Curled up and defeated, Lumikki pulled her white cloak tightly; the orbs that had been Tenevi’s eyes and anchors, were still clutched in her hands. Mikhail held her close in his arms and Mùchén was pacing furiously, muttering constantly as he tried to make sense of what just happened. They all were, but Lumikki would be the least bewildered out of the trio. Meanwhile, Mimir remained silent as if awaiting Lumikki to spark another conversation. His eyes half shut like he would soon return to his slumber.

It would not just be her grief that Lumikki needed the time to adjust to, but also the wisdom washing over her in waves as her mind now had to expand and shift to account for her renewed understanding. Lumikki was always a brilliant person, a trait that was cultivated to great lengths during her time with Paradise Dawn; but this was not akin to things you learn through studies or even experience. It was like this sense of knowing came from somewhere else yet it allowed her to see things fall into places that she didn’t surmise before. Including a probable solution.

”These realms won’t take him will they?” Lumikki inquired while shakily pulling away from Mikhail and trying to stumble forward. Mimir’s eyes whizzed back to life as they focused on the frost mage before uttering another response. “ ᚾᛟ ᛚᛁᛏᛏᛚᛖ ᚠᚱᛟᛊᛏ ᛃᛟᛏᚢᚾᚾ, ᚦᛖ ᚱᛖᛚᛗᛊ ᚱᛖᛃᛖᚲᛏᛖᛞ ᚺᛁᛗ ᚨᚾᛞ ᚺᛁᛊ ᚲᛁᚾᛞ ᛚᛟᛜ ᚨᚷᛟ. ᚲᛟᚾᛊᛁᛞᛖᚱ ᚦᛖᛗ ᚨᛒᛟᛗᛁᚾᚨᛏᛟᚾᛊ ᚨᛊ ᚦᛟᛊᛖ ᚹᚺᛟ ᚨᚱᛖ ᛞᚱᚨᚢᚷᚱ ᚲᛟᚢᛚᛞ ᛟᚾᛚᛁ ᚨᚲᚺᛁᛖᚢᛖ ᛊᛟ ᛒᛁ ᚢᚾᚾᚨᛏᚢᚱᚨᛚ ᛗᛖᚾᛊ ᚨᚾᛞ ᛒᛁ ᛊᛈᛁᛏᛁᛜ ᚦᛖ ᚷᛟᛞᛊ, ᚺᛖ ᚺᚨᛞ ᛟᛈᛖᚾᛖᛞ ᚦᛖ ᚱᛖᛏᚨᛚᛟᚨᛏᛟᚾ ᚦᚨᛏ ᚲᛟᚾᛞᛖᛗᚾᛖᛞ ᚺᛁᛗ.”(”No little Frost Jötnar, the realms rejected him and his kind long ago. Consider them abominations as those who are Draugr could only achieve so by unnatural means and by spiting the gods, he had opened the retaliation that condemned him.”)

Lumikki nodded along as Mimir gave his answer, it only confirmed her plans and settled her resolve. ”Aye, then we’ll need to resolve the matter about the realms as we go. Mikhail, as I remember, we’re currently at the roots of the World Tree, within Mímisbrunnr. We’ll have to work our way back up until we reach Midgarð, which ye’d know as Earthrealm. When the portal closed behind us, I didn’t note any runes to let us go back, but that could very well be because we’re in Jötunheimr and the Jötnar had no need to return. Speaking of which…Mimir, why do ye keep regarding me as a Jötnar? And was that why I could use the gate when arriving?”

” ᚠᚱᛟᛗ ᛗᛁ ᚢᚾᛞᛖᚱᛊᛏᚨᚾᛞᛁᛜ, ᚦᚨᛏ ᛁᛊ ᚹᚺᚨᛏ ᛁᛟᚢ ᚨᚱᛖ ᚲᚺᛁᛚᛞ. ᛏᚺᛖᚱᛖ ᚨᚱᛖ ᛏᚱᚨᚲᛖᛊ ᛟᚠ ᚦᛖ ᚠᚱᛟᛊᛏ ᛗᛖᛚᛞ ᛞᛖᛖᛈ ᚹᛁᚦᛁᚾ ᛁᛟᚢ, ᚨ ᛒᛁᛏ ᛗᚢᛞᛞᛁ ᚨᚾᛞ ᛗᛁᚲᛊᛖᛞ ᚹᛁᚦ ᛊᛟᛗᛖᚦᛁᛜ ᛖᛚᛊᛖ, ᛒᚢᛏ ᛗᛁ ᛖᛁᛖᛊ ᛞᛟᚾ’ᛏ ᛞᛖᚲᛖᛁᚢᛖ ᛗᛖ. ᛁᛟᚢ ᚲᛟᛗᛖ ᚠᚱᛟᛗ ᚦᛖ ᛃᛟᛏᚾᚨᚱ ᛁᚾᛞᛖᛖᛞ ᚨᚾᛞ ᛁᛟᚢᚱ ᚨᛊᛊᚢᛗᛈᛏᛟᚾ ᛟᚠ ᛒᛖᛁᛜ ᚹᛁᚦᛁᚾ ᛃᛟᛏᚢᚾᚺᛖᛁᛗᚱ ᛈᚱᛟᚢᛖᛊ ᚲᛟᚱᚱᛖᚲᛏ. ᛁ ᚨᛞᚢᛁᛊᛖ ᛁᛟᚢ ᚠᛁᚾᛞ ᛊᛟᛗᛖ ᛃᛟᛏᚾᚨᚱ ᛏᛟ ᚨᛊᛊᛁᛊᛏ ᛁᛟᚢ ᛟᚾ ᛁᛟᚢᚱ ᛈᚱᛟᚷᚱᛖᛊᛊᛟᚾ.”( “From my understanding, that is what you are child. There are traces of the Frost meld deep within you, a bit muddy and mixed with something else, but my eyes don’t deceive me. You come from the Jötnar indeed and your assumption of being within Jötunheimr proves correct. I advise you find some Jötnar to assist you on your progression.”)

