Vina stood on the walkway of ?rvarborg Fortress, the path leading toward the Himinbj?rg observation tower (the connection point for accessing the Bifr?st rainbow bridge), gazing out over the realm of Asgard, where the sun never sets below the horizon.
Since resuming her mantle as a Valkyrie, Vina had carried out missions with Lylith, her older sister, and Inga, her daughter, twice before.
Today marked the third time. While the increasing number suggests a growing familiarity, in her heart, she felt far removed from such a word.
Her relationship with Inga was mending gradually; there was no need for haste. Although their bloodline confirmed they were mother and daughter, the time they had spent apart... could not be reclaimed in a rush.
In the past, the Valkyrie’s purpose was to await the arrival of the Great War, Ragnarok, and then fight to one's utmost ability. But in this present time—the era of the light of the God Baldur—there was no longer any great war to wait for. Their recent tasks had been reduced to merely eliminating Frost Giants from J?tunheimr that crossed over to wreak havoc in Midgard, and traveling to halt human wars between the Kingdom of Allasia and the Kingdom of Amirfar.
Yet, regarding the great war between Modi and Vidar in the realm of Alfheimr, Asgard merely dispatched a single Valkyrie to observe.
Deep within, Vina felt a sense of emptiness, vastly different from the feelings of the past.
Following the previous day's council, they were about to ascend the rainbow bridge, heading for the Kingdom of Allasia to speak with King Valen. This followed their previous journey to the Kingdom of Amirfar, where they had spoken with and warned King Arkhad to abandon his attempts to incite a war.
Throughout her life, Vina had shepherded the souls of tens of thousands of brave humans to Valhalla to prepare for Ragnarok. Yet, among those spirits, there was none she remembered in particular. And, as she had predicted, when the actual end of the world arrived, those Einherjar forces were unable to withstand the Frost Giants that followed Loki at all.
Vina's wait finally ended when Lylith arrived, leading Inga and Nydia.
Inga still chose to reside with Lylith, the aunt who had raised her, rather than with her mother, who had once abandoned her to become a witch in the realm of Svartalfheim.
"Vina, let's move out," Lylith called out in greeting, ordering everyone to depart.
"Good morning, Ms. Vina," Nydia’s clear, small voice chimed in, befitting the petite girl with pink hair.
"Yes, good morning to you as well," Vina replied politely.
"Hello, Ms. Vina," another greeting sounded, followed by the appearance of the long-haired girl holding a spear.
In that moment, Vina froze briefly. Her body stiffened at hearing her own daughter call her by name in such a polite tone, as if she were merely an acquaintance, not her mother. It weighed heavily on her heart, a feeling indescribable in words.
Vina tried to gather her resolve, replying with a curt, "Right."
Lylith glanced at Vina’s reaction before nodding once in satisfaction.
In truth, today's task was not significant enough to require a General of Asgard like Lylith to speak with a human king. However, because she intended to help foster a better relationship between Inga and Vina, she had agreed to undertake this mission.
As they walked along the path, an unnaturally freezing wind suddenly gusted violently. Every step halted in unison. All eyes turned toward the source of the sound, and there they saw a massive shadow flying through the sky, heading toward the Himinbj?rg observation tower.
"Garhogg!!" Lylith shouted the giant owl's name immediately. She would never forget the enemy she had fought twice before.
However, this time Garhogg did not come alone. In its claws, it dragged a four-legged giant monster with a twisted shape, resembling a centaur.
Both creatures were referred to as "Frost Giants," but in reality, they were not born of J?tunheimr; rather, they originated from Niflheim or Helheim.
The four Valkyries did not hesitate. Their walk transformed into a full sprint, heading straight for the observation tower. However, among them, Vina possessed only one leg; the other was a mechanical prosthetic aiding her movement. No matter how she hastened her pace, she could not catch up with her three companions.
"Ah... that four-legged beast," Lylith, who was leading the charge, frowned deeply. "Did I not kill it already?"
She had not expected a monster that had been destroyed to return... and this time, accompanying Garhogg toward Asgard.
As Centnir, the centaur-like monster, touched down on the floor of the Himinbj?rg observation tower, the three running Valkyries were close behind.
