As the following days passed, work began on constructing three distinct artifacts for the journey to the outskirts. Small but mighty, these artifacts would operate just as the original ones had. Upon completion, they would be filled with energy from the fractals and aid them to success. Now, all they had to do was wait for that time to come.
Jennica sat in the courtyard, enjoying what sunlight she could before the darkness swallowed it again. In her lap rested a songbook of elvish tunes Sol had passed on to her, encouraging her to use it to practice their mother tongue. Most elves adapted to English but it was imperative that the royals kept their native language alive. Although she was far from having mastered it, Jennica found the language beautiful and desired to become fluent.
On top of language studies given by her mother, Jennica also busied herself learning more of Alfheim's history and the customs of their world. Having taken these classes for quite some time now, she was beginning to feel well incorporated into her royal position. She no longer felt like a human imposter but a true elf princess, dedicated to her kind.
She hummed one of the songs that Sol taught her and tried to pronounce the words. It was beautiful; a melancholy song of nature that was wonderfully text painted. She welcomed this distraction.
"I recognize that tune," Oveaus announced his presence, breaking her from thought. He rounded the corner from where he entered and approached. "Mind if I join you?"
Jennica faced him, her expression brightening as she nodded. "Yes, please."
They sat around a small, stone table that rested near the bubbling fountain. It was the perfect time of day to catch the sun as it peaked above the courtyard walls.
"Any word from the blacksmiths?" Oveaus asked.
Jennica shook her head, laying her songbook aside. "Not so far. But maybe that's a good thing. There's nothing giving them trouble..."
"I wouldn't think so, either. Vibranium isn't necessarily dangerous. Hard to weld? Yes but they'll manage."
"You seem pretty confident in this whole thing."
Huffing, Oveaus leaned back. He laughed but not humorously. "I have to be! After what I've been through, giving up hope was never the answer. If I can escape Thanos and find the power to make it this far, nothing else can take my encouragement away."
Remembering all the days she felt his pain and struggle through their connection, her heart ached for him the way it had before. She felt the young, frightened boy inside of him and for so long wanted to bring him out of that darkness. It was a miracle to see him sitting before her in person.
"Are you sure you still don't want Father and Mother to know who you are?" Jennica inquired. Before, she agreed with the sentiment, but now she failed to understand why he would want to keep them oblivious, even if their situation was dire.
"It is better that way." There was a sadness that glistened in his caramel eyes and they wavered, looking to the ground for a moment. "I don't think they could bear to lose me again."
"Why do you say things like that? You're acting as if you're inevitably going to die. Why not believe you'll keep on living?"
"I don't plan to die, sister." Oveaus tried to mask distaste at her frustrated tone. "But I can't have peace with it until I know this is all over. You have to trust me."
"I want you to also know how difficult it is to not share in this joy with our parents. Keeping this knowledge from them feels wrong."
Oveaus grit his teeth together, not in anger but in deep thought. He knew there was no forcing Jennica to keep the secret but keeping it meant so much. He had to see it through. "It pains me also. Please don't misunderstand that."
"I'm sorry, my intent wasn't to misjudge." She placed her hand on top of his in reassurance. "I only said that because I care and I want to make up for time we lost. Both Loki and I care about you very much."
Giving a sudden scoff under his breath at the mention of Loki's name, Oveaus pulled his hand away. His response was one that Jennica didn't quite understand.
"You're confident in that statement?" He chided.
Jennica folded her hands in her lap, confused as she was made slightly uncomfortable by his question. "Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
"While I care for the man, I struggle to see past how your marriage came about and overlook his history. Not trying to judge him but I'm not sure if I would trust in his care for me wholeheartedly. I already question his care for you."
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Jennica rested her hands on the table to will away the emotions. The stone felt cool on her palms. "Nevertheless, he is still my husband. I think he cares more than you let on."
"We'll see."
A silence settled between the two of them, leaving space for the sound of birds and the soldiers training far off in the distance on the other side of the castle. It was still clear skies above the courtyard. The darkness wasn't coming back for them yet.
What would life look like on the realm after the attack in the outskirts? This question was one that everyone in the castle ran through their minds. It was daunting and the odds weren't wonderful. All they could keep doing was wait.
