Persona: Hero x Villain System

Interlude: Aftermath

Asgard 

Heimdall 

Heimdall is an ever-present watcher, a statuesque golden sentinel every bit as a beacon as Odin himself; for Asgard to be invaded is to go through him. Heimdall post as sentry of Asgard is mainly due to his extraordinarily acute senses and extreme loyalty to Odin. Heimdall’s sight, hearing, and smell are enhanced to the point that they qualify as extrasensory. 

As the All-seeing god, Heimdall can see and hear as far as creation itself, a feat rarely achieved by gods. He can look across time and space and detect most beings’ approaches within hundreds of miles. Heimdall can sense the life force of Asgardian gods throughout the Nine Realms. 

Thadump. 

Golden irises opened. The heartbeat resounded inside his mind as the imprinted clamor had caught him off guard; he peered at one particular realm, one that had been insignificant but unique in its ways. His prince had undergone a trial there not long ago, and for the second time in a millennial, he found himself focused on the world. 

Midgard revealed itself to him as he watched, appraising the mortal who resided inside a black obelisk of a building. 

‘Just who are you, young godling? Hemidell had watched the battle, the loss, and the comeback, and he even approved the dismissal, a warrior true; if he hadn’t heard the beat of the heart that reverberated across time and space, even creation stalled at the beat, he wouldn’t have discovered the child. 

Heimdall blinked, his focus disturbed. He looked toward the palace. He could swear he sensed something; he continued to watch the king’s palace, disregarding the mortal and his meetings.

Odin Borson

Cole would be thrilled to learn that the actor who played Odin on the big screen was also the replica here. The All-Father, God-King, Skyfather, liege lord and protector of the nine realms had departed to battle against the residents of other dimensions alone.

Gungir glowed in agitation, and Odin rapped across the storied walls, long quenched torches blazing to life. He had met the pulse head-on and had paid the cost.

‘How long have I been gone? And where are my sons?’ Odin thought to himself. 

“Husband, you’re back.” The bejeweled doors flung open, and his wife, Frigga, stepped into the once-dark room. The wizened man smiled tiredly. He turned only to be enveloped by his wife; he absorbed her fragrance and welcomed her before moving away. Gungir clanked as he strolled to his throne; stepping from the chamber alarmed the passengers as Asgardian took to a knee in his passing.

Frigga warm tender hands laced in his own.” Speak with me, husband; I sense your weariness; say it isn’t so.” 

“The Serpent shackles have weakened. I’ve managed to stave off the worst of it, but his children,” he growled loudly, his rumbling buffering the surroundings. 

“Your brother, how is it possible, the prophecy states-”

Odin interrupted. “He has risen, he comes, the serpent slithers, the path lay uncontested.” Frigga paled at the words, all too familiar with them. She whirled about, her eyes scanning the gathering Asgardians. She spotted them, and she snapped her fingers, beckoning them closer.

“Go, prepare the scrying-

“No beloved, no auguries will suffice, for time is immaterial; the serpent will rise tomorrow or in a hundred years; we must prepare regardless.” 

Frigga grimaced.” Fear not Ragnarok but the serpent that slumbers.” Odin nodded knowingly, afraid to speak; his eyes roamed hers, for only his wife’s loneliness had been his greatest fear. 

“Father.” Two voices overlapped as his sons entered his throne, drawing the two’s focus back to the present, ancient memories, and family secrets, which were put to the side for a while. 

“My sons,” Frigga beckoned. 

“Come, we must talk at length.” Stated Odin.

He observed them; Thor had regained his hammer, becoming worthy in name and power. Odin still fumed at his antics, but grandeur things were at hand. Loki reeked of magic; at least that hadn’t changed much, but they seemed pleasant. He smiled brightly, his remaining children lifting his spirits. 

He told them of the battle. Thor shouted indignantly. “Father, I would have answered the call; why would you undertake such a burden?

“The unnaturally large oaf is correct; you risk the Odin sleep; our enemies aren’t as placid as before; they are braying to start the war again.” 

The ancient Asgardian god sighed. He knew war and decided to spare his children that fate. I’ve made that mistake once.’ He redoubled his reasoning and silenced the princes with a raised hand. He was still Odin Burison, Odinsleep, or otherwise; few would dare tempt the once-upon-a-time conquerer. 

Odin left much detail out; his sons didn’t need to be burdened by his pasts, for they weren’t ready for such knowledge. Like his father before him, Odin hoped to break the curse of his fore bearers. 

Head dipping from the monumental exertion of safeguarding the realm, Odin lamented only a being that had fought for far too long could be atop His throne as he gazed toward the distance, his eyes gleaming with golden energy. 

“The nap will come earlier than ever in the millennium. Your enemies are preparing; the angels and the dark elves conspire.”

The double doors reeked open, and a dark rolled inside the throne room; sentries dropped into heaps, braziers snuffed off their light, drenching the throne room in Darkness. 

