WIEDERGEBURT Act VI: Chapter 24

Chloe escorted me to the palace and then directed me toward Fray’s gravity defying garden. There was no one present, no matter where I looked. When I directed a raised eyebrow at Chloe, she smiled and gestured off to the side.

“Lady Fray is this way. She said she would like to speak with you alone.”

“Oh. Okay.”

I nodded once, then made my way through the trees and underbrush, in the direction Chloe had gestured to. The bark had a strangely soft quality that I wasn’t used to with trees. It didn’t feel like wood. I tried to ignore that as I made my way ever forward, eventually emerging into a clearing surrounding a pond.

The pond was small. Set against a rising cliff that was maybe a meter higher than I was tall, a small waterfall trickled into the pond, disturbing the water. I was fascinated by the ripples, but I think I was even more fascinated by the naked woman bathing in the pond.

Fray did not have a stitch of clothing on, revealing every curve, crevice, nook, and cranny of a body that defied description. Her arms were raised above her head. I watched as she trailed one hand down her arm as though caressing the skin. Her breasts bounced and shook with each movement and intake of breath. The light pink of her nipples and areola was a devastating sight.

I was pretty sure there was something wrong with finding your aunt attractive, but I couldn’t deny that Fray was probably the most stunning woman I had met.

As I was standing there in shock, wondering if I should try to sneak away before she spotted me, Fray opened her eyes. They locked with me. I froze. Millions of thoughts ran through my brain in that moment, but all of them seemed to go back to one thought.

That I was, as Tora might say, fucked.

“Oh, good. You’re here.”

Fray didn’t seem to notice how petrified I was. She stepped out from underneath the waterfall and waded toward me. The water only came up to her hips, so while it did cover her nether region, it didn’t cover anything from the waist up. Despite this, she seemed completely uncaring as she walked toward me.

“Uh… yeah.” My brain kick started with a jolt, like I had lightning shoved into my brain. “Chloe told me to come here… she didn’t tell me you were bathing though…”

“I decided to take a bath after Chloe left,” Fray said. “In any case, Eryk, can you help me dry off and get dressed.”

With those words, Fray stepped out of the pond, revealing herself in all her glory. I learned that the carpet did indeed match the drapes.

“Yeah… sure. Dry off and get dressed.”

I wasn’t really sure how I should feel about all this, but since Fray wasn’t bothered, I decided it would be weird if I was bothered. With that thought firmly in mind, I combined wind and fire to create heat. I used the heat to dry Fray off. Then I grabbed the outfit lying on the forest floor--a pair of black pants, a black shirt, underwear, breast bindings, greaves, gauntlets, and a chest plate.

“Step in please,” I murmured as I knelt in front of Fray, trying not to look at her vagina, which was literally just a few centimeters from my face.

Fray smiled as she stepped into her undergarments, which I slid up her hips. Then I had her do the same with her pants. After the pants came the breast bindings. I knew from watching Kari and Fay bind their breasts that it was an arduous task on your own. It was much easier to have someone who could help you, and since I was their husband, I had a lot of experience helping bind breasts.

“You are quite skilled at this,” Fray commented as she held her arms above her head, allowing me to wrap the breast bindings around her chest. “Do you often bind your wives’ chests like this.”

“I do for Kari and Fay,” I admitted as I grabbed her boob to keep it in place. “Lin and Siv don’t need it since they aren’t quite big enough to require breast bindings.”

“Is that so? Ah! B-be a little more gentle.” Fray released a soft moan as I accidentally tweaked her nipples while I was working.

“Sorry,” I mumbled and continued.

Once her breast bindings were in place, I had her put her shirt on, and then helped attach her chestplate, gauntlets, and greaves. The chest plate was held together by metal clasps instead of straps. This armor was obviously custom made for Fray. It fit her like a glove.

The last article to go on was a belt with a sheathed sword. I studied the sword, or at least the crossguard and handle. The sword was a basic broadsword with an enameled pommel made of silver and painted with the crest of House Vanir. Wing-shaped crossguards curved around to protect her hand when she held it. Softly glowing runes covered the sheathe.

“This is Tuetöten,” Fray said as she caressed the hilt of her blade. “It originally belonged to my mother, but was bequeathed unto me after she passed on in the Great War.” Her smile turned a little vicious. “It has not tasted blood in a very long time, but I suspect it will soon.”

“I hope you mean Klaue’s blood,” I said, swallowing.

“But of course.” Fray’s smile changed from vicious to bright. “Who else’s blood did you think I was talking about.”

“Not sure,” I muttered.

“Come. Let us discuss what is going to happen today,” Fray said, leading me out of the grove where she’d been bathing.

Chloe was waiting for us just outside. Her smile told me she knew Fray was bathing when she led me here, which made me wonder why she let me go on ahead. I felt like she and Fray had been hoping to play a prank on me.

