In an unknown place, far-far away from Earth, or perhaps in a different realm of existence, a soul drifted in. It was mindless, wandering around like cloud.
As it got further, several other souls were seen. Like clouds gathering around a mountain, high in the sky, the souls too were slowly gathering towards a big mountain, which surprisingly emerged out of nowhere.
It was odd, really. The top looked very much like a head and then the neck, and when you go down it looked like a body of a man sitting cross-legged in mid-air.
The newly arrived soul, which looked like bright orb and then a face and again an orb, also drifted towards the odd mountain. And it joined the other souls. When looked around at the souls, surprising scenes occurred.
The orbs flickered between a sphere and a figure. Each one was different. Some were huge and tall figures wielding swords, bows, etc. Some were dressed in elegant clothing but gave off a feeling, as if to make you naturally follow them.
All of them had a strong and admirable presence. Just the newly arrived looked normal among them.
Suddenly, winds blew. Hot and cold air ran rampant but with a gruff noise from the mountain, they settled. The head-like top, moved. It opened its eyes and observed the surroundings.
It nodded its head as it looked at the souls. It knew their story with a glance. They were all strong and honorable warriors indeed.
"Hmm?" It quizzically looked at the newest arrival.
"What an ordinary soul…it's even without any weapon and nor has it killed. Did that one-eyed oldie fail? Hmm, let's check it- ah, Michael's story." It said to itself.
And then, Michael's story flashed before its eyes. The life of this person was ordinary. It had seen far too many such stories. But the end did surprise him a little.
How curious. It then decided to talk to this Michael. There must be something about him. As the surroundings changed it remembered those words. Her words.
'Sometimes, simplest of beings are capable of great things, Ymir. It was, I, who grew from a simple seed…and we're here now. You needn't to be from a noble birth or be something divine to achieve greatness. Something also comes from nothing. Change is inevitable. Do not overlook the weak; for, every being is capable of power.'
…
Michael opened his eyes. It was like waking up from a nap. He was feeling groggy. He shook his head and looked at his hands. They were glowing. All his body was glowing! What was happening?
He looked around and saw a strange scene. There were green mountains around. Cool wind was blowing. The sky was partially clear with rainy clouds and sun peeking through.
Ahead of him was a massive man, nearly of 30 meters tall. Michael felt like an ant in front of the man. No, not man, a Giant! He didn't know what to think. His thoughts were in a mess.
One moment he's dying then next he wakes up is front this…giant and his body glowing and…floating!? Holy fudge! He's floating! How is he floating? And the giant is still 30 mts. on top of that?
"You look confused, Michael." The giant said. His voice even though he's so big was on a normal level.
"Yeah, no kidding. And, why am I not surprised that you know my name?" Michael said, still in a daze.
"Indeed, you were not surprise, contrary to my expectations. Right, how rude of me. Let me introduce myself, I'm the giant progenitor, the first being born in the Yggdrasil, I'm-" Giant started introducing himself but was cut off by Michael.
"Ymir? The Screamer?" Michael asked.
"Don't call me that! From which way do I look like a screamer? Hmm? The stupid Midgardians…Giving me strange names like that… Wait, but how'd you know my name?" Ymir muttered and asked.
"So you're that Ymir? But weren't you killed? And more importantly why am I here?" Michael said incredulously.
"Hmm…strange…You know all the past and possible happenings in the nine worlds. But how…Ah I see, so you have epics on it huh. Alright. Michael, indeed, I am that Ymir. And yes I was killed by that one-eyed oldie, quite ungrateful, if you ask me. And by here, it is a spiritual layer of space of sorts. Where souls gather." Ymir explained.
"So earth is Midgard and I'm in Valhalla? Then where are the great halls? The feast? The…err Valkyries? Wait the, earth is part of Yggdrasil?!" Michael fired questions after question.
"Uh, no, no, no and sadly again no. we don't have that kinda luxury here. And the…Yggdrasil is no more." Ymir answered.
"Oh… Then did Ragnarok happened? Is that why y'all dead again?" Michael asked.
"You ask too many questions! Listen. I called you here for a reason. And that concerns the new world…" Ymir exasperatedly said, and started explaining all about the world.
Apparently, before the Ragnarok happened, a terrifying enemy appeared out of nowhere, which was hell-bent on destroying the nine worlds. The previous rivals in Yggdrasil fought a bitter battle, but still lost. It was terrifying. Beings capable of killing gods, were unimaginable.
No one knew why the enemy was there or why they wanted destroy the tree. It looked like Ymir knew but he kept his silence about it.
After the worlds' were in tatters, all gods' remnant will along with Ymir's combined the remaining fragments into a planet. They blessed it with all the previous races. It wasn't as massive as Yggdrasil, but it was awe-inspiring nonetheless.
All remnant god wills formed a spiritual plane and turned themselves into spiritual beings, with no chance of returning to life. But they had a purpose in forging such a plane.
The dying Yggdrasil had left a prophecy regarding the enemy, fate of the new world and the ones who would save them, and a chosen one, who is brave and honorable, leading them to save the world.
"So, that's how it is. And before you ask me, the others' are still realizing their own selves. So it'll take time. And this place was to find the chosen one in the prophecy." Ymir ended his explanation.
"Wait, so I'm the chosen one? Uh, I don't remember doing anything remotely brave…" Michael wondered.
"D'you forget how you died?" Ymir asked bluntly.
Michael flinched.
"So you do remember. You're just trying to forget. You have to face it, Michael. That's how you get over it." Ymir dryly advised.
"B-But why choose me? I mean I get that what I did…then was kinda brave, but I hesitated! Don't you need a fearless hero and all?" Michael stuttered and asked.
"Well not really. We had plenty of those muscle-heads, and they still got defeated. What we need is a more…mortal hero. Someone, who has their own desires, fears but chose to overcome them." Ymir said.
"That's it? T-That's your criteria for choosing a hero who's going to save the entire world?" Michael asked incredulously.
"Well, not really, I have this." Saying that Ymir summoned a glass sphere, size of a coconut. "This was the last thing Yggdrasil left. It would react to the one fated to save the world. Well, and…it reacted to you. It contains a blessing from Yggdrasil and every other god here. It is to be passed to the chosen one."
The orb then floated in front of Michael.
Ymir continued in a serious tone, "Tell me, Chosen One. Will you agree?"
"I-I…" Michael was scared. Was he really up to the job? Can he save the world when he couldn't get out alive after saving 2 lives?
"Don't you want to realize your dreams? Don't you want to so many things in life? And besides you're going to be born here… Don't you want to do something to protect it? To have an adventure? Make friends…Build a home? You have a chance. To be strong and to be happy. I ask again. Chosen One, will you agree?" Ymir asked.
Yes. Yes, Michael wanted all that. He wanted someone as his own. He wanted to have fun. And what is it bit of danger when you can have those precious moments. So he took it. And the world turned black.
"Iykke til [1], Chosen One. For you might need it. And may your dreams come true. Iykke til, indeed." Ymir said as he turned around, disappearing within the tall, lush mountains.
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Notes:
1. It means "good luck" in Norse.
Author: Shantanu Bondre. (ID: Sam0207)