You ran around the edges of the ancient chamber. It was yours now, you were the only one who could get to it, other than your teacher. You took him there and he told you never to do that again, that teleporting into mountains was too dangerous. He then promptly looked the other way.
You knew he was proud. You were the only full mage in the temple and he was bursting with pride at your progress. He towered over you as did everyone else, except for the occasional child. He had two half mages under his tutelage and he cared deeply for them as well, they were like siblings to you, huge siblings. You loved him like a parent, and he filled that role in your life.
The deep mountain chamber was surrounded by beautiful ancient carvings. It was too nice for a mere temple child but no one else could reach it so it was yours. You made it into your hideaway. It was your special place to get away from the noise of the city and the rules of the temple.
You had brought furs to lounge on and books to read. But there were so many things to explore that you seldom sat still for long, the books had to wait.
Suddenly you felt an odd temperature change. The wall you were touching was a few degrees warmer. You quickly took your hand off the wall. Then slowly and carefully touched it again with your finger. It was warmer still, like it was radiating from far away, perhaps below.
Something wasn't right and you felt a twist in your stomach. You took a deep breath and tried to think of what could be happening. Maybe the mountain was volcanic. You decided to teleport to the surface.
It was blazing hot and you quickly jumped back to your chamber. Your heart was thumping in your chest and you could feel it in your ears.
You decided that you would try again but shift into bird form so you wouldn't be touching the hot ground. You had mastered a sparrow form recently, another thing that gave your teacher great pride.
You teleported, jumped and shifted. Spreading your wings and flapping to gain altitude away from the hot melted ground.
The ice was gone, it was evaporated down to dirt and some of the dirt had turned to glass in places. You flew higher.
You saw a wide path burned into the landscape, it started at the mountain and it ran through the valley and slashed the city in two.
You flew to the city and saw that the temple was gone, everything north and south of it was melted, ice evaporated and patches of molten stone glistened up at you.
You circled the former location of the temple, your home. You were in shock and did not know what to do. The ground was still way too warm to land so you flew outside of the path and landed in a tree. Not ready to shift back yet.
People were running around and calling for their friends and family. Some groups were united and hugged and spoke quickly to each other. Some people were alone and walking along the edge of the devastation in shock.
You hop down from the branch and shift into your natural form. Walk to the edge yourself and stare across the bare rock that was your home.
Walking towards you along the edge you see a half mage. You are thrilled and you run to him. As you get closer you recognize Byleister, the king's son. His pitch-black hair tied into a tight high ponytail that swayed when he walked. He did not live at the temple, he only came for lessons, he must not have been there when whatever it was passed over.
"Little one! You are alive!" He shouted as he picked you up in a desperate embrace. You hugged him back, tears finally flowing from your eyes. Everything was gone. Everyone you knew and loved. Burned to vapor and glass.
"My Father is dead," said Byleister.
"Oh no," you sympathize, "was he in the temple?"
"No, lured into a trap in Asgard by the second Aesir prince. The same one who caused all this destruction."
"How? How could he be so powerful as to cause such destruction" you asked.
"He's not powerful, he's a liar and a cheat." Said Byliester in disgust. He pointed their portal at us and held it open to burn the planet away. If he wasn't stopped we would all be dead".
"Are you ok my friend?" You ask the Jotnar prince as he sets you back on the ground. In the temple, he was just another student, and as such was your friend as if he were just a common half mage.
"I'm still in shock. I was hoping to find my teacher alive, but I think that no one had time to getaway. At least it was quick, I don't think they felt any pain, or even knew anything happened"
You knew this was supposed to make you feel better but it only released more of the tears that you were unable to shed before. You wrapped your arms around the mage prince's waist and sobbed. He put his hands on your shoulders and you could feel him start to shake too.
"Come with me," said Byliester as he pulled himself together. "My Brother Helblindi is now the King and he will give you a place with us at the palace."
You stifled a sob and shook your head. Thanking your friend for taking you in.
The castle in Utgarde was not in the greatest of repair, but it was outside the path of destruction. Byleister took you to a suite in the family's wing. It didn't register to you at first, but he intended that the suite would be yours. You had only had a bed in the temple dormitory before, so you were amazed at the idea of so much room for one person. There was a sitting room, and then a bedroom with a huge bed covered in furs-a bed made for a full-sized Jotun. You would get lost in it. Then a bathroom adjoining the bedroom.
Byliester laughed at your amazement. It was nice to hear a laugh after all the sadness and horror of the day. He said that they would call for you for dinner and left the room.
Much to your delight, you found a bookshelf in the sitting room. It was filled with books, mostly fiction but a few historical. You selected a book on the royal family and got cozy on a large chair. Trying to distract yourself. Furniture defaulted to average Jotnar size, but you were used to this, being a full mage you were tiny and everything was built for larger people.
A knock came on the door, you called them to come in. A servant walked into the room. He bowed his bald blue head and said: "it is time for the evening meal, Sorceress, please come with me".
