[Outside, the Athena Legion's mansion exuded a quiet strength, fitting for a place that housed Elyngard's finest warriors. Nestled on the edge of a cliff overlooking the city of Elyngard, the sprawling estate stood against the backdrop of dense emerald woods, their towering trees standing guard over the grounds. The mansion itself was a grand yet rugged structure, crafted from stone and dark wood that seemed to blend naturally with its surroundings, as if it had risen from the earth rather than been built atop it.
A wide cobblestone path led to the grand arched entrance, lined with statues of ancient heroes, each one a silent reminder of the legacy the Athena Legion upheld. The front of the mansion was framed by climbing ivy and vibrant wildflowers, softening its imposing exterior with splashes of color that danced in the breeze. Tall windows reflected the setting sun, casting a warm, amber glow across the walls, making the mansion seem both welcoming and formidable.
From here, one could hear the distant rush of the waterfalls, a reminder of the ever-present power of nature and the precarious balance the Legion kept. Hidden within the quiet beauty was an edge of readiness, as if the mansion itself was bracing for the inevitable battles to come. And from its watchtower, one could see nearly all of Elyngard below—a vantage point that offered not just a view but a silent promise of protection to the city that depended on them.
Inside, Lied Athena's fierce expression told Dante everything he needed to know about the trials awaiting them.
She stood in the center of the room, her arms crossed, eyes narrowed in contemplation. Dante knew that look—it meant she wasn't pleased, and right now, he didn't need her anger. Not after the fight with Quinzel. Not after knowing Freya would undoubtedly seek retaliation.]
Dante broke the silence first. "I know you're mad about Quinzel, but—"
"Mad?" Athena's voice was calm, but the sharp edge of it made Dante tense. "You're aware that your fight has now involved the Freya Legion, right? She won't just sit by."
Dante scratched the back of his neck, trying for a smile. "Freya's bark is worse than her bite."
Athena's gaze was icy. "That's what concerns me, Dante. Freya is not one to forget slights. There will be consequences."
Lina, standing quietly at Dante's side, hesitated before stepping forward. "Athena, I know this is a bad time, but I... I wanted to ask for your help."
Athena shifted her attention to the girl. "Lina, isn't it?" Her eyes softened. "What could be so pressing that it needs attention now?"
Lina took a deep breath. "I... I want to be free from my family."
Athena raised an eyebrow. "The Everharts? Why would you want to leave them? They're one of the most powerful families in Asgardis."
Lina glanced at Dante, who nodded for her to continue. "After my mother's death... things got worse. My father—he's changed. The whole family is in shambles, controlled by fear and Odin's influence. I can't stay there."
Athena's expression shifted, her brow furrowing. "Odin...?" The name alone made her uneasy. The Aesir had always been distant, but if they were meddling with the Everharts...
Lina nodded. "I don't know all the details, but I've overheard Odin mention Heimdall has a weakness. Something we could use."
Athena was silent for a moment, processing. "Heimdall?" She looked skeptical. "Even if that were true, do you realize the risk? Taking on someone as powerful as Heimdall, let alone the entire Aesir. would be suicide. Elyngard itself would be at stake."
"But-" Lina was about to speak. However-
"If you mess with one. You mess with all of them." Athena assures her, the look in her eyes don't fail her voice.
Lina's face fell, disappointment washing over her features. She knew it was a hard job. But she desperately wanted to leave that hellhole. "...Right." She looks down. Her eyes wavering at the realization; She might be hopeless.
Dante, seeing Lina's crestfallen expression, couldn't hold back. "Athena, there has something we can do. Yumi was a noble family too, and she's with us. They're tied to the Tsukuyomi Legion, aren't they?"
Athena's eyes softened for a moment. "Yumi's situation is different, Dante. Her family gave up on her long ago. Lina's family hasn't."
Dante was undeterred. "That doesn't mean we should just sit here and do nothing. I promised I'd help her."
