It took a year's time before the whole of the Lake of Nine had been frozen over on its surface. Yet, just below its shaft, the waters still flowed. If anyone were to walk on the ice now, they best be careful from where they step, lest they plunge to the freezing depths below. But, that's just what Kratos and his children were going to have to do, as they took the lift down by the side of the temple. Where they would usually meet a boat, they now met with the icy terrain of the lake. The quarry that Sindri believed there to be an uncovered trove was ahead of the lift, near the remains of the oarsmen and the former shores of nine. A crevice had been opened up, and that's where the three survivors had to go if they were going to find resources for Calliope's weapon.

The moment the three of them stepped on the ice, they almost immediately heard cracks beneath their feet, that seemed to echo around the lake and it almost made Kratos' two children panic a bit.

"Easy, little brother and sister," Mimir reassured them. "Ice doesn't break that easily. We'll be fine as long as we stay light on our feet. Though, I...I can't stay the same for your father." He chuckled at his own joke.

"Head." Kratos quickly called out, silencing Mimir as he looked back at his kids. "We need not stay on this terrain for long. Come, let us find the place the dwarf had spoken of."

As they began to walk, Atreus said "Sindri also told us to look out for some kind of markers. That something else was around here?"

"Aye. Even in a place that has become such a glacier barren as this, there are always those who either have a knack, or stubbornness, to survive."

"Έχει τόσο κρύο εδώ. (It's so cold here.)" Calliope said, rubbing at her forearms. "Δεν αισθάνεται πιο ασφαλές από το δάσος. (It doesn't feel any more safe than the forest.)"

"Don't worry, Cal. We'll get out of the cold soon." Atreus said to comfort their sister as they continued to move across the frozen lake. The snow began to pile up under their feet as they headed by the Alfheim tower. Due the the cold and ice, some of the tower's supporting structures were starting to shift out of place. As if realm traveling weren't any more inaccessible, to have a complete structure that's part of the process knocked out of place makes it far worse than before. It was only the rocky quarry that the three needed to see and find that Sindri was telling the truth. A man-made tunnel was carved into its side, and a pelt of animal fur marked its territory. Whoever made this may have possibly been human, but as the dwarf said before, there are things that could be even worse than the Reavers.

"Well, this is certainly new." Mimir remarked. "I don't think we've come across this one before."

"Definitely not Reavers. I don't think we've ever seen them put animal skins around their territory."

"Proceed with caution. From here on out." Kratos said as he pulled out his axe. Atreus was soon to follow but stopped when he looked back to see Calliope standing still, shivering.

"Calliope, come on. It'll be alright." He said, offering a hand. "Just like we did before, right? You have to be strong. ισχυρός."

The young girl looked at her brother and nodded as she slowly followed him in. But, while doing so, she looked back outside, and couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Once inside though, her mind was dedicated to the mission that she and her family were here for. Whatever resources were being held in this cave, there could surely be something of use to them in order to make a new weapon for Calliope. Looking around, Atreus could see that the cave was made and held up fairly well, as whoever built it wanted to make sure that it stayed up well enough to support life and structure.

"How could this place have been carved into the side of the cliff? And in just one year of all things?" He asked. "This seems to go on for a while, and we just headed in."

"It would surely take a lot of hands and ingenuity to build a cavern such as this." Mimir said.

Then Kratos replied "It doesn't matter how it was built. So long as we find what we're looking for. We must not take long."

"Υπάρχουν άνθρωποι εδώ μέσα που θα πολεμήσουμε; (Are there people in here we're going to fight?)" Calliope asked. "Ελπίζω να μην είναι σαν τους παγωμένους νεκρούς που έπρεπε να αντιμετωπίσουμε. (I hope they're not like the frozen undead we had to face.)"

"Ό,τι κι αν είναι εδώ μέσα, θα αντιμετωπίσουμε όλα αυτά που είμαστε. (Whatever is in here, we will face with all that we are.)" Kratos said to his daughter. "Απ' ό,τι έχω δει, είσαι ήδη πιο δυνατή από όσο ξέρεις, Καλλιόπη. (From what I've seen, you're already stronger than you know, Calliope.)"

"Ευχαριστώ, Father. Ξέρω ότι μπορώ να το κάνω αυτό, απλά...δεν πίστευα ποτέ ότι θα ήταν τόσο έντονο. (Thank you, Father. I know I can do this, it's just...I never thought it'd be so intense.)"

