Niflheim

"Hey, are you okay?"Mikhael heard a soft voice as he slowly woke up. His eyes fluttered open."Thank god, you're okay." A woman sighed in relief."Where am I?" Mikhael looked around, finding himself lying on black soil with waves crashing against the shore."This is Niflheim. Anything whose existence is forgotten ends up here."The woman answered, helping him to his feet. Mikhael's face turned pale as he recalled the incident."Why is this nightmare not over!?" he blurted in frustration and defeat."Nightmare?" The girl looked at him, confused, her brown eyes staring intensely."This is not a nightmare. Humans can't dream of a forgotten realm because no living being has ever seen this place," she continued."No way…" Mikhael let out a laugh, brushing off her words. This was too absurd to believe. If this was real, did that mean Odin existed too? His religious grandparents would stone him to death for saying such things.The woman didn't laugh along with him. She just stared at him, her lips pressed into a thin line, brows furrowed.As the realization slowly set in, Mikhael's laughter faded. There was no way this could be true. It was absurd to even consider. That woman who had pushed him off the cliff—was she actually Hel? And he was the future Grim Reaper? What had he done in his past life to be cursed like this?"Are you alright?" the young girl inquired.Mikhael took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "Y-yeah."The girl nodded, glancing around. "It's dangerous to stay here." She started walking off.Mikhael nodded silently and followed. His mind was flooded with questions, racing through possible explanations while he took in his surroundings. Unlike the desperate wails near the cliff, this place was eerily quiet. Mist clung to the air, making it colder, sending a chill through his bones."By the way, I'm Sione," the girl introduced herself, stealing a quick glance at him from the corner of her eye."Mikhael," he responded politely, though his thoughts were still occupied with his current predicament."How did you end up here?" Sione asked as she picked up a few branches that had drifted onto the shore.Mikhael remained silent, trying to find the right words."It's fine if you don't want to say," Sione said, sensing his hesitation. "As for me, my tribe was a small, unknown community. When the soldiers who exterminated us died, our existence was forgotten." She paused before adding, "But don't worry. I'm sure someday, historians will rediscover us, and we'll be remembered again." Her face lit up with hope."Mmm, yes." Mikhael nodded, though he wasn't sure if he believed it.Sione seemed to be around his age. Her long black hair was braided from the scalp down to her waist, and she wore a fur dress that reached her ankles. Unlike her hopeful spirit, Mikhael found himself on the opposite end of the spectrum.His father's pleading face flashed through his mind. Would things have been different if he had chosen to save him?Mikhael immediately dismissed the thought. Hel had already targeted him long before this happened. It wouldn't be surprising if she had been the one to cause the earthquake."Mikhael?" Sione called out, shaking his arm."Hm?" He looked at her, puzzled."We need to go. Nightfall is approaching." Sione quickened her pace.Mikhael didn't argue and followed her up the shore. The blackened sands gave way to grasslands, with patches of snow scattered across the landscape. The mist thickened, making visibility nearly nonexistent."Be careful," Sione warned. "This place is made of mist and grassland without sunlight. Finding direction is the hardest part."Mikhael didn't doubt her words. The sun and sky had always been natural compasses for people. Without them, navigating was already difficult, but the uniform terrain and dense mist made it almost impossible."How do you know the way, then?" he asked, curiosity getting the better of him.Sione glanced at him, a grin spreading across her face. "It's a secret."Mikhael didn't press further. If anything, he just wanted to get out of here and return to his old life—preferably without his father. His plan before all this chaos had been to leave that house and start fresh somewhere far away. He had been just a few months away from gaining his independence.'You are Death's son.'Hel's words echoed in his head. He had no interest in playing the role of some eternal ferryman, dealing with criminals for all eternity. If anything, he wanted to be as far from death as possible."You can choose to follow your mother's path like the coward your parents were, or you can do the opposite and take your revenge. Both choices are yours. But remember, the choice you make will determine your consequences." His grandfather's words rang in his mind."Not a bad motivation."Out of nowhere, Hel's voice popped up in his head. Mikhael turned his head to the side and nearly jumped out of his skin—Hel was walking beside him."Holy shit!" Mikhael cursed, feeling his heart nearly leap out of his chest."And that's how you'll survive Niflheim," Hel sighed in disappointment."Are you okay?" Sione glanced back at him, concern in her eyes.Mikhael tried to point in Hel's direction."Don't bother. She can't see me. I'm just an illusion," Hel informed him calmly before he could speak."What is it?" Sione asked.Mikhael forced a neutral expression. "Nothing. I thought I saw a shadow."Sione's face darkened. "We should hurry. It's not safe." She quickened her pace, and Mikhael followed."What do you want now?" he muttered under his breath. He hadn't forgotten what she had done to him."Not much. Just intrigued by what you're planning to do." Hel smirked. "I must say, though, luck is on your side."Mikhael knew better than to take her words at face value. There had to be something more. Hel wouldn't have come here just for him—if she had truly wanted him, she would have appeared much earlier."The missing tribe," Hel mused, smiling as if she had read his thoughts.