Tension Rising
God of War and all associated characters and interpretations are property of Sony Santa Monica. Kingdom Hearts and all associated characters are property of Disney and Square Enix.
/+/+/+/+/
"You know, I'm thinking we should have asked where Sigrún and Eir were searching before we left," Atreus said as they came upon the Lake of Alfheim, in awe at the reconstruction efforts of the lake's pathways. Specifically, the archways that lined the path, in both the smooth, loping style of the Light Elves, and the rugged, blocky style of the Dark Elves. A marvel of the shared peace they found, though Kratos was simply glad that the first construction project the elves undertook was remaking the pathways leading to and from the temple.
"Ah, don't sweat it," Sora replied without a care in the world. "We'll be fine."
"Show more care towards your task," a laconic voice said from behind them.
"Woah!" Sora flipped in the air, floating upside down to stare at the source of the voice. He relaxed upon seeing it was one of Ratatoskr's aspects. "Hey there! Which one of Ratatoskr's aspects are you?"
"I am his perfectionism manifest." The spectral squirrel turned to Kratos. "The Maven has found the World Tree's seed and refuses to part with it."
"Who's the Maven?" Sora asked as he landed in a crouch.
"Why?" Kratos asked, ignoring Sora's question.
The squirrel answered, "She demands that Sigrún, Eir, and Tyr mediate assist with some petty issue."
"Tyr?" Kratos repeated.
"He was in the Maven's library when I appeared and demanded the seed." The spectral squirrel sniffed. "Then she delivered her ultimatum."
"Guys, who's the Maven?" Sora asked, annoyance leaking into his voice.
"Why did she have the seed?" Kratos asked. From the corner of his eye, he saw Sora throw his hands up in frustration. Atreus then took him aside to answer his question.
"She found it the other day and kept it. She was unaware of its value until I informed her."
"She does know why we need it, right?" Mimir asked.
The spectral squirrel grunted. "She views the state of her home as more important than all else. Foolish." Kratos grunted in agreement. The squirrel turned around. "They are still in the library. I shall inform them of your arrival before returning to the original Ratatoskr" And with that, he scurried forward before vanishing in a flash of light.
Sora rose to his full height—which, Kratos noted, was actually rather short. "Well, he doesn't waste any time."
"It's impossible for it do so," Mimir said as Kratos led them down a side path that led to an elevator down to the desert. "It's the best, and worst, parts of the original Ratatoskr's desire for order and efficiency." He snorted. "And a rude little blighter."
"I don't know." Sora clasped his hands behind his head. "It's the first one I met that didn't try to attack me or accuse me of being some sort of monster."
Mimir chuckled. "Only because doing so would have been a waste of time. After all, both the main Ratatoskr and his anxious aspect have already done so, to say nothing of the fact that you've repeatedly apologized for damaging the World Tree and are currently seeking to repair it. Anymore would just be beating a dead horse."
"It really is a shame you couldn't meet under better circumstances," Atreus mused.
Sora shrugged. "Even if I didn't cut off Muspelheim and Niflheim from the other realms, the World Tree itself warned Ratatoskr about me—well, the Keyblade." He blinked. "How can a tree talk anyway?"
"An excellent question," Mimir replied. "See, the World Tree has communicated with a handful of people beyond Ratatoskr, Odin among them. Though that was mainly to kick the bastard out after he tried to learn its secrets. You know, he told me about it after the fact—said the World Tree sent him a vision of Asgard getting destroyed as a promise of what would happen should he pull another stunt like that again."
Atreus hummed. "Sounds like the World Tree just showed Odin Ragnarök." The elevator came in sight, and he pulled ahead a bit to speak with the elf—a Dark Elf, sticking out like sore thumbs amidst the swirling white Light Elf architecture—attending to the elevator.
"In hindsight, yes," Mimir stated sagely as they caught up to Atreus, the elevator sending them down seconds later. "I never asked, but I think that's what led him to seeking out Groa and her gift of prophecy. Try and weasel out a way he could get what he wanted without destroying Asgard. Which only set him down his doomed path."
Kratos grunted. "Given what we know of prophecy, it is likely that the World Tree sent that vision in anticipation that Odin would bring it to fruition."
"Wait, you think the World Tree destroyed one of its own realms?" Sora asked.
"It's possible," Mimir replied.
Sora threw his hands into the air. "Then why's it got a problem with me?!"
