The drowsy eyes looked at the Goddess who was still worried for the boy in the bed. He tried to move his body but it was for the most part heavy, he could move his arms but to a certain degree since one of them was under the blanket and the other one was still being held by Skadi.

"Ragnar…" She muttered, "I am glad that you woke up."

"Ugh, where… where am I? "

His eyes were directed at his surroundings. It was definitely not the forge, his room or Fimbulvetr for that matter. It was somewhere he never visited before. A big room with multiple beds and a lot of medical equipment; they were the only ones in that room and it was quiet, the sun was coming out of the windows to the side which meant that it was still the morning. Other than that he had no clues as to the important details.

"You are in the hospital. I was with you the entire time, hoping that you would wake up." The grip on Ragnar's hand became tighter. "I was so worried when I heard the news and then when I saw you and Noel…"

"Noel…" He took another glance at his surroundings, the beds were still empty. "Where is he?"

"He is fine, if that's what you're wondering. They discharged him a few days ago and he is back in Fimbulvetr resting, probably worried about you."

"That's good. Eh, that he's fine I mean, not that he's worried about me." Ragnar buried his head on the pillow and sighed. "How long was I here?"

"Tomorrow is going to be two weeks. Even though you were stable you would still not wake up." Skadi gave a brief smile at him. "So, do you remember anything at all? "

That was the big question that still loomed. He was unconscious for almost two weeks but images from the Dungeon popped up in his head.

The battle against the bear, how he saved Brynhildr and she came back with reinforcements. He and Noel were heavily injured from the battle and just remembering all the damage caused by that monster was more than enough to bring him back the memories of pain.

Ragnar clutched at his chest, feeling the bandages that were covering his torso.

"Somewhat. What happened to me exactly?"

"It was…" Skadi bit her lip, "you were in such a horrible state. One of Heimdall's children told me that you lost a lot of blood and your body suffered so many injuries. You were stable, yes, but that did not stop me from being worried. When I finally saw you I-…"

There was silence afterwards. Ragnar felt and saw how heartbroken Skadi was from that scene. While deep inside he could say that it was worth it, that he killed the bear and on top of that he survived, there was also the idea lingering that none of that could've gone as well as it did. Maybe the bear could've lived or worse, taken both their lives.

No, that was just the wrong mindset to have at the moment, he should be thankful that he was still alive.

"Skadi"

"Ragnar"

They both talked at the same time.

"No, you go first, Goddess."

"Please."

Ragnar sighed, he couldn't say no to her, not after hiding things from her. "Fine…" He raised his head and looked at the deity. "Skadi… I'm sorry." This prompted her to raise a brow followed by a confused look on her face.

"I've been hiding this from you for a while now. Hunting the bear that destroyed my village and many more, the one that killed many people, including my father." He clenched his fist, no longer bound by Skadi's hand. "I've been tracking it, gathering information here in Orario and trying to get stronger just to fight it. I wanted to do it alone but Noel wanted to help and I also asked Brynhildr to assists us, and we went to the Middle Floors to find it but it all went wrong at first and then-…"

"Ragnar." Skadi interrupted his retelling of that day at the Dungeon. It was like letting a big weight out of his shoulders, he felt the crushing guilt leave his body with each word. He was not expecting her to forgive him but if anything she had every right to know what happened and why.

"Sorry… I needed to let all that out. And I don't know if you can forgive me for what I did but I… I just needed to say that. I'm sorry for what I did, even though I knew it was wrong, but I couldn't let it go."

Silence once again.

The Goddess closed her eyes for a moment. She was uncertain on how to feel at that moment, perhaps she should be happy that her child finally came clean despite her worries or that she was right about said worries, perhaps sad that in fact she was correct on the hunch that something was going on but yet decided not to stop him.

Maybe it was guilt what she was also suffering that perhaps this situation could've been avoided or at the very least not tackled in such a way that ended with her only two children visiting the hospital.

Ragnar was ready to receive the biggest scolding of his life, not from a person like his father but from a deity. He started to prepare himself but knew that no matter how much he tried to do it she would have the upper hand.

"Thank you."

He was also not prepared for those words either, or the tears that started to pour down her eyes.

"Thank you Ragnar… I also feel like a massive weight has been lifted from my shoulders as well. All this time I have been worried that you were troubled with something and I couldn't find a way to approach you. I was worried that you were hurt, or that maybe I did something that could've offended you." The words felt like needles for him, each one striking with complete precision.

