Atreus began to bombard Freya with countless questions, his curiosity overflowing as usual. Freya, showing remarkable patience, answered each of them with calm explanations and a gentle tone.
While this was happening, Kratos handed his Leviathan Axe to Sindri, who immediately began to examine it with his usual mix of pride and complaint.
Sindri muttered under his breath about his brother's crude craftsmanship and lack of artistic refinement when it came to forging weapons, all while continuing to work on improving the axe's balance and power.
Kratos, as expected, stood silently, ignoring Sindri's comments without even a glance.
Meanwhile, Zelos's attention drifted toward the water nearby. His eyes scanned the surface until he noticed something that caught his focus.
There was only one boat available, and it was clearly small enough to fit only two people. He stood quietly for a moment, then raised his hand and whispered a single word.
"Duplicate," he said softly.
Instantly, the air shimmered above the water as a second boat appeared beside the first, identical in shape, weight, and structure.
It was a perfect copy, created through magic precise enough to replicate even the smallest carvings on the wood.
Zelos preferred it that way—he did not wish to fly this time, wanting instead to enjoy the calmness of the water and the open sky, much like he did back in Midgard.
When he was done, Kratos, Freya, and Atreus walked over, their eyes landing on the two boats now floating side by side.
"So," Zelos asked, turning toward the others, "who's going with whom?"
The three took a moment to consider the situation. Freya was still powerless, her magic severed and unreliable.
Atreus was young and inexperienced when it came to traveling across other realms. The choice, therefore, was rather clear.
"Zelos," Kratos said firmly, "take the other boat and go with Freya. I'll take this one with Atreus."
Zelos nodded in agreement, but before they could depart, Atreus suddenly looked around with confusion written across his face.
"What's that?" Atreus asked, his voice uncertain, as if he had just heard someone speaking.
Freya looked puzzled, Kratos frowned slightly, but Zelos's expression changed almost immediately. He knew exactly what it was.
He had experienced the same thing before—the faint echoes that reached the minds of those with giant blood.
These were the whispers of the souls connected to the Light of Alfheim, voices filled with pain and pride, crying out about how the Light was their birthright.
"No one said anything, boy," Kratos said sharply.
"Huh. Alright," Atreus muttered, rubbing his ear as if trying to shake off the sound. Zelos knew that the voices were never clear at first. They always started as faint murmurs before becoming unbearable.
Freya quietly stepped into the boat that Zelos had created. With a wave of his hand, the boat lifted slightly, then floated down beside the one Kratos was already pushing into the water.
Once they were both ready, the two boats began to drift forward, cutting through the gentle current of Alfheim's shimmering waters.
Zelos took the oar and began rowing slowly, keeping a steady rhythm.
Freya sat across from him, her eyes glancing toward the open expanse of light that reflected beautifully across the water.
For the first time in a long while, she seemed at peace. Her expression softened, and she smiled—something warm and unrestrained.
"You have a beautiful smile," Zelos said without much thought, his tone casual and sincere. "You should do that more often."
Freya blinked in surprise, not expecting such a comment from him. Then a small laugh escaped her lips. "You have quite a smooth tongue for someone your age," she replied lightly. "You'll make some woman very happy one day."
Zelos smiled at her response and shook his head slightly. "I'd like to have the kind of love my father had for my mother," he said thoughtfully. "He doesn't show it much, but the closer we get to fulfilling her last wish, the heavier his heart grows. Father may seem cold, even emotionless, but once you understand his ways, you realize how deeply he cares. He just doesn't know how to show it."
As he spoke, his eyes drifted toward the other boat where Kratos and Atreus were already several meters ahead, moving faster.
Zelos intentionally kept their pace slower, choosing instead to savor the moment, watching the gentle movement of the waves.
The concealment spell he had cast ensured that no hostile creature would notice them.
Freya's gaze lowered slightly. "I wish I had found that kind of love," she said quietly. "But all I had was lies and twisted affection that turned into misery."
Zelos looked at her for a brief moment and replied calmly. "Do not doubt what fate has planned for you. Perhaps the kind of love you're meant to find is still ahead. Maybe sooner than you think."
He said it casually, but the tone lingered in a way that made Freya fall silent. There was something in his voice that hinted at more than simple comfort, though Zelos himself did not notice.
The two continued to row, the silence between them growing heavy yet not uncomfortable.
The sound of the oars slicing through the water filled the air, broken occasionally by Atreus's voice echoing faintly across the lake.
The boy was muttering again, reacting to something unseen. Kratos's deep voice answered him each time, firm and steady, insisting that nothing was speaking to him.
Then, without warning, Atreus cried out in pain. He grabbed both sides of his head, pressing his hands tightly against his ears as if trying to block out unbearable noise.
"Atreus!" Kratos called immediately, pulling his boat closer. Zelos reacted at once, lifting his oar and guiding his boat near them, with Freya standing to keep balance.
"What happened, father?" Zelos asked as Kratos held his son.
Atreus winced, his voice trembling as he spoke. "Voices. Can't you hear them? So many angry voices all around us."
Freya looked around but sensed nothing. Zelos shook his head slightly. "No," he said calmly, though he already knew the truth behind it. He refused to reveal what Atreus was hearing just yet.
Kratos looked toward the others, and they both confirmed the same. "We do not," Kratos said firmly.
Atreus's breathing slowed gradually, the pain easing as the noise faded away. When all was quiet again, the group continued forward. The calm returned, though the boy's confusion lingered in his eyes.
Eventually, their boats reached another wide platform made of pale stone, glowing faintly with runic symbols. In the center was a sand bowl, much like the one they had found earlier in their journey.
"What does it ask?" Kratos said, his tone steady.
Atreus stepped forward, reading the inscription etched into the stone. "Without me or within me, death is sure. Yet within you, I am life most pure." He looked around, puzzled. "But I don't see any runes here."
Kratos crossed his arms, studying the area carefully. After a moment of silent thought, he came to a decision.
"There are two paths here," Kratos said. "We will split up and search both sides. We meet back here once we find something."
Zelos nodded, understanding immediately. He and Freya returned to their boat, while Kratos and Atreus stepped into theirs once again.
The calm water rippled beneath them as they pushed off, separating in opposite directions across the radiant lake of Alfheim.
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SORRY, I'M WATCHING T1 VS TES WHILE WRITING THIS, WHICH MADE THE FINISHING OF THE CHAPTER A LOT LONGER THAN MY NORMAL PACE.