I do not own Odin Sphere or any of the characters depicted in this story (with few exceptions). That should be self-explanatory.
Chapter 8: Fatherly Advice
The lights that orbited around the central castle of Ragnanival were a sight to behold to Ingway, who had just managed to cross into the country's territory. He had found little trouble in doing so, being an expert in shape-shifting, and was able to quickly slip into the Demon Lord's palace disguised as a castle guard. Unfortunately for him, the Ragnan castle was far, far larger than he had anticipated. He wandered the halls aimlessly, daring not attract any unnecessary attention from Odin's watchful Valkyrie soldiers that patrolled the area.
'I have to find him,' Ingway thought to himself. 'Even if he doesn't know where Velvet is, perhaps he can save our mother from death...'
He proceeded up and down countless stairwells, quickly getting himself lost within the labyrinth of stone walls and marble floors. Upon hearing shouting voices in the distance, Ingway instinctively concealed himself from view and silently listened in.
"Gwendolyn, hurry!" the voice called, sounding much like another Valkyrie. "Father must be given this news immediately!" Ingway could see two Valkyries racing by, one with pink-feathered wings and the other with blue.
'Odin, their father?' Ingway suddenly recalled. 'Could they be... my sisters...?'
He stepped out of hiding and tailed them, hoping that the Valkyries would lead him straight to the throne of the Demon Lord he so desperately needed to speak with. He was careful in making sure that he was not spotted, and soon he found himself before a pair of giant golden doors, unmistakably the entrance to the throne room. He was just about to hide himself from view again when in a swift motion he was disarmed and pinned against the wall by the Valkyrie in pink. The razor-sharp edge of the girl's spear was held at his neck steadily, almost waiting for Ingway to make a wrong move.
"Who are you?" she shouted at him. "Reveal your true form at once, no castle guards wander this close to King Odin's throne!"
Defeated, Ingway dropped his disguise, and the Valkyrie gasped at the sight of him.
"You! You're the prince of Valentine!" she immediately realized.
"A prince," Ingway corrected her, finding his position against the wall rather uncomfortable. "However, I have been exiled from my country. I came to speak with Odin."
The Valkyrie in blue, Gwendolyn, watched the scene from nearby. She had the same look of disbelief as the girl interrogating Ingway, both amazed that a Valentinian had so easily slipped into Ragnan territory.
"Should we bring him before our father, Griselda?" she eventually asked curiously.
Before the older Valkyrie could give a response, the floor shook with the footsteps of an approaching titan. The throne room doors were thrown open, and the foreboding figure of the Demon Lord Odin emerged from within. He took one look at the scene, and boomed instructions in a gruff voice.
"Gwendolyn! Griselda!" he bellowed. "What is all this ruckus?"
"Father," Griselda responded, loosening her grip on Ingway but keeping her spear trained on him. "We found this man infiltrating the castle. It appears he is a prince of Valentine."
"What did you say?" Odin said with surprise. He took a couple of steps forward, which for any normal human would have been about six steps. He finally got a good look at Ingway's face and widened his eyes in realization.
"I would like to speak to this boy alone," Odin insisted, proceeding back into his throne room. Griselda appeared slightly peeved by this decision, but released Ingway from her grasp. Brushing himself off, the prince of Valentine followed the giant Ragnan king into the chamber ahead. The doors behind him eerily closed by themselves as Odin rested upon his enormous marble throne.
"Ingway..." the Demon Lord spoke sullenly. "I assume you have learned that I am your father."
"I have," Ingway answered, lowering his head. "And so has my grandfather."
"Valentine knows?!" interjected Odin, rising to his feet. "But how?"
"I was told he had paid a visit to the dragon Hindel atop Horn Mountain," Ingway explained, directing a grim gaze out the stone archways that lined the left wall. "As a result, Velvet and I are without a home. Our madman of a grandfather has exiled us from our own country!"
"No..." Odin sighed. "That conniving fool... Where is Velvet now?"
"...I do not know. I came to Ragnanival with the hope that you might have known."
"...I see. What of Ariel? What is Valentine going to do to her?!"
"I can only assume he will execute her," Ingway choked. "An affair with Grandfather's sworn enemy would warrant nothing less, in his mind..."
"I shan't let him get away with that!" bellowed Odin ferociously. "Ingway, listen to me. This is of the utmost importance."
Ingway directed his attention to the only father he ever knew.
"You must return to Valentine," Odin instructed him. "This execution must be stopped at all costs. Your father begs of you."
"What am I to do?" came Ingway's reply. "I can't even get inside the palace because of those guards..."
"My soldiers shall draw them out," assured the Demon Lord. "King Valentine has a history of being too aggressive. The fact that you managed to find your way to my throne room also shows you have a talent for disguise."
"I... don't know if I can..."
"Think of your mother, Ingway!" shouted Odin. "Do you think she deserves to lose her precious life over something so trivial?"
"...Mother..."
Ingway was silent for several minutes before conceding to his father's request.
"...I have no choice," he admitted. "I can't let our mother just die...!"
"Go then," Odin told Ingway. "You've not a moment to spare. Perhaps your dear sister has similar instincts."
"Velvet..." Ingway whispered to himself. He missed her terribly. Glancing up at his true father one final time, he turned and fled the castle, Valentine his new destination. He again prayed that Velvet was safe, and that they may reunite in the near future.
As he left Ragnanival's territory, Ingway could see several objects on the horizon. It didn't take him long to recognize the scarlet and gold flags fluttering from their tops.
The Valentinian warships had arrived. An invasion was beginning.