Lili. Who all of this time was watching them. Has a sad look on her face; Poor Lina. She didn't want her to be stuck in her palace; and even a little girl like her knew the stakes for her. Decides to grab Lina's hand. And take her upstairs. Hiding her from the conversation. "Ah! What the-"
"Huh?" Dante looked with a dumbfounded look on his face. Not understanding what his little sister is doing. But she only gives a thumbs up with a wink. And of course her little grin.
Athena gazed at the two as the door of Lili's room has been shut. She sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "It's not a choice, Dante, I've already lost Ares.... I don't want to lose you too."
Dante met her eyes, his voice steady. Memories running through his head of a man who had always had a smile on their face.
"You won't." He assured,
"That's what he said before he retired godhood, and died!" Athena reminded him. Putting a hand on her chest. Leaning closer to his face so he can catch her gaze.
"I won't be like like him!" He claimed,
"There's always a choice. And I don't plan on dying anytime soon. I can promise you that." He kept, Putting a hand on his chest.
"Nothing's happened to me until now; and that won't change."
Both Lili and Lina were currently with their ears against the doors, hearing what the two are talking about. Lina just looks over at Lili with a look of confusion, to which Lili just gives her a very blank shrug.
Meanwhile...
"Look. I have an idea," Dante said, leaning in slightly. "Let me talk to the Norns. They control fate, right? If they say this is doomed, we drop it. But if they say it's possible, we move forward."
Athena's hesitation was palpable. The Norns? They weren't to be trifled with, but... "And you really believe they'll give you an answer?"
Dante grinned. "I'll ask nicely."
Athena shook her head, but there was a small smile on her lips. "You always were stubborn."
There was a moment of silence before Athena nodded.
"Fine. But if they say it's a lost cause, you come back. No questions."
"You have my word." Dante placed a hand over his heart again, this time in mock sincerity. A little smile on his face as he does so.
And then, a sudden voice chimed in. "I'm coming too!"
Both turned to see Lili, already geared up with her adventurer equipment, an eager grin on her face.
Athena shook her head, exasperated. "Lili, no."
Lili pouted. "But I can help!"
"Stay here," Athena ordered firmly. "I don't need two Koryu's going off into dangerous territory."
Lili crossed her arms, sulking. "Fine..."
Dante watched the exchange, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Dante leaned down and whispered, "I'll be back before you know it."
He flashed her a grin, which did little to ease her worry but brought some warmth to her chest. Dante looked around the room for Lina, but couldn't seem to find her.
"Where is she?" He questioned,
"She plopped out of the window. She thought that it was a lost cause." Lili said with a goofy look on her face.
"Wait what?! She left?" He says eyes wide. While Lili just shrugs.
"And we're talking about lost causes?" Dante put his hands up in a questionable gesture.
As he stepped outside the Legion Hall, Dante looked around, and then soon after finding her. He turned to Lina's direction.
"Hey." He called her out, and she was currently putting her cloak on, ready to go back. But the call out was the action that thankfully stopped her.
"Hm?"
"We're going to help you, no matter what." He said with a little determined smirk on his face.
"Actually?"
"I think I don't have to repeat it." He said with a little smile on his face. Which caused her to grin.
Lina exhaled, her shoulders relaxing. "Thank you. But... how are we going to find the Norns?"
Dante tapped the side of his nose, smirking. "I've got a plan."
They hadn't gone far before two wolves bounded into view. Their dark fur rippled in the light, one slightly larger than the other. Lina stared in disbelief. "Are those...?"
"Meet Fenrir and Sköll," Dante said, nonchalantly.
Lina blinked, incredulous. "I get Fenrir, but Sköll? Who named them...?"
Dante chuckled. "Wasn't me. That's the story anyway."
Lina laughed, shaking her head. "What kind of name is that?"
Dante shrugged. "Ask the big guy when we find him."
"Big guy?" She repeated, but Dante's answer didn't really help.
"You'll see." he says with a smirk on his face,
"I'm going to find out later, why does it matter?" She says with a deadpan look, which scares off Dante's cheerful mood,
"Heh... Sure... " Dante grabbed a gold bar, grabbing it and putting it in front of the wolves, to which they smell it.
