trials
Choosing to return to the island rather than the castle, Alex immediately darts toward the ritual room under the Vault. It had been a little more than four years since he last process to the ritual, and the previous time had brought immense benefit, but he also had a slight apprehension, one didn't get the souls from the other side for nothing.
He had already called upon them once and didn't know if he would be able to do so twice, as he was now the head of the clan. He could only hope to be able to reach to them, allowing them to finally be free of the shackles that must be torturing them since 1488.
Taking a deep breath, he took off his boots, shirt and hoodie, before entering the circle, barechested and barefoot.
I call upon the clan magic. I Alexander Evans came humbly this day to free the clan of its nightmare." Say him softly with steel undertone in his voice."
He releases a sigh of relief when he sees the grey mist slowly took form. Like the first time, past members of the clan appears one after other, before the last clan head couple and Lily form.
"Speak, clan Head, why had you summoned the clan when you are now leading it." Say Sigurd with a slightly harsh tone, not liking to be called again, after finally rejoining is a lady after all this time.
"I came to free the clan." Only respond Alex, before taking out the MR and Kneebuster.
All look intricate at the artefact and whispers in wonder when he starts it. As the Hammer rose from its prison of diamonds, Sigurd asked.
"What is this artefact, clan head?"
"This," start Alex, pointing at the golden hammer." Is the soul of a goblin know as Kneebuster Hammerfall. I had entrapped it this morning after revelation had been made."
When he heard the name of the goblin clan, Sigurd mouth immediately morphs in a snarl, before freezing at the second part.
"Entrapped?" Asked him somewhat fearfully, knowing full well what it would mean, should it was true.
"Yes, I tore his soul from his mortal shell and entrapped it in the cube."
His confirmation drew some frightened gasps from the crowd.
"You truly entrap the soul! What have you done! Do you understand that you damned yourself, child! The soul is the of most sacred; it isn't mean to be touched, much less stolen!" Shout the man, not worried for the one trapped, but Alex future.
Alex could have responded differently, but he chose a way none would have dared.
"I pray to the elder gods, the all-father Odin, the queen of hell Hela, our patron Njord and Freyr, our benefactor Freya and our mother, Skadi!"
~~~
His first verse made all shut up from fright, never had the clan attempts to pray the elder gods, the all-father, the queen overseeing the dead and their creators. Any doing so and found wanting would be immediately erased from the mortal world, their soul to forever burn in Helheim under Hela care.
Even the call order had the slightest influence. In calling the Elder gods, Alex recognises his roots. In submitting to the Allfather eye, he acknowledges the peace between Vanir and Aesir. By invoking Hela name, he made know that he understand his action and it possible repercussion. Finally, they pray to the male god first was him being grateful for their boon. For real, being second last was to honour her for her gift and finally Skadi for filial love to their Mother.
As their creator, the Norse pantheon always knows when their children call upon the clan magic and what they were judged for, even if never interfering, but this time was different.
~~~
The instant the verse end, an overwhelming pressure fall upon all, mortal and gosht alike. The entire residents of the Island felt the will of the gods descending on earth, be it magical or mundane, and all activity came to a stop. All animals bowed their heads and stay frozen, shaking in fears at the instinctive fears they felt.
Time seems to come to a stop, and the universe lost its colour. Inside the ritual room, seven thrones appear right in front of Alex, while the gosht immediately makes place and regroup behind him.
On his far left, a simple throne made of uncut slabs of obsidian materialise. At its left and the far right, two silver throne precede three golden one, before the last appears.
Even without knowing, Alex know what it was, Hlidskjalf, the centre of power upon Odin overlook the realms. Without them knowing the space around them had been bend, allowing the throne of the gods to appears.
When the first entity appears, all ghost gulps. Cloaked in shadow and undefinable face, the representant of the elder gods, sit in the obsidian throne. It was rapidly followed by Njord and Freyr, the first on the left of the elder god, and the last on the far right.
Alex breath itched as the first woman to appears to sit to he brother side. Freya beauty was otherworldly, and undescriptive by mortals means.
If her entry had captivated them all, the one following would send a shiver to everyone soul. Clad in dark and green grab, a spiked helmet adorning her head, Hela sat on Odin's left, next to Freya, while Fenrir crouch to her feet.
Before all could fall into madness at the proximity of the keeper of the soul and Hel, a rainbow pillar of light fall upon the room, passing through rocks and enchantments, bringing down the ruler of Asgard.
