Warning
I must warn you. English is not my native language, so from time to time you will find some peculiar (as in outrageous) uses of the English language. Please, be tolerant and let me now to fix them. Then, try to enjoy the Story.
The Order of the Mortal Knights
by Elnauhual
Fan fiction, based on the characters and universe of "Oh my goddess" by Kōsuke Fujishima.
Potions and chemistry
The line between the past and present blurred, as Urd´s memories and the story of the Dr. converged. Meanwhile, absorbed in his own thoughts, the doctor continued his story as if he were in his classroom...
- No one knows for certain about what happened in that battle. Historic records simply register a Normand victory. Legends do not help either; some speak about gods appearing, other about warriors acquiring supernatural powers. I can only say with certainty that Urth disappeared, and a new word appeared in the language of the people: "Berserk": The frenzy of combat. It was something so terrible that when the Normans launched expeditions called vikingr", they terrorized the shores of Europe from France to Byzantium.
He paused, he put his hand on his chin, had looked awed. He had spent almost ten years tracing all this. Above all, he thought about the notebook...
- And this note-book, the book of Urth, was not lost, but kept hidden. The sisterhood created by Urth, protected it, taking only what was necessary to heal people and defending themselves - He spoke very softly, almost as if it was talking of himself. - I have never told anyone about this. But they were also writing their own stories in it. Eventually, when Christianity was upon them, people began to fear them and weaved strange stories, the sisterhood was disbanded and finally the book was lost. At least I believed it was lost, but - And exclaimed triumphantly - I finally found it! In the form of a prayer-book no less. Its content was erased to use the parchment but we can restore it with our technology
Suddenly the doctor interrupted his story as he realized Urd´s profound confusion. He had no idea why, he could not know she was immersed in the memories of that battlefield. He became worried.
- Are you okay? Is there something wrong?
It seemed as if years trying to erase that memory just had made the wounds deeper. Now she could remember the beautiful face of Fafnir, she recalled the warmth of his body, his songs, his presence and then, the shattered and bloodied piece of clothing that had been delivered to her.
Suddenly she felt a deep anger, anger toward the man that awaken her memories, to this man who claimed to admired Urth, the young woman guilty of the death of Fafnir. She had brought death to the man she had loved but only too late had realized that.
She turned to the doctor. A dangerous fire was beginning to escape between her fingers, and then exclaimed:
-Enough, I do not want know more ... How can love and adore such a woman! She killed the person she loved.
- But Fafnir did not...
-I said enough! Why you delve into the past?
Doctor Shugahara had never been good at dealing with other people´s feelings. The idea that he was responsible of hurting this girl. This girl that may be the one he had idolized for so many years, it was simply unbearable.
- Please, the past teaches us many lessons, but you have to listen, it seems you do not know the whole story!
-I told you I do not want to know anything ... and if you really want to know who I am, I do not care. You are free to believe whatever you want, if you are so smart, Find out!
The doctor began to panic, despite her angry words; Urd's beautiful eyes were wet and seemed about getting full of tears. The vision of those wet eyes hurt him deeply, he needed to do something and words were not enough. She felt a deep need to protect her, so almost without realizing what he did, he approached and embraced her and gently placed his hand on her head so it rested on his shoulder, to his deep surprise Urd made no protest.
Perhaps, for the first time in his life, Urd was letting out her pain and frustration about Fafnir. She was a very strong woman, but holding that pain it only had become stronger with time. For a moment she felt how the beautiful aura of the doctor gave her comfort.
He was deeply moved. Although he did not know the power behind of the tears of a goddess, He felt that there was so much beyond his comprehension. Her tears have fallen into his shoulder, and as he felt the moisture, a deep and unknown emotion grew on him.
Slowly, although too quickly from the point of view of the astonished doctor, Urd began to recover. Her body trembled, and gave a soft sobbing.
Finally she broke away from him, her body still trembling and her eyes wet. Now she began to feel rather silly for the incident, but at the same time, she realized somehow this man inspired confidence, so she did not regret having let out her emotions.
Then she looked up and noticed the surprise and concern in the man´s face. It was an awkward moment; the embarrassed doctor did not know what to do so he just stood motionless, with his arms still outstretched and trying to say something. She could not help start to laugh with relief.
