Hotel Valhalla [Magnus Chase Series]

Alf Seidr Making A Comeback

  A special report compiled by the staff of Alfheim Today Online: All the News That’s Fit to View

  ALFHEIM—It appears that alf seidr—the magic power that fell out of favor with the rise of
technology—is getting a new toehold in Alfheim.
  And not everyone is happy about it.
  “We abandoned that magic for a reason,” stated Smokescreen, owner and chief elf operator of ElfVision Communications.
  “It’s a health hazard. It demands too much from its practitioners.
  I’ve heard some even perish attempting to learn the simplest spells!
  Trust me—if you want a truly magical experience, stick to twenty-four-hour streaming video. All you need for that is a comfortable couch, an enormous monitor connected to ElfVision, and a handy remote—not self- sacrifice.”
  The risk to alf seidr practitioners is very real. Performing feats such as healing wounds and issuing defensive power bursts requires a massive output of life-force energy.
  Expending that
energy can leave one drained for hours, even days, according to witnesses.
  “I had a case where an elf used alf seidr to help a friend who was having a severe allergic
reaction,” one concerned doctor told Alfheim Today. “She saved her friend but almost killed
herself in the process.”
  The biggest threat to life and limb comes from attempting to understand runestones.
  These symbols embody the essence of the universe.
  Channeling that essence has been known to overload one’s system and lead to disastrous results, such as death.
  Despite the dangers, a grassroots alf seidr movement known as Turn Off and Tune In is
steadily gaining momentum, particularly with younger elves.
  “They feel disconnected from their parents’ sedentary way of life,” stated the head of the movement, Aloe Vera. “They’re curious about the potential of this long-forgotten power. You’ll see many of these same elves studying
archery, too. Most instructors are from older generations. Seeing the younger set learning from the older ones—it’s really inspiring.”
  Aloe Vera claims that they don’t actively recruit new members.
  So why have their numbers increased so significantly as of late?
  “No doubt the looming threat of Ragnarok has something to do with it,” she admitted. “They’re joining because they believe magic and arrows have a better chance of defeating giants than Wi-Fi and decorative throw pillows.”
  Only time will tell if she’s right. Until then, the use of alf seidr remains controversial.