Kratos hid a tiny smile as they ventured deeper into the cave. They soon entered an open area, which had given Kratos and Atreus a reminder of what they had to go through just to get to the top of the Mountain in Midgard. A lot of the area had been mined and had some fires...and they looked to have only been made recently. Other than that, there were also wooden defenses and racks for weapons, crates, and arches built for attack at a distance.

"It's almost as if whoever's here is expecting company." Atreus commented.

And then Kratos ordered, "Be ready for anything." As he held his axe high, Atreus pulled out his bow and Calliope her knife. They looked around to see if they would be surrounded by now. But that is when coming out of the shadows was one that seemed mortal, wearing a rather more barbaric attire with clothes and furs stitched together, a layer of leathers on top, and above all that was this person was a skull of a deer on its head. His eyes widened at the sight of the trio, the father taking a protective stance before the man yelled out.

"ᛏᚺᛖ ᚨᛋᚺᛖᚾ ᚷᛟᛞ! ᚺᛖ ᛁᛋ ᚺᛖᚱᛖ!" He said in Old Norse before pulling out a horn and blowing on it. And now, did the trio find themselves surrounded by more of these mysterious new foes. They carried makeshift weapons, blades, and clubs made of wood and bone, almost perfect for surviving with only your wits and instinct. By the sheer look of them, Kratos could tell that these enemies were more beast than man.

"Who are these people?" Atreus blurted out.

"Does it matter?" Mimir asked back. "All you should know is that they're after your father!"

"ᛏᛖᚨᚱ ᛏᚺᛖ ᛒᚨᛋᛏᚨᚱᛞ ᚨᛈᚨᚱᛏ!" roared out the one that spotted them as all the enemies then advanced upon the three. But almost immediately, was life cut short when Kratos lunged at him with the axe and chopped him in half. The Old God ran through the foes fast and true, slamming down on them and cutting them down. And he could see, while he took care of those coming after him, that his children joined in the fight and fought as valiantly as he did. But as Atreus was having his fill of these new threats, launching arrows into each of the feral warriors, he could see that Calliope looked scared, shakingly holding the knife in her hand.

"Calliope? Come on! We can do this! Just like before!" He said to her, in hopes of bringing up her confidence.

"Δεν χρειάστηκε ποτέ να παλέψω με τέτοιους ανθρώπους! (I've never had to fight people like this before!)"

Atreus recognized this kind of fear. It was the same kind of fear that he experienced when he and his father first encountered the Reavers. The first time he took the life of another living being. Now his sister was going through the same thing, and against these savages, there wouldn't be enough time for her to get away from this fight, as he uses his bow to quickly pull her back and close to him.

"Stay behind me, Cal! We got this!"

He had Calliope leaning over his shoulder while he moved around and used defensive movements to keep the savages at bay while his father finished them off. It was an ongoing battle where the foes just seemed to keep coming from out of the shadows. Atreus now felt like they opened a can of worms by heading in here. They needed to finish this battle soon, or else they get overrun. And he knew that it would be going a lot faster if everyone was pitching in. Calliope needed to get herself in on the fight. She fought the undead; hell, she had been dead once before. Nothing should scare her now, and yet, here she was, acting her age at the wrong time. And that's when her brother spoke to her.

"Calliope, I know it's scary, but this is nothing!" She heard her say while he kept on launching arrows left and right. "You're stronger than you know! And braver too! I know it! Father knows it! You have to close your heart to them! We're just trying to survive!"

Kratos could overhear what his son was saying to his daughter and realized where it was going. Calliope needed the encouragement, the determination to fight, to survive by any means necessary. To take the life of another trying to take her. He will not see hers taken away so quickly.

"Έχει δίκιο ο αδερφός σου, Καλλιόπη! Να θυμάστε ότι είμαστε Σπαρτιάτες και δεν αφήνουμε ποτέ την πλάτη μας να χτυπήσει στο έδαφος! Πρέπει να είσαι δυνατός! Πρέπει να πολεμήσεις! (Your brother is right, Calliope! Remember that we are Spartans, and we never let our backs hit the ground! You must be strong! You must fight!)"