Lumikki took a moment to let his words sink in. She was not entirely surprised, it was as her Nan had always told her all those years ago. They were descendants of Aurilandür the primordial frost, the personification of Niflheim; and the Omena were Frost Jötnar taken mortal form. At least from what Lumikki could remember, those tales felt like they were told to her life times ago, but she could always confirm later with her mother.

In truth, Lumikki always worried that her pact as Daemon, and the rebirth into a Demon would sever her of those ancestral ties, as if they marred and stripped her of her identity. So to confirm that this is how she was perceived and by a being such as Mimir was a lot to take in. More so when she understood that all who aided her thus far were probably seeing her in that regard as well. Though it was a lot to process, admittedly, it gave her the strength she needed to go on. The idea of still being connected to her family filled her with an overwhelming desire to understand them more.

”Thank ye Mimir, I truly am leaving here quite enlightened.” Lumikki pulled her powder white hood back up and steadied herself as she rose. Her index finger drawing out a circle to open her void to which she carefully tucked the rainbow gems inside.

”I think I have an idea on where to go next, but before we go, there’s something I need to find.” She’d scan the room for an indication of how to leave. Taking a step back to inspect the room beyond Mimir for the first time. “ᚨᛚᛚ ᛏᚱᛖᛖᛊ ᚺᚨᚢᛖ ᛊᛖᛖᛞᛊ. ᛁᚠ ᚹᛖ ᚨᚱᛖ ᚨᛏ ᚦᛖ ᚱᛟᛟᛏ, ᚹᚺᛖᚱᛖ ᛁᛊ ᛁᛏ ᚦᚨᛏ ᚦᛖᛁ ᚠᚨᛚᛚ?”

”ᛃᚢᛊᛏ ᛒᛖᛊᛁᛞᛖ ᚦᛖ ᚲᚺᛁᛚᛚ ᛚᚨᛊᛊ, ᚦᛖᚱᛖ ᚺᚨᛊ ᚺᚨᚱᛞᛚᛁ ᛒᛖᛖᚾ ᚨ ᚾᛖᛖᛞ ᚠᛟᚱ ᚦᛖ ᛊᛖᛖᛞᛊ ᛏᛟ ᛒᛖ ᚹᛟᚲᛖᚾ.” He would answer, his eyes looking in the direction the trio needed to go. Lumikki shifted her gaze to the proposed exist, scanning the walls and cavern for the first time and sure enough there was a crevice tucked along jagged stone surface. ”It’s time we make our leave lads. Thank ye for everything Mimir.” She held her hand up to her chest, gesturing respectfully and after a slight bow, Lumikki set off. Mikhail mirrored the gesture while Mùchén did his own with a more unique flare before setting off with their sister to the next destination.  And for a moment, they’d do so in silence.

”What was that about? You spoke in his language then.” Mikhail finally inquired, his curiosity got the best of him despite his sister’s time of mourning. He was fascinated from meeting the being of the mythic well, by the prospect of drinking the water, or even being whisked away to different lands, of perhaps it’s better to say realms, was intriguing. There were many lands he’s traveled to in his life, all for their own various reasons; but this was beyond what he knew and usually set out to do. Of course the Daemon was always aware of spiritual connections harbored by the varying nations. How they held a pantheon of their own, and harbored intricate stories and secrets. It was always a wonder to him why such “Divine” beings would take such an interest in territories. Pondering to the extent of which they could have met and clashed. Were there meeting held to decided which claims what lands? Or were they a coincidence of themselves? It was hard to say, and even in his long lived years, it was hardly easy to answer. Being the product of a Demon incurred interesting debates within itself. How such a being could still influence this realm to the extent that he did, was but one thing to consider. So to see his sister to intertwined with a pantheon of this realm despite her nature as a previous Daemon, to Demoness now. He took this as a moment to observe a new perspective on the connections one could harbor for this world even with the state of self.

