Who Am I

Erik's confusion deepened at the mention of her name.

Freya.

He had heard it before, perhaps in passing conversations or snippets from a series but he had never paid much attention to mythology. Neither Liam nor Mia were fans of such tales either. They were just normal high school students with normal lives, untouched by the grand narratives of gods and legends.

"Freya?" Erik repeated, his brow furrowing. "Are you... some kind of goddess?"

Freya blinked, a quick motion that revealed her surprise at Erik's ignorance. Her lips then curved into a soft, amused smile. A gentle chuckle escaped her.

"I see you truly know little of the old tales," she said, her voice a harmonious blend of amusement and understanding.

Erik felt a flush of embarrassment but nodded. "Yeah, I'm not really into mythology. Can you... uhm, be so kind to explain?"

Erik thought that he might offend this goddess because of his ignorance. The fact that he was summoned here by her indicated that his fate was somehow intertwined with the mythology of the goddess. Whatever it was..

Freya nodded gracefully, her expression becoming more serious. She seems didn't mind to explain.

"Very well. You are in the realm of Asgard, one of the Nine Worlds. It is a place of gods and legends, a world beyond the mortal plane you know."

Erik listened intently, trying to absorb her words. "Asgard... I've heard of it, but I never thought it was real."

Freya's smile softened. "Many do not, but it is as real as the world you come from. Here, the gods reign and the boundaries between worlds are not as clear-cut as you might think. Your presence here is not by accident."

Erik's mind raced with questions, but he struggled to put them into words. He had already witnessed the inexplicable winter appearing and devastating the world. Then there were the giant wolves… It was too late to think that the legends of the gods weren't real. He just had to process everything faster and move more quickly.

"Why am I here? What does this have to do with me?" Erik choose to ask the most important question for him right now.

Freya took a step closer, her eyes locking onto his with an intensity that seemed to pierce through him. "You possess a power. The events you have faced, the strength you and your friends displayed against the wolves, it all points to a destiny intertwined with the fates of both your world and this one."

Erik felt a chill that had nothing to do with the icy landscape.

"A destiny? I… I don't understand," Erik said.

Freya reached out, placing a pale hand on his arm. Her touch warm and reassuring. "You will, in time. For now, know that you are not alone in this. You have allies, both seen and unseen, who will help you going throudh the path ahead. Trust in yourself, your friends, and in those who stand with you."

Erik nodded slowly.

The vast expanse of ice and snow around them seemed to shrink. His focus narrowing to woman – goddess – in front of him and this conversation.

"What do I need to do to make sure my family and my friends safe?" he asked, his voice steadying.

Freya's gaze softened. "First, you must understand your power and learn to harness it."

"What do I need to do to make sure my family and my friends are safe?" Erik asked.

Erik frowned, confusion still clouding his mind. "Yeah, what is this power exactly?"

"You must know that you are the reincarnation of a great hero of Asgard named Sigurd. His strength and valor flow within you. To protect those you care about, you must first understand who Sigurd was."

"Sigurd?" Erik echoed, the name unfamiliar yet resonating with a strange sense of recognition. "What did he do? Why am I him?"

Freya gave him a small, wistful smile. "Sigurd was a hero, a warrior who faced great challenges and win. His spirit has been reborn in you. You must learn about his legacy to unlock your true potential."

"But why now? What's happening?" Erik's questions tumbled out, desperation tinging his voice. "What is actually going on with the world?"

Freya's smile remained, though it was tinged with sadness. "I wish I could explain more but my time here is limited. Know this, Erik: the power within you is crucial to facing what will happen ahead in the near future."

Before Erik could press further Freya's form began to shimmer. The edges of her figure blurring as if she were dissolving into the very air around them.

"When you wake, you will Runes that will guide you," she said, her voice growing fainter. "Follow its wisdom, and you will find your way."

With that, Freya vanished, leaving Erik alone in the swirling snow once more.

---

Erik woke with a start, his heart pounding. He jumped to his feet and immediately feel a rush of panic washing over him as he realized he had fallen asleep in the middle of such a dangerous situation. Monsters were still roaming around outside, and he had let his guard down.

He glanced around the storage room, his anxiety spiking further when he saw that both Liam and Mia had also fallen asleep, their bodies slumped against the wall. Relief mingled with his worry; at least they were safe for now.

As Erik's breathing began to steady, he noticed something strange in the dim light of the room. A series of shimmering blue runes hovered in the air before him. At first they seemed like an incomprehensible jumble, shifting and rearranging themselves in a chaotic dance.

"This is just like earlier." He thought.

Gradually, the runes began to settle into a coherent pattern, forming words that Erik could read. His eyes widened in astonishment as he deciphered the message:

[Hero of Asgard, seek the path of the ancient hero. The power within will guide you.]

The words glowed and pulsing gently as if imbued with a life of their own.

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