The sphere hovered above the runestones, its glow steady but trembling like a held breath. Alex opened his eyes just enough to see it shimmering, then quickly shut them again, afraid he'd lose focus.
Frigga's voice was soft, but firm. "Good. But a shape is not only light—it must be whole. Strength comes from clarity of intent. Make it more than a glow. Give it weight. Give it purpose."
Alex frowned, sweat already running down his temple. Weight? Purpose? He tried to picture the sphere as more than energy—imagining it solid, like stone, smooth and heavy. The light flickered, strained… then condensed, becoming denser, its glow dimmer but steadier, as if it truly had mass.
The table beneath it creaked faintly.
Frigga's eyes narrowed with interest. "Yes. You are beginning to anchor the weave. That is far more difficult than simple light."
Alex's lips twisted into a tired grin. "So I made… a magic bowling ball?"
"Not bowling," Frigga replied, though her mouth curved with a small smile. "But a foundation. If you can anchor a shape, you can build greater forms—shields, bindings, even weapons. Seidr is creation, Alex, not just tricks of light."
The sphere wobbled suddenly, pulling at him like it wanted to scatter back into threads. His focus cracked. The orb burst, shards of light scattering across the lattice before fading into nothing.
Alex staggered back, breathing hard. "Damn it… almost had it."
"You did," Frigga corrected gently. "For your third day, this is remarkable. Do not let failure blind you to progress. Even Odin himself once failed a hundred times before learning to weave form."
Alex raised an eyebrow, half-smirking. "The All-Father had to practice? You sure you're not just trying to make me feel better?"
Frigga's eyes softened. "Even gods must learn, Alex. Remember that."
He straightened, wiping his brow. "Alright. Tomorrow, I'll hold it longer."
Frigga inclined her head approvingly. "Tomorrow, you will not only hold it—you will move it. Creation means nothing if you cannot guide what you have made."
The runestones dimmed to their faint pulse once more, and Alex left the chamber, already imagining the challenge ahead: shaping light, giving it form, and then setting it into motion.
The next morning, Alex entered the rune chamber with sore muscles and a restless mind. He half-expected another slow crawl through a single exercise, but the moment he saw the chamber, he knew today would be different.
The runestones were not in their usual circle. Frigga had arranged them into spiraling layers, three deep, with faint arcs of light already linking them like veins in a living thing. The lattice pulsed as if breathing, waiting for him.
Frigga stood beside it, calm but sharp-eyed. "Today is not a single step. Today you will learn endurance. The weave does not care for the comfort of mortals. You must learn to call it, hold it, move it, and then test its limits."
Alex gave a crooked smile. "So… a crash course. I like it better that way."
She lifted her hand, and the first circle of stones lit up. "Begin by shaping the sphere once more. But this time, you will not only anchor it—you will guide it through the spiral."
Alex exhaled and let the threads rise around him. He pulled them into form, shaping the sphere again—heavier, steadier, easier than yesterday. The resistance came, but he had learned its rhythm. He set the sphere into motion, nudging it through the first arc of stones.
The weave pushed back instantly, threads tugging at odd angles. The sphere wobbled like a drunk firefly. Alex clenched his jaw, adjusted, and steadied it.
"Do not clutch it like prey," Frigga reminded. "Guide it as if leading a dance."
He loosened his mental grip, letting the sphere roll smoothly through the spiral. The first layer of stones pulsed brighter in response.
But Frigga did not let him stop. "Now—divide it again. Two spheres. Keep them both moving."
Alex groaned. "Figures."
The strain doubled as he split the anchored mass into two glowing orbs. Sweat poured down his face, his hands trembling. One orb drifted too close to the lattice wall and nearly dissolved, but he forced himself to breathe—balance, not brute strength. Both spheres steadied and continued circling.
"Good," Frigga said softly, though her eyes gleamed with approval. "Now—merge them again."
Alex blinked. "Merge them? After all that?"
"Yes. The weave is not a puzzle of separate pieces. It is fluid. If you can divide, you must also unify."
He gritted his teeth and pulled the threads back together. It was harder than splitting them. The energies resisted, colliding like stubborn magnets. But slowly, with careful nudges, they fused into a larger, denser orb, glowing hotter than before.
The spiral pulsed with light.
Alex dropped to one knee, gasping. "Feels like… like my brain's running a marathon."
Frigga's voice was calm, though her eyes were sharp. "You asked for more than one lesson a day. Then you must endure as the weave demands."
She raised her hand again. The second and third layers of stones flared to life, their threads weaving into tighter spirals. "The last trial for today: shape the orb into something other than a sphere. Give it an edge. A form that is not perfect."
Alex's eyes widened. "You want me to… what, make a sword out of light?"
"Not a sword," Frigga said. "Not yet. But form. A blade. A shield. Anything that shows intent beyond a ball of power. The weave will resist harder than before—but you must try."
Alex dragged himself upright, chest heaving, sweat dripping. He focused again, pulling the threads tight, imagining the orb flattening, stretching. It shook violently, shards of light splintering off, but he pushed past the resistance, shaping it into something broader.
Slowly, painfully, the orb stretched into a rough, glowing disk—uneven at the edges, but recognizable as a shield.
Frigga's eyes softened, pride flickering in them. "Yes. That is the first step toward shaping seidr into tools of war and protection."
The shield quivered, then burst apart, light scattering across the chamber. Alex staggered back, barely able to stay standing.
Frigga caught him by the arm, steadying him. "Enough. You have done more in a single day than most do in months. This is not meant to break you, Alex."
He smirked weakly. "Feels like it tried."
*******
if you like my fanfic, and want to support me and read advance chaps, checkout my fanfic on Patreon :- patreon.com/FantasyLi
There are regular updates too.
I have written Twenty chaps and will write more soo
***