”I’ve been mulling a plan, dear brother; just don’t wanna sow false hope so I kept it among us. There’s something we need to nab while in the roots, Mimir mentioned it’d be by the cold which is where we’d be headed anyway. Jötunheimr is its share of cold, least that’s what the stories say. I have no way to tell for sure beyond knowing now that frost Jötnar indeed make it their home.” Every step from the little raven was sure and slight. Her white cloak like a reflective and bright little beacon within the dark of the cave, flashing with the hues of the glowing crystals strategically lodged within the walls. The prior hinted chill was already beginning to seep with the tunnel, bringing out the breath of her bothers as they neared the end. Their path quite simple until it finally fed into another cavern.


The walls here were curved as well as jagged. If they were carved, one could not say; but they gave way to a light toward the end. Snow encased the ground and any surface that it could stick on, while icicles fed into the inverted ice spike protruding the ground. Stalagmites layering the pointed ice like rows of razor sharp teeth; and the ground was slicked in ice with thin layers of snow and jutting stone.

Lumikki walked along the floor unbothered, frost no longer a hinderance for her; but her brothers would not find it that way. Each step was a threat for them to tumble down. With an amused chuckle, Lumikki coated the ground with fresh black frost. Making sure to add enough texture for their shoes to grip and find proper friction. Mikhail and Mùchén gratefully accepted it with sighs of relief. The ice was Lumikki’s alone, the rest of her Daemon family shared darkness, if that at all.

”Heh, good call sis. Thought you were just watch up suffer. Or I don’t know, eat the snow?” Mùchén teased as the traction put him in enough ease to do so. His focus no longer on how to step along the ground. Mikhail had no input himself but one could make out relief on his face. He quietly walked along the pair on the right while Mùchén occupied the left. With the light from outside shining up ahead, it was just another wave of ease now that they would soon leave the caves altogether.

Mùchén was the first to bask in the light, dashing out first to embrace it. Mikhail enjoyed the little comfort it brought but Lumikki would be the last. Almost tugging on the dark at the mouth of the cave to the point that it trailed behind her. Caressing her skin before finally peeling away.

”Good to finally get out of the cave, huh? But what now sis?” Mùchén asked with a melodic tone of his voice, he bent toward Lumikki with a smile on his face. Trying to maintain a lighter mood as always push her thoughts to what was ahead. Mikhail, gently resting his hand atop would do the same, looking at her endearingly before looking ahead. ”Aaaah yes little one, wheeeere are we going next?” When the trio stepped out, it was as if they found themselves at the base of the mountain. Though there were large massive roots coiled around much of the rock face and stone, some digging deep into the ground.

There was nothing of note to make out yet from where they were, they were left to explore what felt to be the middle of nowhere. So Lumikki surmised that their best bet for their goal was to find where the roots converged. ”One second,” she’d answer after her initial look around. Bringing out her wings so that she could fly high into the air and check for herself. All three of them could easily go airborne if needed, but she was the one with the sharpest eyes among them. So she would be the one to take on the task of scouting around. She’d go as high up as she could, scanning their environment for the second time and becoming more privy to what was all around them. The cold crisp air greeting her as she rose but so did the colorful wonder that was down below.

Jötunheimr was filled with land touched by chill and snow, of course this was only one of many as from what her Nan had told her, there were many others with their own nature motif. Water bordered all of them, softly isolating them from the others, but the length of the ocean would exceed everything else as if Jötunheimr was at the edge of the world. That was the curious nature of this place, it was a world of its own, isolated from all the other realms. Though there were many gates to allow you entry from many other places, they were limiting on who could pass. The Jötnar a diverse people that were very attuned to their elements, though it would be of the frost that get a bulk of the mention. They were often content staying among themselves, though for a time there was a point they had used to freely travel the realms; but due to certain conflicts that often prevailed, they retreated to their home realm where they maintained barriers to avoid being disturbed. It was a fascinating magic they possessed, among many other talents. But this would see to their needs just fine, with the only gates remaining often needing the presence of a Jötnar To travel through.

And with the constant hints and mentions, this was no longer a revelation, but a confirmation. Yet it stuck within the Demoness quite deeply. Her existence as a Demon now feeling far more complicated than she presumed before, as the ties back to her homeland were not severed.

In the distance, toward the center, Lumikki could spot another mountain, one far more grand than the one they’ve left. A structure sat at the top, but it was at a distance that she could not make out clearly. Still, it gave her an idea of a direction for them to begin, and so she’d glide back to meet with her brothers, only to see there was company with them.

”ᛁᛏ’ᛊ ᛒᛖᛖᚾ ᚠᚨᚱ ᛏᛟᛟ ᛚᛟᛜ ᛊᛁᚾᚲᛖ ᚹᛖ’ᚢᛖ ᛊᛖᛖᚾ ᚨᚾᛁᛟᚾᛖ ᛈᚨᛊᛊ ᚦᚱᛟᚢᚷᚺ ᚦᛖ ᚷᚨᛏᛖ, ᛒᚢᛏ ᚦᛖᛁ ᚠᛖᛖᛚ ᛚᛁᚲᛖ ᛊᛟᛗᛖᚦᛁᛜ ᚹᛖ’ᚢᛖ ᚾᛖᚢᛖᚱ ᛖᚾᚲᛟᚢᚾᛏᛖᚱᛖᛞ.”(“It’s been far too long since we’ve seen anyone pass through the gate, but they feel like something we’ve never encountered.”)  The low hum of words came from one of women there who seemed to look as if made of ice. Her pale blue face, framed by frost locks of hair that twisted into two horn like structures. Her outfit was an ombré of white to hues of blue, speckled and adorned with flecks of gold and in her hand was a fridge sword of frost and ice.

