WIEDERGEBURT Act VI: Chapter 26

Tora looked different now than I remembered. It wasn’t a big difference, but she had grown out her hair, and it now trailed all the way to her bum. She had also changed her outfit. The battle gown she wore looked like something I believed Fray would wear. A bodice made from prismatic scales covered her torso but left her breasts exposed, though they in turn were covered by a white shirt with a notorious gap traveling down the middle of her chest. Flaring out around her hips was a knee-length pleated skirt made from the same material as her bodice. Scaled boots also adorned her feet.

I stared at her for a moment, then realized what she said.

“You want to come with us?”

“Of course I fucking want to come with you.” Tora scowled as she marched up to me and Fray. “Weren’t you the one who said I needed to ask your wives for permission before you can marry me? Why the fuck wouldn’t I want to come with you?”

I shrugged. “We’re only going to meet two of them. My other two wives are still back on Miðgarðr.”

“So?”

“So…” I began, stretching out the word. “Even if Kari and Siv grant their blessing, you still need to get Fay and Lin’s permission too.”

Tora frowned at me, to the point where it almost made me squirm, but I held my ground. I was not some manwhore who would sleep with anyone just because she was pretty. I was also loyal to my wives. While I did like Tora a lot and wouldn’t be against marrying her, I loved my wives a lot and would never do something that would betray them.

“Are you trying to make things more fucking difficult for me?” asked Tora.

I rolled my eyes. “Of course not. I’m just telling you that you need to get all of my wives’ permission and not just two of them. And there’s really no point in coming with me since we’ll probably come right back here.”

“I don’t care. I’m going with you and that’s final. I’ve already made my fucking decision, so fuck off,” Tora snapped.

“Fine,” I muttered with a sigh. “If you really want to come with me, I guess it’s fine so long as Fray is okay with it?”

I really didn’t want to argue with Tora, who was even more stubborn than I was. Sparing a glance at Fray, I looked to see what she thought of this woman traveling to Vindenket with us.

Fray seemed amused. That was the only way I could describe the look on her face. She wore a kilometer wide smile, her eyes were shining, and her body was shaking with barely restrained mirth.

“It seems you are quite the lady killer, Eryk,” she chimed with a soft giggle. “Chloe has also expressed an interest in you.”

“Huh?”

“The fuck?”

I ignored Tora’s swearing for the moment. Chloe was interested in me? But we hadn’t even done anything significant together! I’d only known her for the few days I was at the palace, and then I’d gone off to the Hall of Heroes to train. Also, wasn’t she supposed to be some kind of badass warrior woman? I couldn’t fathom why someone like that would be interested in me.

“I’ve been having her keep an eye on you,” Fray admitted. She must have seen the expression on my face. “I suspected that Klaue would try to have you assassinated after your competition with Skude, so I asked Chloe to watch you in secret.”

“Well… that explains why she was able to rescue me and Tora when we were attacked.” I tugged on my bangs and took a deep breath. “I’m not sure how I feel about someone spying on me though.”

I was more worried because I had never sensed Chloe’s presence. I didn’t want to brag, but I had incredible situational awareness. By using Spiritual Perception combined with the wind element to create a sonar map within my mind, the earth element to sense vibrations on the ground, and the life element to sense life, it was basically impossible to sneak up on me. Or it should have been.

Chloe was even more amazing than I thought.

“So even the Invincible Valkyrie wants a piece of Eryk’s man meat?” Tora asked in shock.

Um. Excuse me. Please don’t say it like that. I wanted to tell her that, but I kept my mouth shut.

Fray’s shrug was a lot more elegant than my own. “Chloe is attracted to powerful and beautiful men. While there are a lot of handsome men out there, I don’t think any are quite as pretty as Eryk.”

“You make it sound like I’m a woman,” I muttered.

“You got that fucking right,” Tora agreed with Fray.

“You two are trying to emasculate me,” I moaned piteously. I thought that after all this time, my looks had become less feminine, but I guessed there were some things about me that would never change.

Well, at least no one has mistook me for a girl. That had to count for something.

Right?

***

It was decided that Tora would be going with Eryk and Fray, who would be traveling back to the palace. Tora traveled back to her residence. The Warp Gate wouldn’t be opened until tomorrow, so she had been asked to gather whatever she felt she needed for the trip. To that end, she didn’t head back to her dorm, but to her apartment complex.

Tora lived on her own. She could have lived in her father’s mansion, but she and her dad had never seen eye to eye on many issues. It didn’t help that he always lamented that she’d been born a woman. But that was fine with her. If her dad didn’t fucking want her, then she didn’t fucking want him.