Urd was trying to calm down, so it followed an awkward moment for both.
Suddenly, a high-pitched voice interrupted from the doorway.
-Urd! It's time to see my TV show, we agreed today was my turn. You were not supposed to be here today!
The doctor was facing against the door, so he had to turn to see who was there. He saw a girl on the verge of adolescence, dressed as any girl her age, but in her face there were some color marks. Marks that the doctor recognized, so he could not help but exclaiming.
- Skuld?
The girl looked surprised at the unexpected visitor, she also had recognized him!
- Dr. Shugahara Kenji? What are you doing here?
Urd's surprise was so great that she forgot her previous embarrassment.
- Skuld? Did you know him too? First Keiichi and now you!
- Urd! If only you watch more than soap operas! - Then she spoke to the doctor with a certain reverence
- Are you really Dr. Shugahara? - Skuld´s reticence was understandable. With his suit rumpled and stained with blood, and his hair uncombed, he was not the respectable doctor who had appeared on television.
- I saw you last week at my favorite show "Technology News". I was impressed. I don´t know much about medicines, but they were explaining you are revolutionizing the pharmaceutical industry.
Somehow this was the last drop that spilled the glass. Today he had appeared in a strange place, with a woman who could be, not only 1,200 years old but also a goddess, then for the first time he had dared to embrace a woman, a very beautiful and sensual woman and of course, there was also the potion Urd had given to him to confuse his thoughts.
Now another "goddess", at least by her mars, had appeared in the image of a teenager and nothing less than the Norn of the future, Urd´s sister. But this girl was not talking about ancient potions but about technology.
Anyway, now he suddenly felt ridiculous at this technologically informed girl. He attempted to straight his suit and recovers some dignity. Then he decided he needed to be presented formally. He approached the young girl, made an elegant bow and without realizing what he was doing, began one of the most beloved ritual for the Japanese. The interchange of Meishi, the presentation cards.
- Skuld-San, Allow me to introduce myself.
He pulled a small stylish leather case from his pocket and took out a sober card. Then with both hands he offered the card.
Skuld was fascinated, doctor Shugahara, a television celebrity, was referring to her with the title "San" instead of using "Chan" that is used with children and that she loathed. Also, he was offering a presentation card like she were and adult and a colleague!
Skuld made an exaggerated bow; she took the card and read it aloud:
- Chiba University, ethnobotanic studies, Dr. Kenji Shugahara
He was happy to participate in the ritual, but suddenly she panicked. Where were her cards?
She began to draw from her pockets an incredible amount of things: microcircuits, tools, resistors, coils, cables, connectors, couplings etc. If the doctor felt some surprise at the astonishing array of objects, he was too polite to express it. That would be a gross discourtesy and waited patiently. Even if the other part had not the proper etiquette, he still must respect it.
Skuld finally located the card... in the case of a CD-ROM! She blushed when compared with the elegant case the doctor had, but still the ritual should continue.
Meanwhile Urd had almost panicked; she was behind Dr. Shugahara and was signaling Skuld trying to prevent the delivery of the card. But Skuld was very excited at the prospect to participate in an adult activity.
She stored the doctor´s card ... in the CD-ROM case! since she had no other place. The she took her own card, it was a bit battered, then she hesitated and paused wondering how to proceed. She remembered how the Dr. had done, so she took it with both hands to give it to him. Doctor Shugahara received with the formality expected from a university professor, so Skuld felt a new wave of pleasure. Then the Doctor read aloud.
- Goddess Skuld Second Class, restricted: In training
If he had felt any surprise for the content of the card, he took care not to show it.
As required by etiquette, he proceeded to place the card in his leather case, right in the first place signaling it was important for him. Skuld felt full of joy, it was the first time someone treated her as an adult. She took a peek at the doctor´s case and noticed that Urd´s card was not there.
Meanwhile Urd had come to cover his eyes, she did not want to see more.
- Sensei, you are very kind, is a great honor to meet you in person. Did my sister give you her card?
- No, I did not have that pleasure.
