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Chapter 755 Beginning of Prophecy
Loki's fingertips glowed with fluorescence, sketching out words on the Gate bit by bit. As Loki wrote, the Gate began to change.
This was the Password she had pried from Eitri's lips with that jar of Wine. She had imbued the Wine with Magic; once consumed, it would cloud the Mind. In that state, Eitri would truthfully reveal anything Loki wished to know.
Fortunately, Eitri hadn't suspected her, or Loki wouldn't have obtained the Treasury Password so easily.
But Loki felt no joy. This entire Action, from start to finish, had relied on exploiting the Confidence others placed in her. This Feeling wasn't like her usual Prank; it was a betrayal.
Loki felt as if a knife had pierced her Heart. She knew it was wrong, but to understand her origins, she had to do this. She couldn't bear to live a lie forever.
Loki withdrew her Right Hand. The Password was entered, and the Treasury Door slowly began to open. Thanks to the Dwarves' masterful Craftsmanship, even such a massive Doorway opened without a sound.
Finally, the Door she had yearned to open for a millennium was now ajar. Yet, her Heart was devoid of happiness, filled only with overwhelming tension.
Stepping into the Treasury, Loki's eyes immediately found her Goal amidst the orderly array of Spoils – the Casket of Ancient Winters.
It was a red Casket, its Keyhole replaced by a Skull. Though undeniably exquisite, no one would suspect it to be a Divine Weapon capable of freezing a Planet.
Gazing at the Casket of Ancient Winters resting silently on its Display Stand, Loki felt an inexplicable urge to flee. But ultimately, she steeled herself and reached out.
After a moment of hesitation, Loki's Finger finally touched the Casket of Ancient Winters.
Loki's Eyes widened. The instant her fingertip brushed the Skull, a change occurred. Her fingertip turned ice-blue, and the color rapidly spread across her Body.
Startled, Loki stumbled backward, inadvertently stepping on the Cloak draped over her shoulders. She lost her Balance and landed heavily on her Butt on the Ground. Normally, she could use Magic to regain her footing, but in her distraught state, Loki simply allowed herself to fall.
Seated on the Ground, Loki shakily raised a Hand and traced a Lap in the Air before her. A Ripple shimmered into existence, forming a Mirror-like surface that reflected her Face.
She was drastically changed. Her Skin was now ice-blue, strange patterns marked her cheeks, miniature Fangs protruded from the Corner of her Mouth, and even her emerald green Eyes, once praised by Thor, had turned blue.
"What he said… it’s all true…" Loki propped herself up with a Hand, her Head tilting listlessly to the side, allowing her black Long Hair to veil her Face.
Loki's thoughts were a whirlwind. She didn't know how to face Asgard. Odin, the Father she had revered, was now her Enemy. Her beloved Mother was not real, and even her cherished… brother…
Well, that relationship might actually improve. But then Loki remembered that Frost Giants and Asgardian had been eternal Enemies. Could her brother truly accept her like this?
Loki felt as though her entire Life had been built on lies. Why had Odin brought her to Asgard? Was it to Control the Frost Giants?
No! Perhaps she shouldn't assume the worst. She didn't believe the love Odin and Frigga had shown her was false. There must be a deeper Reason. Instead of wallowing in speculation, she should ask them directly.
Having made up her Mind, Loki struggled to her feet. Despite her resolution, uncertainty gnawed at her. Confronting the truth Laufey had revealed, she dreaded what lay ahead.
Lost in thought, Loki failed to notice a wisp of purple Smoke drifting towards her, perhaps carried by the Airflow from the opened Gate.
Suddenly, Loki felt a pull, a stirring in her Heart. She turned towards the deepest part of the Treasury, sensing something calling to her.
Lost in her Idea, Loki moved as if in a trance, her Footsteps leading her deeper into the Treasury.
"Tap, tap, tap, tap."
When Loki regained awareness, she stood before a new Display Stand. Upon it rested a Hammer of exquisite, almost artistic Design, unlike anything she had seen before, and certainly not in the Style of the Dwarves.