"Garhogg..." Centnir's low growl resonated. It used their own language to communicate. "That is Lylith."
Garhogg, still flying above Centnir’s head, glanced at the approaching group of Valkyries before scoffing in its throat.
"Of course it is," it replied irritably. "This is Asgard, you know!"
Lylith, who had been in the lead, was the first to slow her pace as she neared the target, allowing the remaining two Valkyries to surge ahead and face the two monsters first.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Lylith’s action was born not of hesitation or cowardice, but because her personal weapon was "L?vateinn," a cursed sword that once belonged to Loki. It was an extremely dangerous weapon; when drawn from its sheath, a purple-black poisonous mist would spread. Therefore, she had to maintain distance from her allies and prepare to strike only when the situation was appropriate.
Inga was the first to confront Centnir. She thrust her spear at the enemy's body without hesitation. Meanwhile, Nydia, despite her small stature and short stride, followed close behind Inga. The magic orb in her left hand sparkled, forming a volley of ice arrows that shot immediately toward Garhogg.
Garhogg beat its wings, generating a violent gale that scattered the ice arrows. At the same time, the strong wind slowed the figure charging at the enemy.
Centnir used its front leg to kick at Inga, but she blocked it with her spear shaft.
Although Inga was uninjured, being mid-air when kicked caused her body to be blown backward.
Suddenly, a hand touched Inga's back. The touch was both firm and gentle, supporting her and preventing her from drifting further away, before a voice sounded close to her ear: "It’s alright... I am here."
The one saving Inga this time was none other than Vina. The Valkyrie who moved with a limp was now floating in mid-air, her feet hovering slightly above the ground, thanks to levitation magic.
"Vina," Lylith’s voice called from behind. "Cast a spell to slow down that bird."
Vina floated forward slightly before skillfully twirling the magic staff in her hand. An amber magic circle appeared on the ground in the form of a ring.
"Inga, don't just stare! Go clash with that four-legged beast. Buy time for your mother to finish casting her spell," Lylith continued to issue orders.
Nydia used her small and agile frame to dash underneath Centnir’s body before the magic orb in her right hand glowed, creating a swirling wind to hinder Garhogg’s movement.
Suddenly, Vina’s spell was complete. The amber ring on the ground flashed brilliantly before a beam of light shot upward, bathing the body of Garhogg, who was still flying mid-air. In a split second, it was as if all lift had been stolen away.
The giant owl let out a low cry before its massive body crashed heavily to the ground.
"Gravity Magic!" Nydia exclaimed in shock, though her tone held no small amount of respect.
Gravity Magic was merely a basic spell for controlling objects from a distance—a spell that almost every magic practitioner had to know to prove they could wield magic. Afterward, most would abandon it to practice offensive magic like wind, ice, fire, or lightning instead.
In truth, this Gravity Magic was no different from the levitation spell Vina had used moments ago. If she could lift herself to float, she could naturally pull a floating object down to the ground as well.
Lylith and Vina were Valkyrie sisters who had fought together since the ancient era. Their understanding of one another was truly seamless.
And with Vina having created this opportunity, Lylith hesitated no longer. She drew her sword, held her breath, and launched herself forward, slashing the L?vateinn in her right hand instantly.
Garhogg had survived battles with Lylith twice before, but there would be no third time. The giant bird’s body was sliced in two immediately.
However... as the blade passed through the enemy's body, another dark shadow loomed over Lylith’s head before a cloudy green liquid rained down, drenching her body in an instant.
The Valkyries looked up to the sky. There appeared a monster with the body of a winged woman, carrying a massive albino serpent. And it was that very serpent that had sprayed poison down upon Lylith.
Lylith, struck by the poison, forced her body to endure the pain. Gritting her teeth, she lunged and slashed again, killing Centnir instantly. Afterward, Lylith’s body slowly collapsed.
"Auntie...!" Inga screamed in shock.
"Daughter, calm yourself," Vina’s voice sounded immediately. "Your aunt is the General of Heaven; she will not die so easily."
Although these words were spoken to Inga, Vina’s eyes remained fixed on the two monsters that had just appeared in the sky.
"I will kill that poisonous snake!" Inga declared wildly, before launching herself toward the giant serpent in a fit of emotion.
"Inga—!" Vina called out after her but could not hold her back.