- Oh! Surely she misplaced them because "SHE" has no one to give them: "Urd, goddess second class" ... bah!
Spite the strange words and her business card as a goddess, doctor Shugahara was relieved. Skuld's attitude was not very different from many girls. His experience as a teacher told him she had spent too much time surrounded by adults who treated her like a child.
Just then, something caught his attention. Among all the material that Skuld had thrown to the floor there was something that seemed familiar.
He bowed as an apology and then lifted the object. It was a tight circuit, full of orderly and repetitive elements precisely ironed. One could tell it was done with rejected parts, yet the implementation and construction showed a great skill.
- Did you make this?
- Yes, but does not work, - Said in a defensive tone- I have only garbage and old parts to build my circuits.
- You did it with pieces of scrap! - Said the Doctor in surprise- I'm not expert but this looks the circuits of an advanced neural network!
Skuld jumped for joy on hearing the doctor's guess.
- Sensei, do you know about cybernetics? Yes, it´s a circuit for a neural network. But I could not make it work; it has too many defective components.
- I am sorry, by training I'm just a humble botanist, but I have seen something similar in the laboratory of Dr. Kapaau.
- Dr. Kawazu? Do you mean Dr. Izuka Kawazu? Founder of the Fuzzy Logic Institute? He is my idol!
The doctor noted with admiration the passion of the young girl. He would have liked to have more students like her. He made a gracious bow and said in all seriousness:
- Skuld-san, I you approve, I would like show this to Dr. Kawazu. I think he would like to know a young woman as talented as you.
- Skuld face went pale! She was excited at the idea that Dr. Kawazu could see her work. But this was just a bunch of circuits that did not work She put her hands behind her back, looked at the floor while moving her foot from side to side. She tried to speak to the Doctor, not daring to look at him.
- Sensei, but it's just made of trash, it does not work and it´s not finished and...
- Dr. Kawazu is a professional, he will understand the circumstances. Do I have your permission?
-Yes, she said timidly, not daring even to look.
Then the girl, made a dozen of exaggerated bows and ran, unable to contain her excitement, Urd was ready to accept the doctor would know everything, approached him and said:
- You're a weird man. That is an achievement. It´s the first time Skuld calls Sensei anyone.
Dr. Shugahara looked at her with surprise, and said with a chuckle:
- Weird?
He laughed at the idea, as he began to recover his sense of humor. Everything had happened so fast, the series of experience of that day had simply overwhelmed his analytic capacity, his brain simply had switched to "data gathering mode" so he had just stopped asking questions.
But even if all was very confusing he found very funny the claim. Then began to count with his fingers, while walking along the room saying:
-Let's see. First, it seems I had an accident, looking at the rags there and the blood on my suit it seems it was serious, but I feel no pain nor do I have any bandage.
-Two, Instead of taking me to the hospital, somehow you brought me to your room in an old temple, at least one hour away from the university.
- Three, Who are you? As it seems you may be Urth, "Goddess second category" whatever that means and at least 1,200 years old. Or you could be a fan of ancient magic who likes to do "cosplay."
- Four, your sister Skuld has the same name and marks as the youngest of the Norns from Norse mythology and she even gave me her card.
- Five...
The doctor was cut short. During his recount, he had been walking around the room, when he came to the cabinet where Urd kept her ingredients and potions.
He stopped astonished looking cabinet with the most fantastic facial expression that could be imagined in a sober college professor, Urd could only think of an analogy. A child when enters for the first time in a candy store.
- What is this?
And to Urd´s horror, he began to take out some of the ingredient jars.
-Doctor! do not touch that!
She was about to go to take away the jar he had in his hand, when she noticed all the care and respect he put in his actions. He examined them with an expert eye, taking care not altering the ingredients. So she stooped and looked to him with curiosity, he seemed to know what he was doing.
He reviewed the contents. In some cases he opened the lid slightly to give a cautious sniff, but with the care an expert chemist takes when dealing with an unknown substance. Urd had written in the tags in code to prevent Skuld manipulate them yet he was identifying the ingredients without any problem:
- Tropical frog Powder, iguana eggs, Hamamelis, Amanita muscaria, Galanthus woronowi, Taxus baccata, Mandragora officinarum...
