Soren raised a hand.
The air began to vibrate, and a circle of golden runes formed, each etched with cosmic symbols that whispered ancient secrets.
At the center of the frame, a shimmering blue light-curtain rippled to life like the surface of a still pond disturbed by a drop of eternity.
Thor stepped back in awe. "By the Nine... Friend, is this the portal you spoke of?"
Soren gave no reply, only stepped forward. His body glowed faintly as he placed a hand on the runic arch.
The golden letters flared as the very fabric of space bent.
A low hum echoed through the temple as the curtain of light twisted, warped, and then blossomed open into a spiraling spatial wormhole.
Through the glowing threshold, the faint shape of the medical hall could be seen on the other side.
Soren's voice cut through the moment. "Thor. Bring your father. I'll go first."
Without hesitation, he stepped through the portal, his figure vanishing in the brilliance.
Frigga clutched Thor's arm. Her eyes were full of worry, even as she tried to maintain her regal composure.
"Thor… Are you sure about this? It feels so sudden. What if something happens to him?"
Thor turned to her, gently placing a hand over hers.
"Mother, I trust him. This healer is not only skilled. He's… gifted. He awakened my powers that I thought were lost." He looked into her eyes.
"Father will return. I promise."
Frigga gave a slow nod, watching with anxious hope as Thor gently lifted Odin into his arms.
"We will be back soon." Thor said, then stepped forward into the light.
With a soundless shift, Thor emerged from the portal into Soren's medical hall, cradling his father.
Soren smiled at Thor's arrival.
"Come with me. We'll place him in the treatment chamber."
Thor followed as Soren led the way to a circular platform surrounded by floating crystals.
As Odin was gently laid onto the table, the lights around the room pulsed in response.
Soren placed his hands on either side of Odin's head. A halo of pure white light surrounded the Allfather's body, illuminating his still form.
"His body is strong." Soren murmured, sweat already forming on his brow, "But his spirit… it has been wandering the edges of eternity for too long."
With a deep breath, Soren activated his restorative powers.
Sacred green energy burst forth like gentle waves, bathing Odin in warmth and healing. In that moment, each second was an eternity as spirit and flesh were woven back together.
Blink.
Odin's eyelids flickered.
A single twitch.
His chest rose, deeper than before.
His breath strengthened.
[System Notification]
[Congratulations, host. You have successfully treated A+ level entity: Odin the Allfather.]
[Random Ability Reward: Wisdom Lv 9 obtained.]
Soren flinched as a sudden roar exploded inside his mind.
A rush of light flooded his consciousness. Countless equations and theories danced before his eyes. Possibilities, branching futures, unfolded like flowers blooming in reverse.
He gasped, eyes wide.
"This… This is what true wisdom feels like…"
Simulations, calculations, insights, his brain could now process entire world models in an instant. Strategies that took hours now came in seconds.
On the table, Odin's fingers curled. His breathing steadied. Slowly, the old god opened his eyes.
"…Where am I?" he rasped.
Thor stepped forward at once. "Father! You're awake!"
Odin blinked, taking in the unfamiliar room, the sterile scent. His gaze found Thor's and the memories began to return like waves.
"You… You brought me here?"
Thor smiled as he stepped aside. "He did." He gestured to Soren.
Odin sat up slowly, the strength returning to his posture. His gaze landed on Soren, and for a moment, Asgard's most ancient being simply studied the young man before him.
"Father, Soren's medical skills are magic." Thor said, eyes bright with renewed hope. "You were truly brought back. With you awake, Asgard has a fighting chance."
Odin, though still regaining his full strength, gave a slow nod. His aged eyes studied Soren with something between gratitude and wary curiosity.
"Thank you, young man. If not for you… I fear my sacred fire may have been extinguished forever."
Soren gave a small, respectful bow.
"I only did what I promised Thor. Asgard's fate shouldn't be decided while its king sleeps."
Odin's expression darkened, shadows falling across his face.
"Even in sleep, I felt it. The unrest… Loki's betrayal. Laufey moves. The frost creeps once again across the Bifrost." He clenched his fist.
"This war… must be stopped."
Thor straightened, battle-ready, and turned to summon Heimdall, only for Soren to casually raise his hand.
A familiar hum filled the room. A glowing space portal blossomed open before them, showing a direct view of Asgard.
"No need. Thought I'd save us the theatrics. Mind if I tag along? This war sounds too interesting to miss..." And Soren's quite curious about Jotunheim's gene structure.
Odin glanced at him, then gave a curt nod. "Stay close. Do not interfere."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
Together, the three stepped through the portal and into a kingdom on the brink of collapse.
Meanwhile, in Asgard
The sky was cracked with frost and storm. Thunder roared, not from Thor, but from the stomp of monstrous feet. Laufey, King of the Frost Giants, stood at the head of a vast army.
"Forward! Leave nothing standing!"
With a deafening roar, the Giants of Jotunheim surged through the Bifrost gate.
Towering forms with skin like glaciers and eyes that burned blue began to lay waste to the city of gods. Unprepared and leaderless, the Asgardian defenders struggled to form ranks.
Chaos reigned.
In the golden palace, Frigga watched with horror as the city she loved burned.
"…"
"Odin!"
She turned to see her husband stepping through the portal, regal and grim, flanked by Thor and Soren. Her sorrow cracked into visible relief.
"The battle has begun." She said, grasping his hand. "They've already breached the gates!"
Odin looked out upon his kingdom.
"The war I spent centuries avoiding... is here." His gaze hardened. "And this time, I will finish it."
He turned to Thor. "We head to the palace. We reclaim command."
Soren remained silent, his thoughts his own as he moved through the grand halls of Asgard.
Despite Thor's orders to stay put and the presence of several skilled warriors assigned to guard his safety, Soren had no intention of obeying.
Once Odin and the others had departed, he made his way toward the battlefield, eager to witness the chaos that was sure to unfold. The clash of mighty warriors and the brewing storm of war called to him like an irresistible force.
In the Throne Room
Loki stood before the throne, cold and composed. His emerald robes shimmered, but his eyes were full of venom.
He stared down at the Frost Giants storming the city through the palace windows, emotionless.
The doors crashed open.
Thor stormed in, lightning crackling across his shoulders.
"Loki!" He roared, his voice shaking the pillars. "You betrayed Asgard!"
Loki turned with a bitter smile. "Betrayed? Don't be so dramatic, brother." He spat the last word.
"You think this is betrayal? I call it… truth."
"I was never truly part of Asgard. I always wondered why Odin treated me with such contempt, no matter how hard I tried. Why did he refuse to acknowledge me as his son? It never made sense until now." His gaze darkened as he spoke, his words dripping with venom.
"The reason is simple, because I have the blood of the Frost Giants."
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
Dare you peek into my other tales? The opening three chapters of select stories are free to all.
PhantomDream