"I feared all this time that if I stopped you from going to the Dungeon you might just leave the Familia or outright not listen to anything I would say. I always wanted the best for you and Noel but you were still such a mystery to me, one that felt too far away…"

"Skadi, please, no. You did nothing wrong, I was the one who should have listened to you, maybe we would be back in Fimbulvetr, celebrating a victory or just… in a better situation maybe. This is my fault."

They looked at each other, one of them worried while the other still filled with guilt.

"How about… we say that we were both at fault? It might be best for the two of us."

"Heh, fair enough." They laughed. The moment of tension that was happening a moment ago suddenly vanished.

"But, Ragnar, you must understand that I must give you a proper punishment for what you did."

"I understand and I will take it, as long as Noel is kept out of it." The Captain was prepared. He believed that what he did was big enough that it could warrant an equal punishment, but what kind of things would she have in mind? Maybe no dinner for a week? Or perhaps not leaving his room for an equal period of time? The possibilities were endless and that's what made him worried.

"Very well, I do believe that because of your transgressions you will not go to the Dungeon for a period of time. Thom gave me your weapons since your armor, as well as most of your clothes for that matter, were completely destroyed. Once the punishment is over I will give them back to you." Ragnar nodded, that didn't seem too bad to him.

"As such, you will not be go to the Dungeon for fifty years."

Something inside of Ragnar broke, like a dagger stabbing him right into his heart. He didn't broke because he received a punishment, he broke because of the type of it.

"Fif-… fifty years?! Skadi I don't even know if I'll be able to fight fifty years from now!" It was ridiculous, perhaps for a Goddess like her that time meant nothing but for a human like him?

"I do believe it is a fair punishment."

"But I said I was sorry…"

"And I am grateful that you did, and that you have seen the error of your ways. Otherwise the punishment would've been two hundred years."

"Ah-…" Yet another dagger into Ragnar's heart, this one dug deeper.

Their conversation continued, a bargain between both sides as to how to reduce his sentence. However, it was cut short when someone entered in the room. A few knocks caught their attention and from the opposite side came a familiar figure that was slowly approaching the bed.

"You finally woke up. That's good news."

The familiar figure was no other than Brynhildr, although it was a surprise for Ragnar to see her in a different attire that wasn't the combat uniform. She wore a white buttoned up blouse and dark blue shorts that covered most of her legs along with some black and white running shoes. On top of that she still had her cape with the brooch that depicted the two ravens.

Ragnar remembered that she had some bruises and blood back in the Dungeon but right now she didn't have any of those injuries whatsoever.

"Bryn, if I have to be honest I was not expecting you to be here."

"You are the girl who saved him?" Skadi asked the newcomer.

"It was less saving him and more that I was able to bring reinforcements that could help him before the worse could happen. If anything, Lady Skadi, I was paying back since he was the one who saved me during that fight."

But the Goddess did not answer quickly, she stood up from her chair and bowed in front of Brynhildr.

"G-Goddess, what are you-?" It was not just Ragnar who was surprised at the deity's sudden actions but also Bryn who had to take a step back.

"There are not enough words to express how thankful I am. You may think that it was just trying to return the favor but you were able to keep my children alive." Skadi's words felt true, she was speaking from the heart; the Captain has never seen her bow or act like this and while it was definitely a surprise it did show him a different side of Skadi amidst of how much she keeps to herself to the rest of the world.

"I always heard that Odin's children were disciplined but I had the impression that they look out for each other, not someone from outside their Familia."

"Lady Skadi, please, it's…" There was no doubt that she wanted to say something at the moment but could not utter that word she had in mind. "You are correct on your thoughts; we are disciplined and we look after each one in the Familia but we know when we have to pay our dues."

"Ragnar saved me not once but twice and in each occasion I have repaid it back, therefore we are even."

"What about the time you saved me from that lesser orc? "

Bryn smiled. "Then I hope that you will eventually repay your dues when the time comes." She sighed afterwards. "But my visit was not just to call things even, I was worried about your wellbeing and visited a few times but I only peeked through the door and every time I saw your Goddess watching over you in silence."

"Ah, so the unnamed visitor was you." Skadi raised her head once again, her lips curled on a gentle smile. "Again, you have my thanks for helping and worrying about my children."