Atreus chuckled. "There's a difference between deliberately damaging yourself for the greater good, and some stranger coming out of nowhere and, in a manner of speaking, sucker punching you."
"If it knows about the Keyblade then it wasn't a sucker punch," Sora childishly retorted.
"Perhaps, but we're getting off-track," Mimir said with a snort. "Compared to others, Yggdrasil and Ratatoskr have a much closer relationship. I've actually asked him myself what it's like conversing with the World Tree. I assumed it was like the visions Odin and others had received, but it turns out it wasn't. The thing actually speaks to him!" Mimir hummed. "Well, maybe 'speak' isn't the right word. Ratatoskr said that when Yggdrasil wants to tell him something, his mind gets filled with this sort of terrible raucous buzzing, and he, as he put it, 'fills in the blanks'."
"That…makes no sense," Sora declared, stepping off the elevator as it stopped, and into the exit tunnel leading to the desert.
"Well, I imagine it makes more sense to the squirrel that's spent countless ages tending to the World Tree."
"Sure, but—woah!" Sora jerked back upon exiting the tunnel. "When'd it get so dark?!"
"It's always dark here," Atreus said. "It's because the Light of Alfheim doesn't spread down this far. Well, spread down enough. It'd be pitch black if none of the light got down here."
Sora peered up at the giant pillar of light in the distance. "You mean…all the light in Alfheim comes from that?"
"Yup."
"Wow…that's crazy. So, without it, no one in this realm would get any light?" He frowned. "They should try and spread it out, then. I mean, it looks like there's enough of it."
Atreus and Mimir winced. Kratos simply grunted. "It is more complicated than that," he said. He turned to the Light of Alfheim, focusing on the bits of the temple surrounding the light they could see from below. "The Light of Alfheim is the source of a great many of the Light Elves' technological structures. They guard it zealously out of base greed."
"And because they're literally compelled to," Atreus added, as he always did to defend the Light Elves since they discovered the intoxicating affect the Light of Alfheim had on them. Kratos had no such sympathy. Not since they also discovered the Light Elves themselves understood the dangers of overexposure, and still used the Light of Alfheim with reckless abandon.
"Sounds complicated," Sora bluntly cut in. He turned away, and then pointed to something in the desert. "Hey, what're those?" Kratos followed Sora's line of sight and saw a pack of Gulons in the distance. He then pointed to the sky. "And are those…flying jellyfish?"
"The things in the air are called Hafgufa—they're native to Alfheim." Atreus answered. "Pretty harmless, but the adults can cause sandstorms with their songs. The beasts are Gulons. We saw a few in Vanaheim." He peered closer at the pack. "Don't usually see that many in a pack, though."
"Oh yeah, those dog-looking things," Sora said with a nod. "What're they doing here?"
"Freyr brought a handful to Alfheim ages ago," Mimir answered. "The Elves use them to haul goods, and people, on occasion, across the desert."
Sora's face scrunched in confusion. "Is that okay? I didn't really pay that much attention in school—you know, when I still went—but I remember that bringing animals over to new locations isn't generally the smartest move. It can mess with the...echosystem?"
"Ecosystem," Mimir corrected. "And I'm sorry, but, what's a 'school'?"
Sora blinked. "You guys don't have schools here?"
"They do not," Kratos answered.
"Oh." Sora looked down at Mimir. "School's a place where kids all gather together to learn stuff like math, science, history."
"Really?" Mimir spoke, entranced. "Some sort of standardized education for all? Tell me more."
Sora shrugged. "I mean, that's really it. We'd sit around and listen to teachers for maybe an hour per lesson. They'd give us problems to work on at home and we'd have to do them at home. Get graded on how well we did."
"Fascinating. When we're done here, you'll have to tell me more. We could probably use something like it here in the Realms." Kratos supposed that was true. From what Faye had told him, the people in these lands did not even have private tutors, merely apprenticships. They relied on family and close friends to teach their children the basics, and if the children wanted to learn beyond that, they needed to seek instructors themselves. She had thought it strange when Kratos had proposed a, heavily modified, education for Atreus like Kratos had experienced. He never referred to it as schooling—it was certainly not formal by any stretch of the word—but it was very much that.
Given the calculating look in his son's eyes, he could see the basic similarities between what Sora described and what he'd been put through. But instead of following up on it, he said, "The Gulons aren't a problem though, right? I mean, they've been here for ages."
