Las'Tai took her time as she made her way back to the cavern. Eirik's story of his past had given her a lot to think about. It explained much of his behavior toward the older male he referred to as *grandfather*. She needed to become more familiar with Terran terminology. His last words also kept ringing in her ears. Despite having no doubts that he meant the threat, she felt no fear. He had confided in her, and she would not betray his trust.

But she also had to wonder, why would he choose to get drunk like that?? he had only consumed half of the small barrel when he stopped drinking to tell her the story of his brother's deaths. How drunk would he get, and what would it achieve??

She also thought about the supposed deaths of his brothers. He had not seen anyone of them die directly. only left them behind as they made their escape. But, the Plyxii was not known for taking prisoners. Then again, The assassins of their command structure??? Surely, they would want to interrogate such soldiers.

She continued back to the cavern as she mulled over her thoughts.

____________________________________

Eirik was hallucinating. He knew it was a hallucination caused by moderate alcohol poisoning, but he was still enamored by it. He was looking at a truly gargantuan fortress. Roofs made of gold. Countless gates, large enough for a small army to walk through. He knew his old legends, he knew this fortress was Valhalla, but he refused to accept it. He was not dead! He had not died, he COULD not have died!! He was just blackout drunk, that's all!

He watched in a mixture of horror and amazement as the main gate slowly swung open and a young woman in plain clothes walked out towards him. Her clothes might have been plain, but the glow around her was otherworldly.

"WHO ARE YOU" He called out while she was still a distance away.

I am Saga. Seer and Goddess of history. It has been centuries since any of the gods looked upon Midgaard with interest. But you, Eirik. You have caught a hint of our attention. There is potential in you. So I have decided to bestow upon you, a boon. But first, let's take a walk.

Saga had a motherly smile on her face as she approached Eirik and he felt at ease for a moment before remembering his situation.

"How am I here?? To my knowledge, I am still very much alive"

Saga chuckled softly, her voice the sound of a gently rippling river. Great potential, but not much in the way of intellect. Did I not just tell you that you had caught our attention?? Come now, let us walk to the plains of Ida.

"The fabled plains area outside Valhalla where the mighty Einherjer train for Ragnarok?" Eirik asked, breathless from excitement

The very same. As Eirik gathered himself, Saga spoke again Eirik, the path ahead of you will be a dangerous one. Loss, danger, and endless troubles await you if you continue down this current path. You are at the point of no return. Which is why I have called you here. You have always claimed that the race of men was only entertainment for us. To some extent, you are right, but we also care deeply, far deeper than you could comprehend, for the individuals that gain our attention. But fail to meet expectations, and you will be forgotten.

"I understand Goddess, but with all due respect, why does the Goddes of history and second sight reach out to me? I have always favored Odin, as a warrior and commander." Eirik was genuinely curious. Why would the goddess that had the least amount of devoted followers reach out to him? He barely remembered her when thinking of the gods. Shit, even Loke would have been a more likely god to reach out to him.

Because it was MY attention you caught, Eirik. You are indeed a warrior, both in thought and action, but the consequences of your actions will reach far into history. Under the right circumstances, of course. And the Einherjer long for the company of new warriors with grand tales to tell.

"I... Well... I... What can I even say to that?" Eirik was speechless. what COULD you really say to a statement like that?

At this moment, they turned a corner of the fortress, and what Eirik saw before him took his breath away.

Ancient warriors in the tens of thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands, were engaged in a free-for-all melee on the plains in front of him. Arms, legs, heads, and guts were everywhere, the blood from the wounded and downed turning the dirt into an ankle-deep, red sludge. The sight both horrified him and fascinated him. Unable to take his eyes off the fighting he felt a freezing cold and burning hot touch on his shoulder, and he turned to Saga as she pulled back her hand.

It's time to return to your own world Eirik. But before you leave, Remember the boon I mentioned?"

"I remember. What is it, Goddess?" Eirik could feel the sensation spreading through his body as the world of the gods started to fade. Saga's face was the last thing to fade and as it disappeared he heard her voice, one last time.

Your brothers still live, Eirik.

______________________________________

Eirik could feel someone shaking him violently. He opened his eyes before rolling over, onto his stomach, and throwing up. As he wiped his mouth with a shaky hand, he noticed the trace amounts of blood in the vomit and the streak of it on the hand he wiped his mouth with.

Remembering he had been shaken, he looked around and saw Knud and Jesper kneeling a few meters away and David kneeling next to him, all of them pale as ghosts.

"What happened??" Eirik managed to croak out, his throat burning and dry as a desert.

"Eirik," David's voice was tiny and shaking, "What the fuck happened to you last night?"

"What do you mean, David?" Eirik had trouble speaking but managed the words without having a coughing fit.

"Look around you, Eirik." David's wide eyes made Eirik worried. Something was wrong. He looked around but didn't notice anything odd at first. Then he looked down. Around him, a circle was drawn in charcoal on the ground around him. both the inside and outside of the ring had comprehensive runic writing all the way around, many of the runes completely unknown to him.

"Tell me how you found me. And please, get me some water."