Rurik looked at the door with a hint of trepidation. He had no idea who was behind there, only that Luna, a goddess, knew about them… which meant they were significant.
Still, he trusted his wife, but before going through, he felt compelled to ask one more thing. "Before we go in," he frowned with a hint of concern. "Back at the beach… do you think they'll make it?"
Luna felt compelled to blink, before smirking a little. "Wow, you've really grown soft, huh?"
Rurik sighed helplessly. "Turns out I have a soft spot for little sisters…" But then his lips curled up knowingly. "Don't worry, though. You still hold a monopoly over my heart."
His beloved partner chuckled confidently, "Please, like I ever doubted that." She gripped his collar, and they looked intensely into each other's eyes. "Our connection transcends anything and everything else, Rurik."
They kissed passionately, and only when they separated did Luna finally answer this question.
"Anyway," she grinned, licking her lips. "I can't see the future, but I healed that man, and the Norns won't care about them. If anything, they'll help them a little in the hope we'll return to them. Your sister stands a decent chance, but… this world is dangerous."
Rurik nodded and was about to respond, when he suddenly noticed the cracks in 'Eilin's' skin had started spread to her face. "You're face…" he muttered, carefully touching her skin.
"Hmm? Ah—" she shook her head. "Don't worry, I still have a little time before I do any permanent damage to little Eilin's body. Still, we should hurry. Put me down first, I should meet him on my feet."
Rurik put her down, and Luna turned to him with a concerned frown. "One more thing before we go in. What we're doing here is dangerous. We're about to meet one of the oldest gods I know off. His aspect is not as powerful as mine, but he's far older, and even in my original body, I'd think twice about engaging him."
She pressed a hand against his heart. "He's an old dog with tricks that I may not have even heard of before, and even if it all goes according to plan, they'll probably put you through some harsh, even traumatic training. Their help will make things much easier in the future, but if you want to turn around…"
Rurik blinked… and then started to grin. "You're hilarious, Luna. Come on, let's go."
He walked up to the door, and Luna immediately followed, grinning widely. "Good to see you haven't changed, my love."
They pushed against one side of the ornate door, and it slowly slid open to reveal a massive, cathedral-sized hall. Rurik was struck by a wave of awe as he absorbed the sheer grandeur of a space that no ordinary mortal hands could have ever created.
Towering stone pillars carved with intricate runes stretched skyward, their bases carved into stout, stocky humanoids—likely dvergar—holding up the immense ceiling. The vaulted roof shimmered faintly, casting a soft light that illuminated every corner of the room.
Braziers lined the walls, though no flames burned within. Along the perimeter, long stone benches and sturdy tables stood in perfect symmetry, hinting at grand feasts and solemn council gatherings. The air carried a faint, earthy tang of ancient stone, and a thick layer of dust blanketed everything, a testament to the hall's long-abandoned state.
At the far end of the hall, an enormous throne of carved obsidian dominated a raised dais. Flanking the throne were banners bearing symbols unfamiliar to Rurik but imbued with an undeniable aura of respect and power. Entering this hall was like getting smacked in the face by the sheer history and significance behind it.
Yet, despite the dust and air of abandonment, the hall was far from empty. Seated upon the throne was a short, stocky, yet ruggedly handsome man, with black hair, piercingly cunning blue eyes, and a short, well-maintained beard. His complexion was pallid, almost sickly.
Above his head hung a strange, snake-like statue, from which a sickly green liquid occasionally dripped. The liquid gave off a faint, unsettling glow, making Rurik recoil instinctively in disgust, though he had no idea what it was. The man's eyes, despite their cunning, were filled with grief, pain, and guilt, flickering between the two figures standing by his side.
To his right stood an attractive, mature woman, dressed in simple yet elegant traditional Norse clothing. She was as short as the man, perhaps just over a meter tall (≈3'3"), but not as stocky, and with waist-length blond hair intricately braided.
Her eyes radiated kindness, and her serene smile had a calming effect. As they entered, she was holding a bowl above the man's head, catching the green liquid to prevent it from dripping onto him.
To his left was a striking contrast: a beautiful, towering woman whose height approached three meters (≈9'10"), making her nearly triple the size of her companions. Her light blue skin shimmered faintly, and her form was barely concealed by a fur bra and short pants.
Her long, straight, darker blue hair framed a face etched with anger, impatience, and worry. Menacing horns jutted out from the sides of her head, marking her as obviously non-human. Her focus was fixed on a massive array of runes etched in concentric circles around the throne, their intricate patterns glowing faintly with latent power.
As soon as he noticed this setup, some idea about this man's identity started to surface in Rurik's mind. 'It's a little eerie to see myth come to live like this…' he muttered in his mind. 'Although I wouldn't have expected him to be dwarf… or dvergar, I guess.'
When he and Luna entered the hall, all three people turned their attention towards them. "Finally decided to come join us, I see," the man grumbled in a booming voice, filling the hall with a deep, ancient feeling. His words clearly proved he'd known about their presence already.
"I do hope you've come here with a good reason," he continued sombrely, before indicating at the blue-skinned giantess. "I'm afraid my dear Angrboda has been feeling agitated as of late and might kill you to alleviate her frustration."
Angrboda cursed and spat on the floor. "Trollspit!" She turned back to the man and pointed at him accusingly. "You try seeing both your husband and best friend in agony, just because I can't figure out something you're supposed to be good at!"
Pity and guilt appeared in the man's eyes. Both he and the blond woman opened their mouth to respond, but the giantess had already moved back to Rurik and Luna.
"As for you two," she growled threateningly. "Speak and say something good, or die," she pointed at 'Eilin'. "You may be a goddess of some kind, but that's clearly not your body, and if your pantheon cared about you, you wouldn't come here in this getup, so don't think I'll hesitate!"
Waves of electric power thrummed off her, but they never reached Rurik. A small barrier engulfed b0th him and Luna, protecting their weak bodies from the impressive aura she possessed. Despite the barrier, Rurik could instantly tell she was even more powerful than the dragon and its rider who traumatized him before.
Luna, however, didn't seem intimidated. She smiled calmly at the angry giantess. "Now, now, Angrboda. I may not be able to fight you in this form, but if you think the paltry inscriptions on this hall can stop me from teleporting out with my partner here, then you'll be sorely disappointed."
She underscored her point by sending tiny pulses of energy at the inscriptions she mentioned, proving she know about both their location and existence. "Besides," she then continued, her smile becoming more mysterious. "I'm here to free your husband…"