"Yumi? Hm." Heimdall hummed at Dante's words. And chuckled at the new case he found himself in.
"From the lands of Tsukinoshima, I'm guessing?" Heimdall gestured a questionnaire.
"… We love guests around the region of Elyngard, don't we?" Heimdall laughed a little, a smug look on his face.
"Heimdall." Yumi greeted back coldly and simply, Heimdall greeted back with a nod and a feigned smile of welcome.
"Can't believe us Gods were ever okay coming to a world of peasants…. I've repeated that for awhile to myself as I look at all of you. We gave you divine comfort. Yet here we are contorting that."
Heimdall gave a deadpan stare to everyone around him, which quickly changed to a sigh and a clap of his hand.
"But some people change when they notice they're not grateful for what they share, don't they?"
He chuckled lightly, a little smile on his face.
"Still, the All-Father's will are mine to carry out." He put his hand on his chest as he bowed.
"Their blood is in your own hands, Heimdall." Dante retorted as he stood up, having just as much as energy as Heimdall's voice. A look of anger on his face as he gritted his teeth more. Basically one of the few things he could currently do.
"Oh?" Heimdall smiled slyly, he disappeared in the span of nothing, and then behind Dante. He put his hands on his shoulders. Gripping them tightly, so strong that Dante struggled to turn around.
"Are you sure you're going to lecture me about that…?" He whispered into his ear,
"!!" Dante was alert of something that struck fear into his eyes, and Heimdall could only laugh with richness in his voice as he blurred back in front of everyone. Leaving Dante frozen.
"Well. Now I'm in a bad mood. And I think I want myself a new sword. I think I'm gonna let the all-father take this one." Heimdall reached for his sword. The tip engulfed in Bifröst. Soon after stabbed into the ground. Like a key to the future fate of Svartalfheim. The Bifröst magic was so strong and placed so perfectly that every work that involved the help of a machine, to stop.
"And for the three of you musketeers. I wish you the best of luck. Your goal won't be easy now~" Heimdall twinkled his fingers,
"Ta-ta!" a cruel laugh as Huginn and the other ravens flew overhead. Heimdall's laughter faded, leaving an oppressive silence in its wake. The glow of the Bifröst energy lingered like an open wound in the earth. Dante remained frozen, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. Lina looked around helplessly, her lips trembling as if she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.
The first dwarf emerged from their hiding place, then another, their faces pale with fear. When they saw Brokk's lifeless body, the fear turned to grief. A cry of anguish echoed through the streets as Brokk's wife collapsed beside him, cradling his head.
Lina bit her lip, her shoulders sagging as she watched the scene unfold. She glanced at Dante, whose expression was a mixture of frustration and guilt.
The day after…
It was a cloudy day in the regularly sunny weather of Svartalfheim. Like if the sun mourned this day as well.
The Dwarves carried Brokk's casket with reverence, their movements solemn and deliberate. The cathedral bells rang softly in the background, a haunting melody that echoed through the still air.
As the casket reached the edge of the water, a Dwarf stepped forward, striking a spark from his knife onto a small piece of wood. The flame caught quickly, spreading along the casket's surface until it burned brightly against the twilight sky.
Dante watched in silence, his jaw tight. He could feel Yumi's hand on his shoulder, a quiet reminder of her presence.
"This is how they honor their dead," she whispered. "The fire carries their soul to the heavens, while the ashes return to the earth. It's a cycle of life and creation."
Dante nodded, but his gaze remained on the child standing beside the mother. The mother clutched the bag of ashes, his hands trembling. While he held her child's. Who walked away right after.
"I could've done more," Dante murmured. "There was another way, another choice."
Yumi sighed, her voice soft but firm. "You can't save everyone, Dante. You know this."
As he watched the boy. He decided to walk over to him.
"Hey." He called the boy's attention. By his expression. He heard him. But he didn't see him eye to eye. He was blinded by sadness.
"I'm sorry for your loss." Dante gave him a nod of understanding, and at these words. The boy could only tear his eyes away from the ground. Just for a second to glance from the side at this person.
"Do I know you?" The boy had a slight whimper and high pitch in his voice. And Dante could only shake his head with a look of sadness.
"I'm Dante Koryu."
"I was there when—" He stopped himself for a moment, not wanting to remind this child of the horrors that had just happen to him. His place in what happened didn't matter. He could only seal his lips with grief and guilt. He shaked his head off with the thought.
"Look… I know you don't know me," he spoke with a small yet heavy sigh,
"But I just wanted to say—"
"'I know what you're going through.'" The boy assumed the next words coming out of his mouth. Leaving Dante speechless for a second.
"Um. I—" he tried to come up with something, but was met with,
"That's what you were going to say, right?" The boy looked over with a tired look on his face. Nodding slowly, his chest was so tight that he had to gasp for air as he spoke.
"Or… 'It all gets better with time.' " He looked back down at the ground. And the next assumption made him grit his teeth and hiss. His voice breaking with each cord.
"Or 'Don't worry… it's all part of the Gods perfect plan.' " There was tears in the corner of the boys eyes as he curled his fists. Trembling as he did so. And Dante tried to help.
"I'm sorry i was just—"
"'Trying to help.' " The boy nodded understandingly. "I know." Although no; he didn't.
He walked away, Dante's hand out to reach for him. But it was hopeless. And then, the mother Dwarve came by.
