turn back time t . odinson

nine

C H A P T E R     N I N E

T H E   E C H O   O F  M I M I R

The sky above Asgard was an endless expanse of brilliant blue, unblemished by clouds, but filled with the echoes of anticipation from the crowd that had gathered to witness the next challenge. The amphitheater, carved into the golden cliffs at the edge of the city, overlooked the vast Plains of Idavoll. As the gods assembled in their respective teams, murmurs of curiosity rippled through the spectators. The Echo of Mimir was no ordinary contest of strength or skill—it was a test of memory, wisdom, and resilience.

A great silver basin stood at the center of the stone platform, its water shimmering with unnatural light. This was no ordinary pool—it was said to contain remnants of Mimir's knowledge, fragments of past and future, lost and found. It was a portal into the subconscious, where truth and illusion blurred together.

Odin stood before them, his golden eye scanning the participants. "This challenge is unlike the ones before. You will drink from Mimir's Echo, and in doing so, you will enter a realm of thoughts, memories, and secrets long buried. Your goal is simple—find the lost fragments of wisdom hidden within the illusion. Only those who return with clarity will be rewarded."

The teams exchanged wary glances. So the rumours from the day before were true. Omisha straightened, her fingers twitching slightly at her sides. She could feel something pulsing from the basin—something old, something that recognized her presence. Was it because she was Valyriaten? Or was it something else?

"Begin."

One by one, the competitors approached the basin. Omisha watched as Freyja, Aegir, and Vidar—Silver Team—stepped forward confidently, drinking deeply before their forms shimmered and disappeared into the illusion. Gold Teamfollowed, Skadi and Sigyn sharing a glance of mutual determination, with Tyr standing stoically beside them. Then came White Team—Baldur, Eir, and Gefjon—each moving with measured steps.

Omisha took a breath. She stepped forward with Thor and Loki at her sides. Loki was smirking, but there was tension behind his eyes. Thor simply clenched his jaw, prepared for anything.

The moment the water touched Omisha's lips, she felt the world spin.

When she felt like her world stopped, she opened her eyes and Omisha knew something was wrong. The world around her was warped and endless, as if she stood between reality and dreams. Shifting, golden landscapes stretched in every direction, and in the distance, strange structures loomed—distorted versions of Asgard's halls, their walls bleeding into the air like melting candle wax.

She turned, expecting to see Thor or Loki, but she was alone.

No. Not alone.

A whisper brushed against her ears, light as mist. "Turn back... turn back..." She looked back and saw no one standing there. Now she was confused. She could feel someone.

Omisha swallowed, forcing herself forward. The world around her shifted, and suddenly, she was in Valyriate. Not the Valyriate she had left behind—but something older, something magnificent.

The twin suns of her homeland burned above an emerald sky, casting light over spires of obsidian towers. She felt a pang of homesickness as she looked over her city. The streets were filled with people, but they did not see her. Their faces were blurred, like faded memories.

She turned a corner, and there it was—a pillar of dark stone, standing alone in an open courtyard. It was the same one she had seen in Asgard, except here, the inscriptions glowed.

Omisha stepped closer. The Valyriaten markings pulsed, whispering to her. Now she was more confused. Why were there pillars with her native tongue in Asgard?

"A kingdom is only as strong as the power that binds it."

Her fingers traced the words. The moment she touched the stone, a wave of energy surged through her, and the world shifted again.

She wasn't in Valyriate anymore.

She wasn't even sure where she was.

The sky burned with streaks of violet and crimson, an unnatural glow radiating from a shadowy figure standing in the distance. Omisha's heart pounded as her gaze landed on Thanos. He stood atop a broken battlefield, his armor glinting under the fractured light. But what made her breath catch was what he held—glistening objects in his palm, radiating with a deep, cosmic glow.

Her vision blurred—she was seeing something she shouldn't be seeing. The power in his hands pulsed like a heartbeat, and when he turned to face her, his eyes burned with recognition. Did have something to do with the pillar from earlier? If so, why? He has no place in Asgard, from what she's been told though.

Omisha.

His voice rumbled through the very air, vibrating in her bones.

Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the vision shattered. The stones flickered out of existence, replaced by the pillar once more, its inscriptions still glowing faintly. But something was different now.

The markings had changed. New words had appeared beneath the old ones:

"You are being watched."

Even though she felt it, reading the message made Omisha gasp as the illusion collapsed around her.

Hands out as her knees hitting the stone floor, Omisha was breathless from the experience. The illusion shattered, and she found herself back in the amphitheater, surrounded by stunned gods. The basin of Mimir had returned them, but Omisha felt like part of her was still trapped within the visions.

She looked up to find Thor stood beside her, his face pale, sweat glistening on his skin. Loki, usually so composed, looked shaken, his hands clenched into fists.

Then she looked across the platform—Silver Team stood tall, victorious.

Skadi and her teammates followed, second place.

Baldur, Eir, and Gefjon looked exhausted but relieved—third place.

And then there was her team. Last.

Odin's eye lingered on her, just for a moment, before he turned to the crowd and declared, "The Silver Team wins this trial!" The cheers rang hollow in Omisha's ears.

She couldn't shake the sensation that something was deeply wrong. That couldn't have been her challenge. It was too confusing and involved Asgard? She had no personal connection to Asgard prior to this Ball.

Although, she had failed the challenge. The one thing she swore to not do.

But more than that—the Echo of Mimir had shown her something no one else had seen. And she didn't know what to do with it.

As the crowd began to disperse, Omisha felt a firm yet gentle hand on her arm. She turned sharply—Thor. His blue eyes, still filled with lingering unease, searched hers. "Omisha, are you alright?" His voice was low, concerned, different from his usual thunderous confidence.

She opened her mouth, wanting to tell him. About the pillar and about Thanos. Maybe he could help her maybe he could tell Odin? But she hesitated. Should she?

Instead, she shook her head. "I... I don't know. It was just really confusing." She looked to Loki. "I'm really sorry guys. I just couldn't get through it."

Loki nodded. "Yes. I couldn't deal with it either."

Thor's brows furrowed, but he didn't press. He could tell there was more to her answer. Instead, he simply squeezed her arm gently. "If you need to talk, I am here."

Omisha exhaled slowly. For now, she would keep the visions to herself.

But deep down, she knew—this was only the beginning.