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Taylor Hebert woke with a start, her heart pounding as the remnants of her nightmare clung to her consciousness. She remembered the locker, the darkness closing in on her, the terror that had gripped her so tightly she thought she might never escape. But then there was the raven—its cry cutting through the suffocating fear, pulling her back from the edge of madness.
She blinked, trying to shake off the lingering sense of dread, and slowly sat up. Her surroundings were dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of old wood and incense. She squinted, taking in the unfamiliar space. A wooden pew creaked beneath her as she shifted, and it was then that she noticed the stained glass windows casting muted colors across the floor. They depicted scenes from ancient mythology—warriors battling serpents, gods wielding lightning, and trees with roots that seemed to reach deep into the earth.
It took her a moment to recognize where she was. The building, though aged and worn, was unmistakable. She was inside the old stave church deep within Brockton Bay's most forsaken district. The structure was modeled after the Heddal stave church in Notodden, Norway, a relic of a distant past that had somehow survived the devastation that had swept through the city.
Her mother had always been fascinated by the church. An English professor with a deep love for history and mythology, she had often taken Taylor on tours around the city, pointing out landmarks and telling their stories. The church had been one of her favorite stops. Built by Scandinavian immigrants in the late 1700s, around 1777 during the American Revolutionary War, the church was a marvel of craftsmanship, its wooden walls and towering spires adorned with intricate carvings that told the tales of Norse gods and heroes.
But the church had been more than just a place of worship. According to the stories her mother had shared, the immigrants who built it had been drawn to Brockton Bay by a strange and powerful presence. They believed that one of their gods had visited this land long ago, and they had come here to honour him. The church had stood as a beacon of their faith, even as the world around it changed.
As the years passed and the city grew, the area around the church began to decline. The rise of parahumans had brought chaos and destruction to Brockton Bay, and nowhere was that more evident than in this forgotten corner of the city. Years ago, Lung, a notorious villain, had rampaged through the neighbourhood during a battle with the Protectorate, burning nearly everything of value to the ground. The once-thriving community had been reduced to ashes, leaving only a handful of dilapidated houses and the old stave church standing.
The neighbourhood, now spanning only about two city blocks—around 528 feet or 160 meters—was so poor and broken that it had been all but abandoned by the city. Even the gangs, who fought bitterly over the more valuable parts of Brockton Bay, seemed to have reached an unspoken agreement to leave this area alone. It was a no-man's-land, a place so devoid of worth that not even the most desperate criminals bothered with it.
Taylor shivered, pulling her jacket tighter around her as she took in the quiet desolation of the church. How had she ended up here? The last thing she remembered was the locker, the terror, and then… the raven.
A soft rustle drew her attention, and she looked up to see the raven perched on the altar at the front of the church. Its sleek black feathers shimmered in the dim light, and its dark eyes, so unnervingly intelligent, were fixed on her.
Without thinking, she rose to her feet and slowly approached the bird. It watched her with a steady gaze, not moving, not flinching. Taylor felt a strange connection to the raven, a sense that it had been with her through everything, that it had somehow saved her from the horrors of the locker. She wanted to touch it, to feel that connection more deeply.
Her hand reached out, trembling slightly as she drew closer. The raven tilted its head, as if considering her, and then, with a soft caw, it allowed her fingers to brush against its feathers.
The moment she made contact, the world around her shifted.
The church vanished, and Taylor found herself standing in a vast, empty void. The air around her crackled with energy, and in the distance, she saw a figure approaching. He was tall and imposing, clad in golden armour that seemed to glow with an inner light. His long silver hair flowed like a river of light, and his single eye, a piercing blue, locked onto hers with a gaze that seemed to pierce through her very soul.
Taylor's breath caught in her throat. She had no idea who this was, but something deep within her recognized him.
"Who are you?" she whispered, her voice trembling in the vast emptiness.
The figure stopped before her, his presence overwhelming. "I am Odin," he said, his voice deep and resonant. "Allfather of the Norse gods, ruler of Asgard, and once the wielder of the Odinforce. And you, Taylor Hebert, are my descendant through my son."