"Yeah, thank you Bryn. Though, I have to admit that seeing you like that is quite uncommon." He pointed at her clothes. "I always imagined you going around with your armor."

This elicited a little huff from the warrior girl. "If we are not training or going to the Dungeon we are not obligated to wear our uniforms or armor, however the cape stays." She took a quick glance to her side, fluttering the dark cape with her elbow.

"Well, I think I took enough of your time."

"No, please. You can stay a bit more if you want, you are not bothering." Ragnar immediately tried to stop her but he was unable while being bedridden and Skadi shook her head, agreeing with the Captain's idea.

"Thank you but even though I have free time, it is limited. If we are to keep our reputation as a disciplined Familia then we ought to follow its rules." Brynhildr did a gentle bow to Skadi and gave a smile to Ragnar, another rare sight in the day. "We will meet again Ragnar, after all you could use some more training."

The brunette turned around and left the room, hearing voices on the other side of the door as she opened the door.

There was another visitor waiting to enter, it was the same dwarf that she met during the Dungeon and assisted in beating the bear and saving Ragnar.

Thom turned his head and smiled, stroking his beard as he saw the girl approaching.

"Ah, you are Odin's girl, are you? Paying a visit to the man of the hour?"

"Yes, he finally woke up after all this time. Though I doubt he'll be leaving the hospital for a while."

"Hah! As if this place is going to stop him. He'll be back in the Dungeon in no time, just you watch." The dwarf nodded at the girl as he walked past her and opened the door where both Ragnar and Skadi were. "Heard the news that you woke up!" He closed it afterwards and Bryn only heard murmurs.

With that part of the day done, she bid farewell to the nurse and walked out of the hospital.

Orario had a series of cloudy days with a lot of dark, threatening for some rain. Summer ended a week ago and the warm temperatures were slowly fading as a trail of cold was soon arriving. It would still be a few more months before winter would arrive and snow would start to fall in the Labyrinth City so it was best to enjoy the view of clean streets until then.

Her dark brown irises were locked on the clouds, keeping some thoughts in her mind. She felt something nearby, a person? No, it was something more, a strong aura that could only be created by a higher being, a deity.

"Hey." A man was leaning by a lamppost near the entrance. Its attire was extravagant and his face showed no harm, if anything the smile removed any kind of threat despite the overwhelming aura. "You are the girl who saved Ragnar, right?"

"Oh, I apologize Lord Heimdall, I was not paying attention to you before." Bryn placed a hand to her chest and bowed. "But yes, I assisted Ragnar but I will repeat what I told the Goddess, I just merely brought reinforcements, if anything it is your children who did most of the work."

"No need to be humble, you did your part as well! Although I do have some questions as to what happened there. Why weren't you in the first place with Skadi's boys? "

"We were being attacked and Ragnar pushed me out of the bear's way. It was perhaps a miracle that I survived the collapse of the tunnel. Then I had to find my way around and ended up encountering your children." The response was serious and Heimdall knew that those words were true.

"Huh… I see. Do you think you could've killed the bear if you weren't split up?"

"Excuse me?"

"Ah, sorry." He chuckled. "What I meant to say is: Do you think you three could've easily defeated the bear if you weren't split up?"

"Uhm... I suppose? It is true that I have much more experience in combat than the two of them, so maybe it is easy to say that yes, it would've been easier."

"And how much combat experience would you say that you have?" Heimdall approached the girl.

There was a moment of tension and silence. The eyes of Brynhildr were focused on the ones from the God who were fully open.

But rather than waiting for an answer he laughed instead and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Ha! I'm sorry I was practicing my menacing look" Heimdall sighed, lowering his shoulders as he relaxed. "Some of my children say that I should act more like the old me but… I just don't want to, you know? "

"Y-yeah… was… was that all, Lord Heimdall?"

"Yes, sorry for taking your time." The two of them exchanged a nod before Brynhildr set off again for a few steps before the God called out to her. "Ah, if you could indulge me one last question. How is he? "

"Oh? Ragnar? He woke up today, aside from all the bandages that he has, he seems to be regaining his energy."

"That's wonderful news!" Heimdall clapped. "But I did not mean the Captain, I meant him."

Brynhildr immediately knew who the God meant. Her casual (yet slightly confused) demeanor shifted to completely serious. Something that the likes of Ragnar and Noel have never seen.

