Elsewhere: Alfheim

Chapter 1: Inner World

I've been meditating recently under the direction of the elves. I thought I was traveling on a quest for allies for an inevitable war. Instead, I find myself alone in a room. The warmth from the sunrise is revealed by the window, slowly creeping up my back.

There's incense burning by the door and candles flickering in the corners behind me. The incense and candles form a triangle with me in the middle.

The elves refused to speak to us about our request until we knew, "What is was that we truly desired."

Jess and I have been separated for 5 days because we needed to "...Understand ourselves before we could understand another."

The distance has been unexpectedly good. The elves were right. There's so much that's happened recently that neither one of us has had time to breathe.

Or may be that's just me. I must admit, I've been lost on who I am. The Hybrid, Odin, The Traveler, what do they really mean?

These are the times that Jess and I would usually talk. The time with myself is appreciated, but the separation is bittersweet. May be that's the point. May be those answers can only be found inside. Maybe our answers aren't the same.

We may not be in the same building, but I can feel her presence. That's been happening since day two of meditation. I'm aware of her presence in the same way I'm aware of the layout of this room. Though my eyes have been closed since before the sun rose.

I know she's okay. I know that we're safe. I know-

"What is it that you know, boy?" Bestla asks with mild condescension in her voice.

My body is sitting in Alfheim, but my soul stands Elsewhere.

"I only know what I know." I respond calmly.

"Good, you're learning. Do you remember the strange shape you saw after your battle with the vampire?"

"Yes."

"The rune Berkano has made itself known to you. It represents life, rebirth, and new beginnings. As the birch tree buds in spring, so are you."

"I am the tree?" I ask hesitantly.

"Is the tree truly a tree? Do you think there's really a difference between you and the tree?"

"Berkano." I say pensively.

"That is the answer." Bestla replies. "Return when you understand."

I open the eyes of the body and rise, turning to look through the window and take in the morning.

"Berkano." I whisper. In the corner of my eye, I could swear a tree waves at the word. But when I divert my attention to the tree, it's still.

The door opens. "Do you know what it is that you truly seek?" An elf with a tray of food questions.

"Not yet, but I will."

"You do." They smile while setting down the tray. There is no sound as they retreat through the doorway and close the door one more.

Bestla, the elves, it seems like ever since we arrived here, things have been different. They speak different, in such a way that implies present and future are one and the same.

Is that off-putting to me because I feel that it's wrong? Or is it because looking at time like that changes things?

"Within you all is fulfilled." Caine muses.

"I'm not sure what that means."

"You are. You're just not ready to embrace it yet."

"I don't understand. Everything was so simple when there was an enemy or a battle. I don't get what's changed."

"You have. Should you need conflict to tap into the True Self? Should you even need to tap into it at all? Shouldn't you be able to be it at all times?"

"Is that what I'll learn when I understand Berkano?"

"Who knows? You are exactly where you need to be. You just need to be."

"Hmm... like a tree? But what does that mean? What is a tree?"

"Now you're starting to get it."

I finish my breakfast and head down three flights of stairs into a foyer. I was considering going out the front, but I feel a strange pull towards the back door. The tree from earlier is in that direction.

"Berkano." I whisper again, following the pull through back door. Once I'm outside, I take several deep breaths. The air is different here. It feels pure.

I approach the tree that I saw, staring at it intently. Nothing happens. "Berkano." Still nothing. Am I on the right track? Was that movement all in my head? What am I even doing?

Numerous questions flow through my mind as the elf that brought me breakfast approaches. "What are you seeking from this tree?"

"I'm not sure, answers...I think. What does it mean to be a tree? What does it mean to bud in spring? Berkano."

The elf smiles. "My name is Domet. Why are you trying to learn Berkano? That path is an old but pure one. It will lead to isolation and truth."

"My name, it's Odin. After Jess and I defeated an Alpha Vampire, it appeared before me. The spirit of Bestla told me Berkano is the word of the symbol."

Domet chuckles, "The Wyrd. Yes, Berkano will lead you to that, too."

"Berkano will lead me to the word? This is getting confusing."

"It was meant to be. Some would pronounce that differently, but for your journey, it is appropriate. To apologize for the confusion, I'll give you a hint on Berkano.

If you want to know what it means to be the tree, only the tree can tell you."

Domet smiles and continues on their way. The elves refer to themselves as they/them. Domet told me on day one that when I understood what I desired, I would understand why they do.

I gaze at the tree for a few seconds. With a sigh, I sit down with my back leaning against the trunk.

"Only you can tell me what it means to be you. Will you?"