The skies of Asgard shimmered in golden hues, streaks of orange seeping through the slowly drifting clouds.
The throne hall stood majestic, adorned with carvings and paintings that depicted our might as gods. Towering pillars reached toward the heavens, a testament to the glory that had long defined this place.
Yet all that beauty felt dull to my eyes. I lounged listlessly on the gilded throne, my head resting on my right hand. My thoughts wandered to distant and unreachable places.
The eyes that once could perceive the threads of fate woven by the Norns now struggled to see anything at all, filling my mind with an unshakable unease.
And then, there was Fenrir. The daughter of Loki and Angrboda. The wolf-girl whose fate I had once foreseen with my very eyes—a fate now shattered beyond recognition.
It was not the Norns who unraveled her threads of destiny. Nor was it Gleipnir failing to restrain the power of its chains. It was not even any creature that might pose a threat in the great war of Ragnarok.
No, it was a silhouette I could not discern. Who they were, how they came, and from where they originated—I could not see. They seemed to be the sole being who had eluded the threads of fate woven by the Norns and Yggdrasil itself.
"Damn it… everything is in ruins," I muttered softly, more to myself than anyone else. "I despise my current situation."
My thoughts continued to spiral. Images of Fenrir, her newfound freedom, and the enigmatic creature accompanying her whirled in my mind. I could not read what would happen next. Ahead lay only a void.
For me, Odin—a god who had lived for millennia with absolute certainty—this uncertainty was a waking nightmare.
What would happen next? What destruction would Fenrir bring? How many gods would perish? These thoughts drummed incessantly in my head like the beat of an unending war drum.
I leaned back against the throne, tilting my head upward toward the hall's ceiling, pondering my next move. "What should I do now?"
A heavy footstep echoed through the hall, breaking my reverie. I looked up, my gaze locking onto the approaching figure.
A proud warrior with a towering build and long hair. His silver armor bore the stains of blood, and Mjolnir gleamed at his hip. In his hand was a large bundle of cloth, soaked in thick, foul-smelling black blood.
I rose slowly, greeting him with a faint smile as I spread my arms wide. "Ah, my son. You've returned."
Thor approached, tossing the bundle onto the floor with a resounding thud. The cloth unraveled, revealing the severed head of a Jotun. Its eyes stared lifelessly, its mouth agape as if frozen mid-scream. The stench of blood filled the hall.
He grinned with pride, as he always did. "Father. The task you gave me is complete, and I didn't lose a single soldier."
"Well done, Thor." I patted his shoulder in approval. "Did they give you much trouble?"
Thor chuckled, his deep voice resonating. "Trouble? Father, they didn't even make me sweat. They attacked all at once, but it was over in seconds."
I let out a small laugh, though my thoughts remained heavy. "You've always been like that. But remember, Thor. Never underestimate your enemies. Pride is the beginning of downfall."
Thor shrugged, his confidence unwavering. "If they're foolish enough to challenge the justice we've established for Yggdrasil, then they deserve to die, Father."
I narrowed my eyes slightly, studying him. "Perhaps. But the most dangerous enemy is the one you cannot see."
Thor paused for a moment, perhaps trying to grasp my meaning. Before he could inquire further, I decided to steer the conversation toward its true purpose.
"This time, you will face something different."
Thor raised an eyebrow. "Another mission? Come on, Father, I just got back from Midgard. Can't I rest for a while?" he protested, half-jokingly. "I haven't even seen my wife in over a month because of your orders."
I shook my head firmly, my expression serious. "I'm afraid I can't grant your request."
Sensing the gravity of the situation, Thor narrowed his eyes. "Is it that bad?"
"Yes." I stepped back toward the throne and sat upright. "There's something you must deal with in Jotunheim, specifically in Utgard. A beast has escaped its bonds."
"Fenrir?" he asked in a low voice.
"You're aware?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I felt a strong tremor while in Midgard. I couldn't shake a bad feeling about it."
I nodded slowly. "But this isn't just about the wolf. There's a being who aided her, and they might be even more dangerous. I don't know who or what they are, but they could be a true threat. Not only have they escaped my sight, but they've also managed to unravel and warp fate itself."
Thor let out a long whistle, a habit that signaled his growing interest. "Just how strong is someone who can escape your vision, Father?"
"I don't know, but I hope you'll tread carefully."
"Who do you think I am? I'm Thor, your son, the strongest god alive. I won't fall to them easily."
"I want you to go there. First, to kill Fenrir, whose fate I can no longer predict. Second, to capture the being aiding her. But if that's not possible… kill them."
Thor grinned, his face alight with battle lust. "Finally, something exciting! I'm tired of hunting stupid giants in Midgard."
I clapped my hands against the throne's armrest, signaling him to listen carefully. "This time, it's different, Thor. Don't take this lightly. Fenrir is no longer the little girl she once was. She's more than that now."
Thor nodded, though his enthusiasm remained undiminished. "Fine, Father. I'll take the best Valkyries we have with me."
"Select a new squad. Unlike you, those who accompanied you before need time to recover."
Thor let out a long sigh. "You let them rest, but not me. You're a terrible father," he joked. "But fine, I'll do it. Besides, it sounds like fun."
I watched him for a moment, relieved that he understood my instructions. "Go, Thor. Bring honor to Asgard."
Thor turned without another word, his heavy footsteps echoing down the hall. The sound of his boots striking the stone floor resembled the drumbeats of an impending war.
I watched his back until his silhouette disappeared behind the grand doors. In the silence that reclaimed the hall, my unease remained.
Even Thor, my strongest son, might not be enough if our enemy could unravel the threads of fate. But I had no other choice.
The skies of Asgard grew darker. The orange clouds gave way to purple, casting a somber mood that weighed heavily on my chest. A new threat had emerged, and I did not know if the gods would triumph in the battles to come.