The room in the inn was dimly lit, the soft flicker of candlelight casting long shadows on the walls. Eirik lay still on the bed, his chest rising and falling slowly, the toll of the recent battles visible in the bruises and bandages that covered his body. Freya was curled up next to him, her small head resting on his chest, silent tears streaming down her face as she listened to the faint rhythm of his heartbeat. She clutched his shirt, as if afraid that if she let go, he'd disappear.
The door creaked open, and in walked the female twin, carrying fresh bandages and a bowl of warm water. Her steps were quiet, but Freya sensed her presence and turned. Through her tear-filled eyes, she recognized the twin.
"Lara..." Freya whispered, her voice trembling as she clung even tighter to Eirik. The weight of everything that had happened seemed to crush her in that moment.
Lara paused mid-step, her expression softening as she saw Freya's tear-streaked face. Setting the bowl down, she approached the bed, kneeling beside Freya.
"It's going to be alright," Lara murmured, reaching out a gentle hand to touch Freya's shoulder.
But at Lara's touch, Freya broke, her small body shaking with sobs. "I— I can't— it's too much. Eirik— he— he's all I have," she cried, her words barely coherent between gasps for air. The sorrow in her voice filled the room, wrapping around them like a suffocating fog.
Lara knelt closer, gathering Freya in her arms, careful not to disturb Eirik. "Shh... I'm here," she said softly, her heart aching for the young girl. "We'll get through this."
The sound of Freya's tears filled the room, and Lara glanced at Eirik, still unconscious, his face pale but peaceful. She closed her eyes for a moment, as if trying to steady herself against the overwhelming sadness in the room. Slowly, she began to change Eirik's bandages, the quiet task giving her hands something to do, while Freya wept against her.
The storm outside raged on, but inside, the only sound was the soft, broken sobs of a girl who had lost too much, too soon.
As Lara finished cleaning Eirik's wounds, she tied off the fresh bandages with a gentle touch, her eyes lingering on the young man's still form. She could feel Freya's trembling beside her, the little girl's sobs gradually subsiding into quieter sniffles.
Lara wiped her hands clean with a cloth and turned her attention fully to Freya, who had buried her face in her arms, still resting against Eirik's chest. Gently, Lara brushed a lock of hair from Freya's tear-streaked face, her expression soft with concern.
"Hey," Lara said in a tender voice, crouching down beside Freya. "You're not alone in this, Freya. Eirik's strong. He's going to be okay."
Freya blinked up at her, her eyes red and puffy from crying. "But... what if he doesn't wake up? What if... something happens?" Her voice cracked, the fear in it clear as day.
Lara's heart clenched at the raw emotion in Freya's voice. She reached for Freya's hands and held them gently, squeezing them in reassurance. "I know you're scared. But Eirik's a fighter. You've seen it yourself, right?" She gave Freya a warm smile, trying to infuse some hope into her words. "Besides, he has you. He's going to fight to stay by your side."
Freya wiped her nose with the back of her hand, her lip quivering as she looked back down at Eirik. "I-I don't want to lose him," she whispered, voice barely audible.
"You won't," Lara assured her, her voice steady. "And until he's back on his feet, you and I are going to take care of him together, okay?"
Freya looked up at her, a flicker of something—perhaps hope—sparking in her tear-filled eyes. Lara smiled wider, sitting down beside her on the bed. "You know, when I was little, I used to believe that every time a storm came, the world was crying for something important that had been lost. But do you know what I realized later?"
Freya shook her head, her curiosity briefly overcoming her sadness.
"I realized that after every storm, there's always something beautiful that follows—like a rainbow or a sky full of stars." Lara tilted her head toward the window where the wind howled outside, the storm in full force. "This storm will pass too. And when it does, you'll see. Eirik will be stronger than ever. You just have to believe in him, the way he believes in you."