"What is that?" Lina crossed her arms, looking at the wolves engulf the chunk of gold's scent with their noses.
"The same big guy went to the Norns, and grabbed a piece of this so his two wolves can bring him here." He petted the wolves with a little smile on his face. Ruffling their heads affectionately,
"How can the Wolves do such things?"
"That's something I'll explain when we get there."
"But for now..."
"We're heading to Midgard," Dante looked towards the sky. Looking at the direction of the sun, "Specifically to the Lake of Nine."
Lina's eyes widened. "Midgard? That could take months! We don't have that kind of time!"
Dante, looking ever so smug, pulled out a glowing stone from his pocket. "Not when you've got one of these."
"Huh?" She raised an eyebrow in confusion, at this, burning rainbow stone, however, her confusion met a feeling of awe as a door was crafted by itself into existence,
Lina's eyes widened in fascination. "How... how did you get that? Is that like a door to the realms!"
Dante waved it off. "Power of a blacksmith."Lina gave him a dubious look, crushing Dante under the pressure,
"... And maybe a Yggdrasil seed fused with Bifröst."
"Ah. Because I know what that is."
Lina couldn't help but smile as they stepped through the portal that opened before them in form of a door created by the Nature around them, as the two entered, they witnessed something that only Lina and Dante have seen. The vast branches of the Yggdrasil tree stretched in every direction, its roots spanning the Nine Realms.
They walked forward, the branches twisting and shimmering gold beneath their feet.
Lina looked up, awe in her voice. "It's beautiful."
Dante nodded, eyes forward. "Let's just hope the Norns have good news for."
"This is the Yggdrasil, the world tree holding the nine realms of Asgardis, Watch your step. Some guy was walking on these branches, and fell into the endless void..."
He warned as they were currently looking down from the branches that are fused with the golden yellow tree,
"Wait what!?" Lina yelped as she jolted in fear, "How do you know?"
"Well... he kinda never lived to tell the story..." He said with a sheepish look on his face, Which makes the blood on Lina's face drain as she goes pale,
"Why are you so laid back about all of this stuff again?" She asked with wide eyes that makes her seem like she saw a ghost,
"Experience." He named in one word. "I've been in mystical areas like this for 8 years worth of adventurer experience, it's kind of like a sixth sense to me."
"8 years... how old are you again?" She continued
"21." He speeched, putting his hands on his hips in pride, a smug smile on his face, facing her as he walked backwards,
"Wait... you've done this since for 7 years?" She mused,
"You got it." He assured her while he turned around to walk facing forward, Looking at the space in between a branch into another.
"Well. Path stopped here," Dante was going to look back to warn her, however the princess of the Everhart's put words otherwise,
"Not stopping me!" She challenged, jumping over to the next branch with a huff that she was focusing on. Making Dante chuckle,
"Heh, Nice. Stuck the landing and everything." He praised with a little smirk of on his face. Amused by her confidence,
"Not all princesses spend their days looking pretty." She defied against the stereotypical fate, as she put her hand on her chest. Wanting him to believe it, a smug look on her face,
"Ha." Dante jumped over as well. With just as much ease, "Fair enough." He drinked to his amusement with a grin. His shoulders up dismissively,
The two reach their destination after venturing through; another portal,
"There it is," He points at the portal, "The portal to Midgard."
"Umm," Lina hesitated a little, not very experienced in these things and it showed a lot, causing Dante's anticipated face to falter, "What's up?" He gives her a confused look at her hesitation,
"Are we gonna fall from the sky or something like that? I'm kind of scared of heights..." She sheepishly tucks her hair behind her ear, a look of worry in her blue eyes, to which Dante dismisses, after a moment of listening to her words, he can only give her a funny look of doubt,
"Eh... unlikely" He stepped forward, "Unlikely?!" Lina shrieks,
"You'll be fine. Nothing happens to me. What'll happen to you?" He assured her as he walked into the portal, disappearing into the blue glowing lights,
"Ah?! Wait-" she can only stare in shock as he just fades, leaving her alone in between the tree holding the nine realms, however she quickly realized it was otherwise.