To hear that both her brother and father believe in her awakened something in Calliope. She had endured so much to survive, training with her mother, fighting through sickness, and living in loneliness in Elysium. She'll never forget the day her father gave her up, because he'd rather they'd both exist apart rather than spending a few last moments together. They're both alive now, together again, and she would not allow any cowardness to burden her family. Seeing another one of the feral men come their way, she took her knife, held it firmly, and the moment he was close enough, she jammed it into his face. His blood soon soaked her hands as Calliope ripped the blade from his head. As that one dropped, and came at her, swinging a bone-spiked club at her. She quickly dodged it and swung her knife, cutting the man's neck. He vainly held onto the wound and tried to swing again, only for Calliope to surprisingly grab him by the arm, twist it, and make him let go of the weapon. This gave her a chance to use it against him.

"Βάρβαρος! (Barbarian!)" She roared out as she swung the club and embedded it cleanly into his skull. However, that is when something flew past the young spartan girl, nearly hitting her as she could see that it was covered in bursting flames. Looking to see who through it, Calliope could see a new type of foe among these beasts, though much smaller, seemed to be wearing less furs and more feathers. A scout of some kind, one with eyes sharpened for accuracy in long-ranged attacks, if the sling she was spinning in her hands was any indication that she was a ranged fighter.

Calliope couldn't understand what scout was saying as she yelled out "ᚷᚱᚨᛒ ᛏᚺᛖ ᚷᛁᚱᛚ ᚠᛟᚱ ᛏᚺᛖ ᚲᚺᛁᛖᚠᛏᚨᛁᚾ! ᛚᛖᛏ ᚺᛖᚱ ᛒᛖ ᚨᚾ ᛖᛪᚨᛗᛈᛚᛖ!" But the moment that was ordered, were all of the foes seeming to be after the girl. However, that scout didn't last long, as the Leviathan Axe met with its body before ripping itself out and flying back into Kratos hand. Atreus stood in front of his sister as he continued to send arrows into more of the beasts, taking notice that more of them were coming after them.

"Father, they're surrounding us!" He called out to Kratos, to which the Old Warrior aimed his axe at the savages, picking targets and readying himself to throw as he said "Hang on!" And then, did he let the axe fly as it was the first target before it bounced onto the next, then the next, and before they knew it, the feral ones that circled both children of the Spartan were on the ground...unfortunately, only stunned, but in at least in pain.

"Come. We must move." Krato ordered both his kids and the two wasted no time rushing over to their father. They moved through an excess tunnel that lead deeper into the cave, to which Kratos looked to see a weakpoint above their heads. A quick throw of his axe one more time, and he split it in half, which was enough to make the support of the entrance full apart. The kids caught their breath as the way they came in collapsed and sealed off.

"I guess that should hold them off...for now." Atreus spoke.

"That was a little too exciting," Mimir remarked. "Quite the fight, but I didn't think it would be enough to force you into a tactical retreat, brother."

Kratos said back "We were wasting time and strength. I will not risk my children just to finish a needless fight. Let us find what we are looking for, then find another way out."

And with that, they continued, barely able to see anything, but at least the Bifrost provided some light. However, that light showed the red stains all over Calliope, her hands caked in blood. In the heat of the moment, her real first kill of another living being meant little to nothing to her. But in this darkness, hearing only her breathing and heartbeat, the young girl could feel herself going into shock after experiencing all that. She began to breathe heavily, and it caught the attention of her family, to which Atreus placed her hand on her shoulder and quickly made her turn her head to her brother...and show the tears running down her face. She was a spartan, she was trained to fight, to achieve victory, and most importantly, trained to kill. The first experience is never a good one, everyone present knew that well enough. But they trained themselves to never feel remorse for trying to survive against those who are doing much the same. Now, Calliope needed to be trained for that as well.

"...Close your heart to it." Atreus told her, keeping his hand on her shoulder and looking at her straight in the eyes. Calliope was so much like him when he first killed a Reaver, fighting back the tears, mustering her strength, showing that she wanted to be brave and continue on with this mission. Taking a deep breath, she faced her brother with an expression of determination. And was enough for Atreus to smile at her. "Come on. It won't be long now. I promise you that."

Though he might not ever show it, Kratos couldn't be more proud of his son for mentoring Calliope as he once did with him. The only thing he hopes for now is that Calliope continues to be a quick learner and adapts well to the harsh world they live in. With that, they continued on, Calliope walking ahead of the others while Kratos and Atreus followed behind.

