Emperor and Empress
The Emperor and Empress are within the Hagia Sophia, alongside their people, and all of them were attending mass.
Erik looked around and was amazed at the building he was standing within.
The Hagia Sophia was a true wonder of the world.
The Emperor and Empress were being escorted back to their palace, and Erik, Ullr, Pleistarchus, alongside other men were their bodyguards, not that the Emperor and Empress needed bodyguards since they were very beloved by their people.
The Emperor and Empress finally reached their palace, were they now sat on their thrones.
All the guards were asked to leave, and only Ullr, Pleistarchus and Erik remained.
" Ullr, I see that you have a new student, why did you not tell us sooner? " said Emperor Justinian like a friend who felt that he has been left out.
" Forgive me my Emperor, I know how busy you and your wife are, so I did not want to bother the two of you " said Ullr.
" Nonsense, you are like family, and we are not as busy as you already know, the Empire is finally complete, so we don't have that much on our hands, oh, tell me Pleistarchus, do you remember to take breaks once in a while? " said Empress Theodora.
" Of course, I take lots of breaks " said Pleistarchus.
Empress Theodora then looked at Ullr, and all Ullr did was shake his head.
" I see, but, dear Erik, know that we are happy to have you as part of our family " said Empress Theodora with a smile only an Empress like her could make.
Erik felt joy in his heart and then said
" I am happy to serve, my Emperor and Empress "
Erik, Ullr and Pleistarchus all three returned to Ullr's chambers that was big enough for all three of them to have their beds in.
" So what now? " said Pleistarchus.
" What do you mean? " said Ullr.
" You know what I mean! What do we do about Rán? " said Pleistarchus with some emotion.
" We do nothing, not until we hear back from Jormungandr " said Ullr.
" He may as already be dead " said Pleistarchus.
" A world-serpent like him? Yeah, I don't see that happening " said Ullr confident.
" I am honored to see that you have so much faith in me " said a voice.
All three looked towards the window, where they saw a black cat with green eyes.
" Of course I have faith, we are friends after all " said Ullr with a smile.
" Wait, is that Jormungandr? " said Erik.
" Indeed I am, as you can see, this is my cat-form, quite convenient to get into smaller places " said Jormungandr.
" So, any news on down below? " said Ullr.
" Sadly, yes, as I said earlier, Rán is gathering all kinds of sea creatures, and for what purpose, we will soon find out " said Jormungandr.
" Then we strike first! " said Pleistarchus.
" Easier said than done, Rán has such creatures like Lyngbakr, Lindworm and the Marmennill people, and all these are just a few at her command, even the Kraken, the Leviathan and the Lovecraft version of Dagon are at her command " said Jormungandr.
" She sounds unstoppable…. " said Erik.
" Don't worry, we'll take them all, one at a time " said Ullr with a smile, Ullr then continued
" My friend, I have been meaning to ask: how is your wife? "
Erik and Pleistarchus were surprised by what Ullr had just asked.
" She is doing quite well, thank you for asking " said Jormungandr.
Both Erik and Pleistarchus now ran over to the cat.
" YOU HAVE A WIFE?! " said they both.
" Indeed " said Jormungandr calmly.
" WHO?! " said they both again.
" Who else, but the Loch Ness-monster " said Ullr.
" You know that she hates that name, she prefers to be called Nessie " said Jormungandr.
" I know, I know " said Ullr with a smile.
" Woah, so, Jormungandr and Nessie are married… " said Erik.
" I was at their wedding " said Roma.
" Really? " said Ares.
" Yep, it was truly magical " said Roma with a smile.
It came from the sea
Erik is within the palace of Emperor Justinian.
The Emperor is giving a lecture about his Novellae Constitutiones, also, Pleistarchus was attending the lecture, but he got bored and left.
Erik on the other hand listens eagerly, as Emperor
Justinian talks about his Novellae Constitutiones, the Emperor also talks about some of his other works like the Digest, the Codex and Institutes.
Later at Ullr's chamber.
" Man, that was an amazing lecture by the Emperor " said Erik filled with joy.
" What is so amazing about laws? " said Pleistarchus.
" Law is as important, as training the body " said Ullr with a smile.
Pleistarchus just looked at Ullr.
" All rulers have the ability to fight, but, the rules who stand out from the rest are the ones who are able to make just-and everlasting laws, like Emperor Justinian " said Jormungandr.
" I still don't see the point " said Pleistarchus.
" Hopefully you will one day, so you can become a great King, just like your father was " said Ullr.
Pleistarchus smiled and then said
" Don't you worry, I have every intention of surpassing my father "
" His father… " said Erik.