You walked beside him, your shoulders barely the height of his hip. He led you through several corridors and to the main dining hall.
There you saw Byliester, sitting with his full-sized family. It made him look small and made you feel tiny. The servant led you to the Royal family. You felt nervous, surely this was a mistake. But Byliester gestured you to him, pointing to the chair next to him which was stacked with enough pillows that you could reach the table comfortably. The servant gave you a hand to help you climb up.
Byleister smiled and turned to the king. "This is the Sorceress I told you about.
Helblindi King looked at you with a sad smile. "What is your name, little sorceress?"
You were nervous speaking to the king of Jötunheim, but you managed to tell him your name.
"We are glad you survived, so few full mages are born. Byleister and I had a brother who was a full mage, but he was lost as an infant during the war".
The woman next to him narrowed her eyes at the mention of the lost child. She is tall for a Jotun woman and very severe looking. Her black hair was in a high ponytail like Byleister's, but her's is shorter, more of a warning flag to stay away. Her horns are long and sharpened to wicked points, they are in a position to be weapons, as opposed to yours which curl down and around the sides of your head. You realize that this is the great general Farbauti, mother of Byleister and the wife of fallen Laufey King. She is not one to be trifled with and you make a plan to stay out of her way.
Soon the food is served. You've never seen so much good food in one place. There were several types of fish, cut into bite-sized cubes and served raw. Shellfish opened and served in the shell. Root vegetables and various fruits from sea plants. You look at Byliester who is plucking fish cubes into his mouth with his fingers. You do the same.
The hall is quiet as the family eats their meal.
As the servants clear the dishes away Helblindi turns to you and says "we lost our royal mage, he was at the temple. You and Byleister are the only ones left. Byleister tells me you are very powerful for a young mage. I would like to make you my new royal mage. I know it's unusual to put someone so young in this position, but we don't have any other choices.
You are shocked by the proposal,but you realize that he's right. You nod your head and say "I am at your service, your majesty".
"Good. We will have a council meeting in the morning". He then stood up and left the room. Farbauti General followed. Leaving Byleister and you alone in the room.
"He hopes to demand the Aesir prince be surrendered to us." Said Byleister. "He wants to deal with him personally."
You hope the king gets what he wants, you wouldn't mind helping with whatever he has planned for the murderer.
Byleister walks you back to your suite and wishes you good night. You spend a little time reading and then crawl into the massive bed and cry yourself to sleep.
The next day a servant brings you fruit and bread to break your fast. You thank him as he leaves. You look into the closets and find several robes that are small enough to fit you. You find a black one and belt it with a gold rope. You feel that black will be your color for a while.
Byleister knocks on your door and you invite him in. He is also dressed in a black mages robe. He guides you to the council chamber.
Again they have provided you with a chair with high cushions. This time Byleister gives you a hand up and then climbs into his own slightly less cushioned chair.
Helblindi, Farbauti General and three others enter the room and take their seats.
"I have gone to the bifrost site and called to their watcher. I have requested a meeting with the Allfather. We will get the second prince or we will have war.
Farbauti General seemed to glow at the word "war", she would avenge her husband and her people with great enthusiasm given the opportunity. You don't envy those who oppose her.
Soon a messenger enters the room. The bifrost has flashed and the Allfather and his companions have arrived. This was much faster than you imagined it would go. Everyone gets up and leaves the building.
A sled drawn by giant snow elk awaits. It is big enough for all of you and you get in. The elk speed across the snow, getting to the bifrost site in minutes.
You get out of the sled and follow the others to meet the Aesir king.
Byleister pushes you ahead to stand next to the Jotun king, you are a full mage and you represent the king's power.
The Allfather is riding an eight legged horse, the rest of his party are on standard horses, except for a man on foot. The man has his hands cuffed with magic dampening runes and he is chained hand and foot. He also has a collar that has a chain leash held by several large einherjar.
He is paler than the Allfather and his hair is pitch black. He is tall for an Aesir, taller than you by a couple inches. His eyes are bright green and he glares defiantly at Helblindi over his muzzled mouth.
"I bring you my son as apology for his actions. We wish no trouble and we send our condolences for your loss." Said the Allfather.
The heavily muscled blond man next to him stared miserably straight ahead.
This was too easy, why was the Allfather surrendering his son so easily, did he not know that we would kill him?
Helblindi nodded to one of the giants who had accompanied us. A huge man with broad shoulders and bulging muscles. This was one of Farbauti's men.
The man approached the Einherjar and put out his hands. The Einherjar handed the chain leash to him without ceremony.
The chained man stood tall and arrogantly followed the Jotun soldier to the sled. As he passed you, you get a strange feeling. This man is enchanted. He has a very complex and heavy enchantment on him.
You look at Byleister to see if he noticed, but he just looks back with no expression.
There is something very strange about this prisoner.