At that moment, Nydia circled back to Vina, asking, "Ms. Vina... what should we do now?"
"Ms. Nydia," Vina said in a calm voice. "Can you use the Untora spell?"
"My orbs..." Nydia hesitated slightly. "I should be able to cast Untora once per orb."
"That is good," Vina nodded. "Attack that winged female monster right now. Use both times."
Finishing this sentence, Vina immediately used her magic staff to cast Gravity Magic, pulling Lylith’s body back toward herself.
Nydia swallowed hard. The last time she had used the Untora spell, it caused the orb she used to shatter immediately upon completion. Although she now held two magic orbs, if she cast Untora consecutively twice, it meant she would be left empty-handed.
Nevertheless, Nydia cast aside her hesitation. She checked which direction Inga had run; once sure her friend would not be affected by her explosion magic, the girl hesitated no more. She chose to use the orb in her left hand to cast the spell first.
"Untora!!"
As soon as the chant ended, the orb in Nydia’s left hand cracked immediately.
This winged female monster was named Harpnir. She was a sibling to Centnir and Garhogg, as was the giant serpent named "Mahahogg."
Harpnir was a monster specializing in ice magic. Seeing the small pink-haired girl cast explosion magic at her, she immediately blocked it with an ice wall spell.
But against Untora, a 9th-level magic of the Valkyries, the ice wall still shattered apart.
"Untora!!"
Nydia cast the 9th-level magic again according to Vina’s plan. This time, Harpnir could not use the ice wall to block it.
Naturally, the orb in Nydia’s right hand cracked as well.
Harpnir, unable to escape the explosion magic attacking twice in a row, lifted the foot clutching Mahahogg, resulting in the giant serpent taking the brunt of the Untora spell in her stead.
Harpnir, having survived two consecutive attacks, would certainly not let this pink-haired mage live any longer. She discarded the giant serpent she had carried and immediately lunged at Nydia.
Nydia, who now had no magic orbs left to cast spells, had to face the giant enemy charging at her; her face was filled with absolute panic.
Suddenly, a hand touched Nydia’s small back, accompanied by a voice close to her ear: "It’s alright... use Untora one more time."
It was Vina’s voice, as she placed her own magic staff into Nydia’s hand.
As Harpnir charged in with massive claws...
"Untora!!"
Nydia cast the 9th-level spell for the third time in a row, using Vina’s magic staff.
The winged female monster was obliterated in mid-air by the explosion magic.
The whisper at her ear continued: "To be able to cast Untora three times in a single day... I fear that, aside from Lady Sigyn, it is likely Ms. Nydia who is suited to be the greatest magic-wielding Valkyrie in history."
Nydia collapsed from exhaustion before she could finish listening to Vina’s praise, her consciousness fading as Vina quickly supported her.
Inga, having walked back, saw the state of her unconscious friend and took the small body into her arms.
But the threat in this place was not yet over, as the sword L?vateinn continued to spew poison ceaselessly. Meanwhile, Lylith, whom Vina had moved to heal with magic, still lay still, unconscious like a corpse.
Vina leaned down beside Lylith’s head before whispering into her ear, "Lily... Lily... time to wake up."
Lylith’s eyelids fluttered slightly as the childhood name was whispered in her ear. The voice sounded again, causing her brows to knit tightly before her body jolted awake, accompanied by a shouting voice masking her weakness.
"Don't call me Lily! Call me Lylith!"
Lylith’s manner of waking surprised Inga, who was standing nearby watching.
Lylith turned to look at Vina with an annoyed gaze. "Don't call me by that name again. I’m warning you."
Vina laughed softly in her throat. "Heh... You really haven't changed at all."
"Then don't call me by that name... you crazy Vivi," Lylith retorted, using the other’s childhood nickname.
Vina smiled acceptingly without taking offense. "Call me that if you like, but please go manage that thing first." She pointed to the sword that was still spewing poison without pause.
Lylith glanced at the L?vateinn, which was still near the carcass of the four-legged monster, before moving to walk away.
Vina turned back to Inga. "I told you, your aunt wouldn't die from just a little poison like this."
Inga did not reply; she simply stood watching the back of the General of Heaven with an expression that was hard to describe.