Return of the First God

"Oh?" Ragnar raised a brow.

"Oh, yes." Elder Harald grinned, unable to contain his excitement. "Follow me."

Elder Harald turned to walk deeper into the house, Ragnar following behind.

"The warriors will escort you to the chains, but this group is the best of the best. They would accompany you into the chains."

At his words, Ragnar's mood dampened.

He had been excited to meet them, after all, they were the strongest and most skillful warriors of the Forsaken.

People he'd had no hope of defeating when he'd been normal.

But now that he heard that they would be following him into the chains of ascension, his excitement fled.

After all, the chains were the most dangerous place in the Wastes.

Each plane, going up to the divine plane, were connected by giant chains.

The chains of ascension.

These chains were thick, but hollow.

By taking the path inside the chain, one could ascend to the next plane.

But it wasn't that easy.

The chains were home to monsters.

Monsters didn't like roaming the Wastes, but they were plentiful inside the chains of ascension.

And that meant that the chains of ascension was a place the Forsaken definitely shouldn't venture to.

After all, the chains were for people who had unlocked their divinity.

People who were ascending to become gods.

The elite that were following him into the chains?

They would most definitely die.

"Are they aware that they are going on a suicide mission?"

Elder Harald's voice was serious as he answered.

"They would all die a thousand times if it meant that our people would be free of our curse."

At his words, Ragnar had no words to say.

After all, he would do the same.

Any Forsaken would do the same.

No one would throw away the opportunity to kill the gods that had placed them here.

"Here we are." Elder Harald spoke as they walked out into the open air training ground at the middle of the elders' dwelling.

"The best of the best."

Ragnar's eyes widened as he saw the assembled group.

Five of the best warriors the Forsaken had.

They turned to him as he walked in.

Elder Harald smiled. "Let me introduce you to—"

"Ola?" Ragnar asked incredulously.

What was the matron that had taken care of him and the other orphans doing here?!

"Hello, Ragnar." The woman smiled at him, her green eyes twinkling.

She stood tall, almost as tall as he was.

Her blonde hair flowed down her back in a long braid.

"Wh— How?!" 

Ragnar didn't know what to say.

It was just… odd to see her out of her usual gown and apron.

"Did you think the orphans would be entrusted into the care of a weak person?" 

She smirked at him.

"But— But you're old!"

"I'm only 27." 

"That's old!" Ragnar pointed a finger at her.

As the average age the Forsaken died was 45, 27 was a few years older than a middle aged Forsaken.

"Ola here is one of the best fighters we have."

Elder Harald grinned. 

"Don't let her position as matron fool you."

Ragnar eyed her skeptically.

"Or would you like to test my prowess for yourself?" Ola placed a hand on her axe.

"No!" Ragnar answered immediately, remembering the way she had always disciplined him and the other kids when they'd been disobedient or unruly.

"That's what I thought." She smirked.

"Anyways," Elder Harald clapped his hands, getting their attention, "let's meet the rest of the team."

"This is Bjorn."

He motioned to the man who stood like he was always ready for a fight.

He was blonde, with a square jaw, and had a vertical scar running across his nose.

Judging from his face and build, he seemed to be in his early twenties.

He had a serious expression on his face, and just from the way he stood, it seemed like he was the leader of the group.

All he gave Ragnar was a nod of acknowledgment. Nothing else.

"He is the undisputed best fighter we have."

Elder Harald said proudly.

"Follow his instructions and learn from him, alright?"

"Yes, elder." Ragnar nodded.

He wasn't one to turn away from the chance to learn from the strongest fighter they had.

"And this is Erik."

Elder Ragnar motioned to the man standing next to Bjorn.

"It is a pleasure to serve you, Holy One."

The man bowed, a smile on his face.

"Err… Thanks." Ragnar nodded awkwardly.

It'd take time to get used to this.

He looked away, before something occurred to him.

He couldn't remember the face of the person he just met!

He turned to look back at the man and his eyes widened at what he saw.

Despite being the same age and stature as Bjorn, Erik was completely forgettable, and that was due to his face.

He had the most nondescript face Ragnar had ever seen.

Everything about him was so average, his face just didn't register, like it was part of the environment.

"I can tell what you're thinking."

Elder Ragnar chuckled, staring at Ragnar's expression.

"Erik has no presence, and that helps him in fights."

"He has this… ability to take his enemies by surprise, and that makes him one of our best fighters."

Ragnar stared at the man.

'But would the ability work against the monsters?'

He had no time to ask, as Elder Ragnar moved to the last two people.

"These are the twins."

"Ulf and Astrid."

The twins were male and female.

The guy, Ulf, had red hair and dark eyes.

He was also tall and lanky.

"Hello." 

He grinned at Ragnar.

Ragnar grinned back.

The man's energy was infectious.

Ragnar's eyes moved to the female twin and his eyes widened.

She was…

'Beautiful!'

She had the same red hair and dark eyes as her twin brother, but where he made it look ordinary, she made it look like the crown of a deity.

"Ulf and Astrid are both 18, a bit too young to have the experience to be the strongest, but they make up for it by being ferocious."

"Individually, they're talented, but not that great."

"But together? They could even take down Bjorn."

Elder Harald said enthusiastically, but the only thing that entered Ragnar's head was…

'They're only 2 years older than me?!'

"So,"

Elder Harald grinned.

"What do you think about your team?"