With golden armour and Gungunir at hand, the Allfather made its presence know, before sitting and looking his gaze on the mortal who prays for his presence.
While it didn't sink more in-depth in his mind, Alex knows that the Allfather was in his head. But before he falls under a mental breakdown, a crippling cold spread in the room. Its effect was instantaneous, and all gosht relax, instinctively, as if returning in the protecting blossom of their mother.
~~~
When Odin feel Skadi presence spreading in the room, his eyes catch every reaction. When seeing all gosht relax, the clan passed their first hurdle without knowing. As their creator, Skadi had a natural effect upon her children. Should any had failed her, they would have been crushed by her presence, wholly erased from the realms.
But from all, it was the child who calls them that had the strongest reaction. He, like all the others, see him morph in his primal form. From the puny 176 centimetres tall mortal, he changes into a 176 centimetre high, a body length of 380 centimetres and a tail of 320 centimetres.
From his memories, the Asgardian god-king knows that the specie should be three times smaller, but what caught his eye was the arctic blue spot on the snow-white fur and the emerald green claws and fangs.
He even feels a lesser chill exuding from it and was momently surprised by the poisonous artic blue breath it releases as Skadi appears.
~~~
Both the mother god and turned child gaze lock on each other the instant she appears. The brief stalemate was broken by Alex, who lowered his head in deference before letting a low purr.
Skadi was elated to see that her last children had unlocked his blood, and even evolved beyond it. But more than this, she feels motherly love when he immediately bows to her while he stood his ground in front of Odin.
She let a small smile full of love appears on her face while extending her hand, authorising him.
Alex didn't make her wait and immediately, soundlessly made his way to her, letting the goddess run her hand on his head on fur, triggering an instinctive purr at the bliss he was feeling from his Mother touch.
As she retrieved her hand and sat on Odin right, Alex returns to the centre of the circle, taking back a human form.
~~~
As he saw both ready, the Allfather was the one to spoke.
"We are here on your pray, mortal, state your reason."
Being addressed by the Allfather, Alex kneels, followed by the gosht of the clan.
"I pray for the presence of our gods to judge my act and pacify my brethren, Allfather." Immediately respond Alex
"Very well process." Say the god, striking his spear on the ground once.
Alex immediately feels the burden back on his mind, but this time, amplified, by the presence of all the gods. He didn't have the least doubt that they could tears his mind apart by a mere thought.
"As of today, I had sought war on my volution upon an entire clan of goblins, slaughtering them and desecrating their bodies." Say him as neutrally as he could, not reacting at the gasps behind him.
"Why?" Simple ask Odin, not judging him still.
"Because they brought ruin to my brethren and allowed to roam free after shedding our blood by greed!" Said him, gritting his teeth at the memories of the corpses he discovers in the funeral chamber, under the tumulus.
~~~
All gods were surprised that a mere child had waged war upon an entire clan of warrior creature to avenge a blood debt owed to him from 500 years.
Hela, feeling the soul in the display, turn her gaze to it before understanding its function.
"Show us, child, and we will judge your action."
Alex and the other mortals' involuntary shiver at the sound of the ethereal voice bringing forth vision of lake of blood, and skeletons were roaming a dried land of desolation.
Activating first the display, he shows the gods the memories of Kneebuster and Bloodbones. Skadi shed a tear at the fate of her children, while Freyr and Njord became stone-faced when their gift fail them.
As he finishes to display those two, Alex took another diamond cube with a sphere of mithril inside. Putting on his temple, he closes his eyes, gathering the needed memories and push them in the globe.
Under the eyes of all, the sphere took the shape of a snow leopard, shining a soft blue, rather than the golden the two before had shown.
Odin was captivated by the display. While Asgard was year-light ahead the mortal world in terms of knowledge, never before he saw someone able to entrap soul, keeping them alive while the shell dies, but not passing to be judged in the others realm. What more was the child barely a decade old had been able to separate a portion of his soul, along with memories, to assure the truth of his words.
Even the device to read the memories was flawless in his eye, allowing the viewing of them for all present.
Giving a glimpse to Freya, the Allfather see her nod back, confirming that all came from the child.
~~~
Unconscious of the reaction his creation spread among the gods, Alex turns slightly nervous, before a calming wave washes over him. He rais his eye, giving Skadi a thankful gaze, before inserting the last MC in the MR.
