Chapter 22

Smoke rose from a pyre near the house, rustic. No technology. Hmm... That smell, a burning body. A cremation? A goodbye, not a ritual. The cloth is expensive, brown with embroideries. Flowers, of different colors, surround it. Beautiful. And tells the hard work of the people who said goodbye. After all, it's not easy to pick flowers in the middle of winter.

With a flash, Takae's clothes get replaced with her armor and my clothes change from modern clothes to leather gear, in case we are in a D&D setting.

Now... What to do? Takae is unconscious, I don't think I'll find another place anytime soon, but I don't want to barge like this. Oh well, worst case I'll offer gold. Gold is always welcomed, right?

With Takae in my arms, I knock on the door with my knee. -Knock Knock- the house is not that big, but no one answers. "Hello? Anybody there? I may enter if no one answers!" I yell.

Oh well. "I did say I would enter." I chuckle as I open the door, no key. And place Takae on the nearest bed.

Hm... Under the house, anger, and resentment. Wrath. Curious, but I won't meddle in other business.

I sigh as I look at Takae, and caress her hair. At least she's okay... "Hmm... Feather, Feather, where are you~" I whisper as I wave my feather, getting only the barest wisps of light from it. "To the giant mountain huh..." Later then.

I close my eyes as I rest my head on Takae's chest, fifteen minutes pass, and I hear steps on the snow, one light, shallow, a hunter? A kid? And other big and deep. A warrior.

"Wait." The deepest voice I have ever heard told the smaller presence. The sound of a weapon being drawn makes me smile.

The door opens, and the bulking silhouette of a bald man with an axe in hand shadows the room.

"Leave." He says, he isn't even wondering who are we or what are we doing here.

"Ah, hello. My name is Belatsunat, and I fear I can't leave just yet." I point towards Takae. "I am sorry for intruding, but I haven't seen another house, and she's unconscious. Do you mind if we stay until she wakes up? I promise I'll pay you with gold." I smile placatingly. Just a father taking care of his boy.

"No. Leave." He repeats, this time with a little bit more steel in his voice.

"Bu-" I get interrupted. -"Father, perhaps we should just let them stay for a bit." A juvenile voice says behind him, his head poking out of the man's thighs. "Mother would have done so." He said with all the authority a child could speak about his dead mother. I can sense the remains outside and link it to those two, after all.

"Hmpf." He grumbles and puts the ax on the side. "Fine. Your payment, upfront." He looks at me in the eye, the boy triumphs, and thumbs up to me.

With a grin, I get up and walk slowly towards the ash-skinned man. "Here, thanks for allowing us to stay for a little bit." I wave my hand a few gold bars appear.

"Hmpf." He grumbles as he takes it without raising an eyebrow.

"Woah! What was that?" The boy bounces in front of me and makes me laugh.

"Haha, magic! Don't you guys have magic? This forest is filled with magic all around." I subtly ask.

"Ah... Mom was the one who did all the magic, she taught me a little bit. Can you teach me anything?" He asks.

"Boy." The voice of the warrior warns his son.

"Ah, don't worry. If you allow it I'll teach him some simple cantrips." I smile. I can't underestimate people, not again. Momoyo surprised me, Tesshin surprised me, I did not win that fight, I got knocked out. And Takae is here, defenseless, I won't start a fight.

It seems the bald man saw something in my eyes, he grunted and left to the kitchen.

"That's a yes!" The boy shouted and cheered.

"Haha, alright, show me what you can do." I smile towards him as I sit in front of Takae.

"Umm, I can make my arrows shine." He scratches his neck in embarrassment. "My name is Atreus! And my father is Kratos. Who are you both? And what happened to her?" Hm. Deflection, this kid feels unworthy.

"Ah, that's cool and useful!" I exclaim with a grin, "Dark caves, scare tactics, even in the night! It's really useful for survival. I am Belatsunat, and this is Takae. We... were traveling, and I had to knock her out. So I am waiting for her to get better." I say with a chuckle. Better be honest. Partially, who knows who can sense the truth.

Hmm, I am being extremely cagey. Oh well, who cares. "So, here's a spell that's gonna be useful if you use a bow and arrow, it's called redouble, it will scan something, and the moment it leaves your hand it will multiply according to the power you use. For example, you shot one arrow... But seven arrows hit the opponent!" I smirk at his starry eyes.

"Oooh! alright, how do we do it? Do we use ancient nordic runes?" He tells me, surprising me. Ah... That was the feeling in the air? Fucking Vikings, fucking Valhalla. Oh fuck me sideways, I don't want to deal with the raven feeder.

"Yeah sure." I wave my hand an old parchment appears. "So, we'll use Mannaz, Othala, and Hagalaz." I teach him, slowly as I point towards the runes.

"Ah, man, heritage... No way, possession! and hail!" He exclaims. Surprising me.

