It was not that early in the morning, the sun was almost at its zenith and Orario was as lively as ever. It was a perfect day for venturing the depths of the Dungeon.

Or rather almost perfect.

Fimbulvetr was far from quiet this morning, on the open area that was now designated as training grounds, there were two mannequins made of wood and straw, they were both equipped with a very rudimentary (if not makeshift) shield and a toy sword along with a horned helm that looked anything but useful. Right next to them were two targets also made of wood and straw but they had red circles painted on them.

Thud

The axe hit the edge of the outer circle and fell to the side, barely making a dent on the target itself.

A tongue clicking and a disappointing sound came afterwards; an annoyed Ragnar walked towards the target and picked up the axe from the grass.

"If you only use your arm to throw you will never hit the target." The captain of the Skadi Familia was not alone, Noel was accompanying him being mostly an observer but there was also Molten Maul with his arms crossed and scolding the blond.

"I hit the center once, is that not enough? "

"How do I know if it was skill or luck? If you did it once then you can do it again, right? " The dwarf had a smug look on his face, he was enjoying seeing the other captain being annoyed by the constant trial and error.

"Captain, remember to move the top part of the body for a stronger throw." Noel was sitting on the grass, looking at his teammate coming back from the target and with the axe in his hand.

"It's easy for you to say! You will never have to throw your dagger at a monster! "

"Don't worry Noel, " Thom chuckled. "By the time Ragnar is done with this part of the training you two will advance to something more difficult."

"Difficult? I am ready whatever it is! "

Thom gave a mischievous smile. He picked up a long stick that was next to him and let it rest over his shoulder as if it was his weapon. "If that is the case… you two against me."

"Mister Thom, don't you think two against one is unfair? " Noel stood up, his hand was almost at the ready to grab the dagger.

"On a normal situation? Maybe, but I do have a few levels over you, you will need all the help you need." Molten Maul walked to one of the stools they brought from the mead hall, on top of that was the second axe that Ragnar carried with him. "Use your weapons, your brains, anything to take me down. But be mindful, I will not hold back." He gently threw the axe at the blond who caught it mid air.

"Sounds like a challenge…" Ragnar positioned himself, taking a few steps away from the dwarf. "I will apologize beforehand, Thom."

"Oh? Why is that? "

"Because even if you are a higher level than us, we can take you down."

"Ho ho, bold words…" He aimed the `weapon´ at the two members of the Skadi Familia. "…for some rookie adventurer."

…

While the adventurers were training, both Skadi and Heimdall were drinking tea in the mead hall, only faintly hearing the sounds of combat.

"I don't think I have thanked you enough for this help, Heimdall. You didn't need to go all the way and even bring extra for Ragnar and Noel."

"I was going to come here anyways and thought that maybe your boys could use some extra training." Heimdall took a quick sip. "That's why I brought Thom with me, I can carry a box but he was able to bring all those mannequins and targets by himself! "

"You sound quite proud of him."

"Well, of course! He is quite stubborn but that's what comes from being a dwarf. Still, I think it was a good decision that he stepped up to his role. Everyone in the Familia respects and sees him as a leader." There was silence from the God, as if in deep thought. "You know, sometimes I wonder if he does have a good side or he is just like that with me."

"Well, you do deserve some criticism from him." Skadi smiled once again and took a sip. "In any case, I thank you again for your help."

"My pleasure, although those were not the only reasons I came here for." The happy demeanor of the carefree deity was replaced with a serious one, it was not the first time the Goddess has seen that. "I wanted to see how you were faring."

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure? If you ever need to talk you know I am probably the best person for it… I guess Freya too but you know her."

"I'm fine, Heimdall… thank you."

"I'm just asking, wondering if your boys are causing trouble or… just a talk, like the old days." They both heard that the fighting continued but neither of them moved a finger to stop it. "They are not being a trouble, aren't they? "

"No, they are completely fine. Maybe Ragnar can be a bit rough and comes back home a bit too late. Though I appreciate that he learned from the past and is not as injured as he used to be. Meanwhile Noel is just a ball of energy, following his captain and slowly growing." There was something warm about those words, the image of the two adventurers working together and returning home was something that made her day better, though she still was in fear whenever they left for the Dungeon.

