A few hours earlier,
Soren was starting to hear things. It was blurry, but it was there. He opened his eyes, and saw a white flash that blinded him. "Where am I…?" he thought, squinting to lessen the light.
He heard a loud noise, then nothing.
He opened his eyes again, and a distant marine horizon appeared before him. But he didn't pay it attention, he wasn't dizzy anymore, and he finally realized that someone was carrying him.
"Akyo?" he asked.
No answer. Suddenly, the person carrying him let him go and fell to the ground.
"Ow!" He turned around, beginning to get annoyed. But when he met the person's gaze, he froze. "Her?!"
He found himself face to face with the young woman who was accompanying the two other men.
She stared at him silently and put a finger in front of her lips, as if asking him to stay quiet, then pointed with her finger.
At the end of it, a bit farther away, the two men were standing facing one another. The one with red hair seemed filled with anger.
"Honestly, Tyr, could you explain why you're all tense like that?" said Loki, wearing a mischievous smile that would make anyone want to punch him.
Tyr walked toward him and grabbed his shoulder with his golden hand. He didn't say anything, and with superhuman strength, punched him in the stomach.
Loki fell, holding his torso and trying to catch his breath. Tyr spoke.
"You disgust me, Loki. You're so small, I could smite you with my hand. But I am no coward like you. You killed a kid. There was no need, no justice, no courage in that action… You are so weak you need to kill a child to feel stronger. Without the old man's blessing, you'd be nothing but a ridiculous jester dancing to amuse us." He said , looking down on Loki.
"Kill a child?" Soren wondered. "That can't be true!?"
He got back up. "HEY!" he shouted.
The massive god turned toward Soren and stared at him.
"What child are you talking about? Who died?!" he asked.
Deep down he knew they were talking about Akyo, but he refused to believe it.
Tyr began approaching Soren.
"Sit down," whispered the young woman to him. "Sit down, and don't do anything stupid," she said.
Soren didn't know why, but he listened to her. He thought 'if Akyo wasn't able to do anything, I won't either.'
The titanic god kneeled in front of Soren. Loki was still several meters behind, struggling to breathe, but he was still laughing, painfully.
"The young man who was with you. He perished," he said.
"No…" Soren thought. 'It can't be true. Akyo was worlds above me in terms of strength, but he lost that battle?'
Soren lowered his head.
"I was just a burden, he died without me being able to do anything… I got beaten before I even had the time to see it…"
Tyr sighed, "But he was brave. He fought to protect you, and even though we're enemies, I respect that. No kid should ever die at the hand of a coward. Even if he was in our way, what happened was not fair. And I'll make sure he pays for that," He explained.
Soren didn't know what to think. This man who had kidnapped him was apologizing for his subordinate's actions, it felt strange.
"Do you have a name, Jormungandr?" the man asked.
"Soren," he muttered.
"So, you're Scandinavian. Do you know who we are and why we're here to capture you?" the man asked. He spoke in a deep calming voice.
"I don't know," answered Soren.
'There's no reason that could justify what you did,' he thought. 'I'll become stronger, and I'll avenge him,' he told himself, clenching his jaw with anger.
"My name is Tyr, and she is Freyja. We are Nordic gods, sent by Odin. Harbard has a plan for you. It may seem crazy, but he knows much more than us, he guides us, we follow," he explained.
Soren growled.
"I don't give a damn about what you're telling me. You justify your actions by blaming them on some supposedly wiser guy, with more knowledge, acting mysteriously? That led to what happened. You're just as guilty as the clown behind you. I'll kill him. I'll kill Loki," Soren declared.
He was boiling with rage, his aura began to leak out, but he knew it was too early, he wasn't ready yet.
"Well, that's one way to put it. I won't contradict you, I am guilty. Guilty of giving Loki too much freedom," said Tyr. "I am no liar when I say I'll make him pay for his actions. With or without the old man's approval."
Soren didn't answer, even though Tyr hoped he would.
'He is quite a strange Jormungandr… must be because of his young age,' he thought.