The Woman of the Sword:

”ᛏᚺᚨᛏ’ᛊ ᛒᛖᚲᚨᚢᛊᛖ ᛁᛟᚢ ᚺᚨᚢᛖᚾ’ᛏ. ᚹᛖ ᛞᛁᛞᚾ’ᛏ ᚲᛟᛗᛖ ᛏᛟ ᚲᚨᚢᛊᛖ ᛏᚱᛟᚢᛒᛚᛖ, ᚹᛖ ᛊᛖᛖᚲ ᛈᚨᛊᛊᚨᚷᛖ ᚦᚱᛟᚢᚷᚺ ᚦᛖ ᚷᚨᛏᛖᛊ ᛊᛟ ᚦᚨᛏ ᚹᛖ ᛗᚨᛁ ᚱᛖᛏᚢᚱᚾ ᛏᛟ ᛗᛁᛞᚷᚨᚱᛞ. ᚨᚾᛞ ᛁᚠ ᛁᛟᚢ ᚹᛟᚢᛚᛞ, ᛁ ᚾᛖᛖᛞ ᛊᛟᛗᛖ ᚲᛟᚢᚾᛊᛖᛚ.”(”That’s because you haven’t. We didn’t come to cause trouble, we seek passage through the gates so that we may return to Midgard. And if you would, I need some counsel.”) Lumikki hovered downward with silent wings like an owl, her presence was indeed a surprise. It took the three woman by surprise as they all spun to meet her and as they did, Lumikki lowered her pale white hood. The Demoness let her demonic features show, the hair like snow sliding out of the folds of her cloak, her skin as dark as the night save her hands which were a hue of solid ice. The frost on Lumikki was reminiscent to the frost on them and though they were still on guard, this allowed them to lower their weapons and heed her words.

”ᚱᚨᚱᛖ….ᚨ ᚠᚱᛟᛊᛏ ᛃᛟᛏᚾᚨᚱ ᚠᚱᛟᛗ ᛗᛁᛞᚷᚨᚱᛞ…ᛁ ᚦᛟᚢᚷᚺᛏ ᛗᛟᛊᛏ ᛟᚠ ᚢᛊ ᛚᛖᚠᛏ ᚨᛚᛚ ᚦᛟᛊᛖ ᛁᛖᚱᛊ ᚨᚷᛟ ᚨᚠᛏᛖᚱ ᚦᛖ ᚠᚨᛚᛚ ᛟᚠ ᚺᚨᚱᚱᛟᚷᚨᚦ. ᚨᚱᛖ ᛁᛟᚢ ᚨ ᚲᚺᛁᛚᛞ ᛟᚠ ᚦᚨᛏ ᚱᛖᛚᛗ ᛚᚨᛊᛊ?”(”Rare….a Frost Jötnar from Midgard…I thought most of us left all those years ago after the fall of Harrogath. Are you a child of that realm lass?”) The Jötnar woman tucked her sword back to her side and stepped forward to meet Lumikki in conversation, while the others with her stood as they were. Eyes still on the Daemon brothers who choose to keep silent while their sister handled the confrontation, after all they barely knew the tongue to negotiate.

”ᚨᛁᛖ, ᛁ ᚨᛗ. ᛚᛖᛊᛏ ᚦᛖ ᛊᛏᛟᚱᛁᛖᛊ ᛟᚠ ᛗᛁ ᚾᚨᚾ ᚹᛟᚢᛚᛞ ᛚᛖᛞ ᛗᛖ ᛏᛟ ᛒᛖᛚᛁᛖᚢᛖ ᛊᛟ. ᛁ ᚲᛟᛗᛖ ᚠᚱᛟᛗ ᚦᛖ ᛟᛗᛖᚾᚨ ᚲᛚᚨᚾ, ᛒᚢᛏ ᛁ ᛞᛟᚾ’ᛏ ᚲᚾᛟᚹ ᚺᛟᚹ ᚹᛖᛚᛚ ᚦᚨᛏ ᚺᛟᛚᛞᛊ ᛏᛟ ᛃᛟᛏᚾᚨᚱ ᛟᚠ ᛟᛚᛞ. ᛁ ᚹᚨᛊ ᛏᛟᛚᛞ ᚹᛖ ᚹᛖᚱᛖ ᚦᛖ ᛞᛖᛊᚲᛖᚾᛞᚨᚾᛏᛊ ᛟᚠ ᛃᛟᛏᚾᚨᚱ ᚨᚾᛞ ᚲᚺᛁᛚᛞᚱᛖᚾ ᛟᚠ ᚨᚢᚱᛁᛚᚨᚾᛞᚢᚱ. ᛁᛏ’ᛊ ᛖᚢᛁᛞᛖᚾᛏ ᛁᚾ ᛟᚢᚱ ᛗᚨᚷᛁᚲ.”(” Aye, I am. Least the stories of my Nan would lead me to believe so. I come from the Omena clan, but I don’t know how well that holds to Jötnar of old. I was told we were the descendants of Jötnar and children of Aurilandür. It’s evident in our magic.”) As Lumikki spoke, and in order to prove her point, she manipulated the frost around her, mixing it with some magic of her own. The black was something to stand out, but being from Midgard opened the possibility of even her magic not being of the norm.