"They may not be the strongest adventurers but I am glad the way they are."

"Ah… there you are…"

"Huh? "

"That smile…" Heimdall pointed at the Goddess' face, his finger inches away from her nose. "That is the Ska-cha that I remember from decades ago! Even in the Upper World you were pretty stiff."

"Excuse me? You were Mister Stiff up there! If it weren't for Loki you would probably be the same person! "

"Well, hundreds of years down hear can change a person like me. Maybe I was tired of acting like that and wanted to be different for a change! " The two of them laughed, reminiscing their past. "Though if I have to be honest? I like the Ska-cha from the Lower World, you are far easier to talk to and I know that Loki would never come here to bully me."

"What about Freya? You two are still friends, aren't you? "

"Eh, friends is… kind of a stretch as they say, we are in good terms and if she needs something I can always help. But friends? Not really." Heimdall leaned back and took another sip of his tea, albeit he immediately lowered the cup. "Ah, it went cold."

"Let me see." Skadi takes a sip of her cup but didn't recoil. "It is fine for me."

"Well, you were never bothered by the cold so…" The dark haired one sighed and looked at the mead hall.

It was a sad view, most of the mead hall was dirty, destroyed or both. It was even surprising how the remaining part of the roof didn't break down and fell.

"You know what you could use, Skadi? A good change of scenery, maybe walk out of Fimbulvetr every once in a while, go around Orario, taking in the views, see how the city has changed over the years." The Goddess was going to talk but Heimdall interrupted her by opening his mouth once again. "Oh, I know! There's a cake shop near my tavern and they make the best cakes in all of the city, I am sure that you will enjoy it! "

Skadi's heart warmed at Heimdall's attitude, he was not an individual that showed a lot of energy or excitement that often, but when he did it was quite a spectacle.

"Thanks Heimdall, but you know I don't leave Fimbulvetr that often, even less so alone."

"But you would be with me! Though I guess we could ask one of your children to be a chaperone for you. Maybe even the captain? " This last part came off as a bit of tease, one that Skadi quickly reacted by her blushing cheeks.

"N-no, I can go out! I don't need a chaperone, I am an adult Goddess! " Skadi used this to counterattack as she grabbed Heimdall by the ear and pulled it. "One day we can go, but don't do things like that."

"Ow, okay I get it." He slapped the Goddess' hand away. "But when I mean a change of scenery I meant in more ways than one. Look at this, your home." He gestured with both arms at the entirety of the mead hall.

"Fimbulvetr has been in such a sad state for so long. I remember when you hosted some feasts here with your Familia and many more guests. The food was great and the drink was excellent, but above all else this place was lively. Fimbulvetr was like a second home."

"Times change, right now we are just three people in the Familia."

"Doesn't mean you have to live like this. And I don't mean just because it looks bad but because we don't know when the roof might collapse? Think of it, Ska-cha. If you need help I can lend some of my Familia, we're not a lot but we got motivation, and maybe we can put your boys to work too. If the adventuring deal does not work for them maybe they can just have a job at the Construction Guild."

Despite what sounded like a joke, Skadi stood up and decided to walk away from the table, heading towards the door of the mead hall.

"Hey, Ska-cha, wait! I did not mean to sound rude! "

"Don't call me that! "

The Goddess stood by the door, sighing as she pinched the bridge of her nose. There were so many things on her mind at the moment that she needed some silence.

He opened her eyes and saw the courtyard. Fimbulvetr had indeed seen better days and it was all ruined; it could be fixed, yes, but was it something that she wanted? Would it even matter? It was just her, Ragnar and Noel living there. Perhaps she could fix some of the ceiling so it wouldn't crash under their heads but even then what was the point?

She would lie if she said she didn't miss the past. A memory of the glory days of the Skadi Familia that one day collapsed.