Urd did not like anyone to touch her ingredients, but she was impressed with the respect doctor Shugahara put on his exam.
- Please Doctor. Be careful with my ingredients.
The doctor was so excited he did not listen to her but finally stopped and exclaimed.
-What a great collection of ingredients and materials. This material is perfectly chosen to have all the essentials for any complex magical potion. The ingredients have been purified and preserved with the utmost care. Everything is perfectly organized and selected. - He turned to look at Urd. - I'm impressed!
Any anger Urd still had disappeared with such statement. It was the first time someone had praised her for her passion: the potions. And noting the doctor's attitude, he seemed to be a very difficult person to impress.
Then the doctor took half a dozen ingredients and put them on the table Urd used for her experiments. He began to examine them more carefully than the others. Suddenly, Urd was horrified when he stuck a finger on one vial and tasted it! She screamed!
- No! Stop! This compound is very dangerous!
The doctor slowly turned around to see her. Maybe too slowly, he seemed to be enjoying it. It was obvious that nothing had happened, but he had the face of a child who had just committed a prank. As an expert knew never had to taste an unknown substance, but his curiosity had won. A little embarrassed commented:
- Yes, I know, this is a concentrate from a small purple flower found at the foot of some trees on the Scandinavian Peninsula. They call it: Urd´s flower - he looked at Urd´s eyes and commented in admiration: - This beautiful flower has your eyes color! - Then continued as he had said nothing- Well, normally it should have a very special compound, a hydroquinone with a beautiful chain of aromatic molecules.
He thought for a moment, while analyzing the taste of the compound, and then, with a perfectly professional air, presented his diagnosis.
-Urd, you have a problem. Some of your potions do not work.
- What? What the f..? How do you know?
Doctor Shugahara gave her the vial he had taken, and said:
- Plants change over time, they have to constantly adapt to the environment and therefore evolve and change. Some time ago this plant changed so it no longer has the exact compound you need.
Urd looked thoughtful, then she took the vial, smelled it carefully, she could smell the aroma of the substance. It should be there! And said to the doctor.
- You are wrong; I can feel its presence.
- Do you feel it? But no, it is not the same substance, it´s very similar. It is an isomer; it´s has the same chemical composition, but has a different shape.
- Prove it!
Shugahara kept thinking for a moment, then looked at Urd and asked.
- I suppose you know the formula for making solid smoke?
- Of course I know it. I invent.!.. Err, I mean, I know it. But why should we need it?
- It is a very simple reaction, only two ingredients, but is very sensitive. I use it as a test to determine purity.
Urd kept thinking for a moment. She was used to using only her senses; the idea of a simple reaction to test purity seemed very clever.
- Okay, We will do this test.
Under the curious gaze of the Doctor, she began to take out some of her laboratory implements. Some porcelain capsules, glass rods, lab spoons, distilled water, etc. The doctor smiled with approval, he could tell she was used to work with them.
Urd took one of his vials of substances, with a teaspoon extracted a few crystals and placed them in a porcelain dish, then put the flower extract, and with the glass rod, added a few drops of distilled water. She waited but nothing happened.
Urd said rudely:
- Thit Helleur nam i go!
Shugahara smiled at that old Viking curse. He had uttered something similar when he discovered the extract did not work. Meanwhile, fire had glowed in Urd´s eyes. This compound was critical to many potions. It amplified their magical properties.
- Well doctor, it seems you are the expert, what solution do you have?
- Then the doctor brought out another small case from his pocket. It was made of metal and contained several small vials with different compounds. He used them to do some demonstrations, he choose one vial and offered it to Urd.
- Please try this.
Intrigued, Urd took the small vial. Opened it and sensed a familiar scent that made her hand trembled because emotion, she proceeded to repeat the test.
This time, it began to raise a cloud of iridescent smoke, which then froze and petrified as if time had stopped.
Urd was surprised by the reaction, so she took the two vials, one in each hand. She concentrated to sense them. They appeared to be the same substance. Then she remembered the words of the doctor about the molecular shapes. She closed her eyes and began to hum a little tune to concentrate deeper. Soon she was able to perceive the molecules. They looked identical or nearly so. Then she saw it. One of them was the mirror image of the other! It was inverted!