" Pleistarchus' father, was truly someone who had no equal, Pleistarchus has a long way ahead of him, if he wishes to surpass his father " said Ares.
The moon was now atop the sky, and everyone in Constantinople were asleep, even Jormungandr.
Jormungandr was sleeping peacefully alongside everyone.
Jormungandr then felt a chill down his spine.
Jormungandr immediately woke up and jumped on Ullr's face.
" Ah, what is it? " said Ullr as he was getting the cat off his face.
" Something has arrived " said Jormungandr.
Erik also woke up and looked at Pleistarchus, but Pleistarchus was already awake.
All of them now headed to the port where Jormungandr lead them to.
They were now all looking out towards the mediterranean sea.
" Where is it? " said Ullr with his bow in hand.
" I am ready " said Pleistarchus with his spear and shield.
Erik was ready as well.
" There! " said Jormungandr.
Rising from the mediterranean sea was what seemed to be a monstrous fox, with eyes like fire.
" A fox? " said Pleistarchus confused.
" The fox is known as Brunnmigi, and let us just say that it is not interested in chickens " said Jormungandr.
" Alright, here is the plan- but before Ullr could finish, Erik walked forward and said
" I got this "
Ullr, Pleistarchus and Jormungandr just looked at Erik who raised his right hand towards the sky and then said
" Come to my aid, Areadbhar! "
From space, Areadbhar now flew down towards earth, right towards the fox.
The Brunnmigi looked up towards the sky as Areadbhar come, with the force of a meteor, straight down on the fox, killing Brunnmigi there and then.
" NOW THAT'S WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT! ATTABOY! " yelled Ares.
" Woah " said Roma, and Ullr, Jormungandr and Pleistarchus were equally speechless.
Areadbhar then flew to Erik.
" Thank you " said Erik with a smile.
Areadbhar then flew back into space.
Pleistarchus then walked over to Erik.
" Erik, can I spare with that spear, one day? " said Pleistarchus in a serious tone.
" Sure " said Erik.
" Alright, let us head back home, we can still get a good night sleep " said Ullr.
All of them now headed back home.
Jormungandr quickly looked back at the mediterranean sea, and that was when he locked eyes with Rán, who had her head above the water.
Jormungandr glared at Rán with his cat eyes, but Rán just smiled.
Rán then went back into the dark depths of the sea, and Jormungandr went to join the others.
The worm of the sea
Erik and Pleistarchus were with Empress Theodora enjoying a play at a theatre.
The play was over and with it the crowd stood up and cheered, even the Empress joined in on the cheering.
Erik, Pleistarchus and Empress Theodora were now walking back to the palace together.
" My Empress, I have noticed that you enjoy the theatre a lot " said Erik.
" Well, I was an actress before I was an Empress " said Theodora.
" Humble beginnings " said Pleistarchus.
Empress Theodora just smiled.
" Now boys, are you two eating enough? Pleistarchus, do you remember to take breaks from training? " said Theodora in a motherly voice.
" Yeah, Yeah… " said Pleistarchus in an uninterested tone.
The Empress was not amused.
When they all finally reached the palace, Theodora herself, tied Pleistarchus to a bed and told him to rest.
Pleistarchus tried with all his might to get loose, but what many did not know, besides the Emperor, was that Empress Theodora was not only beautiful and clever, but she was also strong.
Erik returned to Ullr's chamber.
" Where is Pleistarchus? " asked Ullr.
" He is resting " answered Erik.
" Really? " said Ullr surprised.
Erik just walked over to his bed where Jormungandr was resting.
Erik started to pet Jormungandr, Erik could then feel the hairs on Jormungandr's back stand up.
Jormungandr opened his eyes and then said
" Something is coming "
Without missing a beat all of them, except for Pleistarchus, now ran down towards the port.
They finally arrived at the port, where they now looked towards the vast sea ahead of them.
Luckily, the port was empty, and all that could be seen was the light from the moon on the sea.
" Where is it? " said Ullr ready yet again with his bow.
Erik looked around and then said
" There! "
All of them now saw a serpent swimming towards the port.
Ullr shoot an arrow at the serpent as to stop it from getting closer.
Angered, the immense serpent arose from the water.
" So, Jormungandr, is this Nessie? " said Ullr jokingly.
" Definitely not, my wife is more charming, the serpent before us is known as the Lindworm " said Jormungandr.
" So, what do we do now? " said Ullr.
" How about I call a friend " said Erik with a smile.
" A friend- and as soon as Ullr had said that, he remembered what friend Erik was talking about.
Erik looked towards the sky and then said
" Zmij "
Thundering wings could now be heard.
