As soon as the process of traveling to another realm began, the entire chamber dimmed once more.
The light that once filled the room faded slowly, as the structure returned to its previous sleeping state.
The energy that had been sustaining the realm travel had now been spent, and the brilliant illumination of Alfheim faded into the faint glow of dying embers.
Meanwhile, Atreus looked around in confusion. His eyes moved from wall to wall, searching for some kind of difference, but the surroundings appeared almost identical to before. There was no immediate change that he could notice, and it made him wonder if anything had happened at all.
"Didn't work. We're still here," Atreus said with uncertainty as he turned to Freya, who only chuckled softly at his impatience.
"Wait until we step outside," Freya replied calmly, her tone light but confident. Atreus's expression brightened a little, though he still seemed unsure.
"The bifrost is dark," Kratos then said, his deep voice steady but firm, as he noticed the same dim glow that everyone else had already sensed.
"The energy source has been completely drained," Zelos explained, his voice thoughtful as he examined the faint shimmering residue on the ground. "We'll need to collect another source of power to restore it, or we will not be able to return."
Freya turned to him with a look of surprise. "That is correct," she said, nodding slowly. "The bifrost must be replenished with the Light of Alfheim. Without that, this trip will be our last one. But tell me, how did you know this?"
Zelos met her eyes and answered simply, "I can feel the energy leaving the room. I am sensitive to these kinds of things."
Freya studied him for a brief moment before nodding, understanding his words. She then led the group toward the large doorway that served as the exit.
At her quiet request, Kratos stepped forward and pushed the heavy wooden doors open. The moment the light spilled in, all of them were met by an unusual sight.
Outside, the once radiant glow that was characteristic of Alfheim was now dim and faded.
The light barely touched the ground, and the air itself seemed to have lost its vibrance. Freya's face shifted from calm confidence to visible concern.
"The light is almost gone," she said, her tone worried. "Something is wrong. Look there—see that distant pillar with the faint glow? It is the temple's center, the place where the light is housed."
She began to explain further, but in the middle of her sentence, a faint light suddenly flickered across her body. Her words caught in her throat, and her expression changed instantly to panic.
"No, no, not now—damn it, not yet!" Freya shouted, her voice trembling as glowing threads of energy began pulling her backward.
Kratos immediately reached out and grabbed her arm, holding on tightly as the invisible force tried to drag her away. "What is happening?" he demanded, his strength straining against the pull.
"Do something, Zelos!" Atreus called, his voice filled with urgency.
Zelos took a step forward and began chanting softly under his breath. His tone was calm yet deliberate, the rhythm carrying a power that resonated through the air.
It was the first time he had used a complex spell that Faye herself had taught him—one he had further modified with his own magic.
The technique was designed to temporarily sever the link between a person's true self and their physical form, creating a duplicate that would take on everything the original possessed—its magic, strength, and even its curses—leaving only memories and consciousness behind in the real body.
As Kratos continued to pull Freya with all his might, a brilliant light began to shine beside them.
Both he and Freya turned to look and saw Zelos standing still, his eyes glowing with the same ancient brilliance Atreus once displayed when he spoke in the language of the giants.
The ground around him pulsed faintly as the air grew heavier, filled with his chanting voice.
The light in front of him condensed, forming a shape resembling a sword made entirely of radiant energy.
Zelos grasped it firmly and, without hesitation, swung the blade toward Freya's body.
"Sever," Zelos said clearly as the glowing edge passed through her.
The sword did not harm her flesh, but it sent a burst of light through the room, followed by a sudden pulse that made the air ripple.
A luminous form was torn away from Freya's body, splitting briefly into two before one half disappeared into the light that had been pulling her. The other half—the real Freya—collapsed onto the ground.
"Why did you do that?!" Atreus shouted immediately, stepping forward with alarm. He thought Zelos had just struck Freya down.
Before Zelos could answer, Freya stirred. She slowly lifted her head, confusion etched across her face.
She looked down at her hands, noticing that the glow and the sensation of being pulled away were both gone.
"What… how?" she whispered, still in disbelief.
Kratos and Atreus both looked relieved, realizing she was unharmed.
"Magical, isn't it?" Zelos said casually, looking toward them with a faint smile. Freya stared at him, still trying to make sense of what had just occurred.
"I temporarily severed your true self from your physical form," Zelos explained calmly. "Your body here remains, along with your consciousness, but the parts of you that were affected—your magic, your curse, the pull of whatever realm was trying to claim you—are now linked to the other body I created. For now, you exist in two realms at once. Complicated, I know, but it works."
Kratos and Freya, both beings who had lived through countless centuries of magic and gods, found themselves completely silent. For once, they looked almost as bewildered as Atreus.
Freya took a small step forward. Even as she struggled to understand what she had just experienced, tears began to form in her eyes. Then, without hesitation, she embraced Zelos tightly, thanking him repeatedly, her voice trembling with genuine emotion.
Zelos stood stiffly, unsure how to respond. He turned to glance at Kratos and Atreus for help.
Atreus, trying not to laugh, motioned with his hand for Zelos to hug her back, while Kratos remained quiet, watching the moment with his usual stern expression.
"Ah, maybe we should continue with our mission," Zelos said after a moment, awkwardly patting Freya's shoulder. "We wouldn't want to remain stuck here longer than necessary."
Freya released him with a small, thankful nod, still clearly moved by what he had done. Zelos stepped back and walked toward Atreus, who was trying to hide a grin.
"Well, that was awkward," Zelos muttered quietly.
"Haven't you ever hugged Mother before?" Atreus asked curiously.
"I wasn't talking about the hug," Zelos replied with a sigh. He was not used to people showing such open gratitude, and the unfamiliar feeling left him uncertain how to react.
The four of them then began walking together toward the temple at the center of the faint light. Freya walked beside Kratos, while Atreus and Zelos followed close behind.
The strange glow of the fading realm surrounded them as they continued onward, their mission still far from over.