Walking in, I'm immediately greeted by some unfriendly stares. All of them putting immense pressure on me.
There's sweat going down my spine. I know this is my body warning me of the immediate threat in front of me.
The chamber was circular with long semi circular tables layered on top of each other on each side. It almost looked like an arena.
There was a big pedestal that bridged the two sides in the middle like an emperor's viewing deck. There my father stood stoic and solitary.
"Come forward Young Prince Loki of House Hammer." Said my father in an echoing voice.
I walked forward and stood in the center of the arena.
"Are you prepared for your trial as Prince of the Aesir Tribe?" Said my father.
In a loud and assertive voice I declared, "Yes!"
At that moment, one by one, the elders each starting humming a tune one after another. When all 15 voices joined in symphony, they sounds like a deep horn. My surroundings became blurry and my vision faded.
The next thing I new, I was in a large field. I can see this was a fjord. The field was located on a high cliff.
Storm clouds raged overhead and the breeze was bitter cold. I didn't want to turn around and look below the cliff for I felt it in my soul that looking down there was a horror that frightened me.
Looking forward I see a dark mist on the other side of the field. Eyes glowed in that mist.
Blue burning eyes. Cold, unfeeling; whatever was in that mist wasn't here to play nice.
I tightened the grip on my spear. And entered a spear stance with both hand pointing the spear forward. I slowly marched forward.
As I marched, more eyes appeared. They were unnerving.
I continuing trekking, no matter what the danger is, I would not fall before seeing my enemy.
As I approached I noticed something astounding. A large tree about the size of a twenty story building was right behind the mist. It towered over the fjord. This tree was strange though. It was glowing with so much life.
I quickly used Life sense to scan the surroundings. The mist in front of me was void of all life. Nothing in it was alive. The tree was weirder though. It seemed to be split.
The top of the tree depicted the regular color of a tree albeit, brighter than anything I had ever seen, while the roots was void like the mist, dark and cold.
I did not have time to dwell on it because I heard movements from the mist a few moments later.
A few moments later something horrifying stepped out of it that will haunt me for the rest of my life.
Both my parents with strange burning eyes stepped out.
My mothers hair was tinged with burns. Her face had burn blotches everywhere. Her once beautiful skin was colored in a unholy shade of cold blue. Her lips show shades of dried blood. An impaled dagger was hanging from her chest where her heart would be.
My father was much worse. His axe arm was cut off. He had debilitating wounds all over his body including he neck. He was carrying his intestines who had stopped bleeding a long time ago.
The most frightening thing was their facial expressions were gleeful.
It only got much worse from here. More bodies dragged themselves out the mist. Uncle Ivar who was missing a portion of his mouth. Hilda who had a knife in her eye. The rest of the palace maids, the people I saw guarding the gate with Muninn and plenty of other tribe's men.
I was shaking. These are my people, my family. I've only been here for a short time and only been in the castle, but I've already built a bond with this place. These people raised me. I can't bear to see them like this.
This is straight out of a nightmare.
I heard the corpses mumbling something while shuffling closer.
"Revenge"
"Revenge!"
"REVENGE"
Im so spooked. The wind i howling louder. The cold chill of the undead began to creep near me.
I was so terrified.
As my mind was about to shatter an even louder voice echoed from within me.
"DESTROY!"
The blue charm on my neck glowed with a blue light.
Something fierce came over the corpses because in one shout they all turned into ice statues.
The mist cleared but it was not over. I saw a being of unimaginable power in that cleared mist. A lich of radiating mana that I could sense from here. It floated in the air. Shadows danced around it.
As I saw it waving it's hands I felt weakness from my soul. Like all the color in the world was sucked out.
Then the necklace flowed again.
"HOW DARE YOU!" Screamed the beastly voice.
Suddenly the lich was beset by ice magic.
It slowly started to scream as it was being frozen.
When the screaming lich froze completely I finally opened my eyes.
Clap.... Clap clap clap clap
The room was in bustle of cheers.
