DIVINE CHAMPIONS 4: THE SUN'S CHOICE

BACK INTO THE HOT FURNACE

The food was amazing. It was not something Ishaan had tasted before. "Do you guys do this often?" He had asked, "Like, just appear somewhere in any country and try the food there?"

"Only when on adventures." Rick said, "You know, it is quite difficult to travel on the plane all the time. Plus, my riches do have a limit."

"They do?" Aitri asked, "The way you flaunt it around, doesn't seem like it."

"True, buddy." Rishi said, concentrated on the golden coloured fork, "You should think about saving some."

It was true. Rick did use to spend a lot of money, on his friends, on his business, on his staff, and on charity. Particularly on charity. 

About the food, Rick was eating something called Pytt i Panna. His plate had potatoes, onions and some kind of meat, though Ishaan didn't have any idea what it was. And a poached egg on top of it. Rick said that this was some kind of a hash. Aitri was eating something called Artsoppa, some kind of pea soup, full of pork, along with pancakes. Ishaan was pretty impressed how his friends didn't care what kind of meat they ate (Rick's one, sure as hell, wasn't chicken). While Rishi was very much busy eating a plate full of meatballs, a dish they called Kottbullar. Ishaan, here, was keeping it simple, with what the menu card called Rakmacka, a shrimp sandwich. Different alright, but soft, tender, not so spicy, and overall amazing. When they came out of Matildas, Ishaan's mind was blown. "This was brilliant." He said, "I hadn't expected it to be so good."

"Yeah, for Indians, we don't expect European food to be as flavorful as ours is." Aitri said, "It is still not as much as it, but still, it was flavorful enough."

"Good experience, really." Rishi said, "We are making it a thing, eh?"

"I have a question." Ishaan raised his hand, and then put it down, feeling like he was in class, asking his teacher a question, "What countries have you visited since this Norse gig started?"

"Lets see." Rick did the counting, "We've been to Iceland, where it all started."

"Then, next was Nepal," Rishi added, "where we got Meili's stone. And Norway, where Loki is imprisoned. And..."

"Last year, we were in the UK." Aitri said, "And now..."

"Sweden." Rick finished, "Five countries, yay!"

"You are forgetting our country, buddy." Rishi said, nodding negatively while making a face of haughty derision. Rick nodded, replied, "Six. yay!"

"Anyway," Rishi walked ahead of them, "Now that this is done, we need to go back to Alfheim to deliver Frey that, and take Heimdall's location. We have three days. Who knows how time runs in these other worlds? We should hurry."

"So Alfheim it is, huh?"

"Yep." Rishi said, "Just, jump back into the hot furnace from his heavenly winter."

"Hope we come back into the cold Midgardian weather than that forever summer." Aitri said, "We have so much to do."

So much to do, huh? There was one thing Ishaan still didn't understand. How on earth were these three so chill and calm about this quest? He got that they had more experience, but all of them might get killed at the end of it, but they seemed least bothered about it. There was not a single grim talk between them. But if you asked, they would say that you get used to it. But, its death that is looking them right on their faces. How can you not freak out about that everytime?

Aitri walked close to Rishi, held his hand and said, "We are going to be okay, right?"

"You have a doubt?" He smiled.