"The usual. Rarely leaves home and supervises everyone's training. Other than that he is not the most talkative type." Bryn's voice turned quiet, as opposed of how she spoke before this time felt more menacing, an immediate shift that took Heimdall by surprise even.

"Huh… Well, and here I thought I could actually invite him for a drink. Old Man hasn't changed in all these years hasn't he? " The God shook his head. "Well, when you see him do send my regards and that he ought to come to the next Denatus, would like to talk to him every now and then."

The God tapped the girl's shoulder and walked past her. "That was all, thank you for your time! " He said goodbye with a cheerful tone in the end and entered the hospital.

Brynhildr saw the deity leave, glancing back at him from the corner of her vision. The dark eyes showing some contempt, a very strong feeling that definitely

She muttered some words under her breath before leaving the hospital grounds and heading back to her home.

…

After waking up, Ragnar's condition started to improve and his body recovered most of the strength. The final verdict was that on top of the blood loss, serious injuries and broken bones, the Captain also suffered from massive exhaustion, similar to the effects of Mind Down albeit in his case no one could determine what caused it.

During his time in the hospital he received a letter from the Guild, more specifically from Estherisiana, who wanted to meet him for an important talk. So his return to Fimbulvetr would be slightly delayed.

While Noel was waiting back at home, Skadi accompanied Ragnar from the hospital to the Guild. Their walk was slow and the Goddess kept talking about how Fimbulvetr was done with the renovations and that he'll be delighted to see how everything looks now.

Their little trip stopped at the Guild building, the Goddess waited outside while Ragnar went in to deal with any business. He waited in line and when it was his turn he immediately saw the employee working on the front desk.

"Hey, Es-… Miss Estherisiana." He cleared his throat and corrected himself. "I received your letter."

"Ah, Mister Ragnar, I am glad that you are back on your feet and hope that you are feeling better. Now, would you mind following me to one of the private rooms?" The way the elf talked gave the Captain an awkward vibe, despite how gentle her voice and manners were he could sense something else, a murderous intent that was well hidden behind that smile of hers.

Fighting monsters has taught him when to sense danger and this was no different, he was walking to his death.

Esther opened the door and led him to one of the private rooms. He could hear people in some of the other rooms as well as seeing more of the Guild employees walking around with books.

"Please, in here." She gestured at the open door and Ragnar, despite his gut saying the opposite, walked in.

The room was no different than the one he used the first time. A small place with some bookcases, a table with two chairs and some paintings.

It was a good distraction and pleasing to the eye. At least for a brief moment…

Click

The door was locked, a simple yet terrifying sound. He paid frequent visits to the Guild building to do his usual exchange of crystals for Valis and even did some quick talks with his `boss´ but overall there was nothing meaningful in those conversations.

Until now.

"Ragnar… I need you to confirm something with me. Have you, by any chance, visited the Middle Floors? "

"Uhm… maybe? " He slowly turned around only to face an angry elf. Her face was as read as her hair and it wasn't just blush, it was the epitome of fury. She took rapid steps towards him and grabbed the Captain by the shirt.

He expected her strength to be immense, that she would throw him around like a level five would do. But instead her attempt was merely that, slightly pushing and pulling him in place.

"WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU GO TO THE MIDDLE FLOORS WITHOUT MY PERMISSION?! YOU COULD'VE DIED THERE. YOUR STATS ARE NOT AS GOOD AS YOU THINK. YOU ARE STILL NOT CUT FOR THE MIDDLE AREA." The yelling continued and even if the rooms were soundproof, other Guild members would peek around the corner just to hear the mild outburst that was happening, yet no one dared to stop her.

"Esther… Esther. Esther, please stop!"

The pleas from Ragnar and the fatigue from the girl were enough for her to stop. She was trying to catch her breath but at no point released Ragnar from her weak grip.

"I needed…" Her chest heaved, breathing heavily after her lungs had to endure that long scolding session. "I needed to get that out." She let go off him and went to one of the chairs and had a seat. "Please… just…" The Guild employee waved her hand as if gesturing for Ragnar to also sit down.

With no other words he obliged and found his way with the other chair in the room.

"You haven't reported or even done anything for a few days and no one heard anything about you. I had to visit your home and talk to your friend in order to know what happened exactly. I couldn't abandon my post so the best thing I could do was send the letter. Now tell me, Ragnar: Why?"

"Well, I will admit that I didn't want to say anything to worry you but… I suppose I owe you the full story."