”ᚲᚢᛁᛏᛖ ᚦᛖ ᛟᛞᛞᛁᛏᛁ ᛁᛟᚢ ᚨᚱᛖ ᛁᚾᛞᛖᛖᛞ ᚲᚺᛁᛚᛞ, ᛒᚢᛏ ᛁ ᚲᛟᚢᛚᛞ ᛊᛖᚾᛊᛖ ᚦᛖ ᛃᛟᛏᚾᚨᚱ ᛞᛖᛖᛈ ᚹᛁᚦᛁᚾ ᛁᛟᚢ ᛞᛖᛊᛈᛁᛏᛖ ᚨᛚᛚ ᚦᛖ ᛞᚨᚱᚲᚾᛖᛊᛊ ᚦᚨᛏ ᛗᚢᛞᛞᛚᛖᛊ ᛁᛏ. ᛏᚺᛁᛊ…ᛟᛗᛖᚾᚨ ᚲᛚᚨᚾ…ᛁ ᚦᛁᚾᚲ ᛁ ᚱᛖᛗᛖᛗᛒᛖᚱ ᚺᛖᚱᛁᛜ ᚨᛒᛟᚢᛏ ᛁᛏ ᚠᚱᛟᛗ ᛟᚾᛖ ᛟᚠ ᛗᛁ ᛊᛁᛊᛏᛖᚱᛊ. ᛁ ᚹᚨᛊ ᚱᛁᚷᚺᛏ ᛏᛟ ᚱᛖᛗᛖᛗᛒᛖᚱ ᚦᚨᛏ ᛗᛟᛊᛏ ᛟᚠ ᚢᛊ ᛁᚾᛞᛖᛖᛞ ᛚᛖᚠᛏ ᛒᛁ ᚦᛖᚾ, ᛒᚢᛏ ᛊᛟᛗᛖ ᛟᚠ ᚦᛖ ᚲᚺᛁᛚᛞᚱᛖᚾ ᛗᚨᛞᛖ ᚹᛁᚦ ᚦᛖ ᛗᛟᚱᛏᚨᛚᛊ ᚹᛖᚱᛖ ᛚᛖᚠᛏ ᛒᛖᚺᛁᚾᛞ. ᛁᛟᚢᚱ ᚱᚨᚢᛖᚾ ᚠᛖᛏᚢᚱᛖᛊ ᚱᛖᛗᛁᚾᛞ ᛗᛖ ᛟᚠ ᛊᚢᚲᚺ ᚨ ᚠᚨᛗᛁᛚᛁ ᛗᚨᛞᛖ ᚨᚾᛞ ᛒᚱᛟᚲᛖᚾ ᛞᚢᚱᛁᛜ ᚦᚨᛏ ᚹᚨᚱ. ᛈᛚᛖᛊᛁᛜ ᛏᛟ ᚲᚾᛟᚹ ᚦᚨᛏ ᛁᛟᚢᚱ ᚲᛁᚾ ᛗᚨᛞᛖ ᛁᛏ ᚦᚱᛟᚢᚷᚺ ᛃᚢᛊᛏ ᚠᛁᚾᛖ. ᚲᛟᛗᛖ, ᛚᛖᛏ ᛗᛖ ᛏᚨᚲᛖ ᛁᛟᚢ ᛏᛟ ᛁᛟᚢᚱ ᛖᛚᛞᛖᚱ ᛗᛟᚦᛖᚱ, ᛁ’ᛗ ᚲᚢᚱᛟᚢᛊ ᚨᛒᛟᚢᛏ ᚺᛟᚹ ᛊᚺᛖ’ᛞ ᚱᛖᚲᛖᛁᚢᛖ ᛁᛟᚢ.”(”Quite the oddity you are indeed child, but I could sense the Jötnar deep within you despite all the darkness that muddles it. This…Omena clan…I think I remember hearing about it from one of my sisters. I was right to remember that most of us indeed left by then, but some of the children made with the mortals were left behind. Your raven features remind me of such a family made and broken during that war. Pleasing to know that your kin made it through just fine. Come, let me take you to your elder mother, I’m curious about how she’d receive you.”)

The Jötnar woman began to lead the way, the other two following by her side. Lumikki would join them, gesturing to her brothers to come too. Which they did with little question, though they did not understand much of what just passed, they knew their sister means to see them out of it.

