Chapter 59 - Have a little faith

The training was over, and it was time for Hati and Sif to return to the Fenrir clan so that Hati could fight for the right to receive a spirit companion. But first, Hati had to tell his parents about what he had discussed with fate's enforcer.

Hati was a little concerned about what their reactions would be, but he knew he needed to tell them because this might end up affecting them, too. Who knew if those Norns would go after them to get to him?

He had realised from his conversation with the enforcer that she had very little control over the exact actions of the Norns. They were more like rabid dogs that the enforcer sicked on a target by giving them some prophetic vision that the Norns would then try to prevent.

That also meant that the enforcer could not prevent them from going after his parents, so he obviously needed to warn them so they could take precautions and protect themselves.

To that end, all three of them were currently sitting in the Belphegor's meditation area. It was quiet, as Hati had just finished telling them the entire story, causing his father to have a thoughtful and concerned expression while his mother looked ready to cry.

Hati sighed and prepared for his mother's reaction as he finished recounting his encounter with fate's enforcer by saying, "After I get Luna back, I need to leave the Fenrir clan. 

Only the people deeply connected to me and thus disconnected from this world's fate will be free from that woman's spying. And being my parents is just not enough.

The enforcer cannot check everyone in Asgard all the time, but she will obviously keep an eye on the two of you and anyone else in the Fenrir clan. So I'll need to keep my distance until we can find a way to shield the two of you from her eyes.

I suggest you stay with Father after I leave, Mother. This place is hard to find, and even if the enforcer shares your location with the Norns, they would probably be deterred by Father's strength."

At this point, Sif was truly crying. She fully realised she was out of her depth here and looked at her husband. If anyone might know something about this enforcer, it would be him. So she asked, "Belphi? There must be something we can do! I cannot lose my son like this!"

Belphegor had his eyes closed as he seemed deep in thought, but eventually, he shook his head and said, "I've never heard of this enforcer. I can't know for sure if she told the truth, but I cannot think of any reason for her to lie. 

She clearly has great, if somewhat restricted, power. The only reason she might be after Hati, besides this fate business, is for that essence, but even if that were true, there would be no reason to lie about her restrictions. 

After all, her power to watch us seems undeniable; otherwise, how would she know some of the specific things we discussed? So, if she truly was after his essence and had unrestricted power, she would already be at our doorstep.

On the other hand, if she spoke the truth about her goals, there would be no reason to lie about her restrictions; otherwise, why even tell you about all this?

In other words, while her goals may still be questioned, I believe her restrictions to be real. This means our only direct enemies are the Norns, but if these are the same Norns that started the Ragnarok conflict back in my day, then there is nothing I can do on my own."

Belphegor looked around the gloomy grey hall, "Especially not while I'm locked in here."

At this point, Sif cried even harder as lightning flickered around her hands, "Damnit, Belphegor! I won't let them take our son!"

She may have had her love for Hati challenged when he revealed the truth about his origin, but if there was any doubt left after they talked back then, it was wiped out while spending this last year with him.

Belphegor took Sif in his arms and looked at Hati with some anguish in his eyes, "My son, I…"

But Hati held up his right hand and interrupted him, "I know. There are many unknowns for now, but to give each of us the biggest chance of survival, I need to do as I said earlier and disappear from the Fenrir clan together with Luna. Even you cannot change anything about this."

Deep down, even Sif knew this to be true; she just had an exceptionally hard time accepting it. She stuck out her arm while still in Belphegor's arms and dragged Hati into their mutual embrace.

Hati felt a little uncomfortable while being crushed by his parents. Still, he knew this was important for his mother in order for her to accept this new reality of her son being hunted across Asgard, with her unable to do anything about it.

So he leaned into it and accepted his mother's affections, hoping she would calm down enough to be able to accept this.

After staying in this position for about an hour, with Belphegor and Hati doing their best to get Sif to accept the current situation, they separated. Or, at least, Hati and Sif had separated from Belphegor, as Sif still seemed to have trouble letting go of her son. Sif had stopped crying but was still shaking a little.

Belphegor looked at his son and said, "Are you sure you still want to return to the Fenrir clan? I realise getting Luna would benefit you because she holds the other half of your sin shard, but I know you love that woman. Do you really want to involve her in all this?"

His father's question actually caused Hati to laugh as he said, "Please, Father. Did you even pay attention to Luna at all when watching my memories? 

If I dared to treat her like some fragile maiden that needs to be protected, she would find a way to circumvent the sin shards restrictions, just so that she could kill me for insulting her so gravely.

No, although there are still some things I am unsure about regarding Luna, including her love for me, there is one thing I am absolutely sure about, and that is her desire to be right in the middle of the action, regardless of the danger."

Belphegor smiled in response to his son's words, "Fair enough then. And I don't think you really need to worry about her love for you; as one who is personally affected by the sin shards forced feelings of servility, I can say for certain that anyone with a strong enough will can mostly negate them, mortal or otherwise.

They may make her more willing to follow your lead, but to generate feelings of love is impossible.

Making her submit again will still take away her desire to dominate you, but that is mostly because it is partly the sin shard that makes her want to do so in the first place. 

So the only question is, do you believe her will to be strong enough?"

Hati grinned, "Perhaps I am thinking with rose-tinted glasses because of my love for her, but if her will isn't strong enough for that, then no one's is."

Belphegor chuckled, "Having faith in your love is good." He then looked at Sif, who was still plastered to Hati, and smiled, "That is why I have complete faith that little wolf over there will come to accept reality and trust our son to be able to fend for himself."

Sif stiffened a little at these words and then snorted before sending a tiny bolt of lightning at her husband, "Shut up!"

Belphegor smiled and took the bolt in stride.

His face turned serious again as he looked at his son, "Besides, it's not as if we will send him out into the world without anything to rely on. Not only have we trained him and thoroughly prepared him for the harshness of Asgard, but he also has access to a few gifts we prepared for him, remember?"

At this point, all three members of their little family looked at the storage ring around Hati's finger. Belphegor's voice resounded once again, "Remember, Hati, get a storage tattoo as soon as possible."

Storage tattoos were much like their ringed counterparts, except they were much more challenging to find and detect while being more restricted in storage space. Einherjar generally used these tattoos to hide their more sensitive items.

Hati nodded, "I'll remember, Father." He then turned his head towards his mother and caressed her head, 

"Come on, Mom. It's not like we'll be unable to talk to each other. After all, you both linked me to your dream space. I might not be able to use it very often, lest we risk discovery, but it is still better than nothing, right?"

Sif clutched Hati's tunic as she said, "You think I care about that? I just want you to be safe!"

Hati smiled at her, "I know, Mom. But such is life. Have a little faith in me, alright?"