New Studies

Freya's eyes locked onto Nox's retreating figure as he stormed toward the exit with quick steps. Her head throbbed with pain but it was nothing compared to the rage that now consumed her. The hatred that flared in her chest was far greater than her pain.

Her lips curled into a wild, savage grin, teeth bared like a beast. The bastard had dared to threaten her family and insult them and her in the vilest of ways. He would pay for that—he would pay with his blood, his screams, and his life.

"I swear it. You will suffer the worst death imaginable!"

Her anger pulsed through her like a living thing.

But first, she had to get out of this. She looked down at the manacle around her ankle, the runes still blinking in their rhythmic pattern.

Freya focused on the runes, her eyes narrowing as she studied them. There was something about them, something familiar, but she can't figure out what it was.

She racked her brain trying to piece together the fragments of memory that danced just beyond her reach. But it was no use.

She sighed. Frustration gnawed at her but she pushed it aside. Closing her eyes, Freya took a deep breath and letting the anger subside for now and started channeling to focus. She needed her strength, her power. She needed Aether. If she could gather enough she might be able to overpower the manacle, disrupt the runes and break free.

Slowly, deliberately, she began to meditate, drawing in the Aether around her, pulling it into herself. She could feel it, a faint pulse in the air. Freya's breathing slowed, her focus sharpening as she reached out with her senses, feeling the Aether gather around her.

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The sixth day dawned with a pale light that filtered through the towering peaks of Asgard, casting long shadows of it's gigantic form over the training grounds. Erik, Liam, and Mia stood together. The grueling days of weapon mastery and endurance training had transformed them into a new being.

As they moved through their morning drills, it was clear that they had become more than mere novices. The weapons in their hands that once feels foreign and unwieldy now felt like extensions of their bodies.

They had come far, though they knew there was still a long journey ahead. But even at this early stage they have become formidable warriors already, each empowered not only by their physical skills but also by the unique abilities they had begun to unlock.

Today, however, their training would change. No longer would they be clashing swords with the warriors of Asgard. Their time among the Einherjar—the legendary soldiers of the Allfather—had prepared their bodies, but now it was time to prepare their minds.

As the morning wore on they were summoned from the training grounds to a new location. They were led to a towering hall, its walls carved with intricate symbols and runes that glowed with mystical lights. The air inside was thick with the scent of aged parchment, burning incense, and the subtle, almost imperceptible hum of raw Aether.

Here, they would begin their Rune Studies. The mages who would train them were not the warriors they had grown accustomed to, but more like seers and scholars.

The trio entered the hall. Shelves filled with books and scrolls lined the walls, and in the center of the room stood a young woman with bright blonde hair that seemed to capture the light. Her presence was immediately warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the stern warriors they had grown accustomed to.

"Hello, hello!" the woman greeted them with a bright, enthusiastic smile that seemed to light up the entire room. "You must be the new students! I've been eagerly waiting to meet you!"

Her voice was cheerful, almost musical, and there was a certain bounce in her step as she approached them.

Erik, Liam, and Mia exchanged glances, momentarily taken aback by the woman's vibrant personality.

"I'm Freyja," she continued. "Not to be confused with that mighty Freya, of course. I'm Freyja the Scholar. Some might say I'm just a little too obsessed with magic and books. But can you really be too obsessed when it comes to runes and Seidr? I think not!"

She then let out a lighthearted laugh, her blue eyes sparkling.

The trio couldn't help but dumbfounded. But this is their new teacher so they better behave in front of her.

"Uhm… I'm Erik," Erik said. "This is Liam, and this is Mia. We're here to learn everything you have to teach us."

Freyja's eyes widened with delight.

"Oh, wonderful! I can already tell you're going to be a fascinating group! Runes, Seidr, and ancient magic—it's all so thrilling, isn't it? There's just so much to discover!"

Liam chuckled. He kinda like this woman. While Mia simply raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by their new instructor's quirks. However, Mia is also feeling excited because she will learn more about the Runes.

Freyja clapped her hands together, clearly pleased with their reactions.

"I must warn you, though—I tend to get a bit carried away when I'm teaching. You see, I've spent so much time immersed in these texts that sometimes I forget not everyone is as in love with the material as I am. But don't worry! I promise to make this as exciting and engaging as possible!"

She gestured toward a large table covered in scrolls and ancient tomes. "Come, come! Let's get started. We'll begin with the basics of runic language and then move on to practical Seidr applications. By the end of this, you'll be writing your own spells and shaping the very fabric of reality! Well, at least a small portion of it."

Erik, Liam, and Mia moved to join her, their initial apprehension replaced by curiosity. Freyja's enthusiasm was contagious, and they could already sense that this part of their training would be unlike anything they had experienced before.

"Runes, huh. Can't wait what I can make once I've mastered it." Mia thought with a bright smile and sparkling eyes.

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