And so Ragnar let out everything from the beginning, why he left his home and arrived at Orario to become an adventurer. His investigation and eventual findings on where the bear was. He skimped on some details but overall Esther was satisfied with the story. Although that did not mean she was happy about it.

"…and only today I was released from the hospital. Figured the first thing I should do was visit the Guild."

The elf was covering her face. There was a mixture of emotions running in her head, mainly disappointment and anger but at the same time it was relief. It was a good sign that Ragnar was improving but she did not want him to take unnecessary risks, even more so when he was being pretty stubborn and quiet about it.

Esther took a deep breath, placing her hands on the table.

"I should've told you not to do it." She laid back on the chair. "I should've… When you came here to tell me about the expedition I should've just told you that you were not prepared. I thought that being with strong people you could manage around the Middle Floors but then that happened. Now I don't know how many times you gone down there behind my back."

"I should be mad, but at the same time I keep blaming myself. It's too late now and maybe you got your taste on what lurks in those places, maybe with enough preparation you could take on that place but even then it's risky…"

"So what now? Am I prohibited to go down there? "

"Can I even stop you? " Esther shook her head. "No, maybe I am just being too careful, perhaps you are far stronger than you look, maybe you are prepared for the Middle Floors and I was trying to keep you down? I… I don't know anymore."

"Esther, you did nothing wrong, you are not at fault. Even if I went down there I was able to put up a fight, I know how to keep me and Noel safe, we work together for that."

"Well, I guess being stubborn also meant that you would refuse to go down so I guess that's a silver lining." The redhead giggled. "Ragnar, let's restart this from the beginning, yeah? " The blond nodded in response.

"From now on, I hope we do have a better communication between you and me, and this also includes your friend. I am formally allowing you to go to the Middle Floors if you promise me that you won't go too far. What happened is proof that you are strong enough for that place but for now I would suggest that you recover from your wounds." She pointed at the bandages in his hands and arms. "Can I at least sleep tonight knowing that you will be more careful from now on? "

"Yeah…" Ragnar returned the smile. "I can promise that."

"Good. I trust that things will get better from now on." Esther stood up and went to the door, unlocking it. "When you and Noel are fully recovered, please do visit me. I will give you a good rundown on what the Middle Floors are all about."

"Sure." Ragnar also got up and approached the door. "I'll take that offer eventually."

"Stay safe Ragnar."

"You too Esther."

The end of this conversation led the Captain back to the streets where he found Skadi waiting for him already.

"Everything alright? I heard some yelling."

"Yeah, just… some disagreements here and there."

Ragnar did not want to make any more comments about it and neither Skadi felt like she needed to know more. With all said and done they set off to Fimbulvetr, where they would spend the rest of the day.

The outside didn't change much. The wooden wall blocked any vision to the plot and the doors were closed, strange considering it was still early in the afternoon.

Ragnar and Skadi pushed and the blond was finally able to see some of the changes. Although he was aware of some of them during the renovation phase, seeing the residences and the forge in a decent state made him smile. The grass was cut and the stone paths were cleared of any rubble or grass that was growing from them.

The residences were all empty but if anything they could be used if they had any guests that needed to stay over or if new people would join the Familia.

The forge was also empty but if anything the sight of rusty tools and a ruined anvil and furnace were no more.

The pedestal was cleaned but there was no statue or anything related to the Familia, perhaps it could have a different use later. There were gardens of flowers around it and in many open spots of Fimbulvetr.

But the two things that stood out the most were a training area on the right side and of course the mead hall.

The training grounds already had some targets for ranged practice and plenty of mannequins in storage; it was definitely a better place than when he and Noel used to train with Thom.

And now the mead hall. The rooftop was finally fixed and the new coat of paint gave the place new life and the banners with the snowflake in the center gave him a strange feeling from within, he represented that symbol, the one from his Familia, the one from Skadi. The banners had an almost white-blue color, resembling ice.

"Welcome home, Ragnar." Skadi smiled at him and opened the doors to the mead hall and they both entered.

He was impressed with the work that was done outside but on the inside? Not only was the interior repair but the hall looked far bigger without rubble laying around.

The tables were repaired and rather than having benches there were chairs, two carpets decorating the stone floor as well as many more snowflake banners hanging from the walls.

In the center was an already lit fire pit that gave some good lightning and if that wasn't enough there were many lamps that kept the place alive even in the darkest corners of the main room.