Mimir hummed. "True, they haven't made a mess of things yet. Pretty useful thus far, really. Ah, and speaking of, brother"—he directed to Kratos—"you plan on getting a sled?"
"No." Kratos replied. "We would have to wait for one to arrive. The library is not far, we shall walk."
"Good," Mimir said as they began the relatively short trek to the Maven's library. "It'll give me time to explain the Light of Alfheim's significance to Sora."
"Go ahead," Sora said cheerfully. "Need something to fill in the silence." Kratos grunted in disapproval—silence was golden.
"Okay, it's like this," Mimir began. "The Light of Alfheim is, ultimately, what fuels the Bifrost—the energy that allows realm travel to begin with. That's what the Aesir and other races across the realms ultimately use it for. But the elves—Light Elves, that is—use it for much more. It is the very cornerstone of their culture. From their grand temple up there to the most modest abodes, the Light of Alfheim powers everything they use."
Sora frowned. "What about the Dark Elves? I assume they're not using the Light of Alfheim, given the name."
Mimir chuckled. "Indeed, they do not. They want little to do with it, in fact. They view the light as a sacred entity that should not be used in anyway whatsoever. A direct contrast to the Light Elves, who, while similarly reverent, believe it should be used in any and all ways."
"So, they fight," Sora deadpanned.
"So, they fight," Mimir intoned. "But where things get tricky is that the Light of Alfheim is, well, addictive. Too much exposure can lead to you going mad, and you'll go through a fierce withdrawal if you're away from it for too long."
Sora hummed, clasping his hands behind his head as he stared up at the Light of Alfheim. "Sounds like the Light Elves just need to ease up a bit, then."
"Aye, but like I said, the Light of Alfheim is the very backbone of the Light Elves' society." Mimir huffed. "There wouldn't even be any Light Elves if not for the Light of Alfheim."
Sora's lips curved into a sad frown. "So, what, they're spiraling into self-destruction, and there's nothing anyone can do about it?"
"Well, it's not really our place to just butt in," Atreus began slowly. "Speaking just for ourselves, Father and I have already interfered enough with Alfheim—killed high-ranking Dark Elf and Light Elf leaders just a few years apart from each other. Even though we—"
Kratos grunted in disapproval.
"Even though I"—Atreus amended with a roll of his eyes—"want to help out, they wouldn't appreciate me—a half-Jotun god— just inserting myself into the problem. Besides, the only non-elves either side even tolerates are the Vanir, and that's just barely." He frowned. "Hey, do you think that's why the Maven wants Sigrún and Eir to help her with her problem? Because they're from Vanaheim? And Tyr too now, I guess."
"Could be," Mimir replied. "The elves, both kinds, have always put the Vanir on a bit of a pedestal thanks to Freyr."
Kratos grunted. "They do not call upon Freya to assist them."
"Well, Freya's popularity among the Realms is rather fluid," Mimir said. "I imagine that one minute the elves are blessing Freya for her connection to Freyr, and the next they're cursing her for being the reason he's dead."
"The reason he's dead?" Sora repeated. "He died during Ragnarök, right? Wouldn't they blame you guys since you led the charge?" Sora asked.
"We did," Kratos replied. "But Freya was the one who put it all together." He grunted. "At her behest, Freyr returned to Alfheim for the first time in ages to bring both Light and Dark Elves together to a common goal. Only to die at the very end of Ragnarök." In truth, it was astounding that the truce born at the time still held.
Sora's brow furrowed. "Well, whatever happens, doesn't seem like it'll be easy."
"On that, I doubt anyone will argue," Mimir said with a bitter sigh.
/+/+/+/+/
They continued the rest of their journey in silence. Atreus, Kratos noted, was almost withdrawn. He knew his son wanted to do more to help the elves; he'd felt partially responsible since their first trip to Alfheim years ago. Kratos was proud of his son's sense of compassion, but, as Atreus himself said, no good would come of inserting themselves into the problem.
Which made the Maven's decision to withhold the Muspelheim seed vexing. He knew that she was no longer as militant towards censorship as she used to be, before Kratos had collected the book on the origins of the elves for Byggvir. But she had also been firm on the idea that, at the very least, the elves needed to resolve their internal issues themselves.
It was no matter, in the end. They would get the seed, one way or another.
"Hey, I think that's Eir," Atreus said as the library finally came into view. Indeed, the Shield-Maiden stood outside the building conversing with a pair of Dark Elves and a Light Elf. When they saw them, the elves all bowed to Eir, and one of the Light Elves and a Dark Elf took to the air, while the second Light Elf entered the library. Eir wings sagged in slight exhaustion, before turning to face them.