Taylor stared at him, her mind reeling. "Your son? But… how?"
Odin's gaze softened slightly, though his tone remained serious. "Eons ago, during your country's war for Independence, my son, Thor, was cast from the Bifrost during a battle that spanned realms. He landed on this world, in this very land, and for a time, he lived among your people. He had a child, and from that child, a line was born—a line that leads to you."
Taylor felt a jolt of disbelief. "I'm… related to Thor?"
"Yes," Odin confirmed. "Though the bloodline has been diluted over time, it is still strong enough to make you the perfect vessel for the power that once flowed through me. That is why you were chosen, Taylor. You are my heir, in a sense, and the Odinforce, though weakened, now resides within you."
"But why didn't anyone else in my family have powers?" Taylor asked, still struggling to grasp the enormity of what she was hearing.
"When Thor returned to Asgard, I learned of his child on this world," Odin explained. "At the time, Earth Bet was a realm untouched by parahumans or any other supernatural presence. I could not risk drawing attention to this world, so I reached across the dimensions and sealed away the power that would have manifested in Thor's descendant. The world was not ready for such a force, and I could not allow it to bring ruin before its time."
Taylor's mind spun with the implications. This power, this legacy, had been hidden for centuries, and now it was awakening within her. "But what am I supposed to do with it?"
Odin's expression grew more intense, a sense of urgency creeping into his voice. "The power within you will grow, and with it, your ability to shape the world around you. But it is not the power alone that defines you—it is the choices you make. I was a force for good in my time, and I hope you will choose the same. But know that the power is yours now, and you must walk your own path."
Taylor felt a mixture of fear and determination rising within her. "And if I don't? If I choose another path?"
Odin's gaze hardened slightly. "Whatever path you choose, there is one enemy you must face: a being I could not defeat, one who lurks in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike. All I ask is that when the time comes, you do what I could not. You must slay my final enemy."
Before Taylor could ask who or what this enemy was, she felt a shift in the air. The raven, which had been perched silently on her shoulder in this strange dreamscape, cawed softly, drawing her attention.
Taylor looked at the bird, her voice trembling. "And the raven? What is it?"
Odin smiled, a hint of warmth returning to his stern features. "His name is Muninn, one of my faithful ravens. He served me well, watching over the realms and bringing me knowledge. Now, he will serve you, as a companion and guide, through life and death, no matter the path you choose."
Taylor looked at Muninn, the connection between them deepening with every passing moment. She felt a sense of reassurance, knowing that whatever lay ahead, she wouldn't face it alone.
Taylor's heart raced as she tried to process everything Odin was telling her. She pushed aside the growing connection she felt with Muninn and refocused her attention on Odin. She was almost scared to ask—here was one of the most powerful beings in all mythologies, asking her to do something he could not. But she had to know. Despite her racing heart and the lump forming in her throat, Taylor gathered her courage and asked, "What… what is this enemy?"
Odin's expression darkened, and his voice took on a grave tone. "The Shadow of the Void, a force that transcends the realms, born from the darkest corners of existence. It is what brought the entities to your world—the beings that grant parahumans their powers. They are harbingers of destruction, tools of chaos used by the Shadow to destabilize and eventually consume entire worlds."
Taylor's breath caught as she realized the enormity of what she was up against. The entities responsible for the powers that defined her world were part of something far darker and more dangerous than anyone had imagined. She couldn't believe it. Like everyone else on PHO, she had wondered about the origins of parahuman powers, with countless theories circulating in the forums. But this went beyond anything anyone could have conceived.
"In my time, I fought this enemy, but I could not defeat it," Odin continued, his voice heavy with regret. "The entities escaped the prison I tried to contain them in, and now they plague your world, sowing chaos through the powers they grant. The Shadow of the Void has set its sights on your world, Taylor, and it is only a matter of time before it makes its move."
"What can I do?" Taylor asked, her voice filled with a mix of fear and determination. "How can I stop something like that? How can I stop something you could not?"
