The Twelve Stars

Chapter 13

The road between realms was an expanse of endless space. A sky of stars circled us and pathways of light bridged the gaps between other portals. I counted nine in total.

"The Nine Realms," I said.

Finn and Robyn stood next to me, appearing just as starstruck as I was. Behind us, I heard the sound of sparks flying followed by a loud zap. I turned around. The Allcron Stone floated in midair before me, the portal to New Midgard closed. I reached out my right hand to retrieve it. Our steps left footprints of light as we walked. It was only when we started moving that I hadn't accounted for how far apart each portal really was from each other. The distance was deceiving. We continued our descent.

"We need to find the roots," Robyn said. "That's where the Norns will be."

"I fail to see how when there is only infinite space around us," Finn commented.

"Of course we can't see it yet because we are only at the branches," Robyn answered.

"And you know that how?" I asked.

"Elder Harald told me," she said.

I looked at the road between realms with a different appreciation for it. Yggdrasil. It was unknown whether seconds, minutes or hours passed until something appeared far ahead. A current of electrical energy surging downwards.

"Over there," I said, pointing.

I think all three of us were too immersed in the space between realms to say anything on the long journey down. Yggdrasil's scenery of consistency took a visual transformation when we reached the electrical current which appeared more dangerous the further we came. Sparks of lightning released from its bolt of magical energy, marking us as potential targets. The road travelled around it in a downwards spiral.

"Are we close?" Finn asked.

"I wouldn't know," Robyn admitted.

"There's only one way to find out," I said.

We blindly followed the path into the depths of Yggdrasil. I felt a change in the atmosphere upon our descent. There was a sense of foreboding that lurked in its roots. Soon enough, the roots of Yggdrasil appeared itself. Thick trunks snaked around each other and at first glance, it looked as if something were wriggling inside, struggling to break free from its confines of coiled vines.

"Is that?" I stepped down into a pool of shallow water which lightly splashed up against my legs. The life form captivated any wandering attention. I waded towards the Tree, water up to my ankles.

"Callyk!" Robyn called.

"There's someone inside," I responded.

Upon closer inspection, a face formed, their eyes closed. It was a boy. Due to his long-time imprisonment in Yggdrasil, the green pigment from the leaves had creeped into his veins and in result, washed the stems of his long curly hair to a light shade of green. Only the roots atop his head remained a natural blonde. I wondered if he may be a Wielder like Finn and I. He must have sensed that he was no longer alone because then he opened his eyes.

"Who are you?" he asked weakly. "It's not often that I get visitors." His accent of the Old Tongue had me question his origin.

"Are you a Wielder?" I asked him.

"Depends what you consider a Wielder," he said. "I'm a lot older than I look. I would hold out a hand, but as you can see, I'm pretty tied up."

"I know who you are," Finn stated. I turned to him, unsure if I should be surprised or embarrassed for knowing so little.

"Who is he?" I asked him.

"He's the first Wielder," Finn explained. "A direct descendant of Lif and Lifthrasir who are recorded to be the two soul survivors of Ragnarök! If my studies serve correctly, Lif and Lifthrasir hid in a thicket of trees called Hoddmimir's Holt while the world was consumed by Surt's fire in the days of Ragnarök, which means, you must be Thad." Thad, if that was his name, showed him a look of respect.