DIVINE CHAMPIONS 4: THE SUN'S CHOICE

DOCTOR, DOCTOR

When Ishaan's eyes opened next, the first thing he realized was that wherever he was, it was warm. Then, he felt the other stuff. The place he was on was soft, nice, and comfortable. This was a much better place than the bone-chilling cold in Jotunheim.

The next thing he wondered: where was he? Was he in Helheim, since that was where Norse people went when they died? Or was he in the underworld he was supposed to be in, i.e., Naraka? Also, given he died fighting, he could have also ended up in Valhalla.

He lifted his head, and looked around. This seemed like something way more different than what he thought. There were huge lattice windows all over the walls. He looked beside him. There was a little green curtain covering whatever was there. Ishaan was lying on a hospital bed. He sat up, looking around bluntly. There was a little bedside table, on which different medical stuff were kept: bandages, gauzes, medicines. However, the medicines were very colourful, very different from the ones that are normally used in traditional hospitals. There was a green curtain just like the one on the other side of his bed. Across the room, there were other similar beds, with similar bedside tables, and similar curtains. He seemed to be in some kind of a hospital, but the ceilings were all luxurious, as if they were in some castle. And Ishaan was not alone.

When he looked at the company he had in the room, his eyes stuck. He was being treated by a young girl, who looked maybe a year older than him. She had long auburn hair, with a white lotus stuck on it. She wore a long sky blue dress. She was fair skinned like most Norsemen, but with a certain tan. She had deep blue eyes, a beautiful round face. She was ordinary, yet so very extraordinary. Her eyes were too powerful to be human, but not as powerful as the eyes of a goddess. She was, in a way for Ishaan, a perfect girl.

She was deeply looking into something from the board. Ishaan wanted to talk to her, now that he was back in his full senses. But he was hesitating. He was not good with girls. Definitely not with pretty girls (no offence to Aitri). So, he just sat there looking at her. About a minute later, she looked at him, and said, "Oh, you are up." She had an Ila Arun-ish voice. Heavy, powerful, but not hoarse. Definitely resonating.

Ishaan thought of saying hello, but then decided against it. He just nodded. She nodded back with an expressionless face, and left the room. Now that the beautiful distraction was gone, Ishaan reverted back to himself. He was fine. His forehead was fine. His stomach was properly patched up. His leg seemed okay. He could move it slowly. Even his shoulder was fine and patched up. There were still bits of pain here and there, but it was fine. Ishaan wondered how he was still alive after so many injuries. Though his head felt a little heavy. And now that he had focused on himself, questions started raising inside his mind.

The doctor girl came back about ten minutes later. She stood beside him and said, "You look patched up. But you need to stay here for a week. It is actually healing magic, might make you slightly weak physically." Ishaan spoke to her for the first time, "What is this place? Who are you? Why am I here? Where are my friends? And how did I survive?"

The girl put her palms up, calming Ishaan down. Then, she said, "I'll tell you. You rest first." She handed him a cup. It was a stone made cup. Inside was a very dark brown liquid. Ishaan smelled it, looked at the girl, who smiled slightly and said, "It is herbal tea. Drink it and rest."

It took Ishaan five minutes after drinking the tea to fall asleep.

When he woke up, the heavy feeling in his head was gone. When Ishaan woke up, however, this time, standing by him was a man. He was tall, over six feet. He had long blonde hair, stormy grey eyes. He had no beard. He looked in his early thirties, though he looked ancient. His dressing seemed quite old, back from the Viking age, with all the long shirt, cape like shawls, loose pants, long boots, and a cloth-made belt on the waist. He seemed like coming from a trip away. As Ishaan woke and sat up, he put his hand out, and said, "Hi, I am Svipdagr."

"You are a god?" Ishaan asked.

"No no." Svipdagr said, "I am just a deathless man. You see, my stepmother wanted a famous wife who would increase her reputation among her friends. She chose the mistress of the house as my future wife. Long long ago, when the Vikings were actually a thing, I came here with my biological mother's help, and found her. To make my stepmother suffer, I never went back."

Ishaan was still a little jittery, and it took him time to piece together the information thrown at him. His first question, "But how did you become deathless?"

"This place made me. My wife owns it."

"She is a goddess?"

"No, a giantess. But she has divine powers."

"But I need answers." Ishaan said, "A lot of questions. My doctor, she answered nothing."

"She will be here soon." Svipdagr said, as he got up, "She is a little quiet. But she is the sweetest here. Ask her, now that you are properly rested. She will answer."