Her eyes then went to the ruckus that was happening on the field; Thom was singlehandedly beating Ragnar and Noel, hitting them with the long stick as if it was a club, the dwarf had suffered no damage whatsoever while the other two had plenty of red marks on their body.

"Ska-ch-…" Heimdall was able to catch up to her. "Skadi… look, I did not mean anything rude, I just want to help you. I can't stand seeing you sad, things have to change." The God looked in the same direction as her and saw the spectacle that was going on.

"How long has it been since he joined? "

"Mh? Ragnar? It's going to be three months in a few days…" She was quiet, thinking of everything that happened in the last three months: Their first meeting, when he joined the Familia, his first venture into the Dungeon, all the times he has returned injured and even when he came back from that expedition. Highs and lows that certainly made her heart beat quite a lot.

"Skadi? "

"What do you make of him? "

"Your captain? " Heimdall leaned on the door and put a hand to his chin. "He's a young kid, that's for sure, and even acts like one. Hasty, stubborn, acts before thinking… but it is expected of an adventurer like him. I can say that he has potential, maybe not to become the strongest but definitely he can go far. It might take years but he has it."

"Do you think I'm doing the right thing? "

"You are caring for him, not acting like a mother but… well, you get the idea." Skadi gave a very quick nod. "You always smile when he comes back and I'm sure he does the same. Now, I am not the best at reading people but I am certain that your captain would feel bad if he finds out you are neglecting yourself."

The God places a hand on Skadi's shoulder. "If you are not going to be doing something for yourself, do it for Ragnar, Noel or even the whole Familia. I want to believe that the reason things haven't changed here is because you can't move on from the past."

"So what? Am I supposed to forget it? "

"Skadi… we've been in this world for quite a while. We have seen the people who live here, how they talk, play, love, and even how their interactions work. We learned from them and in turn we changed. You are not the same Skadi that was in the Upper World, I'm not the same one as I used to be and as much as it hurts me to say, even Loki changed."

He hummed, now looking at the brunette. "I know change is difficult, Freya is still her no matter which world she lives in, Brokk is the same stuck up guy who doesn't leave his forge and then there's the Old Man. What I'm trying to say is… changing and even moving on can be difficult; you don't have to forget the past, you can carry it with you but it is necessary to take the step in the right direction."

There was silence between the two, Skadi was contemplating those words. Was change even possible? Was it worth it?

"Skadi…"

"Right…" She nodded. "I get it… but I don't think it can be done quick."

"It doesn't have to be, I know those children meant a lot to you, step by step. You know I'll be there, maybe the others too."

Skadi gave a smile, one of those that Heimdall liked seeing. "Maybe I should listen to your advice." The woman turned around to see the destroyed interior of the mead hall. "I think we could start by renovating this place. If anything the last thing I want Ragnar to see is his new home collapsing and all of us underneath it."

"Heh, about time you saw reason! " Heimdall patted her back. "If you want, I can still lend some of my people."

"No need…" She looked up at the big hole in the ceiling. "I know the ones who helped build Fimbulvetr in the first place, I'm sure they'll happy to know I'll be requesting their services."

Skadi wanted a change and it was Heimdall who started it. Perhaps her heart would not be fixed just yet but at least she was taking a step in a direction, even if she did not want to forget those she lost she needed to think about the present, about Ragnar and Noel, she should be there when they needed her the most.

For now, she hoped that neither of them would get in trouble or decided to do something stupid in the Dungeon.

But neither Ragnar nor Noel will do anything stupid in the Dungeon, right?

In any case, welcome to the first interlude of the story. The point of these is to add some more development, while Ragnar will have the focus on the main part of the story, the interludes could have anyone as the main focus, it could be members of the Skadi Familia, or maybe to other side characters or even put others who have not appeared in the story yet; on top of that, interludes are meant to be shorter but it also does not necessary mean each character will have one, maybe Skadi could have two or more.

Thank you to everyone who's been reading and following the story since the last year and keep supporting it. There is not much to be said only to say except have a great week and as always:

See you in the next chapter.

P.S: Next chapter will not be an interlude