"See?" Dante's voice echoed through the portal, his voice filled with an attempt to persuade, "Come on, I'm refraining from knock knock jokes!" He quipped, leaving Lina with at least some hope,
"Thanks, she spoke with a little disdain, "Because that helped so much more!"
"So..." she reaches her hand out, despite her fear of what would happen, Curiosity was slowly eating her on a platter. "How do I do this?"
"...Hm?"
"?!?"
But before she question this ability which changed her view on travel, It's eats her completely, as her swallowed and sucked into to the portal, wanting her to come along too. And she shrieks in fear, grabbing onto a near by branch.
"W-wait! I'm not prepa—" It was already too late though, and she fully gets sucked in, inside of the portal, is another world she sees from the shell of the dimension sucking her in, Like the universe it's self is in the middle of a rainbow. However, she's quickly enticed forcefully by her fall. it's like she's free falling, her arms flailing wildly as all of her pleads are inaudible by cries of fear, being danced around by gravity itself.
"Ahhhh!!! I don't wanna do this anymore!! I wanna go home!! I noticed this was impossible—"
Her reign of terror—literally. Ends on Dante putting a hand on her shoulder, giving her a look of bewilderment from above where she lays down on.
"... I think you've seen ghosts before me, you wanna talk about it?"
He tilted his head, his arm resting on his knee as he's crouched, putting a hand on his cheek, watching the Redhead who had just been essentially scared half to death,
"Ugh— Where are we...?" She asked, her voice hoarse from screaming, and her vision blurry, she's currently on a land of green,
"Well..." Dante gives her hand, to which she accepts, pulling her up to see her answer upon them.
"You tell me." He advised her, as she got up. She saw the body of water, infront of them. "This is it?" Lina looked at the endless reign of the element, "The name Lake of nine was taken almost too seriously..." she gave her choice of words a sketchy expression dancing over he'd face,
"Hm. No... something's not right," Dante states, looking around for a certain something,
"There is suppose to be the temple created by the Aesir God of War, Tyr. To reunite the realms against Odin, hundreds and hundreds of years ago. But I'm not surprised of the idea that isn't there anymore.."
Dante squinted his eyes, trying to see of that, and further beyond. And he sees something. He sees a statue, "I see a statue, But it isn't Tyr... it's Thor. Made by Odin to honor his son,"
"Wow, all of that knowledge granted, just because he's fat?" Lina assumed, to which Dante quickly is on the defense,
"Well, he's always been illustrated as a big guy. It's only natural to say what you see, right?" Dante puts his hands up innocently, "Let's get closer to it."
"We just need to get across...." he puts his hand on his chin, looking down at the end of the platform, luckily finding a boat beside them, "Great."
"Lina, get i—" when he looked back to call her for their trip, he remembered that they had brought the two wolves, Fenrir and Sköll. Who had their tongue lolling out, and their tails waving with joy with each pant.
"Wait, we're suppose to fit in that?!" Lina points to the small boat, "It's only two people."
"Well, what can I say; Sometimes, a man has to make the toughest decisions."
However, Dante would quickly jinx his words, as he realized it was never as simple as that, Dante had Fenrir on his side, While Lina had Sköll. However, Fenrir decided to have other plans and wave his tail all over Dante's face as he paddled the boat.
"So you were saying?" Lina gives him a smug look. Chuckling at Dante's look of disdain at her amusement,
"Can we—" He looks in between both Fenrir and Lina. However the Wolf said otherwise and decided to give him sloppy kisses all over the face,
"Ah, Ah! Okay, okay! You're great too." He pets the wolf with a chuckle, and he barks in satisfaction. Meanwhile, Lina had more important questions on her mind.
"Why did we bring the wolves, again?"
"Well, the scent is so strong, They know to where the Norns lead." He continued to paddle, the wolves all of a sudden facing a certain direction.
