Alec had expected shadows to crawl out of the dresser or monsters to leap from under his bed.

  But the night had actually been nice.

  In the morning, a firm knock came at his door.

  It took him a second to open it.

  Nadia stood on the other side.

  “Hope you slept well,” she said, handing him a backpack.

  She had traded her hoodie for a grey sweater, the sleeves a little too long—as if she’d borrowed it or never bothered to replace it—and blue jeans.

  “What’s that for?” Alec asked as he took the bag.

  She motioned for him to follow and stepped away from the doorway.

  She walked fast enough that it took him a moment to catch up.

  The corridor was long and silent, the lights dim, as if the hotel itself were still asleep.

  “Why are we up so early?” Alec asked, struggling to open the backpack.

  “The future belongs to those who rise early,” she said quickly.

  “In the bag you’ll find most of what you’ll need for what’s coming.”

  At first glance, it was mostly clothes.

  “For what’s coming?” he repeated.

  They stopped in front of an elevator.

  “You should’ve had a week or two to rest, but your suicidal act riled Thor,” she said, pressing the button.

  Alec liked this less and less.

  “I’m not getting into that elevator.” He dropped the bag to the floor.

  Nadia turned to him.

  Then she smiled.

  Behind them, doors cracked open.

  Yawns and shuffling footsteps disrupted the once-calm hall.

  Alec's heart dropped.

  A bunch of teens, they didn't look much older than him. Some were in pyjamas, hair still a mess.

  But Alec was sure that the pressure that had frozen the hallway hadn't lied to him.

  They were dangerous.

  "You do what you want. You're free to go back to your room." she said motioning him to go forward.

  Before stepping into the elevator without looking back.

  The sarcasm behind her smile was now clear as day.

  They started talking, laughter even erupted. But the unease wasn't settling.

  Slowly he picked the bag up and stepped into the elevator.

  "Wise choice, " She said as she pressed a button.

  "Just wait and see, " he said.

  "I'm not your enemy," she turned to him.

  "Well you're not a great friend either."

  "I try to be, you don't know how bad you made everything."

  "I haven't done anything but try to survive," He wanted to scream, but some of the words choked on the way out.

  Her shoulders dropped.

  "Things are complicated. Anyone else would have been a hero here. You just had to show up with two calamities."

  Two calamities ? Did she mean Ulf and Erik?

  "Calamities ?"

  "The wind and the walking legend, nothing less."

  The elevator started it descent.

  "Yeah but that's them, what does it have to do with me?"

  "Reputation matters here," she was staring at the floor indicator like it was counting down to a verdict.

  "Everyone wants the honor of killing them and you came as a menu."

  “So that’s paradise? Survive once, sign up again?”

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  "Usually they let you breathe before the next fight."

  "But not this time ?" He asked.

  "Not this time, Thor personally invited you to battle against his heroes."

  "What if I don't want that, nobody sane would want that."

  "Then you might as well never set a foot outside your room."

  The elevator stopped.

  A blinding light filled it as the door opened.

  The sun was warm like a summer day. In front of them, an immense field stood out.

  A huge tree was planted in the middle and the field was enclosed beneath what looked like a glass dome.

  But the air was filled with the metallic taste of blood.

  Teens like the ones they had met earlier had filled the place.

  Some were talking, lying on the grass under the tree and joking around.

  Others had armor on and were sparring each other.

  "That's the playground," she said as she stepped out. "People come here to relax, talk or train as you can see. It's a safe space you can come every time you want."

  Safe ?

  Yet she pressed forward, not allowing Alec to ask more questions.

  Which he would have liked to.

  Because he wanted to know who the red-haired girl was, perched on one of the higher branches of the tree.

  And why the pressure of her gaze felt familiar.

  Nadia led him further from the main groups, at the edge of the dome.

  There Ulf and Erik, the so called wind and walking legend were sitting on the grass.

  They had trades armor and weapons, to a uniforme of black vikings tunics with a grey wolf depicted in small runic symbol, a simple pants and tactical boots.

  Erik once long, braided blonde hair had been cut into a slightly faded buzzcut.

  "What happened to him?" Alec asked, barely containing his laugh.

