When both Freya and Zelos boarded the boat once again, they began rowing toward the opposite shore, aiming to cross to the other side of the lake.
The light of Alfheim reflected softly across the surface, and the air felt still and quiet, almost serene. Zelos took the oars, his movements steady and measured.
For a while, neither of them spoke, until Zelos suddenly thought of something that made him glance toward Freya.
"You used to be a Valkyrie, right? The Queen of them, if I remember correctly," Zelos asked curiously.
Freya looked at him, slightly raising her eyebrows. She was uncertain where the question was leading. "Yes, that is true," she replied calmly. "Why do you ask?"
"For self-protection," Zelos answered briefly, his tone casual yet thoughtful. He raised his hand and spoke softly, "Partisan."
A faint glow surrounded his palm as a weapon began to form in the air. The light slowly shaped itself into a sword that resembled the one Freya had once wielded during the events that would come to be known as Ragnarok.
When the summoning was complete, Zelos began to enchant it, carefully weaving strength and precision into the blade.
He focused on making it durable enough to withstand the strain of combat and sharp enough to cut through anything that might threaten them.
When he was satisfied with the result, he offered the weapon to Freya. She accepted it without question, running her fingers gently along the hilt, feeling the power contained within.
"I thought you would be the one protecting me," Freya said teasingly, her lips curling into a small smile. The tone in her voice was playful, and even though Zelos had little experience when it came to such things, he caught it immediately.
'What is going on right now?' Zelos thought to himself, though his face showed no reaction. Despite his composed exterior, his heartbeat had suddenly quickened. He forced himself to remain calm and answered as naturally as he could.
"It would be a waste not to witness the skills of the legendary leader of the Vanir and the renowned Goddess Freya herself," Zelos said, finding his words carefully. "I figured you might miss the feeling of battle more than anything."
He paused for a moment, then added, "Besides, a woman who can wield a sword with grace and precision deserves admiration. It's practically a rule."
The way he said it came out awkwardly sincere, which made Freya laugh. The sound echoed softly across the lake.
Despite the vast difference in their ages, there was no tension or distance between them.
The more they spoke, the more they found an easy rhythm—two people who, for different reasons, understood the weight of solitude.
By the time they reached the shore, the two had grown comfortable in each other's company.
"You really do have a silver tongue," Freya said with amusement, glancing sideways at him.
"I try my best," Zelos replied with a small grin. "Should I remove the concealment spell? It might make things more interesting for you if enemies decide to show up."
Freya nodded in agreement. Zelos lifted the concealment from the two of them, letting their presence be felt again. Then he conjured another sword for himself, adjusting its weight and size until it felt natural in his grip.
With their weapons ready, the two began to explore the shoreline, searching for clues that could lead them to the mechanism connected to the sand bowl they had seen earlier. Zelos already had a rough idea of where it was, but he found himself intentionally delaying. He wanted to spend a little more time here, beside Freya, walking without urgency.
He also chose not to use any of his stronger magic. The concealment over Kratos and Atreus was still active, and he had made sure it would hold without needing his constant focus. That gave him room to simply enjoy the moment.
Not long into their exploration, they encountered several Draugrs wandering the area. Without a word, both Zelos and Freya exchanged a glance, and the same faint smile appeared on their faces. It was the kind of expression that warriors shared before battle. Then they charged.
Freya leapt gracefully into the air, swinging her sword in a clean, fluid motion that sliced a Draugr neatly in half. She landed softly, looking briefly at the blade with satisfaction.
"Nice sword," Freya remarked, a hint of pride in her tone.
Zelos smiled, saying nothing, as he turned and struck another Draugr that came toward him. Their movements were smooth and practiced, a mix of natural instinct and refined technique. Together, they cut through the enemies without allowing a single one to strike them.
At one point, a Draugr lunged at Freya from behind. Zelos reacted instantly, blocking the blow. Freya used the opening to slash at the creature he was holding off, cutting it down. Zelos kicked another Draugr nearby, sending it tumbling backward before finishing it off.
When the last enemy fell, both of them paused, their breathing steady. Satisfied smiles crossed their faces. Freya felt a surge of freedom in that moment—fighting again, moving without restriction.
Zelos, on the other hand, found himself strangely drawn to her. It wasn't just admiration; there was something deeper he couldn't quite define.
The thought itself made him uneasy, considering how old Freya truly was, and the fact that her son was far older than he would ever be.
They continued their search, talking as they walked along the narrow paths and checking every corner of the area. The more they explored, the clearer it became that there was not much left to investigate.
Zelos knew that their time together on this small side of the lake was nearly over, and though he said nothing, a quiet disappointment settled inside him.
Eventually, they reached a cave system that led further upward. Inside, they found a platform mechanism that could lift them to higher ground. They stepped onto it, and as it rose, more creatures appeared—Nightmares and Tatzelwurms, crawling from the walls and shadows.
Freya and Zelos immediately fell into sync once again. Freya's strikes were swift and elegant, while Zelos handled the faster enemies with controlled precision. Their cooperation was effortless, each one covering the other's blind spots as if they had trained together for years.
The path led them to an open chamber at the top of the cave. There, standing before them, was a large wheel attached to ancient gears. From where they stood, they could see the circular platform below and the metal structure protruding from the lake, still half-buried.
Zelos approached the wheel and began to turn it slowly. The metal piece below started to rise, revealing the shape of a large curved structure resembling half of a horseshoe. He continued to rotate the mechanism until it locked in place with a heavy sound of metal clicking.
Once the task was complete, both he and Freya began making their way back toward the boat. Their steps were quieter this time, and though neither spoke, there was an unspoken understanding between them. Something about their small adventure had changed the space between them.
As they walked through the cave, Zelos finally decided to break the silence.
"I really enjoyed our time together," he said honestly. "Maybe when all of this is over, we could do it again. I'd like to see you one more time."
Freya looked at him, a little surprised at first, but then smiled gently. "I would like that too," she said, her tone warm and soft.
They shared a quiet smile before stepping back into their boat. The water rippled as they began to row toward the center platform once again.
During the trip, the faint sound of moving metal echoed across the lake—the same mechanical sound that had followed when Zelos had activated the wheel earlier.
The rest of the ride was silent but comfortable. Occasionally, they glanced at each other, exchanging small smiles that carried meaning they did not speak aloud.
When they finally reached the main platform with the sand bowl, they disembarked. A short time passed before Kratos and Atreus appeared from the opposite side.
"What happened?" Atreus asked curiously, noticing that something felt slightly different about the air around them.
"Nothing happened," Zelos replied simply, his tone calm and unreadable.
Atreus accepted the answer without question. "Alright," he said, nodding.
Kratos, however, let his gaze linger on the two of them for a few seconds longer. He noticed something in the way they stood, in the subtle change in Freya's demeanor, and even in the faint expression on Zelos's face. But he said nothing. Whatever he saw, he chose not to address it.