And so the group made their way to the mountain that Lumikki noted before in her prior flight to scout the lands. All the while discussing things among the Jötnar who lead them. Including learning more about the ways of life in Jötunheimr and the different history among them. ”ᚨᚱᛖ ᛁᛟᚢ ᛊᚢᚱᛖ ᚦᚨᛏ ᛁᛏ’ᛊ ᛟᚲ ᛁᚠ ᛁ ᛏᚨᚲᛖ ᛟᚾᛖ ᛟᚠ ᚦᛖ ᛊᛖᛖᛞᛊ ᚨᚢᛞᚾᛁᚱ?”(“Are you sure that it’s ok if I take one of the seeds Audnir?”) Lumikki asked the Jötnar who first spoke out to her. She was still trying to sort out some matters in her plan, acquiring a seed from Yggdrasill being just one aspect to plan ahead.

” ᛁᛏ ᛊᚺᛟᚢᛚᛞ ᛒᛖ ᚠᛁᚾᛖ, ᛊᛟ ᛚᛟᛜ ᚨᛊ ᛁᛟᚢ ᛏᚨᚲᛖ ᚠᚱᛟᛗ ᛊᛟᛗᛖ ᛟᚠ ᚦᛖ ᛟᚾᛖᛊ ᚦᚨᛏ ᚨᚱᛖ ᛟᛚᛞᛖᚱ ᚦᚨᚾ ᛁ ᚨᚾᛞ ᛁ’ᚢᛖ ᛊᛖᛖᚾ ᛗᛁ ᛊᚺᚨᚱᛖ ᛟᚠ ᚲᛖᚾᛏᚢᚱᛁᛖᛊ. ᚹᚺᚨᛏ ᛖᚢᛖᚱ ᛈᛟᛏᛖᚾᚲᛁ ᚦᛖᛁ’ᚢᛖ ᚺᚨᛞ ᛊᚺᛟᚢᛚᛞ ᛒᛖ ᚹᚨᛊᚺᛖᛞ ᚨᚹᚨᛁ, ᛁᚠ ᛁᛟᚢ ᛞᛟᚾ’ᛏ ᛗᛁᚾᛞ ᚦᚨᛏ ᚦᛖᚾ ᛁ ᛞᛟᚾ’ᛏ ᛊᛖᛖ ᚦᛖ ᛈᚱᛟᛒᛚᛖᛗ ᛁᚾ ᚺᚨᚾᛞᛁᛜ ᚦᛖᛗ ᛏᛟ ᛁᛟᚢ. ᛒᚢᛏ…ᚨᚱᛖ ᛁᛟᚢ ᛊᚢᚱᛖ ᚦᛖᛁ ᚲᚨᚾ ᚺᛖᛚᛈ ᛁᛟᚢ ᚱᛁᛞ ᚦᛖ ᛗᛁᛞᚷᚨᚱᚦ ᛟᚠ ᛊᛏᛁᚷᚱ?”(“ It should be fine, so long as you take from some of the ones that are older than I and I’ve seen my share of centuries. What ever potency they’ve had should be washed away, if you don’t mind that then I don’t see the problem in handing them to you. But…are you sure they can help you rid the Midgarð of Stigr?”) Audnir who seemed quite hostile before, had relaxed a lot during the walk. Now she was simply curious of the girl and her story for being here.

” ᚨᛁᛖ, ᛁ ᚺᛟᛈᛖ ᛏᛟ ᛊᛖᚾᛞ ᚺᛁᛗ ᛊᛟᛗᛖᚹᚺᛖᚱᛖ ᛟᚢᛏᛊᛁᛞᛖ ᛟᚠ ᚦᛖ ᚾᛁᚾᛖ ᚱᛖᛚᛗᛊ. ᛏᛟ ᚨ ᛈᛚᚨᚲᛖ ᚦᚨᛏ ᚹᛟᚢᛚᛞ ᛏᚨᚲᛖ ᚺᛁᛗ. ᚨᛊ ᛁᛏ ᛁᛊ, ᚺᛖ ᛁᛊ ᚨ ᛞᚨᛜᛖᚱ ᛏᛟ ᛁᚲᛖᛒᛖᚱᚷ ᚨᚾᛞ ᛁ ᚹᛁᛚᛚ ᚾᛟᛏ ᛏᛟᛚᛖᚱᚨᛏᛖ ᛁᛏ. ᛒᚢᛏ ᛊᛁᚾᚲᛖ ᛁ ᚺᚨᚢᛖ ᛁᛟᚢ, ᚲᛟᚢᛚᛞ ᛁᛟᚢ ᛏᛖᛚᛚ ᛗᛖ ᛁᛟᚢᚱ ᛊᛏᛟᚱᛁ? ᚹᚺᛁ ᛞᛁᛞ ᚦᛖ ᛊᛏᛁᚷᚱ ᛒᚱᛁᛜ ᚱᚢᛁᚾ ᛏᛟ ᚺᛁᛊ ᛈᛖᛟᛈᛚᛖ?”(“ Aye, I hope to send him somewhere outside of the Nine realms. To a place that would take him. As it is, he is a danger to Iceberg and I will not tolerate it. But since I have you, could you tell me your story? Why did the Stigr bring ruin to his people?”)