The Lindworm looked towards the heavens and saw the three-headed dragon diving down for the kill.
Zmij grabbed Lindworm's body with its claws and then one head bite the neck of the Lindworm, another, the middle of the Lindworm's body, and the third started to roast some parts of the Lindworm's body with fire.
The two massive creatures dove into the sea, and after a few seconds, Zmij was the only one who come back out from the sea.
Zmij was now flying in front of Erik.
" Thank you, my friend " said Erik with a smile.
Zmij bowed its three-heads and then flew back into the sky.
" Hey Erik, why don't you head back " said Ullr.
" What about you two? " said Erik.
" We will be right behind you, now go dear boy " said Jormungandr.
Erik smiled and then went back to the palace.
" So you have noticed her as well " said Jormungandr.
" Jep…. " said Ullr.
Out at sea was Rán sitting on a rock like the famous statue of the mermaid in Denmark.
" How can a beautiful creature like her have so much malice " said Ullr.
" That is a very good question " said Jormungandr.
Rán blew a kiss towards Ullr and Jormungandr, then Rán dove right back into the sea.
Ullr and Jormungandr now walked back to the palace.
The whale of the sea
Erik and Pleistarchus were training with spears and shields at the training ground.
Erik and Pleistarchus answered each other blow for blow.
" Either you have gotten better, or my body has become idle when the Empress forced me to rest " said Pleistarchus with a smile.
" Have you considered the third option? That I have surpassed you " said Erik with a mocking smile.
Pleistarchus now felt a mix of anger and joy.
Pleistarchus now charged at Erik.
The two boys fought for some hours after which Belisarius, the great general come and told the two boys some wartime stories.
The two boys now returned to Ullr's chambers.
" Uhm, have you two washed yourselves? " said Ullr who had noticed that the two boys reeked, but before Erik and Pleistarchus could answer, Jormungandr said
" There is no time, another has arrived "
Erik, Pleistarchus, Ullr and Jormungandr were all aboard Skíðblaðnir, they were deep within the mediterranean sea.
" Where is it? " said Pleistarchus.
" Right in front of you " said Jormungandr.
" All I see is what looks like an island " said Erik.
" That is no surprise, many mistake it for an island, the creature is known as Lyngbakr " said Jormungandr.
" So, how do we deal with something that BIG " said Ullr.
" I will handle this " said Jormungandr.
Jormungandr then jumped into the water and from a cat transformed into what he is known as best, the world-serpent.
Jormungandr wrapped himself around Lyngbakr,
The serpent and the whale then did battle, but what no one noticed while watching the battle, was that a net sprang forth from the sea and caught Erik, the net alongside Erik now vanished into the dark sea, and all that could be heard on Skíðblaðnir was
" ERIK! "
Erik was struggling to get free from the net, but he was also struggling to hold his breath, suddenly, Erik was now inside a large bubble filled with air.
Erik gasped for air as he also finally got free from the net.
" How do I get out of here? " said Erik.
" I think that she can tell you " said Roma.
Erik looked and in front of him was Rán, outside the bubble.
Rán was just staring at Erik.
Erik did not know what to do or say.
" Are you scared of me? " said Rán in a Siren tone.
" Should I be scared? " said Erik who had sweat as well as water drip from his face.
Rán smiled.
Erik gathered his courage and then said
" Why do you do this? "
" Because the humans are weak…. or was that the answer you were expecting " said Rán.
Erik now looked confused.
Rán smiled yet again and then said
" Your dear Emperor has something I want "
" What? " said Erik, while dreading the answer.
" He has Ohrmazd's Egg, and I will do everything in my power to get it " said Rán with resolution in her voice.
Erik wanted to say something, but before he could, Rán said
" Looks like our time is up "
Erik looked and saw Jormungandr come to his rescue.
Jormungandr opened his colossal mouth and then closed down on the bubble Erik was in.
Jormungandr then headed straight towards the surface, where he opened his mouth, and Erik fell down on Skíðblaðnir.
" Erik, are you okay? " said Pleistarchus.
" What about Rán? " said Ullr.
" She vanished as I was rescuing Erik " said Jormungandr back in his cat-form.
" Damn her! I will make her pay! " said Ullr.
" No, we need to go back " said Erik as he was coughing up water.
" Why? " said Pleistarchus.
" I know what she is after " said Erik.
Everyone were in shock, but Ullr immediately set sail back to Constantinople.
" Hey Ullr… " said Erik.
" Yes " said Ullr.
" I don't think that I need a wash anymore " said Erik with a smile.
Ullr, as well as Pleistarchus and Jormungandr were smiling.