"Well, you certainly know how to get the lass back on her feet, Little Brother." said Mimir.

"It's just like when we went up the Mountain. I've been through much the same as her."

Kratos then said "And you used the examples that I taught you. You are doing well in teaching her, Atreus."

"I did learn from the best, Father."

But that is when they heard Calliope call out to them, saying "Father! Atreus! Ελα γρήγορα! (Come quick!)" The two men quickly rush over to where they entered another wide-open chamber, except that this one had an entire horde of treasure. Gold and relics of all sorts of variation...from different lands and cultures. Atreus stepped up to the pile and picked a familiar-looking crown.

"I've seen these before. They were in Tyr's vault!" He said.

"It would seem that our new guests have helped themselves inside." said Mimir. "I did not think that possible. But I for one do not tolerate this form of raiding and vandalism."

Then Kratos spoke up "These relics matter little to us. If these 'Raider' had collected anything useful for Calliope's weapon, we will find it."

"Τι είναι αυτό εκεί πάνω; (What is that up there?)" Calliope asked, pointing to something 'floating' on top of the pile. It looked to be some kind of golden ore, a mineral that was dispensing a faint, but light-filled aura. Curiosity getting the better of her, Calliope decided to get and take a look at it, climbing over the pile of gold and having the strange rock close in hand.

"Calliope, πρόσεχε! (be careful!)" Kratos shouted. "Δεν ξέρουμε τι είναι αυτό. (We do not know what that is.)"

"It's not like we haven't grabbed anything we didn't know about before." Atreus remarked, receiving a cold look from his father. But then, Calliope slid down the golden pile with the mineral in hand. They could see that it was in a crystalline form, the very top of it almost seemed to be in the shape of a blade. It was a metal, though, no doubt about that.

"Might I have a look at what we're seeing here?" Mimir asked, having Kratos take his head and lift it up to show him the mineral. But upon seeing it, Mimir expression turned...to confusion? It was a look that didn't slip pass Kratos.

"Do you know what this is?"

Mimir took a moment to reply. "...Uh...You usually would not hear this coming from me...but I haven't the faintest idea of what this is."

"You...you're kidding. Right, Mimir?" asked Atreus.

"For once, I wish I was lad. But to be honest, I've never seen a mineral such as this in my days. Although, hmm..."

"What is it?" Kratos asked.

"Do you ever have that sense of familiarity towards an object you have yet to see in your life?"

"No." Kratos answered, and Atreus also said "I don't think so."

"Ah. Well, then I guess I'm at a loss."

"Μπορούμε να το χρησιμοποιήσουμε για το δόρυ μου; (Can we use this for my spear?)"

"We're not sure yet, Cal." Atreus placed a hand on the ore. "This...thing does seem to have some sort of power in it. Not like we've seen before, but it's something...what do you think, father?"

"If that power can be harnessed and used for our needs. The dwarves may have more favor in deciphering its uses than we do at the moment."

"Well, I guess that settles it. Let's find a way out of here and head back to the temple."

"Θα πάρω σύντομα το όπλο μου με αυτό; (Will I be getting my weapon soon with this?)" Kratos answered his daughter "Πολύ πιθανό, μικρή Μούσα. (Quite possibly, little Muse.)

Looking around the chamber, Atreus didn't see a way out, given that their father sealed the way they came in.

"So...how do we get out of here? There doesn't seem-" Before he could finish that sentence, however, the pile of treasure that filled up the room seemed to explode out of nowhere, and something came charging toward Kratos. But the Old God was able to stop the burly brute from attacking him, grabbing hold of the weapon it was using, which was a more staff-like weapon with tusks at the end of it. And their new enemy seemed to have been the boss of the Raiders they've been facing, having a more hulkish physique with a fur-covered attire that acted as both protection and a weapon. But even an ox-like beast such as this stood no chance against Kratos, who managed to lift him off his feet and charge right back, now sending it through the passage it just opened up. Atreus and Calliope followed through and the two jumped from where they stood...into an arena, where the rest of the Raiders they left behind had regrouped.

"Oh no. I was hoping we have left these guys behind!" Atreus said as he pulled back out his bow.

Throwing the chieftain away from him, Kratos pulled out his axe and said "Arms up! We fight now!"