"Indeed! Good job, you're quite smart and know your runes, huh?" I smile. "Now, take an arrow." He does.

"Carve the runes on your mind, inside the arrow..." He closes his eyes. "Mannaz, in the middle of the arrow. Big, surrounding the shaft. Othala, on the arrowhead. Point for point, run your fingers through it, remember the shape of the arrowhead. Hagalaz, in the feather, twice. Picture it in your mind, it will follow the picture of a double arrow. Now... Feed your energy to your imagination." I coax slowly.

His hands shine, and where one arrow stood, now the shadow of another appears. "Open your eyes, Atreus," I say, and smile at his childlike wonder when he sees two shadows from one arrow. "Now drop it" he drops the arrow, and two arrows fall.

"Wooh! Amazing!" He exclaims and looks around. "Did you see that father!?" He shouts towards Kratos.

"I did. You're good at your craft boy." He huffs and turns around.

Atreus runs towards me and whispers "Did you see that? He complimented me!" Hmm... Does he feel that Kratos doesn't love him? Curious.

"Mnn..." A sleepy voice behind me. "Nat...?" Her raspy questioning voice is so sexy!

"Takae," I call out her name, as I bring out a potion. "Drink this."

She drinks it, and her pale and sweaty skin gains a healthy color, she sighs in contentment. "Thanks. That was harsh." She mutters.

"Yeah, but we're okay. Next time... Let's try the other method." I scratch my neck in embarassment looking to the sides, only to see Atreus and I remember where we are.

"Oh, yeah, Takae. This is Atreus. We are in his house, his and Kratos." I point with my eyes to our surroundings, so she'll say nothing modern.

"Oh. Atreus?" She tests the name. "Hello. Thanks for letting me rest here." She smiles.

But Atreus tilts his head in confusion. "Belatsunat, how come I don't understand her? Her words make no sense." He says at me.

Ah. "Ah."

"Nat... What's his language?" Takae looks at me.

"About that, yeah. Easy, just... Uh. Give me a second." I say as I bring out a ring. "So... Language," I repeat as I cut my hand and bleed all over the ring. "Mind." I picture all the languages I know. "Translation," I remember all the people I have ever spoken to. "Diction." I imagine all the words I have ever read.

"Well... Here, put this on, it'll translate things from now on. But we should look into teaching you different languages." I tell Takae as I pass her a ring.

"Hmm, not the ring I expected to receive from you." She smirks at my flushed face.

"Hello, Atreus. Thanks for letting me stay here." She smiles.

"Oh! I understand you now! Did you enchant that ring just now? You're amazing!" He exclaims.

"Hahaha! I am amazing, yes!" I laugh uproariously with my hand on my sides. I see that Kratos wants to talk to his son, he's hesitating. Hm, he's a cute father.

"Alright, anyways, thanks for everything. We're leaving." I say with a smile.

"We are?" Takae mutters.

"Yep." I take her hand and drag her out of the house. "Kratos" I nod towards him as we walk by.

"Fine, have a good travel." The kid says as he waves, his face, from happiness to disappointment, to anger as he remembers something, hopefully not related to me, and probably why the father wants to talk to him.

Takae gasps as she sees the snowy mountains. "How beautiful, look at the sky, it's so clear!" She marvels.

"Yep, the wonder of old civilizations," I tell her as she fiddles with the ring.

"Why are we leaving though?" She asks.

"Hm... That man is dangerous, and while he may bend for the child, now that you're okay he wouldn't allow us to keep annoying him. Besides, he wanted to talk with his son. Wanna see?" I ask with a mischievous smile.

"Hmm... Alright." She bites her lower lip in guilt.

"Alright, let's go there." I point towards the side of the mountain.

Once we sat down, I take a bowl and fill it with water and snow, and a little golden coin. Once the coin enters the water, we can hear and see what's in the room, from the point of view of the gold bars I gave Kratos.

Takae looks at me with a raised eyebrow, at which I only shrug.

"But why!? You saw that! She said I was good at magic! I am strong! I haven't gotten sick in a long time." Atreus begs. He is, but I didn't say that.

"Fine," Kratos answers as he kneels beside Atreus, he raises his hands and looks at the kid pointedly.

"He's cursed," I say to Takae, and also a god. What a curious being.

"A god?" Takae asks as we see Atreus attempt to hit Kratos, only for him to smack his arm down with his other hand. "He doesn't see as godly like the other gods, are you sure?"

"Yep. He just controls himself really well. If I have to say... I'd say he's the god of anger or wrath or something like that. That's what he feels though, I could be wrong; as I said, he hides his aura incredibly." I whisper as Atreus gets up in anger.

"Why are you doing that?" He exclaims in dissatisfaction.

"Too slow." He answers coldly. "Try again."

