Before closing the door, my eyes glanced outside the room, ensuring no one was spying or following us. I shut the bedroom door slowly, making sure no one could overhear our conversation.
My room wasn't very spacious, but it was cozy enough. A bookshelf filled with thick tomes lined the right wall, and next to it stood a small table with several bottles of perfume I often used.
A large bed with dark purple sheets adorned with silver embroidery dominated the space. In the corner of the room, Aqua and Crimson were still curled up on their bedding.
I took a deep breath and hesitantly made my way to the table near the window. Two wooden chairs stood there, appearing simple compared to the rest of the furniture. I patted the table, gesturing for Emma to sit.
"Have a seat," I said softly, trying to hide my nervousness.
Emma seemed hesitant but eventually nodded and sat down carefully, her back straight and her hands resting on her lap.
I pulled the other chair closer until it was directly across from her, then sat down, leaning back against the chair with my legs slightly stretched out and my hands propping up my head.
I studied her carefully, trying to start a conversation without intimidating her further. But… the words felt stuck in my throat. I wasn't used to doing something like this.
Interrogating someone seriously wasn't my style, and I didn't even know where to begin. Truthfully, it made me feel awkward. I rubbed the back of my neck, searching for the right way to start.
"Emma," I finally called out in a low voice, trying to sound as calm as possible. "Do you know why I called you here?"
"No, Lady Fenrys." She shook her head, her gaze fixed downward, not daring to meet my eyes directly.
"That scent," I continued, my tone growing more serious. "I've often caught a strange smell in this castle, and for some reason, it frequently comes from you."
Emma looked up with a puzzled expression, tilting her head slightly. "A strange smell?" she asked, her tone laced with confusion.
I nodded, even though my face flushed with my own nervousness. "Yes, a smell that… well, how should I describe it?" I ran a hand over my face in frustration, trying to find the right words. "At first, I thought it was just your scent, but the more I paid attention, the more I realized it was… mixed with something else."
Emma's confusion deepened. "I don't understand, my lady. Are you saying there's another scent besides mine?"
"Yes!" I replied, my voice accidentally rising. I quickly covered my mouth and took a deep breath to calm myself. "I mean, yes. There's another scent. And that scent… reminds me of Asgard."
"Asgard?" Emma frowned, her eyes now filled with both confusion and fear. "What do you mean, my lady?"
"Do you know anyone from Asgard?"
Emma lowered her head, her fingers clutching the edge of her skirt tightly. "I honestly don't know, my lady. I'm just a simple servant. How could I possibly know anyone from Asgard?"
"That's true, I suppose." I unintentionally agreed with her reasoning but immediately shook my head to dispel my gullibility. "No, no, that's not right."
"But I'm telling the truth, my lady. I don't know anyone from Asgard," Emma insisted, her eyes brimming with tears as if to emphasize her sincerity.
I stared at her intently, searching for any cracks in her answer, but found none. She seemed too frightened to lie. Moreover, she genuinely appeared clueless.
I sighed, then grabbed her shoulders firmly.
"Emma," I called her in a low voice. "It's not that I don't believe you. It's just… just…" I furrowed my brow, struggling to find the right words.
Emma looked at me, equally puzzled.
"I just want to protect you. Yes, that's it, I just want to protect you."
"From whom?" Emma tilted her head slightly.
"Of course, from the people of Asgard!"
My raised voice startled Emma slightly, her face once again filled with nervousness, though she had seemed calmer earlier.
"S-sorry, Emma. I didn't mean to frighten you."
"I-I understand, Lady Fenrys."
After a moment, Emma finally calmed down. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
"E-Emma," I called again, my voice lower this time. "Are you sure you've never noticed anything strange? Like, someone approaching you or… or giving you something?"
Emma shook her head quickly, though her expression grew more uneasy. "No, my lady. I truly don't feel like I know anyone from Asgard. Besides, aren't they all our enemies—the Jotun's enemies?"
Her question hit me like a blow to the gut.
Yeah, I know that. I know it better than anyone here because I've experienced firsthand how they treat us. Jotun and Aesir are two races that can never truly unite. Maybe some can tolerate it, but not all.
We're like oil and water, never able to fully blend.
"Lady Fenrys?"
Emma's voice snapped me out of my reverie. I turned to see her looking at me with concern, worried about my sudden silence.
"I'm fine, don't worry."
"Very well, my lady."
I sighed, then leaned forward to face her, my gaze serious. "If you suddenly remember something—anything—you must tell me, understand? I have a bad feeling about the people around you."