"ᛏᚨᚴᛖ ᛏᚺᛖ ᛚæᚡᚨᛏᛖᛁᚾᚾ ᚠᚱᛟᛗ ᛏᚺᛖ ᚷᛁᚱᛚ! ᛏᚺᛖᚤ ᛗᚢᛋᛏ ᚾᛟᛏ ᚺᚨᚡᛖ ᛁᛏ!" The chieftain roared as he pointed to the ore in Calliope's arms, and once again, were all sights on her now. And seeing where this was going, Atreus had Calliope stay behind him.

"Father! They're going after the crystal!"

"Let them have it! It's not worth getting ourselves killed!" Mimir yelled.

"Head!"

"D'oh, alright! Fine! It's your funeral!"

Kratos huffed at Mimir's inexistent faith, as he underestimated how they dealt with this situation before. Wasting no more time, they got fighting again, a fight that Kratos wished to end quicker than before, as he swung and sent the axe spinning around him while he dealt with the Chieftain with his bare hands. Meanwhile, Atreus had his own hands full with the other Raiders and scouts trying to run at him, and he couldn't reload fast enough. Fortunately, Calliope was there to provide close-ranged attacks with her knife, swinging and being able to cut arms and even the necks of those who got close. But she could see that she and her brother were practically backed up against a wall and would be overwhelmed soon. However, she could also see that the Raiders seemed to be coming after her the most, or much rather ore she held in her hands, and that's when she had an idea.

"Atreus, πήγαινε μαζί! (go along!)" She said, gaining her brother's attention.

"What?"

"...R-R-Run!" She managed to get out, pushing her brother away before having to dodge another spiked coming her way. Atreus was a little taken back by this, but then he looks to see what Calliope had in store, holding the ore up high before she wound up throwing it into the air. Acting quickly, the boy was barely able to run along and catch the ore in his hands, nearly letting it slip but keeping a firm grip on it.

"Got it!" He said, but not before having to deal with another Raider coming in and unable to use his bow at the moment, Atreus wound up using the ore to block the attack, and even that barely worked. The Raider's weapon managed to break a piece of the mineral off itself, which suddenly caused a bright light to burst out of the crash, forcing Atreus to drop the rock and shield his eyes. Everyone did the same as the light intensified by the second.

"ᛏᚺᛖ ᛚᚨᛖᚡᚨᛏᛖᛁᚾᚾ'ᛋ ᚠᛁᚱᛖ!"

"ᛁᛏ'ᛋ ᛏᛟᛟ ᛒᚱᛁᚷᚺᛏ!"

"ᛗᚨᚴᛖ ᛁᛏ ᛋᛏᛟᛈ!"

Fortunately, this left the raiders open as Kratos wasted no time picking off the rest of them and finishing the chieftain, who Kratos used his open against him, slamming him to the ground and snapping his neck with it. With the battle done, the light coming from the ore soon began to dim before fading away altogether. The three soon went over to it, with Calliope slowly picking the rock back up again.

"I was not ready for that," Atreus said. "It was a huge light! Almost as intense as that of Alfheim."

Mimir then also spoke up "The way the raiders spoke of it. Calling it...Lævateinn. I can't recall if I've heard that before or if it is something I've yet to hear. Just the name of it..."

"Yeah. I think I know what you mean. This is the first I've heard of it, and yet...it sounds familiar to me?"

Calliope looked up at her father and asked "Μπορούμε ακόμα να το χρησιμοποιήσουμε, Father? (Can we still use it, Father?)"

Normally Kratos would discard something like that, but after seeing the intensity of that light, he knew its usefulness had been proven. Now if the Dwarves can weaponize it, then they'll be one step closer to getting Calliope fully ready to survive Fimbulwinter. With that in mind, Kratos turned to see a new light coming from outside, discovering their way out.

"Come." He said to both his kids. "To the temple. Bring the rock."

After hearing that, Calliope happily continued to carry the ore in her hands as they headed out of the cave and back to the frozen lake...

Sorry for the long delay. My only excuse is that I've been working on requested stories on Deviantart, and they've run amuck. Only now, have I had time to get to this story again and finally get to what some things people have been waiting for...Now, I have no idea what should happen after Calliope gets her spear. Speaking of which, yes. Her weapon is the Spear of Loki, which makes sense when you think about it. But it's gonna work a little differently than Draupnir, you'll see.

Hope you're share some ideas for what the future has in store for Kratos and his two kids. Might be more people from his past coming soon.

- Light