He could already see that the original design was still there albeit in a better looking state. The office's doors were open and the place looked clean with just a quick glance and the kitchen was definitely bigger than before.

"Glad to have you back, Ragnar!" Noel greeted the Captain but he was not alone.

Along with the second member of the Skadi Familia there was also Heimdall and his trusty dwarf Captain.

"Welcome back to your home, boy! " The greetings from Thom were accompanied by the God clapping his hands and with a cheerful smile.

"Lord Heimdall, Thom. What are you doing here? "

"Ska-cha told us you would come home today so what best to celebrate Fimbulvetr going back to its old glory and your return with a housewarming party?" Heimdall shrugged afterwards. "But alas, I couldn't bring my finest brew since she said that neither of you like alcohol, and I think our snowy hair here is still too young."

"It's fine, I'm happy that you two are here." Ragnar returned the smile, he was happy of seeing two friends of the Familia.

"Ah, but do not let my God's words distract you since we didn't come here with our hands empty. Skadi, would you mind if I do the honors? "

"Be my guest, after all you planned this."

"Skadi? "

"Well. Considering the not-so recent events, we saw that you lost your armor. Frankly a tragic loss but that just marks the beginning of a new thing." As the dwarf spoke, Ragnar noticed that Thom was not sitting on one of the chairs, instead he was sitting on top of a chest.

"You see, killing the bear not only yielded a pretty hefty crystal but also an item drop. Most specifically the fur." Thom stood up from the chest and pushed it towards Ragnar, it was already unlocked so all it needed was the magic touch to open it. "So I proposed this idea to both Heimdall and Skadi and decided to work on something with the help of some friends. Go on, it's all yours."

Curiosity got to him and Ragnar quickly opened the chest. His eyes widened and became bright when he saw what the chest contained. The sound of the chainmail on his fingers accompanied by a long cape made of the bear's fur. The head of the creature was adorning one of the shoulders.

The chainmail was light to the touch but definitely way sturdier than the leather armor he used before, on top of having a better look to it. The gear was accompanied by a pair of gloves and boots.

"W-Wow… this is… Thom, Heimdall, Goddess… I…"

"Do note that you are not to go to the Dungeon just yet. Not just for your wounds but because of what you did…" Skadi reminded the Captain of his punishment.

"I know… can I still try it? " Everyone seemed to agree to the idea and Ragnar started to get into the armor.

As he expected, the chainmail felt lighter than his previous armor and far better, protecting him in more places and allowing for even more movement. This would be quite useful due to his combat style.

The gloves and the boots were slightly uncomfortable at first but it was just a matter of getting used to them.

He tried to move in them, taking a few steps around only to feel his body is still slow and not in top shape. All those weeks of lying in bed took a number on him.

"This feels great. Thanks! "

"You earned it, boy."

"Oh! Wait, there is something that armor needs. Be right back." Skadi quickly made her way to the office. The four of them could hear the sound of drawers opening until they could hear her say "Aha! " And returned with everyone else.

"Here, let me help you." The Goddess leaned forward and started adding something to the cape, something she was happy about and Ragnar could notice it in her very eyes. "And… there."

The blond look down and finally saw the addition. It was a white-blue brooch that had the insignia of the Familia. A black snowflake, a symbol that he has seen many times and in many cases felt tied to it. Whether it was the snow from his homeland, the cold winds that moved Skadi around or just a pretty symbol, he started to get attached to it.

"Thanks, Goddess…"

"You are the Captain of my Familia, Ragnar. Wear that symbol with honor and people will follow you."

To say that he was proud of it was probably not enough. Everything was going his way at the moment, the recovery, the dead bear and even a new armor which bore the fur of his enemy as a trophy.

It felt surreal being at that point, the only thing he needed right now was to get back in shape for the Dungeon and continue his path, albeit without a giant monster looming over his mind.

"Ragnar, what are your orders? " Noel asked him and everyone's attention shifted to the blond.

"Uhm… let's… celebrate, I guess? It is a housewarming party after all! "

The celebrations, while small, were enjoyable. Heimdall spent most of the time telling tales to the boys while Thom was just sharing some combat strategies for when they would return to the field.

Skadi on the other hand was just happy seeing both her children back, it gave her a little peace of mind knowing that things could go back to normal.

As the festivities ended in Fimbulvetr and everyone returned home, everyone decided to go to their rooms to finish the day.