Atreus attempts to hit him again, only to be rebuked once more.

"Cut it out!" He yells.

"Weak. Again."

Punch.

"Again."

Punch.

"Again."

Atreus fails to hit and screams with fury on his face. "Stop it!!" His yell sends a small wave across the clearing, and birds fly away.

"AGAIN!"

This time Atreus punches, and instead of deflecting the hit, Kratos pulls back, making Atreus fall on the floor.

Kratos walks towards the fallen Atreus, who coughs in the dust and raises him, as he kneels in front of him.

"Your anger... You can get lost in it. The path ahead is difficult." Atreus attempts to turn away, but Kratos tugs him by the arm, forcing Atreus to look at his father in the eye.

"And you Atreus... Are clearly not ready." He says slowly and to the point.

They watch each other for a second, and Kratos eventually lets him go.

"Hmm, he's harsh but he loves his son," Takae says beside me, as he rests her head on my shoulder, looking at the bowl.

"Harsh is a small word... He's spartan on his son." I say with a smirk.

"Hm? What are you not telling me?" She asks with a smile.

"That-" I stop myself as I feel the mountain rumbling. "On your feet," I say as I wave my hand and the bowl disappears inside my storage. I look around, the mountain trembles again, more and more. And suddenly, a silhouette falls in front of the house.

"That man... He flew here." Takae mutters beside me, we're hiding on the top of a tree.

"Those tattoos... And that light... Baldr." I whisper in surprise.

"Baldr?" Takae asks beside me as the stranger hits the door.

"Come on out! It's no use hiding anymore!" He screams.

"A god," I say slowly, "you can't see him fully, but he lights everything around, he's also a fool. Like his mother. She cursed him so he would not feel pain, but he doesn't feel anything at all." I say as I prepare to leave.

"Hm... Wait, what about Atreus?" She looks at me with sad eyes.

"Ugh, fine. But only if they touch the house." I mutter as I bring a talisman to hide us better.

"Hehe." She laughs and kisses my cheek.

"I know who you are..." He extends his arms. "More importantly, I know what you are!" He waits for a few seconds, but no answer.

"Just tell me what I want to know!" He yells once more. "No need for this to get bloody." He says as he spits on his fist.

"Fucking nords," I whisper.

The door opens, and Kratos exits the house, he walks slowly towards Baldr.

"Hm..." The new god mutters as he looks at Kratos from toe to head. "Thought you'd be bigger. But you're definitely the one."

"He's so thin and small, he looks like a child next to Kratos." Takae mocks him beside me.

I snort and keep watching as the conversation continues.

"Hahaha. And here I thought your kind was supposed to be enlightened." He smirks at Kratos. "So much better than us, smarter." He closes his fingers at the last word. "And yet you hide out here in the woods, like a coward."

Kratos walks towards him, towering above Baldr.

"You do not want this fight." His rumbling voice, slowly creating facts.

"Oh... I'm pretty sure I do." He scratches his chin. And from his chin, he backhands Kratos.

It barely moves Kratos' head.

"Leave." It's his only answer.

"Hey... Are they going to start fighting?" Takae says as Baldr starts hitting Kratos.

"Hm... Perhaps. Ragnarok is surely near, damn it. We need to hurry and get the feather, I do not want to get involved at the end of a pantheon." I say grimly.

"That's a flag." Takae points beside me.

"Flag?" I ask bewildered as Kratos grabs Baldr's arm and punches him in the face, throwing him a few meters away.

"Yep, something Japanese. You raised a flag, which means we are gonna be involved in the Ragnarok." She smirks at me.

I roll my eyes. "You japs are always weird when it comes to things like that... But I can't say you're wrong." I bit my lip.

"Shit," I whisper as Baldr sent Kratos flying, breaking a little bit of the roof.

"They're not that strong." Takae whispers by my side.

"Hmm... Yes and no, the strength of the gods is situational. For example, with how fast you are, he probably can react to your speed, and will probably hit as hard as you. If someone slower, but stronger appears, he will be just as fast and hit as strong as the other person. It all depends on their domains. If they actively use their divinity though, they are stronger. Hmm... I don't really know how to explain it, just know, that gods win against mortals unless the mortal is fateless."

I explain as we watch the battle, ramping up. From fists to powers. The ground shatters the mountain rumbles.

Kratos deflects Baldr's hits with his shield and punishes him with a slash from his axe, Baldr teleports around, ice following his path, the tattooed runes on his body shining blue.

The waves of their attacks rise a small storm and it blows away on the next hit. The trees explode in splinters, and grunts of exertion resonate in the yard.

Baldr rushes at Kratos, and manages to send him on the roof of the house, he straddles him and starts punching him.

Takae looks at me.

"Fine." I sigh.

We both flash to the inside of the house, as the roof starts to tear apart. Kratos looks at me, and I nod at him as a magical shield surrounds us, protecting the inside of the house.