"Hey, Eir!" Atreus said, running up to her.
"Atreus!" she said with subtle cheer. "It is good to see you." She turned to the rest of them. "And you all as well."
"Why does the Maven impede our task?" Kratos asked, not caring for pleasantries at this time.
"It's the Gulons," she replied. "Since the sandstorms have ceased, their population has exploded. Far beyond what the Elves are used to."
Kratos sneered. "She begs for help with animal control? Are the Elves so helpless?"
"The Elves are unwilling," Eir replied. "The Gulons, having been brought into Alfheim by Lord Freyr ages ago, are seen as sacred beasts."
"Gulons?" Atreus asked, bemused. "Really? Man, they really hang on everything Freyr ever did, huh?"
The Shield-Maiden shrugged. "He did a lot for them, long ago. Things they'll never forget." She sighed. "They were never a problem before, but the recent boom in the Hafgufa population also ended up affecting the Gulon population as well."
"How so?" Mimir asked.
"Gulon like to eat them—the infants, at least—and the organ that grants the Hafgufa the ability to fly can be used to increase fertility in mammalian creatures." Eir crossed her arms over her chest. "From what the Maven has said, this is not normally an issue, but since there are hundreds upon thousands of Hafgufa in Alfheim now—far more than there ever used to be, thanks to how large the parents were—the Gulon are, well, feasting."
Atreus and Sora blanched. "Yeah, that does sound like a problem," the latter stated.
"And even without the whole 'Freyr worship' thing, it'd be wrong to just cull the population," Atreus said. Kratos could admit that killing the beasts would leave a sour taste in even his mouth. But it was not their problem, even if they were the ones to free the Hafgufa. Atreus continued, "I guess the Maven wants to move the Gulon to Vanaheim?"
"Yes. But Sigrún, and Tyr, are reluctant to bring in dozens of drugged-up, horny beasts that are accustomed to the desert, and its scarce resources, into Vanaheim." Eir shook his head. "They've been going back and forth for hours, I needed to clear my head."
"Well, maybe we can help mediate." Mimir offered. Kratos desired no such thing, but considering the company he kept, he would have no choice.
/+/+/+/+/
The library had a few elves among its shelves. They stared as Kratos and the others entered, but ultimately paid them no mind. He did the same, making straight for the Maven's private quarters, where she, Tyr, and Sigrún were. He opened the door, ignoring Sora's remark of 'knocking'.
The three people in the room startled at the sudden entrance—the Maven standing with her arms braced on her desk, and Tyr and Sigrún before her. Tyr recovered first. "Ah, Kratos! And Sora, Mimir, and Atreus! I see Ratatoskr found you."
Kratos nodded and turned to glare at the Maven. "Relinquish the World Tree's seed," he commanded. "It is a matter bigger than your pest problem." The Maven hissed at him in the Elven tongue.
Tyr ran a hand down his face. "She says that this is the first time since sending her appeals to Vanaheim months ago that people of authority have come to Alfheim. She's not letting the opportunity go to waste." He adopted a stern expression. "And I must admit, in this, she is correct."
Sigrún bristled, her wings flapping twice. "All the realms have problem," she stated with a tempered tone. "Vanaheim cannot be expected to assist with all of them." The Maven scoffed a reply.
Tyr and Atreus both winced. The former translated, "There wouldn't be as many problems in Alfheim if Vanaheim had taken responsibility for them in the first place." Kratos grunted—it was not an untrue sentiment, given how Freyr abandoned them, regardless of his reasons. But, again, not Kratos's problem.
"Kratos, lift me up," Mimir said, jostling from his place on Kratos's hip. Kratos did so, directing him towards the Maven. "My lady, I understand your plight. And yes, Sigrún, Vanaheim should offer assistance if required. As might very well be the case in this instance." Sigrún hummed lowly but didn't argue. "However, right now we face an issue that affects all the Realms, not just one. I promise to help you negotiate with Vanaheim regarding the Gulons, but we need the seed in your possession, now."
The Maven's shoulder's tensed, and Kratos could feel the sneer beneath her mask. But in the end, she sagged in defeat. She opened a drawer and flung the seed towards Kratos. He caught it, and the Maven turned on her heel and stalked through a door across the room. Her personal chambers, if Kratos cared to guess.