Odin's gaze softened, and he placed a hand on her shoulder, a gesture both comforting and solemn. "You have the Odinforce within you, the same power I wielded in my prime. It will grow, and with it, your ability to confront the Shadow. But it is not just power that will determine your success. It is your heart, your choices, and your will to protect those you care about. I could not defeat them because I underestimated their cunning and ability. By the time I realized it was too late, they had watched and studied Asgard, collecting data and learning everything they could about me. Through their powers, they caused chaos and struck when I was at my most vulnerable—when I was about to go into Odin Sleep."
Taylor nodded, feeling the weight of her responsibility settling on her shoulders. "I'll do it," she said, her voice firm. "I'll stop the Shadow of the Void. My world isn't perfect; many people on PHO think we are heading toward worldwide anarchy or the end of the world. But it is still my world, and I will do everything in my power to protect it."
Odin's expression softened, and a hint of hope entered his voice. "Aye, lass, that is the type of fire I have only ever seen in my son. In times of despair, remember that fire you carry within. But I'm afraid there is one more thing I ask of you," he said, his expression growing more serious. "Asgard, the realm of the gods, is gone, but it can be reborn. It will not be the same as it once was, but it can rise again, stronger and more resilient. I ask that you take on the task of rebuilding Asgard, of gathering the remnants of the old world and forging a new one."
Taylor felt a surge of determination. The idea of rebuilding a lost realm and carrying on the legacy of a god was daunting, but it also felt… right—like a purpose she had been searching for, even if she hadn't realized it.
She looked up at him, fire burning in her eyes, and nodded her head in acceptance without hesitation.
All of a sudden, Odin smiled, the biggest smile she had seen on his face since the conversation started.
"Amazing! I know what I've asked of you is not an easy task, Taylor, but your willingness to accept such a burden speaks highly of your character. I see a fire in your eyes that I have only ever seen in my son, Thor. His legacy burns bright within you. I have no doubt you will achieve what I could not—that you will be stronger, more just, and wiser, and that you will become even greater than I. But woe betide me if I asked this of you without providing you with the tools to make your journey easier. Come here, child; I have a gift for you," Odin said, his voice growing gentler.
Taylor approached him cautiously, each step shaky but deliberate. The closer she got to him, the more she could feel his overwhelming presence—a force that seemed to press down on her, filling the air with a sense of ancient power and authority. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she continued forward, drawn by both curiosity and the weight of what she had agreed to.
As she finally stood before him, Odin reached out and tapped her forehead gently.
As his fingers left her forehead, the void around them shifted, and Taylor saw ancient symbols glowing with a soft, ethereal light, floating in the air around her.
"These are the World Runes," Odin explained. "Symbols of power, etched into the fabric of reality itself. They can shape the world and bend it to your will. I sacrificed my eye for the knowledge of these runes, and although you have knowledge of the basics now, if you wish to master them, I'm afraid you too must be willing to sacrifice something dear."
Taylor stared at the runes, feeling their power resonate within her. She understood now, at least in part, what Odin was offering her—a path to greater power, but one that would come at a cost. The choice, as always, was hers.
Odin looked down at her and smiled as she became lost in the runes. "I remember when I first learned the runes. It was as if I had been blind my whole life, and all of a sudden, I could see."
"Our time runs short now," Odin said as he began to fade, his form dissolving into the void. "Remember, Taylor Hebert, the power within you is ancient and vast, but it is your heart that will guide its use. And when the time comes, do not forget the true enemy. Muninn will be with you, always."
With those final words, Odin disappeared, and Taylor found herself back in the church. Muninn was perched beside her, his dark eyes watching her intently. The weight of what had just happened pressed down on her, but alongside it was a newfound sense of purpose.
She had been given power, knowledge, and a choice. The path ahead was uncertain, filled with dangers and challenges she couldn't yet imagine. But with Muninn by her side and the runes now a part of her, Taylor knew she wasn't the same girl who had been trapped in that locker.
She was something more. Something new.
And the world would soon learn what that meant.