Býleistr, a towering blue skinned Jötnar who had remained silent for most of the time, stepped in to answer. Her tall frame was bigger than that of the others and the fur she wore upon her back only exaggerated it. Her loose white hair falling further out of place while the annoyance was quite apparent from her expression as she spat out her answer. ”ᛞᛟᛖᛊ ᛟᚾᛖ ᚱᛖᛚᛚᛁ ᚺᚨᚢᛖ ᛏᛟ ᛚᛟᛟᚲ ᚺᚨᚱᛞ ᛏᛟ ᚢᚾᛞᛖᚱᛊᛏᚨᚾᛞ ᚦᛖ ᚺᚢᛗᚨᚾᛊ? ᚨᛚᛚ ᚦᛖᛁ ᚹᚨᚾᛏ ᚹᚨᛊ ᛗᛟᚱᛖ. ᛊᛏᛁᚷᚱ ᚲᛚᚨᛁᛗᛖᛞ ᚹᚺᚨᛏ ᚺᛖ ᚹᚨᛊ ᛞᛟᛁᛜ ᚹᚨᛊ ᚠᛟᚱ ᚺᛁᛊ ᛈᛖᛟᛈᛚᛖ ᛒᚢᛏ ᛁᛏ ᚹᚨᛊ ᚲᛚᛖᚱ ᚦᚨᛏ ᛁᛏ ᚹᚨᛊ ᚨᚱᚱᛟᚷᚨᚾᚲᛖ. ᚠᛁᚱᛊᛏ ᚺᛖ ᚹᚨᚾᛏᛖᛞ ᛏᛟ ᚲᚱᛟᛊᛊ ᚦᛖ ᚷᛟᛞᛊ, ᛊᚨᛁᛁᛜ ᚦᛖᛁ ᛗᚨᚲᛖ ᚺᛁᛊ ᛈᛖᛟᛈᛚᛖ ᚹᛖᚲ, ᚦᛖᚾ ᚺᛖ ᚹᚨᚾᛏᛖᛞ ᛗᛟᚱᛖ ᛚᚨᚾᛞ, ᛊᛟ ᚺᛖ ᛏᛟᛟᚲ ᚠᚱᛟᛗ ᚢᛊ ᚹᛁᚦᛁᚾ ᚦᛖ ᚢᛞᚷᚨᚱᛞ. ᛏᚺᛖ ᛟᚾᛚᛁ ᚹᛟᚱᛞᛊ ᚦᚨᛏ ᛚᛖᚠᛏ ᚺᛁᛊ ᛗᛟᚢᚦ ᚹᛖᚱᛖ ᚦᛟᛊᛖ ᛏᛟ ᛊᛏᚨᚱᛏ ᚨ ᚹᚨᚱ. ᛁ ᛊᚨᛁ, ᛁ’ᛗ ᚷᛚᚨᛞ ᚾᛟᛏ ᛖᚢᛖᚾ ᚺᛖᛚ ᚹᛟᚢᛚᛞ ᚱᛖᚲᛖᛁᚢᛖ ᚦᛖᛗ. ᛏᚺᛖᛁ ᛞᛁᛞᚾ’ᛏ ᛞᛖᛊᛖᚱᚢᛖ ᚨ ᛈᛖᚲᛖ ᛁᚾ ᛞᛖᚦ ᚲᛟᚾᛊᛁᛞᛖᚱᛁᛜ ᚨᛚᛚ ᚦᛖ ᛈᚨᛁᚾ ᚦᛖᛁ ᚲᚨᚢᛊᛖ ᛁᚾ ᛚᛁᚠᛖ!”(“ Does one really have to look hard to understand the humans? All they want was more. Stigr claimed what he was doing was for his people but it was clear that it was arrogance. First he wanted to cross the Gods, saying they make his people weak, then he wanted more land, so he took from us within the Udgard. The only words that left his mouth were those to start a war. I say, I’m glad not even Hel would receive them. They didn’t deserve a peace in death considering all the pain they cause in life!”)

Býleistr:

