Sarah jumped toward the door and threw her fist in the direction of the voice.

Instinct of the Truthseeker is now level 5!

+2 PER, +1 INT, +1,5 WIS.

Unarmed combat mastery is now level 6!

+1 STR, +1 END, +1 AGI.

Congratulations! You’re now a level 4 ‘Valkyrie’.

+1 to all stats except Luck.

Her fist connected with the face of a young man with black hair, and he went flying into the wall, leaving a perfect imprint of his back inside before slumping on the ground.

“Ouh, ouch, argh, I’m in pain, argh, help me.”

As the man was righting himself, he started ranting about the horrible pain he was in, but his smiling face and perfectly monocord voice was betraying it. Well, not betraying, he’s not even trying to hide it. He’s not hurt at all.

“Well, your punch is quite good for a novice. I lost 1 HP! It’s pretty impressive you know?”

“First, I felt that you went into it by yourself, so the praise is hollow. Second, what can I do for you, Loki?”

A mischievous smile creeped up on his face.

“I’m glad you remember me. I just happened to pass by here, when I felt someone practicing one of my favorite brand of magic. I came to look, and I saw you! I thought I would say hi, but you were always so busy… But since you called, I decided to come.”

Like hell he was just passing by, there’s nothing here except for the city. He came to spy on me.

“I didn’t call, it was just a wishful hope. And what’s your favorite brand of magic? Darkness?”

“Bingo! Versatile, powerful and mysterious, why would anyone need anything else? Anyway, since you started practicing it, I think I can gift you something. We’ll just say it’s my reward to you for freeing me.”

The god of mischief handed her a scroll, before turning back, and looking by the window, a pensive, almost melancholic gleam to his eyes, his face strangely inexpressive.

Sarah set down the scroll, and looked at the god. I feel like there’s something else.

“You see little dove, when one has lived for thousands of years, one accumulates history. And with history come mementoes, of varying values and interests. And for one such as I, always on the road, with so many enemies, it can be quite hard to keep all of those safe. And though one such as I would never dirty itself by blaming others for his infortunes, it is still hard to let go of such precious reminders. Ah, how many days have I spent lost in thoughts at the sight of those, remembering the past, my glories and mistakes, my failings and victories, my…”

There we are, he wants something from me. Probably to get back an item. But can’t he get to the point?

“... and the sweet smiles of my children, playing in the sun, and the sound of their laughters ringing through…”

Wait, he’s going to stop at one point right? He’s not really gone into his memories?

“... like that time Thor and I went to see that giant, and I had him dressed as a woman! I had to sweet-talk the giant all night to make up for his pathetic attempt at crossdressing, like, he was…”

I think I remember something about Loki being a little mad, maybe he’s truly lost. But the main point is that it’s FUCKING ANNOYING!

“... so I changed into that big fat salmon, and…”

“SHUT UP! I’LL GET YOUR DAMN THING, SO SHUT UP!”

Hearth of the warrior is now level 4!

+1 WIS, +2 MEN.

You accepted the request of a divine being. The perk ‘Divine quest’ has been updated.

You accepted to retrieve an item from his past for Loki, the god of change. Failure might bring consequences.

“Oh, I’m so glad you offered to do that for me, I was just thinking that it would be really hard for me to do it, I was in so much despair.”

Sarah couldn’t help but sigh. She’d got done. She knew what was coming, and still fell into the trap.

“So, what do you want me to get?”

“Sigyn’s cup.”

There was some silence, while Sarah searched her memories for something like that, but even if it sounded vaguely familiar, nothing came of it.

“I can’t remember it, what is it?”

“It’s the cup in which my dear Sigyn collected the poison that was burning my face when I was jailed for Balder’s death. Which was a joke of a trial if you ask me, because seriously, the judge was the father of the defunct, and…”

“I DON’T CARE! Ugh, just tell me what it looks like, and where to find it.”

“No need to be so aggressive, little dove. It’s a copper cup, the size of a human face, with my name and hers on it’s side. It will probably contain a powerful poison. And I don’t know where it is, what do you think? The only thing I know is it was stolen by one of those greek guys, to sway Achlys. Stupid idea by the way, if you ask me, I think a…”

“I’M NOT ASKING YOU, ANYTHING, EVER, GO AWAY!”

Loki walked to the door with a smile, without even caring a little for her angry eyes. He put his hand on the doorknob before changing into a gust of wind and flying by the window.

That fucking smile of him. I swear that one day, I’m going to make him lose it. Well, what’s done is done. Now to search who the hell is that Achlys, and see if I can speak with her.

As she was sitting in front of her computer, it seemed like a faint sound came from the door.

“Who’s there?”

There was only an inaudible whisper, but there was definitely something. Sarah got up and walked to the door.

“Loki, if it’s you again, I’m going to…”

Sarah got interrupted by the sight of the girl behind the door she had just opened. Tall and lean, with dark hair and pale skin, a dress of black silk flowing from her neck. And looking intensely at her feets, a pair of green eyes that somehow seemed familiar.

Wait, green eyes, dark hair, pale skin, Loki…

“You damn…”

“I’MSORRYFORMYFATHERCONDUCTPLEASEPARDONHIMMYNAMEISHELIWANTEDTOTALKWITHYOUCANIHAVEAMOMENTOFYOURTIMEPLEASEEXCUSEMYINTRUDINGIAPOLOGIZEFORANYINCONVENIENCEIJUSTWANTTOTALKIPROMISEIWONTBEANNOYINGPLEASE!”

The girl just shouted an incomprehensible jumble of words, turning redder and redder as it went on, and was now panting heavily. Sarah was still stunned by the sudden outburst when she saw the young girl fall down, unconscious.