The apartment complex was a multi-store structure with outside hallways that traveled between the building. She walked up the stairs to the second floor, traveled down a hallway, and stopped in front of a simple door with a wooden plaque that said ᛏᛟᚱᚨ--her name spelled using runes. It created a very basic rune array that automatically unlocked the door whenever she channeled her Spiritual Power into it.

Tora walked into her apartment’s entrance hall, slipped out of her boots, and traveled into the living room. She paused the moment she saw the figure standing before the window. He wasn’t face her, but she could see his face reflected in the glass.

She scowled. “What the fuck are you doing here, old man?”

“I see you are as crass as ever,” Tyr said as he turned around. “I can’t imagine where you got your foul language from. Neither your mother nor I spoke with such a vulgar tongue.”

“Fuck off,” Tora snapped. “Don’t you dare mention Mother to me.”

Seeing this man in her residence pissed Tora off to know end. She had left her home specifically to get away from this man.

“I see you still harbor a grudge against me,” Tyr muttered with a frown.

“Grudge? Ha! That’s putting it mildly.” Tora’s barking and harsh laughter filled the room as she pointed at him. “From the moment I was fucking born to the time I left your home, you have done nothing but put me through hell--me and Mom. I’ve always hated you.”

Memories from the time when she was living at her father’s estate filled her mind, the brutal training that almost killed her, the harsh words about how she wasn’t good enough because she hadn’t been born with a dick, the times she would cry in her mother’s arms because of how disappointed Tyr was in her. No matter what Tora did or how hard she tried, nothing was ever good enough for him.

It was because she hadn’t been born a man.

Tyr sighed. “While it is true that I wish you had been born a boy, that does not mean I love you any less. You are still my pride and joy.”

“Oh yeah? You’ve got a really fucked up way of showing love then,” Tora snarked. “Was it love that led to Mother’s death?”

“So you do still blame me for Sig’s death.”

“Of course I fucking do.” Tora glared at her father with a hatred that couldn’t be contained. The only reason she didn’t lash out at his son of a bitch was because it would destroy her fucking apartment. “Now tell me what the fuck you want or get the fuck out.”

“Fine. I will get right to the point.” Tyr’s shoulders sagged a bit, but then he straightened his spine and looked at Tora with an expression so hard and stern that she found herself unconsciously standing at attention. “Our days of this false peace will be coming to an end. The time is coming for everyone to choose a side. I came here in the hopes that I could convince you to choose the right side.”

Tora was dumbstruck for a moment, but it didn’t take long for her to understand what he meant. There was only one thing he could be talking about.

“You… are you planning to rebel against Lord Tor and Lady Fray?! Are you fucking out of your mind?! Wait. Don’t answer that question. I already knew a psychotic fuck like you was insane. Do you really think I will let you do this?!”

Tora removed her sword from its sheathe and shifted into a battle ready stance, feet spread shoulder width apart, dominant foot forward, sword pointed at her father. She was more than ready to cut this bastard down, even if she knew she wouldn’t stand a chance.

Tyr, on the other hand, did not move a muscle.

“I am not here to fight you,” Tyr said with a sigh. “If you wish to inform Lady Fray and Tor, you may feel free to do so. However, there is nothing they can do. I have not done anything wrong, and they cannot attack me without justification. I know that. They know that. All you’d be doing is sowing more seeds of dissent.” Tora still wasn’t convinced, and so Tyr dropped another bomb, a big one. “Don’t you want to know the truth behind your mother’s death.”

“What… do you mean?” asked Tora, feeling cautious.

“I mean if you want to know how your mother really died, I will tell you… on one condition.”

Tora bit her bottom lip and debated what she should do. She had never been told about how her mother died. All she remembered was that her mother had been a member of the Valkyries. She’d gone out on a routine mission with her squadron one day, and then she was brought back in a body bag.

Her mother had joined the Valkyries because she couldn’t stand the thought of being a part of the main army. The Four Cardinal Divisions were controlled and overseen by Tyr, and her mother had felt the same hatred for Tyr that Tora had. That was what she chose to believe.

But what if there was more to her death?

“What condition?” asked Tora.

“The condition is simple,” Tyr said, paused, and then continued. “If you want to know what happened to your mother, all you have to do is kill Eryk Vanir.”

***

I didn’t sleep that night. Granted, I didn’t sleep most nights anymore, but I was too hyped that night to even meditate. My excitement had kept me up, and when Chloe came to wake me like she used to, it was to find me standing before the window and looking at the city.

“I see you’ve woken up early,” Chloe said with an amused smile. “Or maybe you didn’t sleep at all. Are you thought excited about Traveling to Vindenket?”

“More like I’m excited about seeing my wives,” I said, turning around.

Chloe’s expression softened. “You have been separated from them for a long time. I can see why you would be happy to see them again. I bet they, too, will be pleased to see you.”

“Thank you. I think that as well.”