"Do you think it'll be a boy or a girl?"
"Hmm?" Jennica's eyes met Oveaus' again, realizing she had begun daydreaming once he spoke again.
He smiled apologetically. "The baby, I mean. Do you think it's going to be a boy or a girl?"
She had not thought about it enough to decide either way. "I'm not sure and it doesn't really matter. But..." she hesitated, wondering if it would be good to keep the conversation going for her own mental health, yet she caved anyway. "I have allowed myself to pick some names, just to be ready."
"Let's hear them! I would love to know what I'll be calling my future niece or nephew." Oveaus was glad for this distraction.
"Mother taught me about our great-great grandmother, Cordelia. She was a strong woman and led the realm even when widowed. I would give her name to our baby if it was a girl."
"And a boy?"
It took a moment for her to respond. The memories that accompanied this choice were worth thinking about. "I often went on holiday to Ireland with my earth parents growing up. We would visit family that lived there and I would always be tucked into bed with a fairytale about a little hero named Aiyden. I so wanted to be as courageous as the boy in the story. The way my grandfather told it always made me feel safe. If the baby is a son, I would want him to be as fearless as I ever hoped to be."
"Aiyden..." Oveaus pondered. "Little fire."
"You know its meaning?"
"I am well-versed, Jennica. You above all people should know that."
As she opened her mouth to reply, the sound of Loki's voice called from the entrance of the courtyard.
"The blacksmiths have finished!" His voice was ridden with excitement. This was the news they had been waiting for.
Oveaus and Jennica immediately stood, joining and following him to where the blacksmiths were waiting. They conversed on the way, sharing their joy for what was to come. Hope was rising.
"My Lords! Princess!" The chief blacksmith greeted them upon entry. There was a heave to his chest and sweat on his brow. Recreating the artifacts took a clear toll.
"Show us the artifacts, we are eager." Loki spoke, wasting no time. They would ride out that night if able.
"Yes, my Lord. I believe you will be pleased."
In a chest of metal drawers behind him sat ice where creations were cooled. Removing the artifacts from their cold bed, he laid them on his work table for showcasing. The glistening of his eyes were evidence that he was proud of his work.
"This is wonderful," Oveaus said, in awe that a remake of the artifacts lay before him.
No bigger than their hands, the artifacts were intricately crafted, the Vibranium molded to look like veins tangled in a beautiful mess. Although shaped like hearts, it was unlike Jennica's simple heart locket, the symbol of love given by Kvasir and Sol. These three artifacts resembled the hearts that beat inside each elf. They were the symbol of a living organ that would flow with strong light magic.
"Have you tested them?" Loki asked, picking one up to examine its design. The silver shone, even in the dim lighting.
"The mages came early this morning," the blacksmith replied. "Although their magic wavered quickly, the artifacts absorbed it well. It should withstand the fractals."
"Only one way to find out..." Jennica muttered, picking up a second artifact. She examined its intricacy, understanding why creating them took so long. Their detail was remarkable.
Playing with some magic in her palms underneath the artifact, she watched as the energy from the fractals entwined itself with the veins of Vibranium. Creating more and more magic, she reached from within her depths to fill the artifact with as much as she could. The metal hardly wavered. It was strong, it was perfect. They had been successful.
She was overwhelmed with how much energy it could handle. There was so much she could give. Her palms burned but she failed to notice. The baby leaped inside her, responding to the flow of magic that now surged through her whole body.
A purple light began to pulse in the center of the artifact. Jennica's eyes widened in awe at the sight. With her magic growing inside of it, there was no doubt they would vanquish the darkness. There were still three more to fill.
As she finished and smiled proudly upon the treasure resting in her hands, she barely noticed herself falling from exhaustion in front of those who watched. Loki rushed to catch her in his arms.
"Darling?" He asked in worry, holding her jawline to turn her glossy eyes to his.
"I- oh..." she stammered, trying to stand but realizing how weak she was.
Oveaus grumbled. "Now why would you do that just now?"
"I had to know if it would work."
Making eye contact with each other, both Loki and Oveaus had two very different responses to Jennica's statement. However, they were both unified in their care of her.
Taking the artifact from Jennica, Oveaus admired its glowing beauty. "She filled it... and so fast." he whispered.