Emma nodded quickly, though her face remained anxious. "Y-yes, my lady. I will."
I exhaled in relief, though the uneasy feeling still weighed heavily on my chest. "You may go now," I said flatly. "But remember, Emma, I'll be watching you."
Emma stood quickly, bowed respectfully, then stepped back a few paces before turning and heading toward the door. I watched her back until she exited and closed the door behind her.
After she left, I remained seated, staring blankly at the floor. Something felt off, but I couldn't pinpoint what it was. And that frustrated me even more. I rubbed my face in frustration, then leaned back in the chair.
"What exactly is happening in this castle?" I muttered to myself, my voice barely a whisper that echoed faintly against the walls of my room. "Even though I know I'm clueless, I can't shake this bad feeling."
*****
[PoV Thor]
I stood on the balcony of Valhalla, the dwelling of the Valkyries and Einherjar. My eyes gazed at the horizon stretching far into the distance. The warm air of Asgard brushed against my skin, bringing a small measure of comfort.
My mind, however, was preoccupied with preparations for the journey to Utgard, the place where two dangerous entities remained hidden: Fenrir, the wolf of Ragnarok, and someone who had managed to escape fate and evade the Allfather's all-seeing gaze.
"Veiløs Vandrer," I muttered.
Veiløs Vandrer—the Pathless Wanderer—a title bestowed by my father for someone who could elude the threads of fate woven by the Norns and escape even his sight.
My grip on Mjolnir tightened. I could feel its pulse in my hand, a rhythm that matched my own heartbeat. It had been a long time since Mjolnir had reacted this way, as though sensing a formidable adversary awaiting ahead, someone worthy of challenging us.
"Eager, are you, Mjolnir?" I murmured with a faint smile.
"L-Lord Thor."
I turned at the sound of someone calling me from behind and saw a young Valkyrie approaching hesitantly. Her face was flush with nervousness—likely one of the newly appointed by the Allfather.
"Are you new here?"
The Valkyrie nodded quickly. "Yes, my name is Lydra."
"Pleasure to meet you, Lydra," I said with a friendly smile. "This journey will take at least a week once we set off. Make sure you take your time to prepare because once we begin, there's no turning back."
She nodded again, perhaps too nervous to say anything further, and quickly excused herself with a respectful bow.
I let out a long sigh, twirling Mjolnir in my hand to loosen the tension in my muscles.
Suddenly, a familiar laugh reached my ears, making me frown. That sound, always filled with mockery, never failed to make me want to punch its owner.
"Thor, my dear brother! You've truly caught my interest this time," Loki called out in his usual cheerful tone.
I turned to find the slender figure of my brother standing there, his shoulder-length dark green hair framing his sly grin.
With a subtle flick of his hand, Loki caused one of the wall lanterns to burst into a small cascade of sparks—of course, just to irritate me.
"Loki," I said flatly. "What do you want?"
"Oh, I just wanted to announce that I'll be joining you on this journey," he said, strolling toward me casually.
I narrowed my eyes at him. "What business do you have in Utgard?"
Loki patted my shoulder. "Relax, Thor. I merely wish to see the face of my foolish daughter. Nothing more."
I squinted at him, not buying his words so easily. "I doubt you're only interested in seeing Fenrir. She's your daughter, after all. You must have other plans regarding this, don't you?"
He chuckled softly, his grin widening. "Do you really think I care about her? Not in the slightest!"
"Then what's your true purpose in going there?"
The trickster shrugged. "I just think it'll be fun."
"You think this mission is a joke, don't you?" My fists clenched, the urge to hit him rising with every word he spoke.
Loki laughed again. "Do you think I'll cause trouble? Oh, come now, Thor. I promise to behave. If it makes you feel better, I can even bind myself with a magical vow."
I shook my head, tired of his antics. "There's no need, Loki. I don't care what you're planning. But listen carefully." I stepped closer, lowering my voice threateningly. "If you betray us, I'll destroy you myself. Understood?"
Instead of being intimidated, Loki grinned even wider, showing his teeth. He patted my shoulder again in mock camaraderie, but I immediately brushed his hand away and stepped back.
"Oh, Thor, you always know how to make me feel special," he teased.
Clicking my tongue in annoyance, I turned away from him without another word.
This journey was already complicated enough without Loki adding to the chaos. But as much as I hated his presence, a small part of me couldn't shake the feeling that Loki knew something I didn't. Something that might change everything.
Mjolnir pulsed again in my hand, a steady reminder to keep my focus on the greater threat. "Whatever awaits us in Utgard," I murmured to myself, "we'll face it together."