“Assassin. Protect father, brother.” Thor Odinson shouted. Loki squinted, his calculative eyes scrutinizing the interloper. ‘This is a battle for an oaf like you,’ he thought. 

“Come to attack me when I’m weakened in my home; nay, you’re not the first.” Gungir slammed down against the ground, pushing away the Darkness. 

Thor turned, “Who is it, father?” His hand stretched out gratingly; he roared and leaped toward the figure, only to be suspended. Odin opened his mouth to respond but closed it immediately. 

Thor growled, secrets and more secrets. His enchanted hammer arrived at the interloper’s head but stopped. The intruder tapped the hammer; it shuddered, sparks of electricity streaking out. “No, no, that won’t do now,” the androgynous voice spoke again, a dainty hand tapping the hammer again. “Goddess of The Tempest, how has the mighty fallen.” 

Odin made to stand but grumbled as his weakness leeches away at his fleeting strengths. Her words mentioned secrets hidden even from his most trusted and had been spat out so casually.

“Fight me, coward.” Thor bellowed As the assassin walked past him, her head covered and face hidden. 

Loki appeared daggers stopped at her throat, a manicured hand pushed the trickster god away, and he tumbled like a statue.

“You know of me, Borson!” Odin hadn’t made to move; he stared daggers at her. 

“Lady Primordial, Nyx.” 

Nyx nodded, removing the heavy hood and showing a beautiful countenance and raven black hair that seemingly had no end. 

“I arrive to claim of debt.” 

“Cul-

She scolded him. “Buri grand spawn, I do not care for the serpent; his arrival isn’t upon us yet; you still have time, quite a lot, actually; fear isn’t upon you yet.” Frigga gasped her hands to her mouth. Nyx took her in but refocused on Odin. “I speak of ancient debts that predate bloodlines. I come to claim your armies; it’s time for Asgard to March on Mount Olympus.”

Odin deflated as he felt the magic enraptured around him like a forgotten geas; he felt Asgard churn at her words, and he knew that the whole of his world felt her claimant. 

Frigga exclaimed, hands still to her mouth. Odin looked toward her. 

“Frigga?”

“Night Mistress.” 

Nyx peered at the prominent, powerful witch. “Yours have called me that before. Do your sisters still honor my name, too?” 

Frigga, an ancient goddess, stood stronger, but her handmaidens didn’t. Her eyes squinted, but she couldn’t fault them; her order was old; before she was queen, she was a witch. 

Her hand landed stop her husband, and she whispered words that freed her sons, causing Nyx’s brows to rise. 

Thor stood before his brother, hammer ready, eyes glowing in potent sparking lights. 

“Mother, father, who is this?” 

“You reek of Gaea welp, Thor, right? You’re more like Buri than even Odin.” 

Thoom.

“Be silent!” Odinfroce rushed out as The All-Father stood from his throne, weariness gone from his features. In a rainbow light, sword drawn, Hemidell emerged between Odin and The Primordial bus. 

“Father.” Both Thor and Loki shouted in unison. 

Above the sounds of hooves beaten at the air, she rebounded inside the great chamber where Odin held court. Nyx smiled, her sharp gaze taking it all.

“Speak truths again, dark witch, and you will do battle with not only me but the hold of Asgard,” Odin shouted. He reached for his spear and began to walk down the steps that separated the hall from his and Frigga’s throne. 

“Husband-”

“I know what must be done, love,” Odin said, his baritone lowering as he spoke to his wife. Frigga stepped near him, linking arms as she strolled with him. 

“I’m with you. We’re in this together. Your past and mine belong to us.” she whispered into his ear. 

Her face grew stern and taciturn as she gazed down at Nyx. Runes cascaded from her, and she spoke for only she and her husband could hear. 

“I don’t care what you meant to the order Night mother, for I too am a mother, regardless of their lineage, they mean more to me than the blood of your kind; they are my mine, and I’ll see you imprisoned in your entirety if you dare harm them.”

“Thank you, for I have shamed you, yet you remind me that purity and truth still exist even amongst the aesir.” 

Nyx giggled, her pale white skin shimmering as if under moonlight. Her fear lord persona Nox shedding. “How can you stop me? How can you do anything but watch?” she asked. “I am humanity’s first Darkness. I embody the essence of midnight and moon rise. I am a primal being, more significant than gods. And what are you?”

Frigga unlatched her arm and stepped ahead of her husband. Although her words were soft, her power radiated from her, nearly matching those of Nyx.

“You forget who I am, Darkness; I’m Freyja Freydorttir, Vanir goddess of the Hunt, Asgardian goddess of marriage and fertility, Rune Witch, and All-Mother to all Asgardians. You risk a lot with this war, but Asgard will answer her debts, but be weary; the Third Host draws nearer still, and the matters of gods mean little to the Celestials. Be mindful of that, and don’t bring this war upon Midgard.”

Nyx’s smile grew, but she didn’t antagonize the Asgardian anymore. “I need not your armies but your strongest; for Olympus to truly fall, we must defeat him.”