Upon leaving the garden, I found myself sitting at a small table on a balcony overlooking Ásgarðr. It was only large enough for Fray and myself. Chloe stood behind Fray, hands clasped, smile on, the perfect picture of a maid.

She had already served us tea.

“Now… the information you provided me is… disturbing but expected.” Fray took a sip of her tea. Now that I was no longer panicking, I noticed the way her lips trembled. “I know the woman your letter was referring to. Grizelda was a wonderfully capable woman. When she went missing, I tried to do some investigating on my own, but I could not find anything. I believe now that Klaue was purposefully blocking any information from reaching my ears. Now that you have provided me with knowledge from Grizelda’s daughter, I have enough evidence to act.”

I raised my cup to my lips and took a sip of my own tea. It really was good. The tea was mild and calming, but I thought I detected a hint of fruit. I wasn’t sure what kind.

Setting the cup down with a sigh, I put Fray in my sights and asked what I had been wanting to know since coming here. “What is your plan?”

“I’m planning to pay Klaue a surprise visit,” Fray said. “While I am being entertained by Klaue, the members of Arcturus Squad led by Chloe will infiltrate his mansion and find the evidence we need to persecute him.”

Arcturus squad was the first squadron of the First Regiment led by Chloe herself. She was both a squadron captain and the commander of the regiment, which made her a rather important and powerful figure. I already knew not to underestimate this woman, but I was feeling more than ever that it would be prudent to remain on her good side.

“And I’m guessing the reason you asked me over is so I can come with you?” I asked.

Fray smiled. “I imagine that if you were not a part of this after getting involved, you might get upset. It is not likely a fight will break out, so I see no harm in taking you with me. That said, if a fight does break out, I expect you not to interfere. You’re strong for one so young, but you do not have Klaue’s power or experience.”

“I understand,” I said, glad to just be a part of this operation.

***

Klaue’s mansion was big--maybe not as big as the mansion, but certainly much larger than I thought a man with only one child needed. Its most defining feature was its strictly circular shape and large archways. The trelleborg was a ring-fortress, surrounded by a large wall that traveled in a circle around the entire structure.

I walked alongside Fray as she strode over the bridge surrounding the mote. It wasn’t a drawbridge like some of the ones I’d seen back home. This was long, wide, and featured arching pillars that descended into the mote’s water, disappearing below the surface. Decked in the same armor as the soldiers who attacked me and Tora, a pair of guards stood next to a large portcullis.

“I am Fray Vanir,” Fray stated in a calm but commanding voice. “I wish to speak with Lord Klaue. Let me through.”

The two guards looked uncertainly at each other, as if they weren’t sure of what to do, but Fray pressured the pair by pretending like she didn’t care if they let her through or not, even as she pushed her Spiritual Power onto them. It was a subtle Spiritual Pressure. Most people probably wouldn’t even realize the uneasy feeling they had was the result of someone’s Spiritual Pressure manifesting.

“Of course, Lady Fray,” one of the guards said as the other slammed his halberd against the ground several times.

That must have been some kind of signal because the gate began sliding open. Fray didn’t even wait for the gate to fully open before she was walking through. I followed her as the woman set a brisk pace across the ground surrounding Klaue’s mansion. By the time we arrived at the front door, Klaue was already waiting for us with what seemed like a warm… grimace. I felt sure he was trying to smile but couldn’t manage it.

That almost made me smile.

Almost.

“Fray!” Klaue said with a hearty laugh that I believed was to mask his unease. “It is a pleasure to see you. I am surprised, though. I do not believe you have ever visited me.”

Unlike Klaue, Fray’s smile was perfect. It was impossible to see through her facade. Her “royal mask” might even be more refined than Kari’s.

“Thank you for greeting me even though I showed up unannounced,” Fray said with a dip of her head. “I am not one to visit without good reason, as you know, but I felt it was about time I did. I’m sure you remember my nephew?”

Klaue looked at me, his smile becoming even more fixed, though he didn’t forget to reply. “How could I forget? He handedly defeated my son.”

“Yes. That is actually why I am here,” Fray admitted. “I have been thinking about it all this time. While it is true that your son antagonized my nephew, it is also true my nephew took his revenge too far. I believe we owe you an apology. That is why we are here.”

“So I see,” Klaue said in a neutral voice. He paused for a moment, then his smile returned. “Well, let us not stand on ceremony. I was not prepared for a visit from such an esteemed member of our society, so I’m not quite prepared, but I will be happy to entertain you for a time. My son is not home right now. However, if you wish to deliver an apology to him, I can send a message requesting his presence.”

“That would be lovely. Thank you,” Fray said as she followed Klaue inside.