- Móður serðilland skotinn!- Exclaimed angrily.
She opened her eyes and uttered several other curses the doctor chose not to translate.
- The solid smoke is perfect. This substance is very pure.
The doctor said a little absently, as he had done to correct a student...
- It not really smoke, it is an Aerogel.
- What?
-An Aerogel - Repeated the doctor, pointing to the smoke. That is an Aerogel. At NASA they are using it to capture micro-meteorites in artificial satellites.
She grabbed the doctor and said angrily:
- Doctor! I do not care if they are using it as toilet paper, where did you get this? I'm willing to go to the more remote and distant place to get it.
The doctor found her beautiful in her anger; he preferred that than to see her on the verge of tears. Then began to laugh, but had to hold it when realized Urd was getting more furious, so he tried to hold his laughter to be able to talk.
-Yes, it comes from a very remote and exotic place.
- Where from?
- From the botanical garden of Chiba University.
- What, Where? Doctor, I'm not kidding, I...
This time, seeing her reaction, the doctor could not help but laugh, and Urd realized it was not a joke, still she could see how ridiculous it sounded: Chiba: "such as a remote and exotic place". She could not help, but laugh with him. They looked like a couple of teenagers after a joke.
Finally, the doctor could stop. Took a deep breath and assumed a certain pose, indicating he meant to say something important.
- With pleasure I can provide you with all the materials you want. I just want to put a small price.
- Price? Urd asked with curiosity?
The doctor looked at the floor. He looked like a children who had just committed a prank and then a bit nervously he look at Urd and said:
- That you allow me to see you again.
This time it was Urd who started to laugh, as the doctor could not avoid blushing. Finally she stopped at realizing the doctor's contrite look. She said.
- Deal, Doctor, I began to sympathize with you. Then she looked at the other vials on the table and asked: - And those other ingredients. Why did you take them? is there anything wrong with them?
-I am not sure yet, but I suspect it. Did you bought some of these materials with a provider of aryuvedic medicine?
- Yes, there are only a few sources to choose when you need curative and magical plants ... why you ask?
The doctor made a gesture of profound disgust.
-I did at first, but in many of those providers I detected contamination of heavy metals, particularly lead, and several fake ingredients.
Urd took one bottle carefully examine it and exclaimed:
- Madar kharbeh, kos-khol, Amal, Khar! ... - and other curses that even the doctor could not understand, but he was sure she was describing someone´s genealogical tree. The doctor smiled looking at her since he shared the sentiment. He pointed to his little case and commented:
-That's why I started growing my own plants with the help of my colleagues, who sent me samples and seeds from all over the world. I was able to select and breed between different mutations in order to recover their ancient properties.
Urd looked with more respect to the Doctor.
- This should be a work of...
- Years. Yes, it took me years to recover the original ingredients.
- Then you must value them.
- They are more valuable if I can share with someone who understand have medicinal properties which have gained me a certain others have very strange properties and I suspect your one of the few people who understand what they are.
The doctor was interrupted by a loud growl coming from his stomach. It made him blush but the stomach does not know about etiquette or good manners.
Urd was taken aback. She had already forgotten that humans need to eat at regular intervals. But she had no food to offer and Belldandy was not at home.
-Excuse me doctor, but my sister is not home and she is the only one who can cook.
Among all he had heard on that day, this statement was what most surprised the doctor! He came from a very traditional family and the idea of a woman who did not know cooking was almost incredible, but the doctor always played the cook part in the expeditions he had participated, so he tough he could prepare something to eat in this place.
- If your sister does not bother, I could prepare some food for both.
- Doctor, really is not necessary; I do not need to eat.
-Please. I insist. You do not need to fear my cooking.
- No doctor. Is just that I am not used to ea...
- I insist. I can prepare food. - Urd realized that the doctor was considering his refusal to eat, as an insult to his culinary skills, so she chose to compromise.
- Well doctor, you win, please follow me.
Doctor Shugahara came into the kitchen and was surprised. As Urd potions and ingredients were perfectly organized, this kitchen also showed an organized mind with a great aesthetic sense. He felt the order and harmony and even a sense of inner peace.