"Anyway, we have to go. We're heading for the Bifrost."
—--------------------
It was early afternoon, Nicolo was walking through the corridors of the base, heading somewhere. 'Ana hasn't left Akyo's room, not even to eat, Tachi locked himself in his office, preferring to go through this alone. I understand him, But now I have to do a job that isn't even mine." He sighed, 'well, I won't complain, I'm the adult here,' he thought.
He arrived in front of a room and entered it.
"Hello, gentlemen," he said.
Before him sat Spencer Gellahan and Sōsuke at a table. He sat down across from them. "How are you?" he asked.
Sōsuke stood up. "So?! What happened out there?? Was I right?" he asked.
"Sit down, Sōsuke," Gellahan told him, making it clear that now wasn't the time judging by Nicolo's expression.
Sōsuke sat back down. "Sorry…" he said.
"Don't worry… Anyway, no need to introduce myself. Nice to meet you, Mr. Gellahan. I've had the chance to study your work, and I must admit it's an honor to meet you," Nicolo said.
Gellahan smiled and nodded in thanks.
"Do you know where you are?" he asked the two men.
"From what I've gathered, we're in the base of a secret organization related to the gods, correct?" said Gellahan.
"That's correct. Looks like someone saved me the trouble of explaining. We are the Foundation. An organization dealing with the gods' affairs, because as you've understood, they exist."
Gellahan seemed extremely enthusiastic at the idea of the Foundation. 'Incredible…' he thought.
"So, what will happen to us?" Spencer asked.
"Well, that's why you're here. You see, we have a certain procedure for humans, like you and me, who have been exposed to deities. We offer you the chance to join the Foundation. As researcher for us, you'll benefit from exceptional means. We'll provide everything you need and grant you access to places unknown to the entire world," Nicolo explained.
Gellahan's eyes sparkled. A dream he probably had for only a few hours was already becoming reality.
"What would be the downsides of this agreement? And what will become of Sōsuke?"
Nicolo answered.
"The drawbacks… you'll have to live here for several months, until your full integration, and you'll have to swear never to speak of the Foundation or the gods to anyone."
"And as for the kid, we'll train him. He'll become a full-fledged divinity in the service of the Foundation."
Sōsuke stood up indignantly. "HEY! Who are you calling a kid—?!"
Gellahan punched him lightly in the stomach and continued:
"Yes. We swear, no problem."
"Well, perfect. That takes a weight off my shoulders," Nicolo said, placing a key on the table.
"Here's your room key. Sorry, it's a shared room for now. Today has been a complicated day, so the organization is kinda bad. Have a good day, gentlemen," he said as he left.
Gellahan grabbed the key. It was finally there.
The proof he had been searching for, not the one that would let him prove the existence of gods to the world, but the proof that he had just begun a new life.
A life in a world where the supernatural beings he had been looking for had now become his everyday reality.
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Freyja — Goddess of Beauty, War, and Boundless Desire
Freyja is the radiant force at the crossroads of love and battle, the Norse goddess who embodies both irresistible allure and fearsome strength. Mistress of seiðr magic and chooser of the brave, she rules over passion as easily as she commands the fallen in her field of Fólkvangr.
Odin — God of Wisdom, Runes, and the Nine Realms
Odin is the wanderer of the gods, an endless seeker who traded an eye for the knowledge of runes and roamed the nine realms in pursuit of hidden truths. Father of kings and master of magic, he rules through insight as much as authority. Riding Sleipnir, guided by wolves and ravens, Odin is the one who sees farther than any other
Odin and the Name "Hárbarðr" (Harbard)
"Hárbarðr," meaning "Greybeard," is one of Odin's many names, most notably appearing in the Hárbarðsljóð of the Poetic Edda. In this poem, Odin disguises himself as an old, grey-bearded wanderer, mocking and outwitting Thor from behind a ferryman's guise. The name reflects one of Odin's oldest and most iconic aspects: the mysterious traveler, a cunning, weathered figure who walks among humans unseen, using wit and deception to test, guide, or mislead those he encounters.