"While I was stuck in that hell hole of a portal, I saw a rainbow.... What was that?" Lina leaned forward,
"That's Bifröst. It's connected to the realms of Celestia, to here. It's also a magic source to hundreds of powerful enemies. It's a divine magic source, that with enough of it, can make humans like us decay in the matter of seconds." Dante explained,
"Wow.... It's that powerful? I've only seen it being used to power some of the people there, but never to harm." Lina petted the less enthusiastic wolf, Sköll.
"Exactly, The Notorius Liar has bottomless energy of the strongest source of magic."
"Pretty fitting for the all-father, no?" He tilted his head, questioning Lina.
"Can't believe you're an Aesir, only Aesir can live in Asgardis, right?" He gives her a look of some awe, he looks up at the sky marveling at his thoughts of what she's gone through,
"Uhm, It's not exactly like that..." Lina grins sheepishly, looking away as she scratches her head,
"I don't have to be an Aesir to be in there. But I sure do have to have some connection to some Aesir."
"Well, I guess that explain a lot... but make none of others..." his smile falters a little in thought, but is forcefully shaked off as he hits head against something hard, making a 'clang' sound, grunting as he rubbed his head,
"Ouch!" He yelped, turning around to see the statue of the statue of Thor, "Well... hello to you too, Aesir god of thunder." He stood up, looking up at the built face of the god himself,
"What a coincidence that we were just talking about them." Lina chuckled, a smug look is planted once more on her face, but she quickly loses it as she sees some sort of text on the God of thunders chest,
"What's that?" She asked, Dante moving out of the way.
"You understand what that is?" He gave her a bewildered look of doubt on his face, to which she replies with a nod.
"It says: 'Throw your weapon to summon what you can't see.'!" She points at it. Looking back at the white haired man, who nods to his objective, unsheathing his knife and looking at it, "Well... sorry little one, you're actually of use this once." Dante prepares to launch it rearing his arm back, before throwing it into the body of water, he puts his hands on his hips, anticipating what's going to happen next.
"... Am I gonna play fetch with myse—" However, Dante is cut off as a rumble seemingly shakes the earth itself. Causing Dante to slip and fall with another yelp, "Ah!"
As the waves surged around them, the water began to churn violently, roiling as if some great creature stirred beneath. The air thickened with an ancient energy, and Lina's eyes widened in realization. "Dante! I think we might have summoned something!"
Before they could process the enormity of the moment, a colossal form began to rise from the depths, scales glistening like polished emeralds. A behemoth of a snake like creature emerged, its serpentine body coiling gracefully as it broke the surface, eyes like burning coals locking onto the duo. Dante scrambled to his feet, wide-eyed, as the legendary creature loomed over them, the sky darkening with its presence.
"Is that—"
"The world Serpent, Jörmungandr!" Lina called it by it's name. "One of the few giants alive.... A race like ours, but naturally have powers unlike us."
"If that's what it is, then I read it's at least friendly!" Dante called, the snakes orangey-golden eyes stared down from what from them; looked like the heavens, and it dropped down slowly, the air was almost swinging its fists at the two as it spoke, the ground shaking with each vocal chord, but it was inaudible,
"What's it saying!?" Dante tried to hang on as it spoke, It's breath was like it's own weather,
"I don't know! I don't know how to speak Giant!" She held on just as much, the two can only look up like children as it spoke. However, soon after it layed down, this time on the mountains nearby, like a bed and blanket, rather then the lake itself.
Dante can only stare into nothingness with awe in his eyes, blinking. "Well, that's something I'm never forgetting about, that's for sure."
"Look!" Lina called out, "The water calmed down when the serpent rose."
the two saw beauty itself below them, there was nine different lands surrounding a temple amidst of it all. with a statue that the name wasn't had to be said. But in case...
"Tyr's temple. Looks like we're on the right track, then." He smirked confidently, looking over at Lina. But then...
It's a deadly situation their in, because there's a waterfall!