'Pick me up… I will give you the Answer… I will give you… Courage…’
A faint whisper reached her ears. Loki clutched her Head in Pain. In her memory, Thor's Hammer had been retrieved from Treasury. Could this Hammer be similar to Thor's Hammer?
After obtaining the Hammer, Thor had become the invincible Thor. Could picking up this Hammer grant her the Courage to Question Odin face-to-face?
With these thoughts swirling in her Mind, Loki reached out as if compelled, grasping the Hammer Handle.
The instant Loki's Hand closed around the Hammer Handle, a thick purple Smoke erupted from it, coiling around her Right Hand and surging up her Body like a Python.
In a timeless instant, a torrent of unfamiliar Knowledge flooded Loki's Brain. She relived the history of Asgard from its inception to the present as if she were there, even witnessing unrecorded events.
In the haze, a Figure materialized before her – an old man, withered and gaunt, with silver-white Long Hair and colossal Armor. The newfound Knowledge in her Brain allowed her to recognize him.
"Great Serpent…" Loki murmured, her voice barely audible. "My… Father…"
"Seek me out, Skadi, my Daughter," the Great Serpent rasped, lifting his Head to reveal a face etched with age. "The time has come."
"Boom!"
Loki snapped back to reality, the War Hammer firmly in her Hand. The Leather Armor she had worn was gone, replaced by Light Armor in the Asgardian Style, a Fluorescence Green Symbol emblazoned on the Breastplate.
The last vestiges of Confusion vanished from her Eyes, replaced by an endless Light. No trace of her former self remained.
"Whoosh!"
Loki lifted a Foot and transformed into Green Light, bursting out of Odin's Vault in an instant. The Gate slammed shut behind her, leaving the Corridor seemingly unchanged, save for the gust of Wind that swept through it.
…
"Hmm?"
Leaning on his desk, Odin sensed something. He looked up, gazing towards Outside the door. An inexplicable Feeling of Panic washed over him, as if something had transpired without his knowledge.
(End of chapter)
Loki's fingertips glowed with fluorescence, sketching out words on the Gate bit by bit. As Loki wrote, the Gate began to change.
This was the Password she had pried from Eitri's lips with that jar of Wine. She had imbued the Wine with Magic; once consumed, it would cloud the Mind. In that state, Eitri would truthfully reveal anything Loki wished to know.
Fortunately, Eitri hadn't suspected her, or Loki wouldn't have obtained the Treasury Password so easily.
But Loki felt no joy. This entire Action, from start to finish, had relied on exploiting the Confidence others placed in her. This Feeling wasn't like her usual Prank; it was a betrayal.
Loki felt as if a knife had pierced her Heart. She knew it was wrong, but to understand her origins, she had to do this. She couldn't bear to live a lie forever.
Loki withdrew her Right Hand. The Password was entered, and the Treasury Door slowly began to open. Thanks to the Dwarves' masterful Craftsmanship, even such a massive Doorway opened without a sound.
Finally, the Door she had yearned to open for a millennium was now ajar. Yet, her Heart was devoid of happiness, filled only with overwhelming tension.
Stepping into the Treasury, Loki's eyes immediately found her Goal amidst the orderly array of Spoils – the Casket of Ancient Winters.
It was a red Casket, its Keyhole replaced by a Skull. Though undeniably exquisite, no one would suspect it to be a Divine Weapon capable of freezing a Planet.
Gazing at the Casket of Ancient Winters resting silently on its Display Stand, Loki felt an inexplicable urge to flee. But ultimately, she steeled herself and reached out.
After a moment of hesitation, Loki's Finger finally touched the Casket of Ancient Winters.
Loki's Eyes widened. The instant her fingertip brushed the Skull, a change occurred. Her fingertip turned ice-blue, and the color rapidly spread across her Body.
Startled, Loki stumbled backward, inadvertently stepping on the Cloak draped over her shoulders. She lost her Balance and landed heavily on her Butt on the Ground. Normally, she could use Magic to regain her footing, but in her distraught state, Loki simply allowed herself to fall.