”ᚲᚨᛚᛗ ᛞᛟᚹᚾ ᛊᛁᛊᛏᛖᚱ! ᛒᚢᛏ ᛁ ᛞᛟ ᚨᚷᚱᛖᛖ. ᛁ ᚨᚷᚱᛖᛖ ᚹᛁᚦ ᚺᛖᚱ ᚨᚾᛊᚹᛖᚱ. ᛏᚺᛖ ᚺᚢᛗᚨᚾᛊ ᚲᚾᛖᚹ ᚹᛖᛚᛚ ᚹᚺᚨᛏ ᚦᛖᛁ ᚹᛖᚱᛖ ᛞᛟᛁᛜ ᚹᚺᛖᚾ ᚦᛖᛁ ᚲᚱᛟᛊᛊᛖᛞ ᚢᛊ. ᛏᚺᛖᛁ ᚲᛟᚢᛚᛞ ᚱᛖᛊᛟᚾ ᚹᛁᚦ ᚦᛖᛗᛊᛖᛚᚢᛖᛊ ᚨᛚᛚ ᚦᛖᛁ’ᛞ ᛚᛁᚲᛖ, ᛒᚢᛏ ᚦᛖᚱᛖ ᛁᛊ ᚨ ᚷᛟᛟᛞ ᚱᛖᛊᛟᚾ ᚦᛖᛁ ᛊᚢᚠᚠᚠᛖᚱᛖᛞ ᚦᛖ ᚠᚨᛏᛖ ᚦᛖᛁ’ᚢᛖ ᛒᛖᛖᚾ ᚷᚱᚨᚾᛏᛖᛞ ᛏᛁᛚᛚ ᚾᛟᚹ. ᛁᛏ’ᛊ ᛃᚢᛊᛏ ᚨ ᛊᚺᚨᛗᛖ ᚦᛖᛁ ᚦᛖᛁ ᚨᚱᛖ ᛊᛏᛁᛚᛚ ᛒᛖᛁᛜ ᚨᚾ ᚨᚾᚾᛟᛁᚨᚲᛖ. ᛏᚺᛖ ᚨᛗᛟᚢᚾᛏ ᛟᚠ ᛈᚨᛁᚾ ᚨᚾᛞ ᛚᛟᛊᛏ ᛁᚾᚠᛚᛁᚲᛏᛖᛞ ᛒᛁ ᚦᛖᛁᚱ ᚲᚨᚱᛖᛚᛖᛊᛊ ᚨᚲᛏᛟᚾᛊ….ᛁ ᚹᛁᛚᛚ ᚾᛖᚢᛖᚱ ᛊᛁᛗᛈᛚᛁ ᚠᛟᚱᚷᛁᚢᛖ ᛁᛏ. ᚹᛖ ᛚᛟᛊᛏ ᛊᛟ ᛗᚨᚾᛁ ᛟᚠ ᛟᚢᚱ ᛒᚱᛟᚦᛖᚱᛊ ᚨᚾᛞ ᛊᛁᛊᛏᛖᚱᛊ ᛁᚾ ᚦᛖ ᚹᚨᚱ, ᚦᛖ ᚷᛟᚨᚾᛏᛊ ᛏᛟᛟ ᚺᚨᛞ ᚾᛟ ᚱᛖᛊᛟᚾ ᛏᛟ ᛒᛖ ᛊᛚᚨᛁᚾ. ᚨᚾᛞ ᛁᛖᛏ…..”(“Calm down sister! But I do agree. I agree with her answer. The humans knew well what they were doing when they crossed us. They could reason with themselves all they’d like, but there is a good reason they sufffered the fate they’ve been granted till now. It’s just a shame they they are still being an annoyace. The amount of pain and lost inflicted by their careless actions….I will never simply forgive it. We lost so many of our brothers and sisters in the war, the giants too had no reason to be slain. And yet…..”) Audnir followed, she was getting more emotional with every word.

”ᚨᚾᛞ ᛁᛖᛏ ᚦᛖᛁ ᛞᛁᛞ. ᛏᚺᛖᛁ ᛞᛖᛊᛖᚱᚢᛖᛞ ᚦᛖ ᛖᛏᛖᚱᚾᚨᛚ ᚠᚱᛟᛊᛏ ᚹᛖ ᛚᛖᚠᛏ ᛟᚾ ᚦᛖ ᛚᚨᚾᛞᛊ. ᛗᚨᛁ ᚦᛖᛁ ᚠᛁᚾᛞ ᚦᛖ ᚹᚨᚱᛗᚦ ᛁᚾ ᛞᛖᚦ ᚦᚨᛏ ᚦᛖᛁ ᛊᛈᚱᛖᛞ ᚨᛒᛟᚢᛏ ᛁᚾ ᛚᛁᚠᛖ.”(“And yet they did. They deserved the eternal frost we left on the lands. May they find the warmth in death that they spread about in life.”) Dröfn was the last to chime in but she was sure to get her share of venom in. She was one of the Jötnar to lose a lot in that unyielding battle and it was the joint effort of all the remaining frost Jötnar and the curse they embedded into the lands of Harrogath that sealed the fate of the people remaining.

Dröfn with pale skin and paler hair embrace Audnir. Her short white hair, a stark contrast from her dark grey horns. While Býleistr seemed intimidating and imposing, and Audnir appeared swift and agile, Dröfn was very elegant. Her bright blue dress with the white fur only added to her more refined stature.

Dröfn:

They were coming to the entrance of the city by then. Lumikki, feeling small, kept to the side of her brothers. Mikhail standing close while Mùchén had her pulled in. This was all a lot to take in for the moment and they all felt it.

Dröfn broke off to find the seeds mentions before on behest of Audnir who already promised to bring Lumikki to her Elder Mother. Býleistr Kept close to watch the two Daemons as the Jötnar was yet to be sure on how to feel about them.