Roots of Eternity

Chapter 12 - The Deepening of Power

The palace gardens had always been a place of beauty, a reflection of Asgard's elegance and grandeur, but as I grew older, they became something else entirely. They became my canvas, a place where my magic flourished and bloomed in ways that even I had not fully understood before. Every time I stepped into the gardens, it was as if I could hear the whispers of the earth, calling out to me, ready to be shaped, nurtured, and brought to life.

At twelve years old, I had begun to experiment with my powers in a way that went beyond simple conjuring. No longer was I satisfied with just summoning a few flowers or making vines curl around a stone. Now, I wanted to see what else I could do, what I could create if I truly let myself connect with the life force that flowed through the earth beneath me.

One afternoon, I found myself deep in the heart of the gardens, far from the palace where Thor was still training with the warriors. Loki, too, was occupied with his studies, leaving me alone with the vast expanse of nature before me. The trees towered above, their leaves casting shifting patterns of light and shadow across the ground. The air was fresh, filled with the scent of flowers, soil, and life itself.

I knelt on the soft grass, closing my eyes, feeling the pulse of Asgard beneath my hands. I had learned over time that Asgard had its own rhythm, its own heartbeat, and when I was still—truly still—I could hear it. It was faint, a whisper beneath the surface, but it was always there, waiting for me to reach out and touch it.

With a deep breath, I pressed my palms flat against the ground and focused. I could feel the roots of the trees beneath me, the delicate network of life that spread out like a web, connecting everything around me. Slowly, I willed the earth to respond, to grow, to flourish.

At first, nothing happened. Then, gradually, I felt the ground begin to shift beneath my hands. A small tremor, like the stirrings of something waking from a long slumber. I opened my eyes, and to my amazement, tiny shoots of green began to sprout from the earth, twisting and growing upward.

Within moments, the shoots became saplings, their trunks thickening as they reached for the sky. Leaves unfurled, branches stretched, and soon I found myself surrounded by a small grove of trees—trees that I had created. I stood in the centre of them, my heart pounding with exhilaration as I watched them sway gently in the breeze.

I had done it. I had created life—not just flowers or vines, but entire trees. I could feel their roots deep in the earth, anchored and strong, and I knew that they were connected to me, that they were a part of me. It was as if the earth itself had answered my call.

A soft rustle behind me broke my concentration, and I turned to see Thor and Loki approaching. They must have finished their training early because Thor was still in his armour, his hammer slung casually over his shoulder, while Loki wore his usual thoughtful expression, his green eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"Helena, what in the Nine Realms is this?" Thor asked, his voice a mixture of amusement and awe. He gestured to the grove of trees that now surrounded me, his eyebrows raised. "You've been busy."

I smiled, feeling a surge of pride. "I wanted to see if I could make them grow," I explained, gesturing to the trees. "And it worked."

Thor stepped closer, examining the trees with wide eyes. "I'll say it worked. If you keep this up, the entire realm will be covered in forests!"

Loki remained silent, his gaze fixed on me. There was something different in the way he looked at me this time—something more serious, more focused. "Do you realize what you've done, Helena?" he asked quietly, his voice almost reverent.

I blinked, confused. "I just made some trees grow. That's all."

Loki shook his head slowly, his expression unreadable. "No, it's not just that. You're not simply manipulating nature, like most sorcerers would. You're connected to it. You're a part of it. Do you understand what that means?"

I frowned, unsure of what he was getting at. "I don't know. It just feels... natural."

Loki's gaze darkened slightly, but not with malice. It was more like he was thinking, processing. "You have power, Helena. Real power. The kind that doesn't just affect the world around you—it shapes it. You could change Asgard itself if you wanted to."

I stared at him, my heart racing. Could that really be true? Was my magic truly that strong? I had always thought of it as a gift, something beautiful, something that brought life where there was none. But now, hearing Loki's words, I began to realize that it might be more than just beauty. It might be... dangerous.

Thor, oblivious to the weight of Loki's words, clapped me on the shoulder, laughing. "You're going to be a force to be reckoned with, little sister. One day, you'll be fighting alongside me and the warriors, and all of Asgard will cheer your name!"

I smiled at him, but his words didn't bring the comfort they once did. I didn't want to fight. I didn't want to be a warrior. The idea of using my magic for destruction, for battle, felt wrong. My magic was meant to nurture, to grow, not to tear things apart.

As Thor and Loki began to argue about the best way to use magic in battle, I wandered deeper into the grove I had created, my mind swirling with thoughts. Was Loki right? Could I really change the world with my powers? And if so... what kind of change would that be?

I found myself by the largest tree, its trunk thick and strong, its branches reaching high into the sky. I placed my hand on the bark, feeling the life pulsing within it, and for a moment, I felt... powerful. Not in the way Thor did, with his hammer and his strength, but in a way that felt deeper, more ancient.

"Helena?"

I turned to see my mother, Frigga, standing at the edge of the grove, her soft smile filled with warmth and pride. She made her way toward me, her long gown trailing behind her, and when she reached me, she gently placed a hand on my shoulder.

"You've done something remarkable today," she said softly, her eyes scanning the trees. "Your connection to the earth is stronger than I ever imagined."

I looked up at her, my heart filled with questions. "Mother... Loki says I can change Asgard with my magic. Is that true?"

Frigga smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Yes, my darling. Your magic is powerful, perhaps more powerful than you realize. But power, Helena, is not measured by what you can change. It's measured by how you choose to use it."

Her words lingered in the air, and I felt a weight settle on my shoulders. I hadn't thought much about responsibility before—not like this. To me, magic had always been about creation, about beauty. But now, standing in the midst of the trees I had summoned, I began to understand that it was also about choice.

I could create. I could shape the world. But what if I made the wrong choice? What if I lost control?

Frigga must have sensed my unease because she gently cupped my face in her hands and smiled down at me. "Do not fear your power, Helena. Embrace it. But always remember, nature is about balance. There can be no creation without destruction, no life without death. Your magic is a part of that balance."

I nodded, her words sinking deep into my heart. Balance. Creation and destruction, life and death. It was all connected, all part of the same cycle. My power wasn't just about making flowers bloom or trees grow—it was about understanding the natural order of things, about respecting the forces that shaped the world.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm golden light over the trees, I stood there, my hand resting on the trunk of the tree, feeling the life pulsing beneath the surface. For the first time, I felt not just powerful, but responsible. I had a role to play, not just in the gardens, but in Asgard itself.

I didn't know what the future held, but I knew one thing for certain: my magic was more than just a gift. It was a force, one that I would need to understand and control if I was to find my place in this world.

But as I stood there, a part of me couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning—that my power, my connection to nature, was about to take me down a path I couldn't yet see. A path that would test everything I thought I knew.