Chapter 21 : Nidavellir
Hello everyone and sorry the chapter's a little late ! Enjoy !
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The journey through space… has been a bit of a blur to be honest. Be it literally and figuratively speaking. I mean… Gagna's ship was way too fast. So much so that it almost felt like I was playing a VR game that was a cross between Star Wars and Star Trek. The lights stretched and focused on a single point on the edge of our vision, and also, it distorted when we looked on the side. And, although the lights blocked most of my sight, there was something like a membrane or a corridor that her ship was soaring through.
Besides that, I was mostly lost in my thoughts and my fears of what I would experience in the next few days. I haven't even talked to my 'captor' as she piloted the ship. All things considered, the journey passed so fast I didn't even see the time.
And now, we've arrived in sight of Nidavellir. It's… crazy is the word for it I guess. We're still far since the star is only a ball of fire in the distance at this point but… The ring around it, with its metallic glint reflecting the light of the star. For some reason, I had the incongruous image of a sun playing hula-hoop in my mind when I saw it the first time. But really, what leaves me gobsmacked is the amount of work and the level of technology required to make something like this !
No doubt, the dwarves solved their energy problems with this… Talk about solar power ! And then, they are even using its thermal energy in their industry and smithing. Okay, let's stop thinking about all that ! I don't actually know a thing about their world or their society so I can't presume to know what they're doing around their star.
It's not like I've talked a whole lot with Gagna either… In fact, am I a stupid child ? I'm basically following a stranger in her own home. Granted, my mom pushed me off to the stranger in question. Isn't that worse, actually ? Am I being pawned off like some commodity ?
I shake my head as we close in on Nidavellir slowly. Let's stop the delusions, too. I know my parents love me. They've accepted me when I've turned into something inhuman. They've taught me a great deal of things in order to make me stronger, so that I can protect myself. If mom sent me to space, she probably thinks I'm strong enough to handle it !
Or… She could just think I need some kind of baptism by fire in order to grow a pair. That's actually something I see her do and think. It's not like I'm a coward… Or at least I don't think I am. If anyone knew the kind of shit I knew about this universe, they would want to make a hole in an unreachable dimension and bury themselves there for safety too !
Between the countless parallel versions of the Marvel universe, the dimensions and the dwellers therein, the aliens, supervillains, Gods and entities even stronger and beyond them… I mean, isn't that natural to be scared ? To not want to be involved in this shit-show ?
Despite my power and its potential, I don't think I'll ever be ready to face the kinds of threats the people in the movies and comics dealt with ! Maybe I could kick the Shocker's ass or even the Scorpion's or some other of Spider-man's rogue gallery. But Doom ? Thanos ? Yeah… No ! Unless I create some kind of spell to just wish them gone, that is.
I'll always be scared to death. But, well… It's already my second life, and I have a loving family and great friends. I meet amazing people that were like idols or celebrities in my former life, only better and inaccessible. I'll also face dreadful situations, of course. Nevertheless, even though I'll try to avoid putting myself in danger, I also know I won't be able to always avoid it. Especially since I live in New York… Most of worst threats land there at one point or another.
I heave a deep breath and look up outside the cockpit. The ship is finally at the final stage of its landing. We've passed the entrance of a massive hangar bay where numerous ships much like the one we are in lay, like horses sleeping in a barn.
A few minutes later, Gagna stands up in silence and declares :
« Welcome to Nidavellir, lad ! We'll get to work after you settle your things… I expect great things from Dana's kid ! »
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Yeah… I stand by my first impression : Nidavellir's weird ! It's like a weird mix of sci-fi and dwarven fantasy scenery. The halls are absurdly large with ceilings so high that I actually can't tell if there's one or not. Should be, though, right ? We're in space, after all. The buildings and the floor are made out of a metal I can't recognize with runic ornamentations forming a tacky golden road. I almost feel like Dorothy…
The architecture reminds me of buildings straight out of the Lord of the Ring, if the dwarves of the books had spaceflight capabilities, that is. The 'buildings' were all tall and intricately designed and decorated. And as I watch the dwarves walking the streets without problems, I can somewhat understand the reason why everything so big… They are massive themselves after all. Still…
« That's way too big ! » I mutter.
In fictions, they often say that dwarves are the best builders and their cities are disproportionate compared to the average size of its population. It's kind of the case here as well… Except that they're also using flying vehicles to go around. Ah ! But, the people… I see some of them wearing medieval armor and weapons. Except there's nothing medieval about them… I can detect the magic from them and it's… both inspiring and terrifying.
« We have arrived ! » Gagna suddenly says, surprising me.
I look towards her and then glanced around. All I see is another one of those massive structure… Is that her house ? Though, I'm not sure I can say that where we're in an alien space station. I see her walk toward the structure in question and rest her hand, flat against a… door ? I think that's it : it slides to the side to open. Also, it's automatic. Yeah, well… The door was just as big as the rest of it. Easily twice Gagna's size.
I follow after her and again, I'm left speechless. The inside is a little spartan, with not much furnitures or decorations. The problem is, as everything on - or is it in ? - Nidavellir, the size of the apartment.
« Do you… live alone, here ? »
She turns to look him in the eyes for a second before she shakes her head :
« There are my husband and daughter, but… my husband works as a miner in the asteroid fields and my daughter… » She sighs : « She has chosen to join the Asgardian army. I'm not sure where she is currently. »
Asgard. The world atop all of the Nine Realms. The world of Odin, Thor and Loki. And Hela ! A world full of troublemakers and warmongers who inspired the vikings of old their ways. Although there's supposed to be peace between the Realms, I doubt it. Sure, Odin is thousands of years old, so his fiery temper and conqueror's tendency have probably been abated somewhat. But with age, people often develop stubbornness and the idea that, since they've lived for a long time, they are always right. So what about a monarch that's lived for thousands of years ? I have a hard time believing he'll let transgressions pass… Though, once again, I don't really know anything about Asgard, either.
Still… This place is huge for only three people !
« Okay… Where will I be staying ? »
« Come with me ! We have got a guest room you can use for the remainder of your stay ! »
And that's how I, Nathan Norrson, found myself in the care of the giant dwarves of Nidavellir…