~~~
All look at the entire day, the trial of Ronald and Albus before they see him enter the bank. Freyr and Njord snort in amusement as he rips off the goblins, fully displaying their gifts to his blood when he turns the 800,000G into 5,000,000,000G+.
They see his cunning when activating his led trap, before mercilessly ripping Kneebuster soul, making Hela lick her lips at his cruelty. Freya was intricate, along with Odin when they see the nugget of metal birth from the crumbling body.
The Allfather and Hela look at appreciation on his conduct, sticking to shadow and evading all more vigorous opponents and group, showing wisdom her brother and his son lack when acting like a barbarian.
All look intricate and amazed as he closes all possible exit until they all bring their full attention when he encloses himself in the created cavern. Freya looks with fascination at his use of runes, beechwood potion and poison, while the two warmongers start to have an idea of what would happen.
The clan look with a mix of amazement and dread at the creation of the orbs, before looking in fright at the blue cloud fill the cavern in less than two seconds, not leaving a single chance to the goblins of all age.
The gods look with a blank face at the aftermath, before looking at the squirming Alex. In less than a minutes, the cub had slaughtered a clan of three thousand strong goblins. Not a single word or chance, a genocide for all those affiliates to the loss of his brethren.
~~~
Alex would not lie and was frightened at the thought the gods and his fallen clansmen have on his action, as all look at his taking the spoil of war.
On his side, the Allfather was astonished by the wealth the boy secure in so little time.
Of All the elder god had been the only one not to show or say anything. It had witnessed everything from the boy and was the first to give it justice.
~~~
When the genderless voice was head, it takes all off-guard.
"We have seen your birth and struggle, your thirst of power and knowledge and your feeling for the world. You have show loyalty when not expected it of you. You have show kindness to those that needed it from all less you. You have proven to all that, while driven with the loss of your brethren, you didn't fall into darkness. You claim what was yours, by your hand, and proven to all that you were worthy."
When it worlds sink into Alex mind, he could feel and unknow weight lift from his shoulder.
When Freyr spoke, all turn to him.
"You show us that you were worthy of my gift, that all I need." Say him, while Njord nod to him, also giving him support.
"You show us a side of magic that few have dared to look into. More, you didn't fall from its call and sank into the Dark. You are all the proof I need that my choice back then wasn't wrong." Smile dazzlingly at him.
Hela predatory grin was all he needs, even if she had. "You show yourself worthy in exterminating a thorn in your side. The day you die, I will offer you a place of choice to my side."
None miss out on how she looks at him. It was clear that she wouldn't take him as a soul but as an enforcer in her land.
Turning to the last two, he swallows heavily, knowing that they were the one holding power over his fate.
From the two, it was the Allfather who starts first.
"A king knows when to make a wise choice. While without court, you show the upbringing to be a king among mortal. You brought honour to your house and show loyalty to your forefather. I am proud to count you among my people. When the day would come, you will gain your place among us." Say, Odin, before taking a more severe face. "Remember that it only granted, not given. Should you lost your way, I will personally judge you when the time came."
Seeing that Alex accept his words wholeheartedly, he nods contently, before turning to Skadi, along with the other.
~~~
Alex became even more nervous than Odin words had made him. Turning to his mother, he couldn't help the slight shiver of fright washing over his body. When he sees her approaching, he was barely holding it, before freezing.
His brain shortcut when she takes him in her arms, enveloping him in a feeling of peace and basking him in her acceptance. Just from the hug, he could feel how proud she was of him, not only for his action but to the way he had made himself. Slaying the responsible of his clan extermination, protecting the Ash tree and breaking the shackle of his fate, transcending the limit she imposed on her child to made them grow on their own.
Alex couldn't help but shed a tear of relief, not only he proven himself worthy in front of the gods, while also making his Mother proud.
When both separate, Skadi added something else, must to his and the clan shock.
"Each action had consequences, and compensation shall be given to those showing themselves worthy. Alexender Evans, I Skadi, as your mother, bestow upon you the name of Alexender Dòmaldr Evans."
Before they could recover from the gift their Mother give to Alex, Odin was the second to act. Without any of them able to react, the tip of his spear came in contact with his upper back, just under the neck.
When he takes it back, a black mark rapidly spread, forming Odin' Triskele between his shoulder blade and extending until covering half of his back.
As Odin bestow his gift, Skadi also gives him another than his name. As she slides her finger on the lower part of his abdomen, on the left side above the leg, a Valknut slowly form.