  "This way he will learn that act have consequences." Ulf answered, a hint of pride in her voice.

  "I think i look better this way," Erik added.

  Silence was his answer.

  "Please say something." He added as the weight of silence crushed him

  Truth be told, he did.

  And now that he was with them, the unease in his stomach slowly dissipated.

  Nadia cleared her throat to get the group’s attention.

  “Today is special,” she began. “Like I said to Alec before, you’ll have to fight again. But the rules are different this time. There won’t be any flags to claim. It’s a team deathmatch—either be the last one standing or survive until time runs out.”

  “So we can avoid fighting?” Alec asked, surprised.

  Erik shook his head.

  “On paper, you can,” Nadia replied. “But the battlefield is small, and it’s made for teams to meet at some point.”

  “How long will we fight?” Ulf’s tone had grown serious.

  “A day.”

  “What?” Alec couldn’t believe his ears. That couldn’t be possible. That had to be a nightmare. He sank to the ground next to Erik, trying to make sense of what had just been said.

  He put his hand on Alec's shoulder before speaking.

  “Looks like the big guy is pretty mad,” Erik said.

  “Of course he is,” Nadia chuckled. “He offered honor and glory to anybody who would bring them your heads.”

  “And why are you telling us all of this?” Ulf asked.

  Nadia sat as well.

  “As your valkyrie, I’m in charge of your time here. I need to make sure you understand what awaits you.”

  “So you know who we are,” Ulf pressed.

  “I do,” she said before turning to Alec. “You two might deserve what happens, but the kid doesn’t.”

  Ulf stood up. Nadia did too.

  “Wait, we’re all friends here,” Erik said, placing himself between the two girls.

  If Ulf’s gaze could kill, Nadia would have dropped.

  Alec had the feeling that the small, smug smile Nadia wore wasn’t playing in her favor.

  "She's only doing her job." Erik said as he pressed his hand on Ulf's shoulder.

  Ulf stayed in place for a second before stepping back.

  "Thank you, Baldrsson," Nadia said to Erik. "As i was saying..."

  "Don't do that, Don't call me that." Erik said as he turned to her.

  The air felt suffocating for a second. And Nadia nearly stepped back, but Erik forced a smile back before she did.

  Alec saw it clearly. And from the surprised gaze of everyone around them, he was pretty sure that everyone had.

  "And when do we start this fight ?" Erik asked.

  "In a few hours i'm afraid." Nadia confessed

  Ulf sat back.

  "Then let's prepare. Where do we get our weapons?"

  "Everything will be provided by Valhalla," Nadia said. "Just tell me what you need."

  "I need a bow," Ulf said sharply. "A good one." She added fixing the girl.

  "Perfect," Erik clapped. "I want an axe and a sword."

  The group then turned to Alec.

  "I-I don't know." He surrendered.

  Erik laughed

  Ulf sighed.

  "Don't worry," Nadia said. "Look into the bag, search for a bracelet."

  He opened it, and as he searched between the clothes, he found a silver bracelet.

  He pulled it out and wore it.

  A feint it was emaning from it.

  "What is it?" Erik asked.

  But Alec had understood. The energy felt the same as Ulf's knives.

  With a little focus, he felt like he could...

  The bracelet in a flash if light changed into a large Axe, the one he had claimed from the giant.

  He dropped it by surprise, and from the growing need to throw up.

  "Then that's settled," Erik quickly said. "Bring him a sword and he will be alright."

  "And a shield," Ulf added

  The group turned to her.

  "We never know, he's fragile."

  Nadia audibly laughed.

  "Wait here, prepare and i'll let you know when it's time." She said.

  Then, a pair of large silver wings, almost five meters long spreaded from her back.

  And before Alec could ask what the hell was that, she was gone.

  "And she can fly," Alec said still in disbelief.

  "I don't trust that Valkyrie," Ulf said

  "Why not? i think she looks good." Erik answered.

  "That's not the question idiot," she sighted. "Don't turn out like him." She said to Alec.

  Erik sat back down.

  "She doesn’t gain anything from protecting us, actually she would gain more by betraying us," Ulf said.