"She is strong," the blacksmith replied. "I wouldn't advise her to fill the rest for a few more hours, though. That is a tremendous amount of energy."
Jennica stood. She was wobbly but was before the fall anyway. "I won't allow this to be prolonged beyond tomorrow. As soon as my energy replenishes, which won't be long, I will fill the rest."
"I suggest we ride at dawn, if you can do it," Loki said, taking a step back to give her space. He encouraged her endeavor but couldn't help but worry all the same. He hoped she knew the extent of the magic she used.
"We will be able to. I promise."
Oveaus sighed and set the artifact on the table once more. "We trust you, sister." He nodded to the blacksmith, signifying for the artifacts to be returned to their safekeeping. "But you won't be coming with us tomorrow."
...
The new dawn had come and with it came a darkness so thick that the soldiers carried lanterns to see. There was no sign of a rising sun.
Loki boarded Kasper's refurbished ship, his helmet and cape keeping the harsh wind from his skin, although its chill wouldn't have bothered him. He could feel the cool on his hands and he welcomed its touch, grounding him as they set sail for a battle that would certainly end in deaths. He trusted the light magic but not enough to keep everyone alive. All of their bodies felt increasingly heavier the further they traversed.
"Are you alright, my friend?" Oveaus spoke, noticing that Loki's voice had gone once they set sail.
The question snapped Loki's gaze into focus. He had been thinking too hard about what was coming. "Yes, brother. I am just fine."
"Your heaviness is obvious." He noticed that Loki would not meet his eyes again and he tried not to invade further. "Jennica and the baby will be safe, do not worry."
"I will not." The two of them looked out over the edge of the dark waters, listening to the sound of the waves sloshing against the side of the ship. "I am sure you have better things to do than worry about me."
"We are in this together, Loki." Oveaus gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Plus, it gives me something to distract myself from what we are heading into."
"You still seem quite chipper for the circumstances. Granted, a man with magic like your own doesn't have much to worry about."
"Who says?"
"I do, because I know what kind of magic you have!" It would be a lie to say he wasn't jealous but it was best not to admit so. "You will do far better than the rest of us. Don't pretend not to know this."
"I am not naive in my previous statements. In fact, I find it wise to believe that none of us are safe. Our chances are equal no matter what but I believe in us."
Despite Oveaus' positive conclusion, a pit still settled in the bottom of Loki's stomach. The last time he felt a dread so deep was when he faced the Dark Elves on Svartalfheim, and just like before, a thick cloud of darkness lay in front of him, inviting him in.
"We're coming to the shore!" Kasper eventually announced, docking the ship against the coarse gravel. The thud of the falling anchor rocked the ship and the soldiers lined up behind the lowered plank.
Loki's heart was thudding but he urged his legs onward. Leaning towards Oveaus, he spoke in his ear, "Don't die." The two followed the soldiers and held lanterns of their own. The darkness was the thickest it had ever been.
Three trusted soldiers carried the artifacts, Even being one of them. The light of Jennica's magic pulsed within as it worked to vanquish the darkness. They succeeded at opening a barrier around them where the black cloud of evil magic would not touch their bodies.
"Keep your eyes open for movement," Even shouted, an artifact in one hand and a lantern in the other. "There may be more creatures like the Manticore."
Loki could see the death that had overcome the land around them. The forest was a collection of dead trees and animals, the sun vanquished from all in sight. The artifacts did well to keep the darkness away but the further they walked, the more the darkness closed in.
"Do you know what we're trying to find?" Oveaus asked, stepping closer to Loki's side. A chill ran up his spine.
Loki shook his head. "Not sure. I'm certain we'll know once we see it."
"We're walking deeper into the lion's den... that's for sure."
"Yeah..." Loki trailed off, feeling the same shiver. Eyes drifting down to his feet, they caught sight of his hands and the tips of his fingers that were turning blue. His breath hitched and he stopped in his tracks.
"Loki?" Oveaus inquired, frowning at the sight of the prince examining his colored hands. "What's going on?"
Loki's throat ran dry. "I-I don't know. Something's going on here." He focused hard and managed to will away the blue colors, his Æsir form returning. His eyes stung with tears that remained unshed.
