Lokison Is Armored - Part 5.A, One-Shot

Lokison Is Armored (Vali)

"My name is Vali Lokison. I am a sorcerer and a student of magic, like my father before me. I am bound to my heritage of Jotunheim, of Vanaheim, and am, um...witness to...to—" I sighed while glaring at myself through the mirror. "To making a complete fool of myself. Completely forgot the mention of cold magic, too. Shit." I dropped my face and took in a long breath, wishing the past few weeks of preparation hadn't been for nothing. Here I was, the morning of my armor endowment, ready to step into life as a man.

Since hours passed on Narvlheim at the same rate as New Asgard, our worlds agreed on a mutual calendar and timeline for adulthood. No longer was my age marked with the phases of the moon. While Nanny and Uncle Freyr claimed my age was somewhat inflated after Ragnarok, I greeted twenty like an opportunity to finally prove my mettle.

Or, I would have, if only I remembered my vows well enough.

"Vali?" Mum called, knocking on the wooden door to my room. "Sweetheart, are you ready to leave?"

"Shit," I muttered again, sitting on my bed quickly to pull on my soft boots. "Yes, almost there."

"I have ears, you know." She peeked her head in. "I do wish you hadn't picked up such a nasty habit."

"Sorry, Mum. I'll do better with cursing in the house, I promise."

"After today, you won't be spending as much time in it anymore, will you?" She sat at my side and ruffled through my hair with a wistful sort of hum. "I can't believe it's finally here."

"Can't believe it myself." I investigated my fingernails as if searching for a way to hide a crib sheet under them. "I've been trying to memorize my declaration, and parts keep...falling out of my head. What if I can't get it right and disappoint everyone?"

She scoffed. "Impossible. You could never disappoint us, even if you have to repeat it a hundred times to say it perfectly. Besides—that piece is in private, isn't it? No one would have to know if it didn't go exactly as you've planned."

"Father would." I shut my eyes and tried to breathe slowly to calm the quick pounding in my chest. Anxious rushes squeezed my stomach every few seconds. "I don't know why this feels so scary."

"Commitments always are. Even when we're certain they're ones we want to make." Mum stood and wandered around my room, jostling items on my desk. "You'll feel the same if you decide to marry. When children are born. If you take up some office of responsibility. Your body and mind don't know the difference between excitement and stress." She came to my side again and touched my shoulder. "Open your eyes for me."

I did as she asked and snorted at the pencil in her hand. "What's that for?"

"Put it between your teeth. Hold it long enough, and your brain will think you're smiling. It'll make you feel better."

I rolled my eyes before doing what she asked. "Like sthis?" I said, chuckling along with the silliness of trying to speak with my mouth occupied.

"See?" She laughed along and took my hands for me to stand. Her gaze traveled upward, nearly craning her neck since I was so much taller. "You do have a lovely smile, Vali, just like your father. I can't wait to see you all done up next to him." She took a deep breath and blinked back the shine in her eyes. "You know, he's been dreaming about this since the day you were born. Now I think I fully understand why. It's a grand occasion, and you are so worth celebrating."

"Sthanks, Mum." I removed the pencil and tossed it to the desk again. "Think that's all the trickery we have time for, though."

"Vali?" Father called from downstairs.