"Hoh, two beds? Two ladies? Oh m-" As Baldr starts to mock Kratos, he gets pushed around, Kratos grabbing him from the face and they disappear, the sound of the battle continues outside.

"Atreus!" I yell. "Where are you?"

"Here." Atreus opens a basement door, covered in a rug.

I help him up and put the rug back as I close it. "What is happening?" He says scared.

"Your father is fighting," Takae answers as she looks around.

"LEAVE. MY. HOME!" Kratos yells, and the roof collapses, a few seconds later, we can see Kratos slamming Baldr through the house, to the other side of the cliff.

"Hm." I look around. "Well, at least wood is easy to replace," I grin at Atreus.

"Slow and old, you should have never come to Midgard." Baldr states as his wounds heal.

Aw, damn it. Midgard. Fuck it, not even earth... -sigh- fuck this dimension.

Baldur manages to punch Kratos inside a big rock.

"You won't talk? Fine. Maybe those two girls and however you have stashed in that house will." He smirks.

As Baldr turns around, Kratos screams.

"Aaaargh!" And he explodes from the boulder, his arms on fire, and his red tattoo shining.

Ah, crap. Is that Ares? No... Hm.

The battle continues elsewhere, this time each hit creates a crack in the mountain.

"What are you doing!? We have to help father!" Atreus yells as he tries to get away from my protection.

"Yeah, nope. We are only here to protect you, not help your father. Besides, it's not like he needs help." At his dubious look, I just sigh. "I'll just patch him up after the fight." I roll my eyes.

Are Takae and that brat low-fiving each other behind my back? Hmpf. I pout.

"Haha, don't be like that." Takae's arms surround me, as she kisses my cheek. "You're a good person, I like that." She smiles.

"Are you guys together? Like, together together?" Atreus asks in wonder.

I lock eyes with Takae for a second. "Hm, yep," I answer the brat.

Suddenly the mountain moves a little bit. Takae looks from the broken wall. "Well, the mountain is broken." She deadpans.

"They created a ravine, in fact... They are fighting over it right now." She says as she looks to the sky.

"I FEEL NOTHING!" Baldr screams in despair as they keep battering each other.

"Is that what you meant, Nat? Are they getting stronger or were they always this strong?" Takae asks as we watch the fight.

"More or less, yeah, and the answer to that is both. They use the strength they need. And they have the strength they need. It's weird." I say as I subtly sign at her about Atreus and his ignorance.

"Ah... I see." She whispers.

Luckily, Atreus is completely focused on the fight, I doubt he can even hear us, but his little mortal body... What a curious existence, I kinda want to autopsy his body.

The fight seems to come to a standstill, as Kratos manages to grab Baldr and locks his chin with one of his arms, with the other he grabs the top of his head. His legs pinning Baldr's legs, so he can't move. It doesn't matter if his arms are free, there's nothing Baldr can do to exit this slowly asphyxiating death.

They struggle, Kratos arms bulge Baldr manages to exit the chokehold for a second, but Kratos holds him again with his other arm.

"I'd hoped... Of everyone I'd faced..." Baldr is gasping for breath, and yet he continues like nothing. "You'd make me feel something... But you can't!" He yells.

-Crack- Kratos suddenly breaks his neck, and Atreus flinches hard.

Kratos throws Baldr body to the ravine and breathes deep and slow.

I walk towards him.

My steps seem to wake him up, he slowly turns around and pushes himself to his feet.

"Here," I say as I throw a red potion to him. "Drink that, it'll heal you."

He merely grunts and drinks it without hesitation, the blood on his body disappearing, and his ragged look disappears, his back straight once more.

"Who was he?" He asks as he walks past me, without stopping, directly to his house.

"Hmm. Going by the design of the tattoos and his curse, he's probably Baldr. Son of the All-father Odin. A piece of shit, both of them." I say as I walk beside him.

"He knew me... Did he know my past? Did you?" He asks as he keeps walking.

"I do not have a single clue about who you are! Well, not true. I have seen you fight like a Spartan, the moves and footwork are there. So you're greek. But more than that? Hmm... Perhaps they have felt your divinity? I can feel that. You hide it well though." I answer leisurely as he looks at me from the corner of his eye.

"How did they find me... After all this time?" He asks himself.

But I have an answer.

"Runes," I say simply.

"Runes?" He mutters. "Makes sense." He grunts.

"What do I do? Our son is not ready to carry your ashes to the top of the mountain." He whispers as he looks at the pouch in his hand.

-sigh- "Takae and I... We have to reach the top of the mountain as well." I mutter, letting the chips fall.

"Fine. Teach him magic on the way, and don't get in our way." He grumbles, opening the door.

Ugh. I know I am gonna regret this. Damn it Takae, you and your flags.