"Hm? A-Ah!! Waterfall!!" Lina screamed, Alarming Dante, "Argh! Like that couldn't help!" Dante grabbed the paddle, stabbing into the water stream and using it to opposite the path leading down to their demise, but it breaks. And the boat moves faster to the drop. Leading both Dante and Lina to cover and embrace themselves for the impact. "Hold on tight!!"
The only things that yearns from afar of the screams of Dante and Lina... drowned and choked by the splash of the water...
As the mist from the waterfall's crash cleared, the scene that emerged was grim. Dante and Lina lay unconscious on a bed inside of the temple, their bodies battered from the fall,
The first one to wake up was Lina, she opened her eyes slightly, and she couldn't see anything, she could only see blurs as she blinked, but after a few times, she could at least see a dimly and softly lit place, with a blanket on her, while the bodies of Fenrir and Sköll, soaked and dazed, lay nearby, their breathing shallow but steady. The wolves had evidently tried to protect the pair on the descent, their bodies seemed a little off after the impact.
"Huh...?"
In Front of her, laid Dante. Who was having a snooze fest, snoring loud enough to give Lina a look of disdain. "Seriously?" She sat up, and looked around the room hastily, taking a deep breath to notice where she is.
"Hey you!" It called, its voice gruff and angry, Lina looked around,
"Who's there?" Lina called out with wide eyes, a little fret from who close and loud the voice was,
"Hey, I'm talking to you, redhead!" She looked down to see the hem of her skirt being pulled,
"Listen here, ya little fucker!" It was a dwarve, with red skin color, brown eyes, and a long beard. He was gritting his teeth in fury and hostility of this new person.
"If anyone finds out about this place, too bad. it's already dibs!" He pokes her stomach, bewildering the redhead girl, "You had to wake up that turd-sized beast to annoy me did ya!? Stupid bitch!"
"Uh... okay?" Lina raised an eyebrow, confused to what's the context behind this, "Can you atleast tell me where I am? And who are you?"
"Oh my goddess, she's awake!" A female Dwarve comes in to the room, running up to her, "Are you okay? What did he say to you!?"
The male Dwarve left with grumbles as he spoke a few words, "Whatever.."
"Umm, I don't think I know myself," she looked at the male Dwarve as he went out, crossing her feet as she tilted her head,
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Forgive him! He's just not used to having... 'patients', if you can call that." She chuckled nervously, and Lina can only dismiss,
"That's okay, I get that." She waved with a sheepish look on her face, "Where is this anyway?"
"This is Tyr's temple." She corrected the girl, who as surprised to hear the news, "What? I thought he was here; in his own temple."
"Ah... unfortunately that isn't the case," the female Dwarve sighed, "Tyr is dead because of Odin... he's probably rotted in his cell. Mentally and physically..."
"What?" Lina was in disbelief that a god of his own race could possibly do that. "The war he put against him didn't know end well, so close yet, so far. And for his war crimes, he is where is today."
As Lina took in the female dwarf's words, a sense of dread and confusion crept over her. Tyr's temple, a place she'd always thought held honor and power, was now a tomb of despair. She glanced over at Dante, still blissfully unconscious and snoring, oblivious to the grim revelations unfolding around them.
"Tyr... imprisoned by Odin?" Lina repeated, trying to process the enormity of it. She'd always known Odin as a powerful leader, but to betray his own kin to such a fate—especially someone like Tyr, who had once been the god of justice and war—was shocking.
The female dwarf, who looked torn between anger and sorrow, nodded. "Aye. Odin wanted full control, and anyone who opposed him, well... he made sure they paid for it." She paused, eyes flickering over to Dante. "Seems you two had a close call yourselves, waking that serpent and nearly falling to your deaths."
"Wait, what?" Lina raised an eyebrow with suspicion, "How do you know him?"
Lina's face flushed with embarrassment at the earlier. "And Uh, yeah... that was kind of our fault." She bit her lip, glancing back at Fenrir and Sköll, who lay nearby, the mighty wolves still recuperating from their fall. "Thanks to you, I don't think We wouldn't have been here."