"Thank you," Sigrún said as the Maven slammed her door shut. "We've been going in circles for hours."
"Of course, my dear," Mimir replied. "And when we're not all scrambling to fix to the World Tree, I'm sure we can come to a conclusion that will satisfy all parties." He clicked his tongue. "Probably at the same time Freya figures out how to make amends with the mortal of Midgard." Sigrún hummed inquisitively. "Oh, it's something Atreus brought up. You should have seen the lad, back straight and eyes clear as he spoke. Very well done, if I may say." To the side, Atreus looked away with a bashful grin.
When Sigrún spoke, Kratos could hear the smile in her voice. "Well, perhaps you can accompany me on my return to Vanaheim and we can speak with Freya over this Gulon problem." She looked up at Kratos, and he could tell she was arching a brow beneath her helmeted mask.
"I have no need of Mimir at this time," he said as he handed Mimir over. All he had planned next was to hand over the seeds to Ratatoskr and return home.
Mimir grinned up at her. "I'd love nothing more than to accompany you, my dear. But I will request that I'm returned home by tomorrow morning."
Sigrún tutted. "Mimir, tiring of me already?"
"Oh, please," Mimir scoffed. "We're not near immature enough to play that game." Sigrún laughed, cradling him against her chest as they walked away.
"It truly is a wonderful sight, isn't it?" Tyr said with a soft sigh. "All the trials they've experienced, together and apart, and they're so much stronger for it." Kratos nodded, happy and proud that his friend had been able to reconnect with his once lost love. He noticed Sora trail after the pair with a melancholic expression.
He plastered on a smile on his face seconds later, however, and turned to Tyr. "What're you doing here anyway?"
The tall god gestured to the bookshelves along the walls. "Well, I had originally planned to come here to seek answers as to how to repair the World Tree. Then Ratatoskr's perfectionist aspect found and informed me of the Muspelheim seed in Alfheim that would do so yesterday." He nodded at the door the Maven exited to. "Today, I was with the Maven, to see about organizing searches—and at this time she had mentioned the Gulon crisis they were facing—when Sigrún and Eir arrived. And then Ratatoskr's aspect popped in from nowhere and determined that the Maven already had the seed—he could smell it, he told us—and then she held the seed hostage for greater aid from Vanaheim." He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I truly did not think that the people of Alfheim were so desperate for assistance."
Sora hummed, clasping his hands behind his head. "From what little I've learned about Alfheim and Vanaheim, it does sound like the latter could have stood to do more. Or this Freyr guy could have, at least."
"Freyr did have a responsibility to Alfheim," Tyr said with a frown. "But he was a member of the ruling family of Vanaheim—the only true heir left, following the Aesir-Vanir war and Freya's marriage to Odin. That would take priority."
"Sure, but whatever he did in Alfheim, it was enough for the Elves to view him as a god." Sora shrugged. "Well, their personal god. That sounds like more responsibility than being a prince."
"He's not wrong," Atreus said.
"Enough," Kratos cut in before Tyr could respond. "Freyr is dead, his choices, and the consequences thereof, set in stone. There is no point in debating what he should have done, only what others must do in his absence." But not Kratos. Not his problem.
Tyr nodded sadly. "You speak true, Kratos." He craned his head up. "We can get so lost in the past; we lose view of the present." He snorted and shook his head. "Like the miracle that is the current peace between the Light and Dark Elves. That needs to be protected. Cultivated into true brotherhood, no matter how many steps it takes. Even if that first step is pest control."
Atreus and Sora smiled at Tyr. The former said, "Well, we've gotta drop off the seeds to Ratatoskr. You wanna come with?"
"No, thank you," Tyr replied. "I'll wait for the Maven to cool down before speaking more with her on how to solve the Gulon issue." He looked at the walls of books. "Also, to see if there might be any information here on travel to other Worlds. I've been to this library before, but I never even knew this collection of books existed. With any luck they will hold the information I seek."
"How'd you find out about other Worlds and the Keyblade anyway?" Sora asked. "I mean, Kratos has actually been to other Worlds, but what about you?"
Tyr grunted and looked down at Kratos, a hint of envy in his eyes for the briefest second. "Unfortunately, I have not been beyond this World like our friend here. But the evidence of other Worlds is there if you look for it. I've visited cultures and civilizations from every corner of this World, and they all have little bits of information. Not enough for them to figure it out for themselves, but if put all together, the theory, at least, exists." He turned to Sora with a grin. "The Keyblade, however, was a much more slippery thing."
