Far away from the continent of Mira, and from the search the mages of the Human Empire were conducting across it, the Island of Asgard was welcoming a prisoner… or perhaps a new guest.
On the seashore, Odin and his brothers stood waiting for the return of his raven.
After a few moments, they spotted a massive, ugly-looking bird approaching, its wide wings slicing through the sky.
Poseidon shouted in disgust:
"What is that?! What happened to your raven, brother?! What's wrong with its appearance?!"
Hades continued, staring at the creature:
"What were you feeding it, you idiot?! How did it end up looking like that?!"
Odin did not respond.
Instead, Athena answered coldly:
"Did you forget that Odin's raven belongs to the demonic race, you fools? Of course it would grow and take on a terrifying form."
Poseidon slapped his forehead.
"Ah… right! I almost forgot. But… isn't that a bit excessive? I mean, who wouldn't be afraid at the sight of it? Maybe not of its power… but surely of being splattered with that creature's blood!"
Hades added with a puzzled tone:
"Are all the beasts of the Demonic Continent this ugly?"
Before the discussion could turn into a long argument, Odin spoke in a decisive voice:
"The raven has arrived with the girl. Can you be silent for a moment?"
As soon as he finished speaking, silence fell.
His aura rose suddenly, filling the area with a heavy pressure.
He wasn't doing it to frighten them—they all knew his aura alone could kill the weak—but to ensure that the girl the raven carried was truly unconscious.
Once he confirmed it, he ordered the raven to lower her.
The giant bird descended slowly and gently placed the injured girl on the sand.
Odin waved his hand.
"Go. Carry out what I ordered."
In an instant, the raven shrank back to its smaller form and soared over the sea, heading to carry out its master's orders—whether to infiltrate the continent of Mira… or perhaps the Demonic Continent.
Poseidon glanced at the departing raven, then at Odin, but did not ask about the mysterious command. He knew there was something more important before them.
"What will we do now, brother?" he asked calmly.
Odin waved his hand, and the injured woman rose gently from the ground, settling into his arms.
"We will go to a secluded place on the island. We'll leave her there until she recovers… then decide what to do with her."
Athena stepped forward.
"Shall I have my daughter treat her? She may wake from her coma faster."
Odin looked at her, his tone carrying a clear warning.
"No. None of our children with the potential of rulers are to be exposed to any danger… until they become rulers."
Then he added more sternly:
"Especially your daughter… and my three daughters."
Poseidon raised his hand lazily.
"Should I wash the woman with seawater, brother? She smells awful… look at all the blood covering her!"
Hades glared at him.
"Are we discussing her hygiene or what to do with her, you fool?!"
"Why not both?" Poseidon replied carelessly. "Her smell really is unbearable!"
Odin sighed in annoyance and disappeared from his spot.
"You handle the children and their training… I'll deal with the woman. And remember—the Titan's child is about to be born, and our father has already taken control of his mind."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Athena looked at the place where Odin had stood and said coldly:
"Look at the foolishness you two indulge in… Can't you be serious for once?"
Hades hurried to reply:
"It's Poseidon, not me—"
But before he could finish, Athena vanished calmly.
Hades glared at Poseidon.
"Look what you did!"
Before he could endure further scolding, Poseidon vanished as well.
Hades froze for a moment, then shouted:
"So now I'm the troublemaker?!"
He disappeared too, muttering:
"I need to train my daughter well… so she can teach Poseidon's children a harsh lesson. And I should also check on what my sixth child is doing."
In a secluded area of Asgard Island, Odin appeared quietly, the woman in his arms. He laid her gently on the sandy ground.
Without looking at her, he said:
"Enough acting. I know you're awake. You're only fooling yourself with that poor performance."
In that instant, a terrifying golden aura exploded around Forn. She leapt to her feet and shouted:
"How… how did you see through my act?!"
Odin paid her little attention.
His gaze was fixed instead on the bracelet around her wrist.
He stroked his chin slowly.
"Do weapons of such power truly exist in this world? Is that… a sacred weapon?"
The moment Forn heard that, she retreated several meters and drew one of her swords from her storage ring, pointing it at him cautiously.
"How did you know what's inside my storage artifact?! Who are you?! And what race are you?!"
At last, Odin raised his eyes to her.
His gaze was calm… yet heavy enough to make the air around her feel frozen.
And for the first time since her escape from the Empire…
Forn felt that the presence before her was one whose depth she could not measure.