I saw that at some point light returned to the room and I was shocked.
I saw my father crying slightly next to my mother who was consoling him.
The rest of the elders were apparently hiding a whole keg in the room and had started pouring in some cups that seem to have appeared from thin air.
[They actually all brought the cups and hid them under the desks. Regardless of pass or fail they would have drank]
What would I expect from these seasoned alcoholics.
I then looked over to my mom, and sure enough, I saw her looking at me with a knowing smile through my father's tears of joy.
I did not ruin the moment by asking if I had succeeded, but one look on Uncle Vili's stoic face, refusing to touch the mead, told me I still had to spar. It looks like I passed.
Soon I saw my father approaching the podium again.
"Prince Loki has proven his worth in a trial of will and Valor. Are all those in attendance in accordance with this verdict?" My dad yelled proudly.
All of them smacked their tankards into their tables and said "Aye".
"Then it's decided, by the laws of the Aesir tribe, I now pronounce Prince Loki, Warrior of Asgard and Brother." My father lifted his arm and slammed it on the table.
Then one of the younger elders got up out of his chair, lifted his mug, and said, "Come brothers, I propose we all retire to the mead hall so that all of Asgard may know of his bravery."
Uncle Vili quickly interjecting, "Brother Njord, Brother Loki is due to test his mettle against me for a final time in a Trial of Might. I suggest we witness his might together as brothers and elders so that we may sing his praises in the mess hall."
Elder Njord was one of the finest sailors of the Asgard. He made his legend known battling foreign tribes over the seas. He had brown hair, tan skin kissed by the ocean sun, and blue eyes. He's also one of the only two elders to have the names from another tribe than the Aesir. This isn't common but it also isn't frowned upon.
"I will second that. I will witness his mettle so that I may sing tales of his glory!" Another elder interjected.
My father lifted his hand to stop any more interjection. "Brother Njord and Brother Bragi have both declared their intentions. Will someone officiate this match so that there might be fairness in his trial?" My father asked the group.
"Brother Bjorn, I will judge this match so that none can question Loki's honor." Said a blonde haired older gentleman. He had clearer skin with crows feet around his eyes.
"Brother Forseti, your judgement has always been wise and fair. Brother Loki and I would welcome your Judgement!" My uncle responded to Forseti.
The tribe has a very fascinating way of looking at court cases. All criminal cases are decided by a jury of peers and an impartial judge who dictates guilty before innocent or innocent before guilty in the beginning of every trial. Civil cases are always officiated by a warrior who can veto the decision of a jury of bureaucrats and cases between warriors are handled by an elder. The court of appeals is handled by the elders as well.
As you can tell, the tribe places an importance on warriors. Apparently the soul trait causes a personality change when awakened. It causes someone to be brave in adversity and honest in their endeavors.
Because of that, the warriors highly valued as peace keepers and judges, and of them Elder Forseti is a legend in that regard.
Elder Forseti was known as an officiator of the group. He has been around for a long time and was known in his younger years to work as a city guard. His occupation was to investigate crimes and bring justice. When he became an elder, he devoted his time to officiating cases around the tribe.
The other man, Elder Bragi was a fierce warrior. It's said his blade has slain many who would hurt the innocent. His skill in battle is only matched by his ability to sing and dance. He's known for always being the first to know of his fellow brothers accomplishments and the one to sing the loudest of the elders. Many bards come to him for advice.
"What say ye brothers. Shall we all witness Loki's mettle in honorable combat?" Shouted my father.
"AYE!"
My father rose from his seat and in a strong proud voice said, "Then this meeting is adjourned. Let us now head to the court yard".
Just like that the room started moving. It isn't lost on me at this point that a lot of these elders are named after Asgardians. It's making me feel strange at the moment.
I'm in the company of what would be considered mortal Gods. With tankards in hand, they are calling me brother and jesting for me to walk out with them. They are cracking jokes at each other and acting somewhat....human.