“However, if you are going to meet with Lady Tiamat and your wives, you should freshen up with a bath and a change of clothes. I’ve already taken the liberty of preparing clean clothes for you.”

“Thanks…”

Now that Fray had told me about Chloe’s feeling, I felt a little awkward around her, though Chloe herself acted no differently from before. She remained bright and shining, the smile on her face nearly blinding.

I took a bath in my private bathing room. Chloe asked if she wanted her to wash me off, but I declined like I always did. There was no way I could bathe with a woman who I wasn’t married to. After the bath, I pulled on a fresh pair of black pants, a black and white shirt, and a pair of leather boots. The shirt was interesting. While it was predominantly black, it had a single long-sleeve that covered my right arm. My left side was sleeveless and gave my outfit and asymmetrical design. I wondered if Chloe had chosen this in case I wanted to walk around without my fake arm.

Maybe it was her way of telling me I looked better without the arm?

Once I was dressed, I joined Fray for breakfast, and then the three of us were traveling toward the Warp Gate.

The Warp Gate was not located in the palace. We traveled toward a large building with a multi-layered roof that had decorations on the peaks. Large columns decorated the entrance. Our group walked down a stone path between these goliaths, which were decorated with runes along the bottom and top. When we reached the end of the path, I found a large space filled with wagons, carriages, and soldiers inspecting goods or loading cargo. Every person present was dressed in the armor of a member of the Valkyries.

The Valkyries had armor very similar to what Chloe was wearing now--except not as streamlined. Their chest plates were a bit bulkier, pleated metal skirts descended past their legs, and gauntlets covered their hands and forearms. All of them wore a helmet with what appeared to be wings jutting from either side.

Tora was standing around and watching everyone move about. She looked uncertain, like she wasn’t sure if she should help or just remain standing there. It made her look awkward.

“Tora!” I shouted in greeting.

Looking up when I called her name, Tora smiled at me, but… maybe it was just my imagination, however, she seemed sad somehow. No, maybe conflicted was a better word to use.

“Is everything okay?” I asked. “You aren’t having second thoughts about coming, are you?”

“I… no.” Tora shook her head. “I’m not having second thoughts. I was just distracted by something.”

I could already tell Tora was more than just distracted. She hadn’t shouted a greeting at me or cursed. There could only be one reason she didn’t add “fuck” to her sentences, and that was that something was bothering her. However, I wouldn’t force the issue if she didn’t want to talk about it. I’d just keep my eye out for her.

“It’s good that you are here early,” Fray said to Tora with a smile. “We will be leaving within the hour. We just have to make sure all of our supplies are ready.”

I learned from Fray that Ásgarðr and Vindenket traded in more than just information. They also traded in essential supplies that neither realm possessed. Because Ásgarðr was not a self-sufficient city and relied on farming, they did not have much in the way of grains, livestock, fruits, or vegetables. This was because their farms were much further out and constantly under Sekbeist attack. It seemed as if the Sekbeists intended to starve them.

On the other hand, Vindenket did not have the powerful Demon Beasts that Gudeverdenen possessed. Many of the Demon Beasts in this realm were not only powerful, but their bodies were like treasures. Their hides and scales could make powerful armor. Their bones and fangs could make weapons. Their organs could be used as ingredients to refine powerful pills. There was no end to the number of uses Demon Beasts in this realm had.

Once the Valkyries had checked and loaded all of the cargo, Fray and Chloe directed our group toward the front and led the caravan through a large set of double doors. The other side of this door were eight massive gates. Larger than the ones I’d seen back on Miðgarðr, these half-circle archways were covered in glowing runes. Three of the eight were glowing brightly.

With extreme precision, the Valkyries split up into three groups.

Noticing my curious look, Chloe explained what was happening with a smile.

“We currently have contact with three other realms. Útgarðar, Ljosalfheim, and Vindenket. We lost contact with the other realms some time ago.”

“The Warp Gates?” I asked.

“We think they were destroyed,” Chloe admitted with a pained smile.

I didn’t need her to say anymore to understand what happened.

Once the three groups were split up, Fray directed myself and Tora to follow her. We gathered at the head of the caravan traveling to Vindenket. Standing before the massive Warp Gate that was easily ten times taller than I was, I felt my body begin feeling jittery. Would I really find my wives on the other side of this portal? I stared into the black mass of swirling spatial energy, took a deep breath, and followed Fray and Chloe into the portal with Tora at my side.

It had been a very long time since I traveled through a legitimate Warp Gate that connected two separate realms. The last time I had done so was before I’d traveled back in time. Just like last time, velvet blackness with streaks of light surrounded me on all sides, but unlike last time, I could tell what this was. These streaks were spatial threads that helped create the “tunnel” between Gudeverdenen and Vindenket.