Seated on the Ground, Loki shakily raised a Hand and traced a Lap in the Air before her. A Ripple shimmered into existence, forming a Mirror-like surface that reflected her Face.
She was drastically changed. Her Skin was now ice-blue, strange patterns marked her cheeks, miniature Fangs protruded from the Corner of her Mouth, and even her emerald green Eyes, once praised by Thor, had turned blue.
"What he said… it’s all true…" Loki propped herself up with a Hand, her Head tilting listlessly to the side, allowing her black Long Hair to veil her Face.
Loki's thoughts were a whirlwind. She didn't know how to face Asgard. Odin, the Father she had revered, was now her Enemy. Her beloved Mother was not real, and even her cherished… brother…
Well, that relationship might actually improve. But then Loki remembered that Frost Giants and Asgardian had been eternal Enemies. Could her brother truly accept her like this?
Loki felt as though her entire Life had been built on lies. Why had Odin brought her to Asgard? Was it to Control the Frost Giants?
No! Perhaps she shouldn't assume the worst. She didn't believe the love Odin and Frigga had shown her was false. There must be a deeper Reason. Instead of wallowing in speculation, she should ask them directly.
Having made up her Mind, Loki struggled to her feet. Despite her resolution, uncertainty gnawed at her. Confronting the truth Laufey had revealed, she dreaded what lay ahead.
Lost in thought, Loki failed to notice a wisp of purple Smoke drifting towards her, perhaps carried by the Airflow from the opened Gate.
Suddenly, Loki felt a pull, a stirring in her Heart. She turned towards the deepest part of the Treasury, sensing something calling to her.
Lost in her Idea, Loki moved as if in a trance, her Footsteps leading her deeper into the Treasury.
"Tap, tap, tap, tap."
When Loki regained awareness, she stood before a new Display Stand. Upon it rested a Hammer of exquisite, almost artistic Design, unlike anything she had seen before, and certainly not in the Style of the Dwarves.
'Pick me up… I will give you the Answer… I will give you… Courage…’
A faint whisper reached her ears. Loki clutched her Head in Pain. In her memory, Thor's Hammer had been retrieved from Treasury. Could this Hammer be similar to Thor's Hammer?
After obtaining the Hammer, Thor had become the invincible Thor. Could picking up this Hammer grant her the Courage to Question Odin face-to-face?
With these thoughts swirling in her Mind, Loki reached out as if compelled, grasping the Hammer Handle.
The instant Loki's Hand closed around the Hammer Handle, a thick purple Smoke erupted from it, coiling around her Right Hand and surging up her Body like a Python.
In a timeless instant, a torrent of unfamiliar Knowledge flooded Loki's Brain. She relived the history of Asgard from its inception to the present as if she were there, even witnessing unrecorded events.
In the haze, a Figure materialized before her – an old man, withered and gaunt, with silver-white Long Hair and colossal Armor. The newfound Knowledge in her Brain allowed her to recognize him.
"Great Serpent…" Loki murmured, her voice barely audible. "My… Father…"
"Seek me out, Skadi, my Daughter," the Great Serpent rasped, lifting his Head to reveal a face etched with age. "The time has come."
"Boom!"
Loki snapped back to reality, the War Hammer firmly in her Hand. The Leather Armor she had worn was gone, replaced by Light Armor in the Asgardian Style, a Fluorescence Green Symbol emblazoned on the Breastplate.
The last vestiges of Confusion vanished from her Eyes, replaced by an endless Light. No trace of her former self remained.
"Whoosh!"
Loki lifted a Foot and transformed into Green Light, bursting out of Odin's Vault in an instant. The Gate slammed shut behind her, leaving the Corridor seemingly unchanged, save for the gust of Wind that swept through it.
…
"Hmm?"
Leaning on his desk, Odin sensed something. He looked up, gazing towards Outside the door. An inexplicable Feeling of Panic washed over him, as if something had transpired without his knowledge.
(End of chapter)