Freya sniffled again, wiping the last of her tears as she looked at Lara, a small, shaky smile beginning to form on her lips. "Do you really think so?"
"I know so," Lara said, her smile unwavering. She gave Freya a playful nudge. "And when he wakes up, we'll make sure he has the best welcome party ever, alright?"
Freya giggled softly at the thought, a sound so small and fragile, but it was a start. "Okay..." she agreed, her voice no longer so heavy with despair.
Lara patted her on the back gently, her own heart feeling lighter now. "That's the spirit. Now, how about you get some rest too? You'll need your strength when he wakes up. I can watch over him for a while."
Freya nodded, finally letting herself relax a little. As Lara helped her settle down beside Eirik, a faint glimmer of hope began to fill the room—enough to keep them going through the storm.
Eirik groaned as he stirred, his body aching from the wounds that hadn't fully healed. He tried to sit up, but the pain made him falter. The first thing he noticed was Freya, her small form trembling beside him.
"Freya..." Eirik whispered, his voice weak but filled with concern. He brushed a hand gently through her hair, his heart aching at the sight of her crying. "How long have I been asleep?"
Freya didn't answer, avoiding his question. Instead, she threw herself into him, clutching his shirt tightly as if afraid he might slip away again. "Eirik!" she cried, her voice thick with emotion. "I was so scared… I thought you weren't going to wake up!"
Her sobs hit him hard, each tear breaking him a little more inside. Despite the pain coursing through his body, Eirik wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. "Freya... I'm here," he murmured, his voice soft and comforting. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
Freya buried her face against his chest, her body shaking with the weight of her fear. "I don't want to lose you, Eirik," she whispered, her words muffled by his shirt. "You promised…"
Eirik's chest tightened. He had promised to protect her, and seeing her like this made him realize just how close he had come to breaking that promise. "I know, Freya," he said softly, lifting her chin so he could meet her tear-filled eyes. "But I'm still here. I kept my promise."
Freya's lip quivered, and she hugged him even tighter, the tears still falling. Eirik could feel the weight of her worry, the fear that had built up while he was unconscious. It wasn't just the physical pain she was afraid of—it was the world they were trapped in, the overwhelming force of everything that was happening around them.
He held her on his lap, wincing as his wounds protested, but he ignored the pain. Freya needed him more than ever now. "Listen to me," he whispered, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "I know things seem impossible right now... but I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Not again."
Eirik's jaw tightened, his mind swirling with memories of the battles, the pain, and the overwhelming force of the world they lived in. He'd been close—so close to losing everything. But there was one thing he hadn't lost.
"Freya," he began, his voice barely above a whisper.
Freya blinked, her tears slowing as she looked up at him. She nodded slowly, unsure where he was going with this.
Eirik's gaze hardened, but there was a sadness in his eyes. "Prometheus carried a title. He tried to change things, but the world... it crushed him. They silenced him because he stood for something different, something they couldn't control."
Freya sniffled, her small hand gripping his shirt as she listened.
"I'm going to take up that title," Eirik said, his voice filled with quiet determination. "I'll become the Blasphemous God, not because I want power or revenge... but because I have to. Because no one else can carry this weight."
Freya stared at him, her heart racing. She could see the weight of the decision he had made—the pain, the responsibility he was willing to take on for both of them.
Her lips trembled as she spoke, her voice barely a whisper. "But... what if you die? What if they kill you like they did Prometheus?" The fear in her voice was palpable, each word trembling with the possibility of loss.
Eirik paused, his heart aching at her question. He looked down at her, his gaze softening as he brushed away the remaining tears from her cheeks. "Freya... it's not about dying or not dying," he said gently, his voice carrying a quiet strength. "It's about having a purpose. It's about completing what you set out to do."
Freya's brow furrowed, confusion and worry etched into her face. "But... what if it costs you everything?"
