Kifeda stood looking out over the city from the top of the palace’s largest spire. He loved the air up here, breathing in deeply. It felt untouched and clean, unlike the constantly recycled air nearer the ground. Only Kifeda and the birds breathed in this air.

He was tall, even for his people, with long whip-like limbs corded with sinewy muscle. His dark brown dreads bounced in their tied bundle against the center of his back. His rich brown eyes followed the flight paths of the bird with envy.

He wanted to fly more than anything.

Part of the reason he had chosen to become a Scout was for that exact purpose. Some of the high tier stealth classes were known to develop flying skills. Some even had wings as a class feature.

Sighing with envy, he turned his eyes back to the city below. Chinde was a sprawling metropolis, and Kipaji Palace was its prize feature. The spire he was perched on towered over a mile in the air. The next tallest building was half the height of the palace. From all the way up here he could even see Asgard on the horizon far to the north.

“Kifeda!” came an angry shout, breaking the idyllic peace he had found for himself. Occasionally, his pursuers breathed this air as well. “Get down here this instant!”

“Oh, hello, Kenura!” he shouted down to the angry woman glaring up at him. His white teeth practically sparkled against his dark skin as he smiled at her. “Have you finally decided to accept my invitation to a morning repast? I shall sweep you from your feet and lavish you with the praise and attention you truly deserve!”

“Stop that!” Kenura snapped at him, her golden brown twists shaking back and forth from her chopping, dismissive gesture. “I told you to get down! If you make me come up there after you again…”

Kenura trailed off ominously, her dark glare growing even darker. Kifeda sighed, brushing an errant dreadlock out of his face. he thought to himself. He drew in one last gulp of the cleanest air in the city.

With a relaxed air, Kifeda leaned backwards until he toppled from the tip of the spire. His left hand shot out as he fell, grabbing the spire and pulling him into a spin. He continued to accelerate, tucking himself in before letting go and jackknifing outwards. He shot downwards towards the balcony that Kenura was on, landing in a roll before coming to his feet with his arms spread wide like a gymnast.

“Well, since you’re not here to accept my offer of morning refreshment, I suppose I should be off to find my own accommodations,” he told her, before spinning and striding quickly away from her.

“Oh no you don’t,” Kenura shot forward, grabbing his upper arm before he could escape. “The queen and your mother sent me to fetch you. Your presence is required in the throne room.”

“They both sent you?” he asked as she pulled him through the hallways of the palace. She went just quickly and jerkily enough for him to be unable to regain his balance, stumbling after her. “The throne room? What is going on?”

“A guest has arrived,” she answered. “One of the Aesir has graced us with their presence and requested you by name. Now hurry. Not even you will be permitted to make an Aesir wait.”

“An Aesir?” Kifeda responded. “Asking for me by name you say? Well now, that sounds interesting!”

He suddenly pulled himself from her grasp, practically running through the palace now. He shot a look back at Kenura before waving at her to hurry, continuing to pick up the pace.

A few minutes later they both stood just outside the doors of the throne room, panting as they tried to gather their breath. Kenura glared at Kifeda, but was too out of breath to deliver the tongue-lashing she sorely wished to give him. For his part, Kifeda had almost completely forgotten her presence.

Once he’d stopped heaving like a bellows, he allowed the guards to push open the doors.

“Kifeda Ogeto, son of Milima Ogeto, advisor to the queen!” announced the steward stiffly.

Kifeda strode forward with a haughty look on his face. He halted once he’d reached the bottom of the stair leading to the throne. He struck an extravagant and over-exaggerated bow, waiting to be acknowledged.

“Insufferable as always,” came a derisive voice from the platform above him. “You really should have beat some discipline into him as a child, Milima.”

Kifeda rose with a smile, eyes flicking to the throne. Queen Therania met his gaze and he shot her a wink before nodding to his mother. It was hard to be cowed by someone you had shared baths with as a child. Even with an Aesir present, casually floating in the air above and beside the throne.

Hodr had a small, slightly condescending smile on his face. His eyes were covered by an intricately embroidered, rich purple blindfold. His suit was colored to match, with a lavender undershirt and burgundy tie. In his left hand he held a cane, painted green and topped with a wolf’s head in silver.

“You might as well try to discipline water,” Milima said with an exasperated sigh. She didn’t waste a glare on him. It never did any good.

“We apologize for his behavior, Lord Hodr,” the queen said, still glaring at Kifeda.

“I don’t command blind respect, like many of my siblings,” Hodr said, his voice rich and cultured. “Never been one for blind anything, really.”

Kifeda barely stifled a laugh, quickly disguising it as a cough when the queen glared at him. Hodr’s smile grew slightly, becoming more genuine as well. Milima let out another sigh, shaking her head.

“You summoned me, my queen?” Kifeda prompted. As much as he enjoyed infuriating them, his curiosity was overpowering.

“As you can see, lord,” Therania said, turning to the Aesir instead. She flicked her fingers at him in an exasperated gesture. “He is lazy, insouciant, and completely lacking in proper decorum and respect. Surely our kingdom can better serve you through a more worthy choice? My youngest cousin, though recently risen, has already reached D-Tier. He would do you quite proud.”

“My dear queen, though Tambo is quite talented, he does not possess the qualities I am looking for,” Hodr said, tilting his head to one side. “Indeed, Kifeda has demonstrated himself to be a perfect candidate. That somersault from the spire was quite impressive.”

Kifeda felt a cold chill grip his stomach. This was the most subtle and impressive demonstration of power he’d ever experienced. Top Tier Players were known to have extensively large and textured perceptions. Hodr was without a doubt telling Kifeda that he’d heard Kifeda out of the veritable army of people occupying the palace.

Hodr’s grin grew a fraction once again, and Kifeda’s chills spread further.

Kifeda thought in awe.

The queen and his mother exchanged a meaningful look and a nod. The spires of the palace were well-known to be a favorite hiding spot of Kifeda’s. That was how Kenura had known where to find him even with his [Hide] skill active after all.

“If you find him acceptable, he will of course be made immediately available to you,” Queen Therania said, turning back to Hodr. “We are happy to assist the Aesir in their endeavors. For a little compensation.”

“First you try to convince me to take another, then you ask a price?” Hodr replied, his smile turning condescending once more. Therania opened her mouth to retort and he stopped her with a raised hand. “You shall be compensated based on his performance. Every step he takes in the Wild Hunt will pass back to you in the form of rewards.”

“That is… acceptable,” Therania responded after a moment.

“Done,” Hodr said. “My Einherjar will deliver your rewards after each round of the Wild Hunt has finished.”

“Wild Hunt?” Kifeda asked, curiosity forcing his earlier apprehension down. “I’m to serve the Aesir? What has happened since my morning nap?”

“A contest, dear boy,” Hodr answered. “Yggdrasil herself has issued a challenge to the rulers of the Nine Realms. I have selected you as my E-Tier Player. Contingent upon proof of your worth.”

“A challenge?” he asked, brushing back the lock that had fallen in front of his face again. Trepidation and foreboding filled him. This sounded like a lot of work. “I’m afraid I don’t have much of a competitive spirit. Tambo would indeed be a superior choice—”

“Now—” Hodr said, grin turning sinister as he cut Kifeda off, “—for the preliminary trial.”

The Aesir’s hands blurred as he drew a complicated series of runes in the air. The space around him grew dark and cold. When he finished a rippling black portal, roughly the size of a horse, popped into existence. Kifeda was sucked in.