He took a moment to sense the place then went to look after the ingredients and materials to begin to prepare a light lunch. This man put his full commitment in everything he did, so he also showed great skill at cooking.
- Doctor. I'm surprised; I did not expect a sober university professor knew how to cook.
- I have lived alone for a long time, and when you go on expeditions to remote places, you need to learn to cook under any circumstances; of course those circumstances never look like this...
He pointed the well-ordered kitchen.
- Expeditions? Where?
- The last was to the Amazon jungle in search of Amasina, a shaman from the Kwamalasamutu community. He had some unknown plants to show us. We gave him antibiotics and showed him some plants that we already knew but were new for him. In return he gave us several new plants and a recipe.
- A recipe? For cooking what?
- Eh! Baked Tarantula. They consider them a delicacy. -The doctor laughed warmly - But I confess it was hard for me to give it a try. But I had no choice or I would have offended my host. Finally I discovered that it tasted no different from crab.
Urd could not help but laughing with the doctor, trying to imagine the scene. The doctor was showing he was a very interesting person.
Fortunately the kitchen was well stocked, the doctor finally offered Urd a traditional miso soup, and some portions of yaga and ohitashi niku.
Urd looked curiously at the doctor's work, for a moment she recalled another man who had cooked for her, but the doctor misunderstood her curiosity.
- Or would you prefer to taste my baked tarantula?
Both laughed at the suggestion and proceeded to eat. It was not the haute cuisine of Belldandy, but the doctor really had his style.
When they finished, the doctor proceed to leave the kitchen as spotless as he had found it.
Soon they were back at Urd's room or as she called "Urd´ castle", where they began a heated discussion on how to detect heavy metal contamination in the other ingredients.
Used to go to expeditions in the jungle, the doctor always carried along a small kit to analyze water pollution, Urd preferred using her wonderful senses. Soon they began to compare their methods and both were mutually impressed.
- With these reagents even a child could do the analysis.
- That is exactly the purpose, a simple and standardized method. I must say I am very impressed how you are able to detect tiny changes of color.
But while his enthusiasm seemed inexhaustible, his body began to feel the toll and suddenly he began to feel tired.
- Sorry. I think I need to sit down. I already had too many emotions together and a there are a lot of things I do not understand.
He sat down while trying to relax a bit.
Urd felt sympathy and offered help - Doctor do not worry, I will make one of my special potions to restore your energy. I promise you will feel better.
- Urd turned to look for some of her special energetic potions to give the doctor, but then she noticed the paper bag. She could see the neck of a bottle and a mischievous smile appeared on her face.
- Doctor, that bottle. Did you intended to celebrate something?
- Ah yes. I promised Professor Danielsen that I would get drunk today.
The doctor issued the statement in the same tone that he would say if he were going to have a vaccine. It was something he had to do, like it or not.
Urd took the bottle and whistle to see the brand:
- Daiginjo-shu? This is very good stuff. Do you mind if I join you?
- Join me? Ah, doing what?
- To drink alone is very boring.
The doctor was not sure if he had understood well. But the prospect of getting drunk along with a beautiful woman, suddenly make drinking very attractive.
- Oh! ... Ah! ... eh!. Yes, I would be delighted. As queen Geirhild said, "Faþer vár es ert í himenríki, verði nafn þitt hæilagt"!
Urd froze for a moment in surprise and then started an uncontrollable laughter
The doctor looked surprised at that marvelous effect. It was the first time someone had actually laughed at one of his jokes! Of course, He had no way of knowing it was Urd who had spread that ugly rumor about Queen Geirhild.
Urd finally managed to stop laughing and opened the bottle of Sake. Expertly poured a glass to the doctor. Like a beginner, he took a big sip and choked, but soon, after a few experiments, he managed to find the way to take it.
Now with a bit of sake in his bloodstream, he worked up the courage to utter another of his jokes. This time it was about the sexual habits of Raghild, the mistress of King Harald and the result was the same. Urd took a good time to stop laughing. She really missed those old, or to be precise, ancient jokes.