I wasn’t alone in this gate. Fray, Chloe, and Tora were traveling with me, and behind us was the caravan.

I thought I felt something as we traveled through this space. It was like a tug at my mind. Staring at the threads of spatial energy, I could feel my mind opening up.

Space was the boundless three-dimensional extent in which objects and events had relative position and direction. I imagined it as a flat plain with two intersecting plains traveling through it. If the flat plain people stood on was Z, then the plain bisecting it from north to south was X, and the plain traveling from east to west was Y. Any object within this space would have a coordinate based on where they were located relative to these plains. Like this, someone could manipulate objects in space by channeling their Spiritual Power into these spatial threads.

It felt like I was coming close to understanding a little bit about the Concept of Space, but before I could gain anything resembling true understanding, I found myself standing in a vast plain surrounded by massive walls. I blinked several times, as did Tora beside me.

A dragon’s roar came from above us, loud and ferocious. It made my hair stand on end. However, none of the Valkyries nor Fray appeared worried, so I calmed myself down.

Just then, several shadows past above us, and I looked up to discover, much to my shock, several dozen massive dragons. Each one was easily three or four times bigger than Siv. They had powerful bodies with four limbs, a long tail, and a wingspace that must have been several dozen meters across.

The one that caught my attention the most was the bright silver dragon in front. It reminded me of Siv… at least in appearance. The streamlined body was sleek and covered in slender muscles that appeared both powerful and gentle. The wings jutting from its body were quite long, though not the longest of the group. Two horns protruded from the sides of its head and curved around like a crown. Meanwhile, brilliant emerald eyes stared at our group as it descended.

Of course, these were not dragons.

They were drakvar.

The drakvar descended to the ground, kicking up dust in their wake. My hair was blown away from my face. Even before the drakvar landed, they were transforming. Their bodies shrunk and morphed, limbs growing smaller and more slender, torso changing from reptilian to humanoid, and heads going from scaled muzzles with sharp teeth to beautiful men and women with scales covering parts of their skin.

Again, the leader of this group--who I presumed was the leader--took center stage.

She looked almost like a carbon copy of Siv right down to her petite body. The differences were miniscule. Her hair was pure silver instead of greenish silver, there were no scales covering her cheeks, but her ears were covered in scales that matched her hair. Her feet also appeared more draconic than Siv’s, which looked almost entirely human save the few scales located on the top.

When the woman and other dragons appeared, they were naked, but then robes appeared as if from thin air to adorn their bodies. The woman’s pure white robes complimented her pale skin, billowing behind her as they walked over to us. I noticed a gentle and joyous smile on the woman’s face when she caught sight of Fray.

“Sister!”

Sister? I mouthed the word to Chloe, who merely smiled and shook her head. During that time, the drakvar woman embraced Fray, but it looked kind of silly. The woman was very petite. She only just came up to Fray’s chest, which meant the woman was nuzzling my aunt’s breasts. I also noticed the other drakvar were similarly sized. Even the tallest man among them only reached up to my chin.

“It’s been far too long,” the woman said with a smile as she pulled back from the embrace.

“That it has, Schnee,” Fray agreed with a tender smile as she stroked the girl… um… woman’s head. “I did not get to travel here last time the Warp Gate opened because something important came up. How have you been? Have there been any problems?”

“I am fine,” Schnee said, eyes shining. “The Sekbeist have been keeping up a constant assault of our cities north of Drakstadt, so I have been forced to divert many of my best toward the surrounding cities… but let us not talk about that. I want to hear more about you. What have you been doing? What was so important that you had to stay behind two months ago?”

“My nephew returned to me,” Fray said simply.

“Hmm? Nephew?” Schnee looked befuddled for a moment, but then her eyes widened as a gasp of shock escaped her. “You mean… you mean…?!”

With a smile, Fray grabbed my hand and pulled me forward, presenting me to Tiama, who suddenly locked eyes with me. I was once more struck by how similar she looked to Siv. If her hair had a green tint to it, she would have been nearly identical.

“Schnee, I would like to introduce you to Eryk Vanir, son of Freyr and Gurd. Eryk, this is Schnee, daughter of Lady Tiamat and current empress of Vindeket,” Fray introduced us.

Schnee and I eyed each other for a moment. I felt an overwhelming surge of emotions as I looked at her. Seeing someone who resembled my beloved wife was far too much for me to take. So many emotions ran through me in that moment that I couldn’t even figure out how I was feeling. Only one thing appeared in my mind. A petite woman with silvery green hair, eyes like emeralds, and the most beautiful wings I and horns I had ever seen.

She opened her mouth to say something, but I didn’t know what she planned on saying because I could no longer contain my emotions and spoke before she could.

“Do you know if a human woman named Kari and a drakvar named Siv showed up in Vindeket recently?!”