Giant

On the other side of the stronghold, Valeria strode with quick pacee through the corridor, her black armor coat trailing behind her. Beside her the masked figure of Ragi kept pace, his steps silent but not less quick than her.

Valeria's eyes gleamed because she was eager to see the creature Ragi had captured.

Ragi broke the silence first, his deep voice muffled by the mask.

"I don't like those two," he said bluntly. Valeria knows that he was referring to Erik and Mia. "Why do you keep them around?"

Valeria glanced at him, then look front again. "Because I want to," she replied coolly. "They will be our members soon enough."

"They don't want to work for your cause like your member. They're only here because you threatened them. They'll betray you the first chance they get," Ragi said with tone full with skepticism.

"You think I don't know that?" Valeria said and shot Ragi a sharp look.

Ragi returned her gaze silently, his mask obscuring any emotion.

"I know that they will betray me. However, If I can make them do something terrible enough to Asgard, there will be no place left for them there. Asgard will cast them out, and they'll have nowhere to turn but back to me."

Ragi's jaw tightened beneath the mask. He said nothing, though feeling of unease settled over him.

There was something about that two young warriors that gnawed at his instincts, a growing sense of trouble.

If they ever learned the truth that he was the one who had cursed their brother, they would be more than just angry. They would be relentless. Not that Ragi feared them, but dealing with their wrath would be... annoying.

They arrived at a large metal door, intricate runes etched into its surface glowing faintly. Valeria halted and gestured to Ragi.

"Open it," she commanded.

Ragi stepped forward, placing his hand on the door. When his fingers touched the cold surface the runes flared to life. The door groaned as it slowly creaked open, revealing the room beyond.

Valeria's eyes sparkled with delight as she stepped inside, her gaze fixed on the chained creature within.

In the center of the room, a group of Dreadshade Coven members stood in a tight circle. Their hands raised toward the massive form chained before them. Runes shimmered in the air around the creature to kept it in a deep, enchanted slumber.

The creature was enormous, its hulking form taking up much of the room. Its skin was a pale, bluish-gray, stretched taut over thick, corded muscles.

Its face was angular and sharp. It was a Jötunn, a giant. Though not one of the most powerful of its kind, the creature radiated its own primal strength.

Even in its subdued state its sheer size and the way its powerful limbs strained against the chains hinted at the danger it posed when awake.

Thick iron shackles bound its wrists and ankles, reinforced with glowing runes etched along the metal to suppress its strength. The creature's long frost-rimed hair fell in tangled strands over its broad shoulders. Its closed eyes seemed to flicker beneath its lids as though struggling against the magic that kept it dormant.

Valeria walked slowly toward it, her gaze never leaving the giant. Her lips curled into a pleased smile. This was the perfect vessel for the task she had in mind.

The giant will be strong enough to contain the destructive energy of the Eye of the Abyss. This giant, with its natural resilience and endurance, would serve her plans well.

"This one will do nicely," Valeria said with satisfaction.

Ragi remained silent, his eyes fixed on the creature. Though it wasn't the most powerful of the Jötunn, its strength was more than enough to fulfill their purpose. And its pretty troublesome for him to subdue it.

Valeria turned to the coven members. "Keep him like this until I give the word. We don't want him waking up prematurely."

The coven members nodded silently. Their concentration never wavering as they maintained the runes that suppressed the giant's will.

Then, Valeria turned to Ragi. "Is there an order or any words from your master to what I should do next or what he want?"

Ragi's masked face remained expressionless, but he shook his head slightly. "No. My master simply said that we should proceed according to the plan."

"That's it?" Valeria asked with a frown.

"Yes. You don't need to worry about that," Ragi replied.

Valeria raised an eyebrow, her mind briefly lingering on the oddness of it all. For someone as powerful and calculating as Ragi's master to give no further instructions, it made her uneasy. She expected that he will want something back soon enough from her. She don't believe that he just helping her out of his good wil.

The absence of further words from him felt like an empty space where there should be certainty. Yet, despite her concern, Valeria decided to push it aside. If Ragi's master wanted nothing more, then it wasn't her place to question it, no matter how strange it seemed.

"Alright," she muttered, her mind drifting back to her own plans. Whatever his master's silence meant, it didn't matter right now. She had her own agenda to follow.

She turned her gaze back to the slumbering giant, its massive chest rising and falling slowly under the weight of the magic that bound it.

"How much longer until he's ready?" Valeria asked with eyes fixed on the creature.

"Not long," Ragi replied.

Valeria nodded, her lips curling into a wicked smile. "Good. When the time comes, I'll give him the Eye."

With one last glance at the creature, Valeria turned and walked toward the door. Ragi followed behind her in silence, the two of them leaving the chamber and the giant behind in its deep, enchanted slumber.

As the heavy door shut behind them, the room fell back into a haunting quiet, the only sound the faint hum of the runes keeping the giant chained and bound, awaiting the moment it would be unleashed.

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