"I'm so sorry for that. Give him some time, he's just… having some trouble." She smiled softly, but her hurt was just as evident.
Lina emerged from the treeline, her face a mixture of hesitation and determination. She had been keeping her distance since Heimdall's attack, the weight of her own guilt leaving her unsure how to approach either of them.
"Hey," Lina called out, her voice unusually subdued. She stopped a few feet away, her arms crossed as if she were bracing herself. "Mind if I join you?"
Yumi glanced at Lina, who gave a small nod. Lina standed next to her, awkwardly brushing her hair behind her ear.
The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken emotions. Finally, Lina turned her attention to Yumi, her blue eyes searching. "You're Yumi, right? From Tsukinoshima?"
Yumi inclined her head slightly. "And you're Lina Everhart." Her tone was polite but guarded. "I've heard a lot about you."
Lina's lips quirked into a faint smile. "All good things, I hope."
Yumi raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "Mostly."
"I'm sorry you have to see him like this. I know it's a little weird to see him like this." She looked up at the cloudy setting they see in. "He carries too much on his shoulders. He can't bear the grief of every life lost."
Lina glanced at him, then back at Yumi. "Look… I've had a lot on my mind since what happened with Heimdall. I wasn't sure how to face you."
Yumi's gaze softened, and she tilted her head. "You don't need to explain yourself to me. We're all trying to find our way through this."
Lina hesitated, then nodded. "Still, I wanted to say thanks. For being there for him when I… couldn't." Her voice wavered slightly, but she held Yumi's gaze.
Yumi's expression shifted, a flicker of understanding passing through her eyes. "He's lucky to have people who care about him. And for what it's worth, you seem like you're stronger than you give yourself credit for."
The words seemed to catch Lina off guard. She blinked, her shoulders relaxing as a genuine smile crept onto her face. "Thanks. That… means a lot."
"Well… we got that done with," Dante spoke out to the girls who were talking in between themselves. There still was some of the guilt left in his voice as he spoke. "Another thing off the list; Yumi. Do you anything about Thorne?"
"No," she responded instantly, making Dante sigh, "If that's the least I want to hear…"
"What about him? And you have yet to tell me what's going on, that you came all the way from Elyngard?"
"Uhhh. It's kind of a long story." Dante pulled out the conversation.
A long story later….
"What?" Yumi had a preposterous look on her face after hearing everything about this new girl she had just met.
"Yeah… Long story short; Her dad wants her back. And he's willing to do anything to do that, and I can't do this alone. It's a hell of a path that I want to get through." He added.
"Dante…" She was in disbelief, shaking her head slightly, her eyes shut tightly, knowing what the stakes and odds that are utterly placed against them. she couldn't fathom, no matter how many years she knew him for;
Why?
"I've done it once, and I'll do it again." Dante walked away from her slowly. Looking back at her after a few steps, "And you know that."
"Please?" Dante's gaze gave Yumi thoughts about something reminiscent about Lina. And it raced through her mind.
"I see something in Lina that I also had. But unlike her, I didn't have anyone to reach out to." She called herself out,
"I've felt those flames… the dark comfort they give…" she crossed her arms. She looked back towards Dante.
"I'd help. But I'm with you on how this goes." She nodded with determination shining through her eyes.
"Thanks. I think I have some plans. But we need to find Thorne." He nodded back, and Yumi sighed with a slight look of annoyance.
"I think I know someone having to do with that name. But of course, he can rival Heimdall's reputations at parties."
The two looked at each other with just as much disgust at the name….
"Durlin."
The next day… It was Dante, Lina, and Yumi, walking around Svartalfheim. With Yumi guiding them to their next stop in the realm of the Dwarves.
"So who's Durlin again?" Lina asked as she and Dante feet tapped in sync.
"Durlin is basically the commander of these Dwarves. The realm Svartalfheim for the most of it, is just a blacksmith city. Since those are the purposes of these Dwarves work for. And they do their job perfectly." He informed.
"I guess that's why Kragur and Elda do so well." Lina spoke with a little smile on her face, Dante chuckled with a slight, subtle knowing smile on his face. "Haha, Yeah."
"We're going to that gnome idiot, because Thorne's dumbass was so smart that he assaulted a Dwarve while being drunk." Yumi had a look of embarrassment just saying those words,
"If anyone knows where he is; He does. Still leaves a sour mark on me." He shrugged with a sheepish look on his face.
"Can't wait to meet this Thorne guy. He sounds fun already…." Lina muttered with a little sarcasm in her feigned smile, and she looked over at Dante with a grin. "Wait! Isn't that the 'big guy's name!?"
Dante sighed and made a gesture with his hand as if saying 'Shoo'. "Yeah, yeah. Took you long enough." He gave her an amused grin.
In Front of them, was a big hut. Unlike the others, this one could actually fit more then Dwarves that can fit for decoration. The answers lay upon them.
"Here we are." Dante put his hands on his hips as they saw what came next, and took a deep breath, before opening the door. Only to see crossed, small feet on the desk. And loud snoring.
The silence was a bit massive, but Yumi is the first to kill it. "Ahem." She cleared her throat, waking up the Dwarve.
"Ah!" He yelped out of his slumber. Grabbing his glasses. And he was mad. Growling. "Seriously? What did I—" However, The Dwarve quickly silenced himself as he saw the group. And he chuckled to himself with a light, half smile on his face.
"Ah… If it wasn't the Athena Legion."