Eirik's smile was faint, but there was a deep, unshakable certainty in his eyes. "A man without a purpose is as good as dead already. Living... truly living, means more than just surviving, Freya. It means having something to fight for, something that drives you forward. And as long as I have that—no matter what happens—I'm alive."
Freya's fingers tightened around his shirt, her voice trembling. "But... I don't want to lose you."
"You won't," Eirik replied softly, pulling her close once more. "As long as I wake up to see another day, I'm happy. Every day is a gift, and I'll use each one to keep my promise to you. To protect you."
Freya stared at him, her heart racing. She didn't understand everything, but Eirik's words brought her a strange sense of comfort. His calmness, his quiet resolve—it was like he had made peace with whatever came next.
"You're not alone, Freya," Eirik whispered, pressing his forehead gently to hers. "No matter what happens, I'll always come back to you."
Freya buried her face in his chest again, her tears slowing as the warmth of his words settled in her heart. Eirik held her, feeling the weight of the title he was about to carry, but knowing that no matter the burden, his purpose was clear.
And for now, that was enough.
As Eirik held Freya close, her tears finally slowing, the door to the room creaked open. The male twin stepped inside, his eyes serious as he glanced between Eirik and his sister, Lara, who had been quietly observing from the corner.
The twin knelt down before Eirik, lowering his head in a gesture of humility and respect. "My name is Leon," he began, his voice steady but filled with gratitude. "And this is my sister, Lara. We owe you more than we can express, Eirik. Your strength... and your willingness to protect Freya, to protect all of us, has shown us something we didn't think still existed in this world."
He looked up at Eirik, his gaze firm yet grateful. "We've lived our lives on the fringes, surviving day by day, watching the world grow darker. But in the short time we've known you, you've shown us a different path—a way forward that doesn't end in despair."
Eirik shifted slightly, wincing as his wounds reminded him of the battle he had just endured. His gaze met Leon's, and for a moment, the two men regarded one another in silence.
Leon's face softened as he smiled, a quiet determination flickering in his eyes. "I want to help you, Eirik. I want to stand by the side of the man who will change the world." His voice grew more earnest as he added, "I humbly ask... will you let me accompany you on your journey?"
Eirik blinked, taken aback by the sincerity in Leon's request. The room fell silent, Freya lifting her head from Eirik's chest to watch the interaction. Lara, too, stood quietly by, her gaze steady as she waited for Eirik's response.
Eirik's gaze moved between the twins, his mind swirling with thoughts. He hadn't expected this—a request for companionship, for loyalty from him as he had only just met him earlier . But there was something in Leon's eyes, a burning desire to do more than just survive, a desire Eirik understood all too well.
For a moment, the room was filled with silence as Eirik processed the request. But then, without warning, Eirik's shoulders shook, and a burst of laughter escaped him. He threw his head back, chuckling deeply, a rare moment of levity in the midst of all the heaviness.
Leon blinked in surprise, and even Freya lifted her head, confused by Eirik's sudden laughter.
"Formalities?" Eirik said through his chuckles, shaking his head. "There's no need for all that. We're not in some royal court or standing on a battlefield of kings." He waved a hand dismissively, still grinning as he calmed himself. "You can follow me if you want, but don't go kneeling and calling me some sort of hero."
Leon looked up at him, blinking once more before his lips slowly curled into a smile, the tension in his shoulders easing. Even Lara, who had been standing quietly in the background, allowed a small smile to tug at the corner of her lips.
Eirik leaned back against the wall, wincing slightly as his body protested. "We're all in this mess together, aren't we?" he said, his tone lighter now. "If you want to come along, then come. No need for all that 'humble request' nonsense. I'm not some great leader or anything like that."
Freya, still nestled in Eirik's arms, managed a small smile as she watched him laugh. The mood in the room had shifted, the earlier sadness lifting just a little with Eirik's infectious energy.
Leon stood up, his face a mix of relief and amusement. "Alright," he said with a chuckle. "But I still want to help however I can."