Odin stared at the god of war without saying a word, and Tyr continued.
"Moreover, if you think their organization won't retaliate after this attack, then you're fools. Loki killed one of theirs, and we kidnapped another."
Heimdall scoffed. "We have nothing to fear from a bunch of gods that weak," he said, still wearing that air of superiority.
"Do not underestimate them," Tyr replied. "There isn't a single god here who could rival Ehecatl, and certainly not you, Heimdall."
"Then you'll kill him," Odin said.
All conversation stopped. The discomfort was visible on most faces.
"No," Tyr answered.
Every god turned their gaze toward Tyr, who stood firm and unshaken, then toward Odin, watching for his reaction.
But Odin remained silent.
Tyr continued, "It would not be just to end the life of a man who fights only to save a friend. Just as it is likely unjust to persecute the child Jörmungandr, even if his divine nature is dangerous."
Oda smiled. Forseti nodded in agreement with Tyr's words. Freyja and Freyr exchanged looks, both searching for an escape from a situation they found deeply uncomfortable.
The ground began to rumble. The source of the tremor was Harbard himself. 'He can't hide his anger,' Heimdall thought, amused.
Tyr concluded, his voice resolute, "I won't go against you, Odin. But above all, I won't go against my principles. The only reason I will fight Ehecatl is to defend Leif's realm, but I will not kill him. Even if you order me to. I follow you, but not blindly."
Tyr's energy surged as he locked eyes with Odin, his will unmistakable.
Loki laughed. "Calm down, you old men, will you? I'll kill the wind god myself. Easy."
The clash between Harbard and Tyr ended there. Freyja struggled not to laugh. Everyone at the table noticed, everyone except Loki, who remained full of confidence.
Forseti spoke next. "Let us end this discussion. Harbard, your wish is to wait for Baldr's return before dealing with Jörmungandr, correct?"
"That is correct," Odin replied briefly.
Loki sighed, and Heimdall added beside him, "This is all very amusing, but has anyone seen Baldr lately? It must've been a century since I last saw him."
"Same," Freyr said. "Since that day—" He stopped himself mid-sentence. 'Shit,' he thought.
He turned his head toward Odin, who was staring at him with a stern, silent glare, one that clearly told him to shut up. Odin continued, "Baldr will return in due time." He turned toward the trickster. "Loki, you will continue to guard Breidablik, even after his return."
Loki smiled viciously. Tyr's face darkened at those words, and he stood up.
"I'm returning to Trudheim. I'll wait for Ehecatl there." Then he left.
Freyja watched him go. 'His relationship with the old man deteriorated so suddenly… as if he learned something. I don't dare ask him,' she thought.
—------------------------------------------
Soren stared at the dark cell where the man stood. "What do you mean, 'little brother'?" he asked.
The man laughed softly. "With what those bastards did to you, you probably don't know much at all…"
"What are you talking about? And who are you?" Soren asked, growing tense.
"Easy, easy. Tell me, big guy, what do you know about your divine life?" the man asked.
"Nothing," Soren replied. "Do you?"
"Of course I do," the man said with a grin. "We're brothers."
'What is he talking about?' Soren wondered.
The man continued, "But I know you don't remember. Anyway, did you know that you, Jörmungandr, are part of a family of monstrous children?"
"No," Soren answered bluntly.
"Well, there were three like you. Three rejected children, because of your father, Loki—"
He didn't have time to finish.
"WHAT?!" Soren slammed his hands against the bars, pressing his face between them. "My father is that son of a bitch Loki?!"
The man laughed. "Technically, yes."
Soren thought, 'He's really the first family i meet since i woke up?' He lowered his head, disappointed.
"But don't worry," the man said. "It's not really the case. He's not the one who brought you into the world. You're free to consider him your father, or not, but you don't share his blood."
Soren straightened up. "Then who are the other two children? Are you one of them?"
"Exactly," the man replied. "My name is Fenrir. I'm your older brother. Originally, you were a serpent, I was a wolf. As for the third child, that's our younger sister, Hel. She rules Helheim. I haven't seen her in a very long time."
He paused. "She's… special."
'A brother and a sister, can I trust him? He's also Loki's child, maybe he's just as insane,' Soren thought.
He stood up and sat against the wall. "So tell me, why are you imprisoned too?"
Fenrir laughed. "Me? Imprisoned? Don't make me laugh." He stood and walked toward the bars of his cell. His skin was tanned, his hair gray and silver like a wolf's fur. He grabbed one of the chains dragging behind him. His red eyes began to glow.
'What's he doing?' Soren wondered.
Suddenly, the chain in Fenrir's hand began to melt until nothing remained. "I can leave this place whenever I want," he said with a wide smile. His canines were unusually pronounced, showing his animal nature.
"You can melt your chains, but you're still stuck here? Bet you can't melt those bars," Soren said.
"Don't mock me. I can leave whenever I want," Fenrir replied. He turned around and lay down at the back of his cell, staring at the ceiling, sleeping on the floor didn't seem to bother him. "But I've seen too much of this world. I have no reason left to be free," he murmured.
'What kind of mindset is that?' Soren thought. 'He's never tasted the loneliness of confinement.'
He sighed, then asked, "If you can really leave so easily, you can free me too, right?"
"Correct," Fenrir answered.
"Then get me out of here!" Soren demanded eagerly.
"No."
"What? Why?" Soren asked.
"Don't feel like it," Fenrir replied.
Soren frowned. 'Is he messing with me?' He changed his tone completely.
"Fenrir… do it for your little brother. Please."
"No."
"You asshole, let me out already!" Soren snapped.
"It's precisely because you're my little brother that I won't let you out," Fenrir said calmly. "I won't let you die, not again."
'again?' Soren thought.
"Don't start with that 'not again' crap, did you know me? I mean the 'me' before?" Soren asked.
"Yes," Fenrir said quietly. "A long time ago. A very long time ago." His voice was heavy with sadness.
'He might be the one who can help me recover my memories,' Soren realized. So he asked, "Can you tell me about him? About me?"
"In due time," Fenrir replied. "But it's too soon."
"Too soon? I swear I'm ready to know," Soren insisted.
Fenrir sighed in exasperation, but did not answer.