  "She could, but we will know her intention when the time is right," Erik answered. "For now we need to focus on the fight."

  He was right.

  "And you brother," he said as he turned to Alec. "What do you think?"

  "I'm still pretty lost."

  "That doesn't change."Ulf said.

  "But," Alec kept going."Since i got out of my room, it feel like i can sense the pressure of other people power. I figured y'all would be better than me at that."

  "Of course."Erik said.

  "Then who do you think here could be an actual menace?" He asked.

  Ulf smiled faintly, but her eyes stayed on the grass

  "None of them are," Erik said. "But..." He pointed to Ulf

  "One might be a serious opponent. " She corrected.

  Erik turned to her.

  "She's hiding, you're not warmed up yet so i'm not surprised you didn't feel her. But she stink of rain."

  Stinking of rain, what did that mean?

  "Don't worry about that,"Erik cut the conversation. "Let us teach you actual useful stuff. You showed that you could use magic, but the way you do it is not that useful. You will exhaust yourself before you realize."

  Alec looked at the rune on his forearm.

  "But Ulf here can teach you Runic magic, isn't she is wonderful?"Erik smiled.

  "I never said i would."

  "Just help the kid." Erik pleaded.

  "What do i need to do teacher?" Alec laughed.

  She sighed again, before reaching for the axe he had dropped.

  "I'll make it short, so follow," She said. "Magic start as energy you give shape too. From what i've seen, you use it in burst of power."

  Like when he had frozen Thor's arm.

  "In runic magic, the rune serve as a conduit. You don't have to shape the energy, fournish it to the rune and it will for you. That's a spell."

  "Draw a rune on it," she said as she handed him the axe.

  He took it.

  "I don't know any rune." Alec said.

  "You have one on your arm brother."

  He turned to Njord's rune on his arm. The pulsating hum had calmed to a steady thrum, but the energy beneath his skin still tingled like a storm waiting to break.

  Well, it was his time to play.

  Alec took a deep breath and let his fingers hover near the axe’s edge.

  Slowly, he traced the outline of the rune, letting the surge inside him spill outward.

  The energy was wild—like trying to hold lightning in your palm.

  It sparked along his veins, jittering, almost slipping free.

  The rune began to shimmer faintly, and his fingers trembled under the raw power, but he forced himself to keep the pattern intact.

  Finally, the rune pulsed once—a heartbeat of concentrated force—then settled, glowing steadily. The energy hummed like a caged storm, waiting.

  "In his first try too," Erik applauded.

  "Yeah let's not get ahead of ourselves." Ulf answered.

  "And what does it do?" Alec asked.

  "Only one way to find out, you learn by trying in a fight." Ulf answered. "Talking about a fight."

  The distant sound of boots on the grass drew his attention. A group of teens were moving toward them

  They were four of them, three boys and one girl.

  Alec tried but he couldn't feel anything from them.

  His stomach wasn't screaming danger like before.

  They stayed at a distance while the tallest one approched.

  Erik stood up.

  He was tall, as tall as Erik. Short and black hair with a sleeveless roughed armor, showing countless tattoo running on his arms.

  "We mean no harm," he said as he extended his hand to shake Erik's.

  "We heard who you were and to be honest, we dont want to fight against you."

  Erik shook his hand. "You don't?"

  "If you are as strong as they say, that would be suicide, i do not wish to suffer more than i need here." The boy chuckled.

  "And who might you be wise man?" Erik smiled.

  "My name is Thorgester," He said. "And those are Ingrid, sieg and Torstsein." He said motioning his friends.

  The two boys were in armor too, and the girl was a little away from the group, almost as if she was hiding behind the two others.

  "I am Erik Ragnarson, this is Alec Njordsonn."

  "Alec Chase." He corrected

  Thorgester smiled at him and he did back.

  "My mistake," Erik picked the conversation back up. "Alec Chase and this is my sister Ulf Skadidóttir."

  He smiled at her but she didn't even look his way.

  "Perfect," he said. "Let's help each other, number is always a great advantage."

  "You are absolutely right my brother." Erik smiled.

  If they were already finding allies even with Thor's bounty, maybe things wouldn't be as bad as Alec tought.