***

Klaue’s mansion had many rooms that looked like they went unused. I tried to keep track of where he led us, but I eventually stopped. This place was about two or even three times bigger than the Astralia Imperial Palace.

We were led into a sitting room that was a far cry from what I had seen in the palace. A thick carpet covered the floor, a rug made from Giant Deathstalker Bear sat in the middle. The fireplace off to the side was not being used, but Klaue ordered one of his servants to light the fire, and the fireplace was soon crackling merrily with bright red and blue flames.

Our group sat on a pair of couches around the bear rug. I was sitting next to Freya, while Klaue sat on the other couch. He had tried to sit close to Freya by offering her a seat next to him, but she merely smiled and shook her head before sitting beside me. Klaue accepted it with a shrug as though not bothered. However, the dark look of hatred that flashed through his eyes for less than a second told me otherwise.

Our conversation ranged from many topics like how our respective families were doing to military affairs. I learned that aside from his son, Klaue had several relatives who lived with him. Most of them were aunts and uncles, but his grandfather also lived in this mansion, though he was supposedly not in right now.

“It is nice to hear that your grandfather is doing well,” Fray said as she drank from a mug, which contained a strong ale. I drank the same from a mug that had been provided from me. It tasted poisonous. “Kräftig was instrumental in ending the Great War. I was very saddened when I heard he crippled his cultivation to help my father when the Sekbeist Overlord’s heart tried to take him over.”

“He does not regret what he did,” Klaue assured her. “He would gladly sacrifice himself again if it meant creating a lasting peace.”

“That makes me very happy to hear. I’m sure Wōtan would be pleased as well.”

“I certainly hope so,” Klaue said.

Neither Klaue nor Fray seemed interested in speaking to me, and I was content to keep things that way, or that was what it seemed like until Klaue turned to me.

“I was very impressed by your method of fighting,” Klaue said.

“Thank you,” I replied with the gracious smile Kari made me practice. “I wouldn’t say it’s a style or anything. I learned a long time ago that fights are messy and one shouldn’t bother with elegance if you wanted to stay alive.”

“Well said!” Klaue laughed. “Battles are messy, and when your life is on the line, you shouldn’t worry about anything other than staying alive. It is perfectly permissible to use every dirty trick available to you.”

I knew he was insulting me. Klaue was a man who had argued that my competition with Skude was an insult to dueling, despite the fact that our competition had been a hunt and not a duel. He definitely ascribed to the belief that battles were fought upfront and with “honor.”

I’d never had much use for honor.

Fray’s smile became fixed, and she opened her mouth, but a loud explosion rumbled through the mansion before she could say anything. Klaue, Fray, and I stood to our feet and looked around.

“What is going on?!” asked Fray, looking shocked. She caught my eye. I didn’t nod, but I did make eye contact.

Klaue also looked around, then shouted for his servants. One of them rushed into the room, didn’t even look at Fray or me, and whispered something in Klaue’s ear. His expression went from insultingly polite to dark in an instant. Then his eyes trailed over to me and Fray.

“It seems my guards caught some people snooping around my mansion,” Klaue said, his tone grating. “These people were dressed in the signature armor of the Valkyries.” He paused, the shadows over his eyes growing even darker, which I didn’t think was possible. “Fray… I hope you have a good explanation for this.”

“Of course I have a good explanation,” Fray said with a bright smile as her Spiritual Power surged and transformed into a thick killing intent. “I recently received a report that one of my Valkyries was charged with treason, without my knowledge, and somehow ended up in your hands. Since you decided not to inform me of this, I decided to investigate the matter on my own.”

Klaue looked like he didn’t know what she was talking about at first, but then his expression cleared up, and a grimace came over his face.

“So I see. This is about… yes. I’d heard that cunt had a daughter, but I was never able to take care of her because she refused to leave Hero Hall. It looks like I should have been more proactive in my attempts to dispose of her.”

“You should have,” Fray agreed as she removed her sword from its sheath. “I’d like to ask that you come quietly and don’t make this more difficult on yourself than it needs to be.”

“Ha! If you think I’m just going to roll over like some gutless bitch, then you have another thing coming! No one will find out about what happened so long as I take care of you and those whores who are snooping around my mansion!”

Klaue reached out his hand and shoved it into a black dimensional gap that appeared. He pulled out a broad and wicked looking battle axe. The front blade was far larger than the back, with a wicked curve that ended in a serrated edge. Runes covered the surface of the blade and ran along the hilt, which was at least two meters in length. This weapon was almost as big as the one wielding it, and the one now gripping it firmly in both hands was already quite the giant.

I understood that if a battle broke out between these two, I would be doomed. There was no way my still fledgling powers could defend against these two powerhouses. But, as if sensing my uncertainty, Fray created a spatial barrier around me.