Ragnar's room didn't change much in terms of design but it had a few extra additions, namely a bookcase with one book that Noel gave him: Dungeon Oratoria. There was also a new armor rack which was now in use for his new armor and lastly a mirror.

The Captain looked at the reflection of himself. Most of the bandages were gone and he was almost done with the torso. But the more he removed the more he noticed something on his chest.

Back in the hospital they told him that while his body recovered, there would be still be some scars from battle.

Four claws going across his body, marking where the bear caused the most damage. It was a miracle that he survived that attack, let alone winning that entire conflict. But if anything it will serve him as a reminder not to be reckless and to rely on others when a burden as big as that one fell on his shoulders.

"Ragnar? " Skadi knocked on the open door and entered, noticing the bare back of the Captain and seeing his reflection on the mirror as well. "How are you feeling? "

"Tired. It was a long day and my body still feels heavy." The blond stretched his arms, still glancing at the scars. "At least I'll always have something to remember that fight. But all these weeks I started to reflect on things."

"Oh? " The Goddess went deeper in the room and sat on the bed. "What were you reflecting about? "

"That I have been a stubborn fool, for starters." He smiled. "Perhaps none of this could've been avoided but I would've never been this injured if I had more people backing me up. Maybe I should follow the advice to rely on others even more."

"We are a Familia, Ragnar. A family. We all rely on each other, on our friends and allies. No person is an island and a burden like yours shouldn't be carried alone." The Goddess smiled, not at the words but at the boy.

"Alone…" If there was something that stuck with him was what many people said already. Thom and Heimdall talking about past memories of the Familia, how they worked together to help him take down the bear.

There was an undeniable truth. Someone of his level and capabilities could not survive the Middle Floors alone, even less what lurked beyond that; with Noel his chances of success grew but there was so much the two of them could do.

Getting stronger was one thing but there was more to it. The Skadi Familia in the past used to be bigger and somewhat powerful according to the Goddess.

"Ragnar? " The brunette looked worried at the silent Captain who was pondering in front of the mirror.

"Mh? Oh, sorry Skadi. I was caught in a thought. Maybe I'll need to consult it with the pillow."

"Then I will let you be." Skadi stood from the bed and patted the Captain's head. "By the way, you changed."

"Huh? How so? " Ragnar looked down at himself, confused at her words.

"No, not physically." A quiet giggle came out. "I wasn't certain but today I saw you and I can say that you indeed changed. Before the event your voice was somewhat quiet, deep and you muttered a lot of things to yourself, as if thinking something on your own. But today you felt more… outgoing, your body language spoke different of that and your voice was loud. You were happy."

"Good night Ragnar."

"Good night, Goddess." As she walked past him, the blond turned his head at the door. "Ah, Skadi, can I ask you one last thing? "

"Mh? Sure, what is it? "

"On the first day that we met back at the inn. You said that you were the one that I was looking for." She nodded. "But then you said that I was not the person you were expecting." There was a pregnant pause, she remembered that conversation but did not understand where Ragnar was going with it.

"Skadi, have you ever met my father? "

Complete silence in the room. The tall woman's eyes stopped looking at Ragnar and instead focused on an imaginary point in front of her.

In a second many memories flowed back to her, something that she kept on the back of her mind. Voices of the past returning and calling her name, images of a place long gone, of souls that have departed.

Her hands clenched, the nails slightly scratching the wood from the door.

And then she snapped back to reality.

"Mh… good night Ragnar." The door closed and even if the Captain wanted to stop her, she already retreated to her room.

Act 1

End

And here we are, the end of Act 1. It has been quite enjoyable starting to build up the story of Ragnar and Skadi and adding more characters to it as well as more conflict. However the bear was just one conflict in the story and Skadi still has some skeletons in the closet.

So what now? Well, I'll go back to the drawing board and prepare in full for Act 2. I can say already that Act 2 will be longer than the first one. I can't say how many major arcs it will feature but I will take some time to develop certain events and also new characters. And who's to say that more familiar faces will show up?

Only time will tell!

As always, thanks to everyone who's been following the story, and putting as favorite. It may not be the most popular Danmachi story and certainly it is very far from perfect but this personal project is something that's been on my mind for a long time and I was able to finally put it into text and post it.

But enough sentimental talk. Hope you are all having a great week and as always:

See you in the next chapter!