The four of them quickly made their way down to the area where Zelos had previously killed the dragon. Together, they retraced their steps along the mountain path. During the descent, Atreus walked beside Mimir and continued asking him questions without pause.
"Would the World Serpent really talk to us? What if he gets angry that we disturbed him?" Atreus asked while Mimir listened with a patient expression.
"Not quite, little laddie. Few realize this, but Jormungandr enjoys conversation. The problem is that he speaks a dead tongue older than these mountains themselves. Hardly anyone alive knows how to understand it. Only me and Zelos can speak it fluently," Mimir answered. Atreus suddenly looked thoughtful as an idea formed in his mind.
"Do you think you could teach me how to speak to the World Serpent? The same way you taught Zelos?" Atreus asked, clearly interested in the idea of learning another ancient language.
"You might not even need formal instruction. Once you hear Mimir speak, you might pick it up faster than either of us expects. You are far more talented than me when it comes to languages," Zelos said. He knew perfectly well that Atreus had a natural gift for understanding words and symbols. Odin had relied on that same ability during the search for the mask.
"You really think so?" Atreus asked, turning toward Zelos with a hopeful look. Zelos simply nodded.
Mimir watched the exchange with interest. "If that is the case, then you may also have a strong talent for magic. True sorcery begins with understanding the foundation of language. Those who master the roots of words often grow into exceptional spellcasters," Mimir said, and Atreus's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Thank you, Mimir," Atreus replied, which made Mimir look slightly embarrassed at being complimented so directly.
They continued along the path and soon encountered more Draugrs blocking their way.
Kratos broke through the front line while Zelos silently eliminated several with precise spells. Atreus joined the fight, and Mimir demonstrated some of his abilities as well.
Thick branches burst from the ground and wrapped around several Draugrs, crushing them slowly. When one Draugr managed to swing at him, Mimir appeared to be struck in the neck, only for the image to flicker and vanish.
The real Mimir reappeared at the creature's side and drove a blade straight into its skull.
Atreus stared with amazement. "That was an impressive spell. Could you teach me that one?"
"Of course, little laddie. Would you like me to transfer the knowledge directly into your mind?" Mimir asked, offering the same method he had once used for Zelos. Atreus immediately shook his head.
"No, I prefer learning things the usual way. Zelos told me that if I rely on shortcuts too much, I will never absorb spells into my subconscious the same way as when I learn them properly," Atreus said.
"Experience is important when learning magic. It is what separates someone who simply knows a spell from someone who has mastered it," Mimir added.
Atreus looked at Mimir again. "Then why did you directly insert information into Zelos's mind?"
Mimir chuckled. "Because your brother is extremely stubborn. If I tried to teach him every spell step by step, he would have stopped after the second lesson once he realized the amount of explanation involved. He is clever and already has a massive foundation of magic. He had the experience to handle the direct method."
Atreus nodded and looked toward Zelos, who simply listened quietly while Kratos continued leading the group forward without giving any comment on the topic.
After a long period of walking and retracing their route, they finally arrived at the bridge. Mimir then began guiding them toward the horn embedded into the old structure. Once they reached it, Mimir prepared himself.
"Alright, wish me luck," he said as he blew the horn. The sound echoed across the entire lake. Even the calm surface of the water trembled with small ripples.
Far in the distance, the enormous serpentine body shifted, stretching across the mountain range. The World Serpent slowly lifted his head, rising high enough for the four to see his massive eyes.
Without warning, Jormungandr suddenly attacked the statue of Thor sitting in the lake. He crushed the stone figure and chewed it in large chunks before swallowing it whole.
"Why is he doing that? Does it not hurt him?" Atreus asked as he watched the scene unfold.
"To answer your first question, Odin built that statue to honor Thor. The World Serpent despises him, so he was most likely tired of staring at it. And for the second question, well, he and Thor share an unpleasant history. Or they will share one. Waking up to see the statue must have irritated him more than swallowing chunks of stone," Mimir explained. He saw Atreus preparing to ask more, but Kratos interrupted.
"No. Our only concern is Jotunheim," Kratos said firmly.
Zelos then leaned closer to Atreus. "Watch the exchange carefully. Even if you cannot understand the words yet, try to observe how they speak."
Mimir began speaking to the World Serpent in the ancient tongue. At first, Jormungandr appeared angry, rising higher as though preparing to attack. Mimir quickly clarified the misunderstanding.
"He knows the pain of your loss. He will assist us," Mimir stated, and the World Serpent lowered his head. He then nudged the bridge to shift its position toward their intended destination.
Before moving fully, Jormungandr's attention shifted toward Atreus and Zelos. The serpent uttered a long series of deep sounds that only Zelos and Mimir could understand.
"I know these two," the World Serpent said. The statement surprised Mimir.
"Interesting," Mimir commented quietly as the bridge continued to move.
Atreus, curious and impatient, asked, "What did he say, Mimir? Did he mention something important?"
"Oh, nothing for you to worry about," Mimir replied, though Atreus clearly did not believe him and turned toward Zelos.
"He said he knows us. If I had to guess, he encountered us in the future. There is an old story Mimir told me once. During Ragnarok, Thor and the World Serpent fought so violently that the force of it shook the entire Yggdrasil tree. The World Serpent was thrown through the fabric of time and sent backward into the past. It is just a story, so take it lightly, but it aligns with what he said," Zelos explained. Atreus listened carefully while Mimir continued speaking quietly with Kratos about what their next steps should be.