The Unknown

Chapter 48: Flight

"Hey, Hela," Dahlia said as she walked into the royal tent and saw her sister leaning over some papers, clearly documents regarding Niflheim, and Dahlia felt guilty for a moment for interrupting, as she knew how easy it was for her sister to fall behind and could mean the difference from somebody being released now from Mareritt or being an acquaintance of the torturers for longer.

Thankfully, Hela closed the file she was working on and it seemed to be on the last page and put her quill down. She smiled and said, "hi, how was class?"

"Boring," Dahlia answered simply which made Hela laugh, "he even gave us homework. I thought learning about the realms would be fun, but it isn't".

"What was today's lesson?" Hela asked as she stood from her desk and walked towards her sister.

"Agriculture on Vanaheim and animals and stuff like that. It's boring".

Hela hummed as she now stood in front of Dahlia and reached for her fingertips to hold as she said, "I know. You're forgetting, I learned all of this and more while trying to be a Queen. After I expressed my vision of Niflheim to Alec, he wanted me to learn how the other realms worked successfully, especially since I was looking for a way to bring life to Niflheim. Remember, papa and I are not expecting you three to learn everything immediately, it will take time. Besides, Professor Almar told me he's teaching you the boring lessons first, so think of all the fun there is to come".

Dahlia rolled her eyes and groaned, "can't we skip the boring lessons though?" Hela shook her head. "Fine, but it better be fun. I'm not sure how much more Fen can take without falling asleep. I think he's purely waiting for all the battle stories and stuff like that. At least Jora seems to be enjoying himself".

"Sounds like our brothers," Hela said fondly then let go of one of her sister's hands and held the other with both of hers. "Now about today's magic lessons, you could say they're cancelled".

"What? Why?" Dahlia asked as she frowned and immediately thought the worst, "where's dad? Is he okay?"

"Papa's fine, honestly," Hela said quickly and reassuringly, knowing where her sister's mind would be wondering to. Hela then added, "he's actually with Fen and Jora. Papa wanted to see them in training, he's been questioning Akio for the past hour on all of your training routines and how fast he's planning on pushing you. I think seeing three of his children on the floor with swords at their necks more than once brought something out".

Dahlia gasped sarcastically, "you don't mean the overprotective, never wants to see his children hurt, side of him?"

Hela laughed and nodded, "yep that sounds like it. Anyway, he's watching them, and I have a surprise for you".

Hela then began to pull Dahlia out of the tent and was walking so quickly that both Queen and Princess had to pick the front of their dresses up so that they wouldn't fall over. Dahlia asked several times where they were going as they were making their way towards the entrance of the camp, but she never got an answer, just a harder pull to hurry along every time she asked. Leaving the camp, she saw a group of soldiers not too far away with their father and brothers. Jörmungandr was with an unknown soldier to Dahlia and was throwing knives at a target, not quite getting the centre every time but was close. Fenrir was sword fighting a soldier while it seemed Akio was instructing him. Dahlia expected to be pulled over there but instead, she was pulled to the left and towards where the Thestrals were gathered.

Since leaving the royal tent, Hela finally calmed down and wasn't pulling her little sister to the point Dahlia thought her arm would pop out of its socket. Dahlia looked to the Thestrals and wasn't too surprised to see Carr with them, but she was surprised that Eclipse and Zelda were front and centre and what surprised her more was how healthy Eclipse's wing looked. Carr smiled at them as they approached and bowed, "your highness, Princess".