The doctor had the opportunity to make further "experiments" with resulted in an excellent outcome. He believed it was a shame that most of those stories would have been deemed unprintable by his editors and he communicate the tough to Urd, who this time shared his outraged
This time the doctor was ecstatic because instead of confused students who had no idea what he spoke, he had a willing audience, who also shared his indignation.
A little later, Belldandy and Keiichi came back from their work. She had given Keiichi very little details but had promised to explain everything later. They had just crossed the entrance to the temple, when Keiichi heard something that reminded him the Klingon from Star Trek series!
He turned to Belldandy to comment, but what he saw got him speechless. Belldandy had covered his mouth and was trying hard not to laugh with little success. Finally she could not resist and began to laugh with cheerful laughter. Keiichi could not help but be amazed. It was the first time he had seen Belldandy laugh so openly. She always had great control over herself and her laugh was somewhat shy, she was never so open.
Belldandy laugh was contagious. When Belldandy could stop laughing, Keiichi asked.
- What is that noise? Why is so much fun?
- That is a Viking drinking song.
That puzzled Keiichi much more. How could it be that Belldandy knew a drinking song? Keiichi confusion only increased Belldandy´s laughter, but finally she was able to explain:
-When Urd returned from the earth, she insisted on teaching us that song, claiming it was a lullaby. She used it to help Skuld to sleep. Sometime later we learned the truth.
And Belldandy began to sing:
Klank * * * * Klank klink klink * * *
Aaaeeaahaah! Aaaeeaahaah!
We come from the land of ice and fire.
From the frozen lands Nifelheim sober.
Born of the chaos of hungry gulfs
Eternal echoes sound of Ginnungagap.
The sound of the jars.
Klank * * * * Klank klink klink * * *
Aaaeeaahaah! Aaaeeaahaah!
Keiichi had to recognize that in the sweet voice of Belldandy really could sound like a lullaby and not as a band of drunken Klingon. The song put such a good mood to Belldandy, so Keiichi decided to learn it.
- Teach me the song, it seems to be fun.
Belldandy was delighted, that song brought her back good old memories. So soon they were in the main room, singing a Viking drinking song accompanied with a cup of tea. They sang and laughed together for a while, until they realized the noise in Urd´s room had ceased. They decided to check if doctor Shugahara was OK.
They peered carefully into Urd's room ... and gasped.
They found Urd, nestled tenderly in the arms of the doctor. Both lying unconscious on the floor. Belldandy was touched by the scene. So using her powers, with great care she levitated them and move them to Urd´s futon, still tenderly embraced.
(End of chapter IV-rev_4)
Notes:
1) Baked Tarantula: Believe it or not, it´s really considered a delicacy in the Amazon jungle. Basically, you make a hole in the ground, wrap the tarantula with aromatic leaves to conserve moisture and flavor it, and then make a fire on top. They say it is delicious.
2) Aerogel: is a manufactured material with the lowest bulk density of any known porous solid. It is derived from a gel in which the liquid component of the gel has been replaced with a gas. It is nicknamed frozen smoke, solid smoke, solid air or blue smoke due to its translucent nature and the way light scatters in the material. It has been used as a trap in some satellites to collect micro-meteorites, but of course they use different techniques than those described here to manufacture it. I recommend Google for it and look at the beautifully images.
3) Dr. Izuka Kawazu is one of the neural network specialists in Japan, but he does not really work at the Chiba University. A neural network is used to emulate the learning capacity of the brain.
4) Etnobothanic: They have a background in anthropology, so they are very open to ideas about magic, not necessarily share them, but respect them.
5) Isomers. In chemistry, isomers are compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formulas. That is one reason that Dr. Shugahara had to study stereo-chemistry.
6) Berserk. It´s the battle frenzy of the ancient Vikings. Nobody really knows what it was, but caused terror. They could keep fighting even when they were mortally wounded. Some believe they used hallucinogenic drugs. I always thought it sounded like something could have been invented by Urd.
7) Curses: In case you are curious, Urd is cursing in Icelandic and Farsi. If you ask why Farsi? Just because it sounds harsh and very angry and because Urd can speak any language she likes. They are not very sophisticated, but still I prefer not to translate them.