"Splash…"
By the rocky shore of the vast blue sea that stretched as far as the eye could see, the waves never settled, constantly pounding against the rocks.
And on this shore, a golden-haired maiden wearing a thin dress sat on a rock, barefoot, holding a ram's horn in her hands, playing it with a serene expression.
"Whoo…"
The wailing and low sound, accompanied by the waves incessantly beating against the rocks, had a penetrating tone that seemed ethereal and beautiful with the accompaniment of the waves.
In the damp and salty sea breeze blown by the waves, the girl's dress fluttered lightly, her long golden hair blowing loose, making her appear even more otherworldly.
This kind of instrument, made by drilling finger holes into a ram's horn, similar to a flute, was originally used by shepherdesses to call their flocks, but eventually became a beloved instrument among the Norse people due to its low and melodious sound.
And this young lady was the most skilled ram's horn player on the entire island of Rogna.
Almost everyone on Rogna Island who heard her play would exclaim in admiration: "This is a beautiful melody that would move even the gods."
But what broke the hearts of nearly all the young men on Rogna Island was that such a beautiful girl had married someone else a few months ago. However, at this moment, this newly-wed girl was playing an instrument by the seashore, the low tone revealing a hint of sorrow.
After a long while, the melody gradually ceased.
Gently putting down the ram's horn in her hand, she then gazed at the vast, endless sea before her, as if expecting something.
"Moo…"
At this moment, accompanied by the mooing of cattle, a middle-aged man herding a herd of cows passed by on the small path not far from her.
Seeing the girl on the shore, the scruffy middle-aged man shouted to her.
"Lina! Are you still waiting?"
Hearing this, the girl immediately turned and looked at the middle-aged man before her, a smile appearing on her face.
"Uncle Triff."
The middle-aged man called Triff, looking at the girl he had watched grow up since childhood, although he saw a smile on her face, the deep sorrow between her brows couldn't be erased no matter what.
Karl had been out at sea for several months. Almost everyone who had gone out to sea at the same time as him had returned within a month, loaded with food, only Karl and old Buzz hadn't come back. Everyone knew they had most likely met with misfortune and would never return, but only Lina refused to believe it and chose to keep waiting.
And in the blink of an eye, it was already autumn.
Thinking of this, Triff sighed softly, then continued.
"Lina, Karl has been out at sea for several months, maybe he's already…"
Halfway through his words, seeing the sorrow between Lina's brows deepen, Triff immediately realized and changed the subject.
"Actually, that boy Bertin has always liked you a lot. He said as long as you're willing, he can marry you anytime… If you find Bertin too impetuous, then Ella is also fine, that boy is steady and dependable…"
When he mentioned Bertin, seeing that Lina's face remained unmoved, Triff hurriedly switched.
"Uncle Triff."
But Lina directly interrupted Triff's words.
Triff's voice abruptly stopped. Under his gaze, Lina only calmly shook her head and said:
"I've decided. I will continue waiting for him."
Her voice was clear and gentle, but at this moment it sounded very resolute.
Triff opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
"What if Karl still doesn't come back?"
"Then I'll keep waiting."
"What if Karl may never come back?"
"Then I'll wait for him here my whole life."
Lina's stubborn voice entered Triff's ears.
Triff looked at her obstinate expression in astonishment. In the end, he could only sigh helplessly and left, herding the cows.
After Triff left, a look of melancholy gradually appeared on Lina's face. Lowering her head, her slender, fair fingers tightly gripped the ram's horn, not noticing they had already turned completely red.
…
The next day.
Inside the only temple on Rogna Island.
Inside the temple, the handsome statue of Njord, god of the near sea, was enshrined at the highest point, with even the other gods having to be placed below it. The elderly female seer sat quietly inside the temple, muttering words that no one else could understand.
And beside her, Lina was pleading bitterly.
"Grandma Karin, tell me, what happened to my husband Karl?"
In Norse beliefs, the female seers in temples had the power to communicate with gods and spirits. So, having no other choice, Lina could only come to seek the help of the island's female seer. But Grandma Karin, who usually doted on her, now kept her mouth shut and refused to speak no matter how much Lina pleaded.
Left with no other option, Lina could only choose to leave.
"Creak…"
After hearing the sound of the door closing, the elderly female seer's muttered words suddenly stopped. Then, the temple fell into dead silence.
After a long while, a curious voice suddenly entered the female seer's ears.
"Why didn't you tell her?"
The female seer showed no surprise at the voice that suddenly appeared beside her. She was already used to these spirits and fairies that appeared from time to time.
She sighed.
"If Lina knew her husband had gone to the land of the dead, wouldn't she faint?"
"Did her husband encounter a storm?" The fairy asked in surprise.
"If it were only that, I wouldn't be so troubled," the female seer said with a bitter smile.
"But the problem is that Karl died at the hands of the god Loki's son - the giant serpent Jormungandr, directly swallowed into its stomach… If Lina knew, wouldn't she want to avenge her Karl?"
"But that's the son of a god. Who could defeat the son of a god? Moreover, Lina is just a frail girl. If she really stubbornly goes out to sea, I'm afraid she would… before even seeing Jormungandr."
The female seer rambled on. Suddenly…
"Clack!"
Outside the door, the sound of something falling to the ground rang out.
The crisp sound instantly woke the female seer.
The female seer's heart jolted. Turning her head to look, she saw Lina standing outside the half-open temple door, her expression dazed.
And at her feet, the ram's horn that had slipped from her hand was rolling on the ground.