The Queen of Jotunheim

Chapter 38: The Promise of a New Day

Chapter 38:
Walking hand in hand into
The Promise of a New Day

Earlier that day

Nix felt a shiver go up her spine as she entered the Realm of Niflheim. She was trying not to be overwhelmed by the memories of the last time she was here, but knowing who she was about to face, she was understandably struggling.

Crystal walked in after her, looking unhappy about being here as well. "... We could find someone else," she whispered, looking up at Nix, "like with Svartalfheim there might be other people here, we could bring one of them instead!"

Nix shook her head, taking a deep breath before she took the first step into the realm of Hel. "No, it needs to be her... Don't worry... I know what she wants and how to get her on our side," she said seriously.

"But are you sure you want that?!" Crystal asked, running after Nix who was walking with a strong determination. "... Isn't she the one who..." Crystal whispered, struggling with the words, so Nix finished for her.

"Killed my mother?" Nix answered, giving a confirming nod before taking another deep breath. "... That is the cost of war... For the sake of peace and the future I am willing to put it behind us for now..." But she was definitely going to enjoy getting a few punches in if she could.

They didn't have to walk for long before they found who they were looking for, or rather, she found them. Crystal was the one to recognize the sound of a weapon rushing through the air, and with no hesitation summoned a wall of ice just in time to stop one of Necroswords before it hit its target, which had clearly been Nix.

"I suppose I should not be surprised in how you greet people," Nix called out, looking through the thick ice at the woman who threw the sword, "I suppose banishment has made you forget your manners, so let me remind you how this is supposed to go." She did a small Courtside, the same level of respect she had shown Odin. "I am Nix, Queen of Jotunheim."

"..." The sword got called back from the ice, into the hand of the woman who had plagued Nix nightmares for so long. "... I am Hela, Odin's firstborn, Commander of the legions of Asgard, the rightful heir to the throne, and the Goddess of Death." She stepped closer, looking down upon Nix and Crystal from her vantage point, smiling like a predator looking at easy prey. "Now, where were we?"

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Loki looked at the sister he never knew he had, and while he knew he shared no blood with her, he could not help but see a certain resemblance between them. The hair, outfit, and from what he was told, even the fighting style, and he had to wonder if that was Odin's doing, and if so, why.

Well, it didn't matter right now, what mattered was facing Odin together, and so after looking at Nix's face to make sure she was okay, he turned his gaze back to Odin. The man was looking weak with shock, staring at Hela's face, his expression unreadable.

"I should introduce myself to your friends, should I not, Father?" Hela said, gesturing to the other leaders. "Greetings, I am Hela, Goddess of Death and the ruler of Niflheim." She turned back toward Odin with a wicked smile on her face. "Meaning I am the last realm leader, yes? So, since we're all here, shall we start our meeting? Or do you perhaps need another nap from all the stress that seeing your first born again has brought you?"

"... How?" Odin asked, looking at Hela and then Nix. "How is she here? How is she standing by your side?... How?..." He asked, his voice sounded haunted, but Hela was the one to answer. "How did she convince me to join a council rather than take over the throne and then the realms beyond? Simple, she made the title of 'Goddess of Death' mean something more than 'bringer of death' and all that."