"With a hint of salt; You're lucky that your friend over there is actually with us." The female Dwarved chuckled, lightening the mood after this news,
"Wait, what?" Lina raised an eyebrow with suspicion and more bewilderment. "How do you know him?"
"Well... we're the blacksmiths of the Athena Legion, we admire Athena and her children."she smiled warmly, Making Lina grin,
"Wow," She chuckled, letting out a relieved sigh, "If luck wasn't real."
"Those beasts are lucky," the dwarf replied. "Kragur wanted to toss 'em all out as soon as he saw you, said he didn't want any outsiders bringing Odin's wrath down on this temple." She sighed, shaking her head. "He's not exactly... fond of newcomers."
Lina laughed nervously, remembering the gruff dwarf who'd prodded her and muttered curses under his breath. "Yeah, I think I got that message pretty clearly. Is he always like this?"
The female dwarf chuckled. "Oh, Kragur's always been prickly. But he cares—deep down, I mean. Keeps this place running, protects it like it's his own life. Tyr's temple is what's protecting us, you see. So, don't let him scare you too much."
"Oh, and I forgot! The name is Elda." She put her hands behind her back,
Just then, Dante stirred, muttering something under his breath before finally cracking open one eye. He blinked up at Lina, taking in the scene with a bleary gaze. "Did I miss something?" he mumbled.
"Oh, nothing much," Lina gave him a funny look, "The entire thing; We're in what was Tyr's temple where two dwarves, Elda and Kragur. Happen to live together, and they saved us."
"What? Right, I forgot to mention that..." Dante raised an eyebrow, glancing toward the door where Kragur's grumbling could still be heard. "Kragur?"
"'the fuck you want, Dante?" Kragur gave him a bothered look. To which Dante smiled knowingly,
"Cool, good to know you haven't changed."
Elda smiled kindly at Dante. "Welcome back to the land of the living. You two got lucky, really. If the river hadn't carried you straight here, well... let's just say, not many people survive a fall like that."
Dante tried to sit up, wincing slightly as he felt the bruises from the impact. "Guess we owe you one. Thanks for the rescue."
She waved it off, still eyeing the door with a hint of wariness. "Just keep a low profile, He's been through a lot, and he's... protective."
"No problem." Dante smirked lightly,
Lina looked at Dante, and they exchanged a glance filled with mutual relief and determination. "We're grateful," Lina said softly. "And we'll do our best not to bring any trouble here."
Dante chuckled. "Speak for yourself," he whispered to Lina, earning a sharp elbow to his ribs. But his playful expression quickly turned serious as he thought of Tyr and the stories learned. He knew that if Odin's betrayal ran this deep, then their mission was going to be far more complicated—and dangerous—than he had ever anticipated.
"Must've been hard for you," Dante looked over at Lina, "Having to deal with that monster, they call a god."
"Hm. Athena isn't going to let us go any further then to see the Norns."
"She's going off of their prophecies, to decide if we'll go or not."
"But... prophecy can be completely avoided by your choices." He says with a confident smirk on his face. Putting his finger up, to silence the girl who had her mouth open to contradict Dante.
"So... We're going to change whatever our fate, is a not knowing it?" Lina put her hand on her chin. Wondering what good will come out of this, "How's that gonna work?"
"Only they know. But their knowledge isn't keen on what happens to reach that fate." He added,
"And there's no time like the present." He grinned a little as his own words, "So..."
"Let's go find Yumi. And she already went to see the big guy I was telling you about. If anyone knows where he is, she does." He smirked, his confidence on the case feeling a lot better; and it showed.
"Sounds like a plan." she smiled lightly,
"Cool, so yer gettin' out there?" Kragur leaned on what for him was the giant door, Dante can only nod with a smile on his face, "Yup. We're going to Svartalfheim. The realm of the Dwarves."
"Great. Let's get both of you some spiffy equipment." Kragur smirked, "Follow me."
