"Well then I should be off. There's a lot to do with you all gone." Hilda bowed.
I smiled at her, "Take care Hilda. Do pop by every now and then if you can. I would like a report on what is going on at home".
She smiled and nodded, then tapped the gate stone disappearing from the forest.
I then looked at our party. "Okay its time to get moving, we have a lot of ground to cover and a lot to discuss."
The kids nodded and hopped on the carriage while Ullr smiled. Fenrir was already in the carriage so the carriage driver whipped the reins when I hopped in.
And our little carriage trudged off in the dark woods only lit by a lantern.
_________
I was sitting in the carriage at the back looking and the design of Leviateinn. I really love this weapon. Its something I created that I am proud of plus its super metal in my opinion.
"So spill it, how was the ruin." Nix was next to me staring down.
I looked at him and then I saw Ullr and Sif looking at me as well.
I smiled, "Honestly, Loki senior is a pretty cool guy. He gave me a big upgrade a lot of information and just told me to have fun."
Ullr was shocked at my response. "You meet Loki Odinson?"
"Yep, he very much mentioned that ruins weren't supposed to go the way he did them but he really didn't care. All he cared was that I was strong as his inheritor." I name dropped a few terms in there for Ullr to pick up on.
Before he could say anything, I brought out my bag filled with loot looking through its contents. I passed the knight training to Ullr and the Ranger training to Sif.
"Those manuals will complement your current planned training methods very much and this journey will give you time to look them over. Nix, you have time to also incorporate it into your warrior training since you just hit Rank 2, Ill help you put them together." I was obviously speeding through this conversation to avoid saying to much. These two have their own ruins to find one day.
Ullr then finally came to, "What did you guys talk about? No one has ever had a long conversation with an Aesir ancestor. Only your mother has spoken to Freya and that conversation is known only to them."
I looked at Ullr for a moment strictly. He then realized that asking that was out of place and very invasive, "I am sorry Loki, I was just shocked is all. That's obviously part of your experience and won't pry further, but I will mention though that you should mention some details about the circumstances of Loki's ruin and how you conquered it for progeny."
I smiled at Ullr, "Of course, next time I see Hilda, I intend to leave with her all that info to send to my parents. They should know what to do with it."
I noticed Nix wanted to ask me something but I put a figure up to silence him, "My trial was different than the norm and can't really be used to help you for your trials. I will tell you that its something you should experience on your own."
Nix nodded and then began looking through the Knight hand book. Sif was already looking into hers. I took this opportunity to read what my system said about the blessings.
S.L.A.D. Statistics Blessings and Affinities
[Scanning Current Body Condition]
[Blessings and Affinities only]
Elemental Affinities: Nature, Lightning, Ice, Decay
One Unknown Affinity.
Blessings:
Unknown Goddess (S.L.A.D.)- Blessing from an unknown Goddess to help you quantify your surrounding in an easier format. She felt it would be to your boon and to her enjoyment that you log your feelings about everything you come in contact with.
(New!) Loki Odinson (Loki's Magical Legacy, Trickery, Divination)- Loki Odinson entrusted you with his heritage in the hopes you would use it to defeat his demon that is fate.
(New!) Loki's Magical legacy includes a list of spells to pick from at every rank, innate understanding of spell architecture, and a manual depicting how you should train as a mana controller.
(New!) Trickery is Loki's premier ability. At rank 2, it allows you to make Illusions as long as your mana touches someone else.
(New!) Divination is the ability to probe fate. At rank 2, you can instantly know the shortest path to achieve a goal.
[End Diagnostic]
Fucking sweet. How do I activate them though.
[Just think of of the manual in order to visualize it in your head]
When I did that I could see a book pop up in my head. It was almost like reading from my Log but it was in picture form like a photographic memory. Currently it showed the front page which is a depiction of me and Loki Senior standing in the snowy waste. Flipping through, There is and Appendix separating the book into three sections starting with the manual. Following that is an explanation of spells and spell rituals. The final section is an encyclopedia of all spells up to rank 2 spells, categorized by Elemental, Occult, and Ritual. Every spell includes how to cast through a ritual as well which means I don't necessarily have to etch the spell into me to cast some spells.
There's a note on the end that says "If you find more information or spells, they will be automatically added here for your convenience and understanding."
Shaking the book from my head I begin to move to Divination.
[Divination is Innate for now so just try and think about what you want and you'll know where to go]
I did just that and thought of Sif. Suddenly I had and immediate urge to look at her. When I did, I noticed there was a slight golden glow around her as if I was locked on target. Also, I was the only person to see this.
Neat, I will never lose my keys again I suppose.
I gained a lot from that ruin. No wonder so many people want to conquer ruins. The power up was so qualitative that I feel very different now when Interacting with mana.
[And you now have somewhat of a goal]
You mean that whole breaking fate bit? I can't really pursue that goal besides getting as strong as possible. I obviously know I only have half the information and I'll have to study and learn more to even get an inclining in what the fuck is going on.
[Angry aren't you?]
Well yea, everyone keeps so many details hidden from me. I also have been asked to solve a problem that I barely know anything about. That's not to say I won't try but I will solve it my way which means I need information. Getting stronger, adventuring, and learning more about this world seem to be the broad directions I have to go in.
[At least you aren't aimless like before]
I sighed… yea I Atleast have a heading to my purpose. Still don't know what I'll do after I break fate but it should be interesting nonetheless.
Looking out the carriage, I saw that this wood wasn't getting any less murkier and sighed.
Collecting samples, drinking and dancing with fae, sightseeing the culture, and practicing mana control, hopefully nothing interrupts that. Its only been a few days since we left and we had a whole ordeal to go through.
The timing of it has me wondering Is it really that dangerous out here or am I just cursed?
______
Back at the bandit camp, it was silent. Except for a lone small figure was looking over the remains of the mead hall.
As if throwing a tantrum, he started kicking the ground. "How incompetent. I pay him to do a job and he fails spectacularly. What's worse is that I lost so much gold for no reason. He raised his shrunken hand that had a gold ring on them.
The wind howled showing the face brown grizzled face of Loki's would be star of misfortune. It was Fafnir who was sporting a thin beard and a flat top.
He clenched his fists. As if accompanying his anger, the temperature of the surroundings rose a bit. Small scales unknowingly appeared on Fafnir's back.
"I will have my revenge and then return to Nidavellir as a champion who slew Prince Loki! The Aesir will be forced to honor me then. Women, wealth, and strength. It will all be mine."