Ragnarok Unwound: The Awakening

Chapter 13

Allison had awoken them before the two were set to leave. Now all the recruites stood, wrapped in cloaks, out in the freezing cold in front of the main doors to the school. Well almost all of them; Val was nowhere in site. Serena wasn't surprised by that, she always saw the girl sneaking around in the shadows and sometimes hanging in the rafters. Does she think she's Batman?

Serena smirked at that and casted her gaze out onto the rest of the people who stood to say farewell to Allison and Keir. They all waited patiently as the their teacher moved in front of them. Like always her face was something that she could only compare to the experienced homicide detective back at the precinct. Serena couldn't help but look at the girl's sword belt. It held a sword on either side, but the detective's eye fell to the one on the left immediately. They found it on Keir after they had placed her and Tyra in the medical wing. The woman, Skadi, had called by some odd name.

The first person that said goodbye was Claire. Serena knew that Keir was proud of the girl, even if her cold handshake said otherwise. How coild she not be when she invested so much time in special training for the girl?

Next was Nate, who Keir pulled close to whisper in his ear. For a moment the boy's expression became one of fear. Serena watched as it became a warm smile and he nodded in agreement. Keir placed a hand on his shoulder then walked away, uttering a quick goodbye to Jon, who did not interact with her as much as the others.

Serena watched as Keir walked coldly past Ben who watched her with a hateful gaze and onto Stephan. He shook her gloved hand with a large smile. Keir nodded and continued.

Next was Tyra, who had been in a strange mood. She had told Serena that she wanted to play a prank and spoke of what happened in the medical wing, but other than that was silent. She knew there was something wrong, but decided that the girl would tell her in time. She watched as Tyra forced a hug from their teacher and received a small pat on the back. After a minute or two she finally let Keir go. There was a broken smile on Tyra's face. Serena knew that she greatly admired Keir, almost in a sisterly way.

"I entrust that you will watch over the others in my absence?" Keir asked as she stood in front of Serena. Keir had basically put her in charge of the others on the first day. Serena smiled reassuringly and held put her hand. She's probably the only sixteen year old I would ever respect as my boss.

Keir shook her hand and Serena noticed the grateful smile that threatened her cold exterior. Keir then walked away over to Skadi and Freya who stood next to the horses that would take them down the path that lead to the school. She watched as Freya, dressed in fine leather armor with a feathery cloak over her shoulders, pulled Keir into a warm embrace. Keir reacted quickly and pushed the goddess away, a look of regret and fear on her face. Freya was visibly upset but nodded handed Keir a heavy looking satchel. What happened next broke Serena heart.

The once detective watched as Skadi said goodbye to Keir. A look of calmness that poorly disguised grief was set upon her face. Tyra had told her that Keir considered the goddess a motherly figure. Serena watched as Keir gave a weak goodbye and reached out to touch Skadi. She watched as Skadi turned away from the girl, hiding her face. The gesture noticeably hurt Keir.

"I wish you well on your travels child. I-I hope to see you return to the Academy in good health and good fortune."

"May your and Freya's blessings be upon me, my goddess."

The others did not pick up on the broken somber tones. It was obvious what was running through two silent cold beings. This mission that Keir was going on was dangerous. Skadi wasn't like a motherly figure to the frost giant. She was watching as her child prepared to ride to her death. Serena thought back silently to her own mother's reaction to her younger brother being deployed. She had refused to see him, to say goodbye. Six months later they recieved word of his death.