Sora grinned back. "I can imagine."
"What do other lands say about the Keyblade?" Atreus asked.
"Even less," Tyr answered with a smirk. "Only the barest of records speak of extraordinary visitors—or invaders, according to some—that wielded weapons of terrible ruin. And others speak of strange men and women that bore some sort of 'key' that were able to perform wonderous, terrible magics." He shrugged. "Only one text—in a land far to the east—referred to the two items as one and the same. A 'Keyblade'."
Sora nodded slowly. "Makes sense. Only a handful of people I've met in other Worlds knew about other Worlds, and the Keyblade. And they were either really old or told about it by people that know already. Or their worlds were cast into Darkness and they managed to escape the destruction," he added as an afterthought. Before anyone could even begin to question it, he asked, "What about that Kvasir guy? The one that wrote those poems?"
"What about him?" Tyr asked, only to rear back seconds later. "Wait, you mean to tell me that the poems and stories he's written were about other Worlds?"
"Some of them, yes," Kratos replied.
Tyr chuckled in disbelief. "I…I never suspected. For sure, we all knew that his stories were of lands outside the Realms. Odin despised the man because of it, but his writings were so popular even he wouldn't make any overt moves against him. But to think that he wrote of other Worlds…" Tyr trailed off, turning to the nearest bookshelf. "It appears I have more to research."
"Need any help?" Sora asked.
Tyr shook his head with a smile. "No. I'll be fine." He stepped up to a book. Kratos couldn't read the script on the spine, but he believed it was dwarven. "It'll be nice to seek knowledge of lands outside our own without Odin breathing down my neck and threatening to imprison me. And then, well, actually going through with it."
"Now that you mention it," Atreus said, "did Odin know about other Worlds? Or about Keyblades? Mimir said they'd spoken about other Worlds theory, but he couldn't say what Odin actually believed."
Tyr hummed. "I've no greater insight, I'm afraid. Odin's thoughts were his own. He did not, however, like to think about the fact that lands beyond the then Nine Realms existed, so I imagine he would have maintained the same practice regarding other Worlds."
"Why not?"
"Power," Tyr blandly replied. "Odin sought to control all he could. If people were aware, truly aware, of what existed beyond the Realms, well, who knows what they would do? They could leave and gain the attention of challengers to his rule. Or even gain power of their own and challenge him themselves. Or perhaps just leave and never return, and have him face Ragnarök alone, grasping at the remains of the Realms." He looked down with a frown. "He was so fixated on what could go wrong, he never thought to consider what could go right."
Sora hummed. "Well, World's aren't supposed to mix, so…if he did know, he had that going for him."
"Maybe so," Tyr said. "But the other lands within this World?" He nodded at Kratos. "The gods of your homeland mingled with other lands and their gods."
"That is true," Kratos replied. "The sheer proximity made 'mingling' inevitable." Though Kratos himself had only ever faced invaders from Persia, and met only one Egyptian god, Thoth, while in the Land of Pharaohs themselves.
Tyr sighed, turning back to his chosen book. "Yes. The influences those cultures had on each other was fascinating, and I would love to hear your perspective on it. To think of how we could learn from them. I know, I know"—Tyr held up a hand when Kratos made to object—"Interactions with lands outside the Realms would only spell disaster at this point. Still, without Odin's poison, the Realms themselves will be free to share ideas and grow with each other."
"Well, the elves are already doing that," Atreus said. "We saw it at the temple, with the walkways."
"Yes!" Tyr said with a bright smile. "Marvelous, isn't it?"
"It bodes well for the future of these lands," Kratos said. Boded well for the future Faye believed in. If only he could see it to fruition. Which…Which he couldn't do if he simply ignored problems that he did not care to consider 'his own', could he?
He was falling back into old habits. Again.
With a deep sigh, he said, through grit teeth, "Tyr, inform the Maven that I…wish to be involved in the discussions regarding the Gulons." The tall god stared at him—which was better than Atreus's gaping. Sora, at least, simply cocked his head to the side.
"What?" Tyr and Atreus said in unison.
"It would be…disappointing if the peace the elves are currently embracing were to be threatened by…drugged animals."
"…What?"
"I shall not repeat myself." His piece said, he turned on his heel and exited the room, Atreus and Sora scrambling to follow.
/+/+/+/+/
A/N: Aw, look at Kratos. Putting in effort.