goes deep, Thor. Eight council members are being interrogated right now."

" Could it be a plot against the Throne, wh-who did this Sif? " the crown prince asked seriously.

The lady in armor answered distressingly, "We're trying to figure it out. There are dark powers at work, and we are still uncovering the extent of the threat." She gave out a tired sigh, "Einharjar is tasked with investigating and securing the city. I'm in charge of the investigation. I suggest you speak with the All-Mother. She may have insights that could help you."

Thor nodded, his frustration simmering but his determination unwavering. " We will speak with my mother. Thank you, Sif."

Thor and Prem stormed out of the grand hall, their frustrations and worries mounting. Lady Sif’s words echoed in their minds as they made their way to Frigga’s chambers. 

As they approached the All-Mother’s chambers, the guards stepped aside, allowing them entry. Inside, they found Frigga, the woman who was taking turns, playing with her hands and fidgeting. Her eyes filled with concern, as she was occasionally looking out from the wide windows of her chambers.

When she noticed the door of the room opened, she rushed to meet the comers, when her eyes met the man came in, a bright smile breaking through the worry on her gentle face. "Thor!"

"Mother!" The prince exclaimed, rushing forward and wrapping her in a tight embrace. "Are you alright? I was so worried when I heard about the attack. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you. "

The queen returned the hug, her touch gentle yet reassuring. "I'm fine, my son. Your father and the guards ensured my safety, even if that took imprisoning me and tying my hands to help. "

Thor pulled back slightly, still holding her shoulders, his eyes searching her face. "This city is in chaos, and our friends are missing. I don't know what happened and how they vanished, when we arrived to save them it was too late."

Prem couldn't hold back any longer. His voice erupted with fury. " Look, we all know that scheming bastard has caused all of this! So stop defending him, okay?" 

His bushy tail, now sleek as a cudgel, tossed around, the hair on his back was horrent, his slant pupils were black beads, and the jade of his eyes was almost unseen.  " I should never let her in involved any of this," his cursing became incoherent as he walked as far away from the mother and son.

The blond man's initial instinct was to defend his brother, but the weight of his own doubts made him falter. "You think I don't know that? Do you think I haven't questioned myself and my trust in him? This isn't the time to blame each other!"

Frigga stepped forward, her voice soothing yet strained with worry. "Enough, both of you. Anger and blame will not help us find them or protect the city. We need to work together."

The prince took a deep breath, his anger slowly giving way to resolve. "Mother, what can we do? How can we find them?"

The queen's gaze softened, but her eyes betrayed her inner turmoil. She had exhausted every avenue in her search for his son, contacting old allies and scouring ancient tomes for any clue of his whereabouts. Sending troops to search for him would be futile; Loki could be anywhere. The malfunctioning Bifrost only complicated matters further.

"We need to search the other realms," Frigga explained, her voice tinged with exhaustion and concern. "Even if we could find a clue to their whereabouts, sending someone to search for them would require a great amount of power with the Bifrost's condition."

The white feline observed Allmother closely, the most powerful witch of Nines had nothing she could do. Noting the tired lines on her forehead and the weariness in her eyes, he realized with a pang in his heart; that the queen reminded him of his mother, who would worry herself to exhaustion in times of crisis. He bitterly thought how long had passed since he last seen the dotting woman, Prem couldn't remember. He missed her dearly.

"I am from Faeywood. I once was a high mage of Solevir and served for the House of Miralen with great honor. I might not be in my former glory, Your Majesty, but tell me what I can do to help," Prem offered, his voice softened by the sight of Frigga's weariness.

The queen's eyes lit up with a sudden realization. "I may know a way to access the dark energy we need. You have the bloodline advantage, something I do not possess. With your help, we can summon the energy required to send the Warriors Three to the realms where Loki and your friends might be."

Prem looked at her, understanding dawning. "You believe we can do it? With your guidance?"

Frigga smiled gently. "I do. Your connection to the Elven seidr and my knowledge of the dark arts will allow us to harness what we need. Will you help us, my Lord?"

The feline nodded, determination replacing his earlier anger. "Yes, I will help."

Thor's concern for his mother remained, but he knew he had to stay focused. "We'll do whatever it takes, Mother. Just tell us what we need to do."

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May 29, 2013, Planet Ria

"Over here! I think I found a path," the archer's voice echoed off the rocky walls of the grand mountain.

The group gathered around, their eyes scanning the narrow, almost hidden entrance that Clint had discovered. The opening was partially obscured by overgrown vegetation and rubble, barely noticeable against the mountain's rugged terrain.

"Looks promising," Loki said, wiping sweat from his brow. " This better be it."

Nova nodded, her eyes lingering on the entrance. "Let's hope this leads us to the mines. We've come too far to turn back now."

Angrboda consulted her magical hologram map, the glowing image flickering slightly in the dim light. "According to the map, this should be the entrance. Seems like we’re in the right place."

 The journey had been perilous, fraught with constant danger. Their last week went by facing towering mountain trolls with skin as tough as granite, venomous giant scorpions, and many other nightmarish creatures the lurid planet could offer.

The group took a moment to catch their breath, the weight of their journey evident in their weary expressions. They were already too exhausted.

Clint checked his gear and weapons. "Let's proceed with caution. We don’t know what’s waiting for us inside."

Nova took a deep breath, feeling a shiver run down her spine. "Let's go. We need to find a way out of here."

"Agreed," Angrboda said, conjuring a light sphere that hovered just above her palm, illuminating the path ahead. "I'll go first. Stay close behind me, single file."

They stepped into the narrow passage, the cool air of the mountain enveloping them. 

The group moved forward, stepping carefully over the uneven ground.  They could see that the once-grand archway was now crumbling,  their eyes scanning the ancient elven imprints that adorned the pillars. The symbols glowed softly in the dim light, guiding them deeper into the mountain's depths.

As they ventured deeper, the sense of abandonment grew. The cobwebs stretched across the walls like eerie curtains. The silence was almost oppressive, broken only by the occasional drip of water echoing through the cavern.

The tunnel opened into a vast, cavernous space, the ceiling towering high above them, and the vast expanse of the underground city unfolded before them. Rusted mining equipment lay scattered around, and ancient, crumbling walls bore the marks of long-forgotten activity.

Loki glanced around with suspicion. "I don't like this. Something feels off."

Pillars rose majestically to the ceiling, carved with intricate designs that spoke of a bygone era of prosperity and wealth. Abandoned structures loomed in the shadows, silent witnesses to the passage of time.

"It’s like a ghost town," Nova whispered, her voice tinged with awe and apprehension.

Nova approached a control panel, her curiosity piqued. "Let’s see if we can get this working. Maybe we can find some clues about what happened here."

She wiped away the dust and began to manipulate the levers and buttons. The machinery groaned to life, the lights flickering on and casting long shadows across the walls. The hum of the engines filled the air, a stark contrast to the silence they had grown accustomed to.

Clint nodded in approval. "Now let’s see what we can find."

But before they could proceed, a sudden noise reverberated through the tunnels. The ground beneath them trembled, and a cloud of dust filled the air.

The gigantess suspiciously smelled the damp cave air, with a faint metallic tang. Her eyes widened in realization but before she let out words she sneezed, and with that, their only source of light went off. "Magic! Prepare yourself" 

Magic crackled in the air, ensnaring the group before they could even react. Invisible bonds coiled around their wrists and ankles, rendering them powerless to resist.

With a sharp flash of light, their vision blurred and darkness consumed them.

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