Done, she leaves the place to Freya, who lightly blow on the newly formed Valknut, adding runes on it. At the centre tree segments Wunjo (blessing), Uruz (strength) and Raidho (journey) appear. Knowing their meaning, he knows that the goddess had blessed him to have the strength during his journey.
As his sister was done, Freyr also blows on the Valknut, adding on his own to the blessing of the two goddesses. On the triangle linked to Raidho, on the left, Fehu (wealth) and Anzuz (prosperity) appear. To the right, along Uruz, Berkanan (Fertility) and Ehwaz (trust). The last, the triangle below both had Elhaz (protection) and Sowilo (success).
Together, three blessings from the three gods appear. A blessing giving strength for his journey. For his journey to be blessed with prosperity and wealth. Finally Strength, fertility and trust in his encounter and a blessing of protection and success.
Not wanting to be leftover, Njörd added a Vegvisir in the middle of his Triskele while the elder god gifts him with a web of Wyrd on his right shoulder.
~~~
"Your pray had been hearing and answered, we had found you worthy as long as you stay in your path. Made Asgard proud, child of Skadi and soon would come the time for you to rejoin us."
Giving his last word, Odin strikes his spear shaft end on the ground, calling for Heimdall and the Bifrost. One after other, the Asgardians gods vanish into the rainbow bridge, following their king. On the side, the elder god vanishes without a sound.
As the last one to enter the Bifrost, Hela turns to Alex, throwing something while winking at him. Too stunned by the goddess action, he only was able to see and catch the object. While she took him off guard, Fenrir sneaks to him and bite him on the hand. Strangely, Alex sees neither the wolf nor feel the bite.
It was only when the devourer rejoins it, mistress, that he realises it was near him. As the beam vanishes, like the throne, he looks at his hands. On them were two things, first was a drop of blood on a fang bite entering his body, before closing. The second was the gift of Hela, a crown made in a simple band of light grey metal. In the form of a ring with a flat side and escutcheon shield at the front. Inside the shield was an engraved helm of awe.
Knowing the feeling of iron and steel, he know it wasn't any of those used to made the crown, knowing the Asgardian, only another metal came to his mind, Uru. Choosing to trust the goddess of Hel, he put the crown on his head, under his hair. The moment it connects with his skull, he felt the two mergings together without pain. Putting his and on it, he didn't feel it anymore but know it was here.
Finally snapping out of his trans at the gift of those entities, Alex gaze turns back to the clan' gosht. All had vanish already, bare Lily and Sigurd. Seeing him look at them, they only nod at him with pride in their eyes, before following the other back to the other side.
~~~
The second he exits the circle, pain wreck his body. Without any warning, his nerves seem to turn ablaze, his flesh ruptured and blood flow in rivers, seeping from the cracked skin. The pain was so intense and abrupt, that his brain shortcut and shut down to preserve his sanity.
For an unknown time, he feels a slight sensation of his fleshes shifting, bones cracking and grinding against each other. When the change settles, he slowly returns to consciousness, every muscles sore.
'Argh, CS, what happens?' Asked him, while trying to move but not avail.
-Fenrir Blessing happen, Buddy. The great wolf had bestowed upon you a constitution that would be the base requirement in One Piece. Until today you wouldn't be able to match the other constitution, due to your physical shell being from this world, now? You will possess the same base potential.
It won't do much for now, but in the following years, it will be the edge we will need. Other than that, you should check on your status.'
Following his friend advice, he invokes the window.
[Name: Alexander Dòmaldr Evans]
[Age: 11]
[Race: Evans]
[Magic power: 259]
Skill:
[Pocket space:Lv4 86.63%]; [Frost: Lv5 88.16%]
Ability:
[craft magic]; [Evans]
{[Pocket space: A separate area accessible to you uniquely. Lv4: 16*16*16 space available for storage.
Ability: time (stopped-flow; x1), chamber (x2)
Restriction: living being.]}
{[Frost: resistance to extreme temperature (-56 C°; 89 C°); a frosted field naturally emit when in your Evans form (-28 C° in a ten-meter radius); the possibility to imbue 'Frost' status upon contact with any surface (-14 C°).]}
{[Craft magic: You are king in your domain, and possess the ability to interact with inert matter in a radius equal to your Evans length (7-metre radius.)]}
{[Evans: you broke your limit and had been acknowledged by the devourer. Your form will now mature alongside you into an Evans (1,76 metre high, 7 metres long.), or half-turn (2,06 metre tall).