Once more, I realized I would be useless in this fight and was forced to rely on Fray for help.

I needed to get stronger. After this incident was finished, I’d lock myself in a meditation chamber and devote myself to training.

The battle started when Klaue roared and swung his massive battleaxe at Fray, who responded in kind by lightly swinging her sword. Neither of them was close enough to hit the other. However, a powerful eruption of energy flew from their weapons and slammed into each other. It was such a powerful attack that the ground was split, the walls bowed outward, and the ceiling groaned as if preparing to collapse. I probably would have been knocked away too. However, the barrier covering me like a sphere of translucent white film kept me out of phase from this space.

“Do you really think you can beat me when you also have to protect that brat?” asked Klaue, scowling.

Fray smiled. “I still have two other concepts I can use. And I have enough Spiritual Power to outlast you.”

“Bold words. We will see whether or not you can back them up!”

A howling black wave of energy erupted from Klaue’s battleaxe and soared at Fray, who swung her sword with another light movement. The howling black energy flew into a black gap in space and disappeared. As the space closed, Fray thrust out her blade. A colorless sword point was launched out, disappeared into a dimensional gate, and appeared out of another dimensional gate just in front of Klaue.

Klaue’s eyes went wide as he placed his battleaxe between himself and the attack. The black death energy slammed into his weapon, sent him skidding on his heels, and nearly knocked him off balance.

And then Fray was right in front of him. Even I had to blink at how fast she moved.

Klaue roared and swung his axe, unleashing a powerful distortion that shattered the fabrics of this rooms dimension. It felt like the world had suddenly turned into thousands of broken glass fragments. However, Fray’s Spiritual Power surged and restored everything to how it should have been. Then she launched a dimensional attack that was no less terrifying but a lot more focused. Only the area around Klaue shattered.

I thought that might be the end of it, but then Klaue appeared several feet away, having stepped through a dimensional gate just in time to save his ass. He swung his battleaxe so intensely the weapon began spinning in a circle. As he spun faster and faster, black energy poured from his glowing weapon. The energy turned into a tornado that grew so big it struck the ceiling and blasted it away.

I was still safe within the barrier. However, a few cracks formed along the spherical spatial barrier before Fray noticed and restored it.

“Don’t worry about fixing the barrier!” I shouted at her. “Just focus on the fight.”

I didn’t know if Fray heard me or not, but she didn’t respond with words. Launching herself forward, she spun around in a circle of her own, her blade creating dimensional tears as she clashed against the black tornado. The energy dispersed. Klaue’s attack died down, but then Klaue himself appeared behind Fray, his battleaxe glowing as he swung it at her head.

Fray’s entire body froze in place when the attack struck. I wasn’t sure what to expect when that happened, but then I noticed that Fray had not moved at all despite an explosion of energy gushing out in all directions. It was like Fray had frozen herself in time to keep her body at those exact coordinates.

“I see your control over the Concept of Time has improved even more! But you’re not the only one who has gotten stronger!” Klaue howled as the dimension around Fray collapsed in on itself. The woman’s body distorted as it was sucked into what appeared to be a black hole.

Then it stopped.

Then everything began moving in reverse.

Fray’s body was restored to normal.

“Why?! Why are you so much stronger than me?!” demanded Klaue as he swung his battleaxe once more. There was no concepts being used this time. Just pure brute strength.

“There are many reasons I am stronger than you, but if I had to name one…” Fray did not shuffle back even a centimeter as she blocked Klaue’s strikes with her own sword. The smile on her face was quite wide. “Then it would be that I actually train. I don’t rest on my laurels after reaching a specific level of strength like you. I am not content to stand still.”

Fray’s words seemed to upset Klaue, who released a scream of outrage as his entire body exploded with Spiritual Power. I thought he was going to release a powerful attack. I suppose, in a way, my thoughts were correct, but it wasn’t an attack like I expected.

“What are you doing?!” Fray asked, her eyes widening.

Klaue had, for whatever reason, swelled up like a balloon. His entire body had expanded quickly to three times his original size. I didn’t know what to make of this, but Fray seemed to know something I didn’t. She seemed frightened.

“If I cannot crush you, then I will take you with me!!!”

It was those words that made me realize something bad was about to happen. Analysing the Concept of Space around me, I unraveled the barrier, used the Flash Step to appear beside Fray, and then merged her and me into the earth. I traveled down deep. I wasn’t sure how far I needed to be, but I thought the further away from Klaue, the better.

Moments after I made this decision, I felt several hundred meters worth of ground just disappear. I could no longer feel it. That meant Klaue’s attack had destroyed the earth around the mansion. When I came back up with the shell shocked Fray, the two of us were able to see the devastation that had occurred. The entire mansion had been turned into a giant smoking crater.