The two came out of the room they were in. It was filled with vibrant bright blue and golden colors everywhere, and there was a fiery gleam in the middle of what you can call "living room" that lead to the Dwarves office; a small table filled with weapons, alongside a fire stove, and many other special equipment.
"Luckily, I already built these for ya. Dante, take this one. This one is for the behemoth of a man you call 'friend.'" Kragur throws a small golden statue at Dante. Which wraps around his arm. And Dante lifts his arm up. Showing off a shield that afokss circularly, and the gimmick is so powerful that sparks fly on it, Dante can only look in a little Awe and Admiration, taking in the sight of the golden shield.
"Woah..."
"What else could I ask?" He smirked, putting his arm down. It deactivated.
"Yeah. I like to call that baby the 'Elyngardian Shield' for ya." Kragur puts his hands on his hips. With a smug pride about his weapons,
"And you, redhead." He throws a white and purple glowing cube at her, which she catches.
"Any idea how to wield any weapon?" He question, a look of disdain splattered on his face,
"Uh— totally." She looked at it, turning and twisting it, and the Dwarve goes on. "Well. That cube right there is a living thing; it knows what weapon to give you at any given time."
"Seriously?" Lina looked in awe, and Dante can only chuckle at her reaction, "Look at you." He grinned,
"One last thing. And when I give you this; this is for emergency cases only; Never, ever, Never, ever, EVER. Use this unless you're life is on the line. This will send you back to the temple at any given moment. Ya heard!?" Kragur eyes up Dante and Lina as he pulls out a blue marble, And it's blessed with Runes, written all over it.
"Sounds... great." Dante grabbed it. Putting it in his small pouch, And Kragur noticed the stone he had.
"Aye!" Kragur reaches into Dante's pocket. Standing up on his table, grabbing the stone. Shocking Dante, "Huh— Wait—"
"You won't be using these anymore, these will be spare ones." Kragur grinned wickedly, he quickly got to crafting, and Lina can only look at Dante for context. To which. understandably-not-so-understandably, shrugs.
"Here ya go. Let my wife take ya to show you what this can do." He gives both Dante and Lina a kind of Bifröst dagger. While Elda grabs both Dante and Lina. Taking them to a magical table, that looks exactly like the lake of nine. But in a board form.
"This right here, is what Tyr used to use for realm travel. And he used Bifröst. And both of you too. Go ahead and stab it in there for me."
Dante grabs the Bifröst dagger, "Alright. Here goes nothing." he can only look at it. Before pummeling it into the slot. Twisting it. Causing the ring in the middle of the board to move around.
"And now you have realm travel." Elda smiled, before there were 9 doors, symbolizing the nine realms. That glowed around them. Dante looking around hastily, cautious of his surroundings as he's clueless. "What the—"
The doors glowed, their light going through a line that reaches up a wall. Into a ceiling. And fusing. Creating a purple and white projector in front of them.
"What's going on?" Lina asked, panicked by the sight in front of them, "Ah. You'll see right now..." Elda held her hands. And in perfect timing. The white and purple light stops as she walked forward. Reaching the exit of the temple.
"What!? Don't leave us here like that!" Dante exclaimed, But it was too late. She had open the doors...
Was that what you think happened?
Outside. Was a whole different realm, And it was clear, it was filled with orange stones everywhere. Sand, and geysers flowing around everywhere in the bright, warm-embracing, sun.
"Wow... Today this has been a lot of surprises... I like this one the most though." Dante looked at the sky. Before looking at Elda.
"But... Svartalfheim isn't here? Is it?"
"Yes it is, dear." She corrected,
"But for now. You're just outside of the city. Move a little further and you'll see."
"We'll be seeing you soon!" Elda waved her small hand. Before Tyr's temple behind them disappeared.
"..." the two are dumbfounded by how fast everything disappeared,
"Well." Dante spoke first,
"Let's go." Dante walked forward, Lina soon after walking behind, ready to venture onwards. Ready to pounce on any who say otherwise!