"We must be close. The dark magic is doing strange things."
"Yes, we should call up to Even—" Loki's voice caught when he looked ahead and all he saw was an empty space of darkness surrounding him. There were no soldiers in sight. He cursed.
"Did we lose them?!" Oveaus asked, frantically looking around. He held up his lantern but it did nothing to pierce through the darkness.
"We can't have lost them already! Gods no... No! Even!" He began to run. There was no clear direction but he could hear their voices in the distance. It felt like he was running blind but he wouldn't allow himself to be lost.
"Loki, stop!" Running after him, Oveaus followed and it felt as though the darkness chased close behind. The air grew cold.
The trees grazed Loki as he ran, the darkness like a fog that blocked all from view. He shouted for Even and the soldiers but none seemed to reply. They headed for the heart of the forest and the voices grew quieter.
"Enough!" Oveaus teleported in front of Loki and grabbed the sides of his arms. The burst of magic he used left a green path that fizzed out into the black fog surrounding them. "You are going to get us killed!"
"We are going to die without the others!" Loki huffed and ripped his arms from Oveaus' grasp. "Now out of my way! We'll lose them for sure if we don't keep going."
"We're already where we need to be," Oveaus insisted. "My magic can sense it. Whoever we're looking for is close by."
"And I'm expected to just sit here and wait for the enemy to show up?! No, we're finding Even and the others. You're coming with me."
As Oveaus opened his mouth to reply, the warm caramel in his eyes faded away and the face that was stricken with worry began to melt. Loki watched in horror as the body in front of him slowly disintegrated into nothing, replaced by a darkened figure whose yellow eyes were familiar enough to strike fear into Loki's heart.
Jumping back, Loki drew his sword and in anger yelled, "Who are you?!" It was the figure in his vision on Unnamed but he could see its face clearer than ever.
Barely a man, the figure had a deformed face, the skull barely covered with his own skin. His yellow eyes were haunting, brighter than anything around them. Having vanquished the body of Oveaus, this man stepped onto the dust of the ground that once was the Elvish prince and lifted his hood just enough for Loki to see his victorious grin.
"I'm wounded to see that you don't remember me," the man spoke, his voice grating and barely recognizable, as if torn apart. "I expected little... but not this much."
Trembling, Loki wondered if he should swap the sword for his trusted daggers but it was too late to be fickle. He kept his eyes on the man's, as horrifying as it was to look at him. "What would I be doing to know the likes of a monster like you?"
The man laughed. "The prince who danced with monsters makes such a claim! Our time together in the Sanctuary has clearly been forgotten."
The Sanctuary... One of Thanos' children, but which one? Who out of the plethora of them held so much significance? "I... I'm not sure I follow."
"I stood closely by Maw's side during your cleansing and nearly worshiped the ideations of The Other. We planned the Chitauri attack together and served under Thanos' command." The man could see Loki's realization. "There it is. Do you remember me now?"
"The Neo..." Loki shivered in fear but clenched his jaw to will it all away. "That's what we called you. Thanos promised that through you there would be new beginnings."
"And how I tried to do so through you. I tried, relentlessly, to form you into a loyal servant for Thanos until you failed. Now, it appears you are not only a failure but a traitor as well."
Loki's vision burned red hot. How dare he. "So you are still working for him?"
The Neo laughed, a haunting, disgusting laugh that echoed off of the dead trees. It scratched at Loki's ears and made him grimace. "Far from it! Thanos is a dreamer, I'll give him that, but he failed to see the true prize. Going after the Stones is only a small fraction and he will be powerless compared to what I have sought after. I am more powerful than he. I don't need him."
"You're after the Fractals, then. I've long sensed the power of one hidden in these outskirts."
"Your instincts are exceptional, Loki. One of the many reasons why Thanos chose you as his pursuer." With a flick of his hand, a glowing yellow fractal appeared pinched between The Neo's first two fingers. "But although your mind understands many things, handling these Fractals is something you could never accomplish. Neither could Thanos if he knew of such things." The fractal glowed and with it, the thick cloud of darkness that had been surrounding them disappeared in a breath.
Loki stood, stunned and speechless. Just like that, what they had been fearing was gone within a single moment. "You've vanquished your dark magic?" Loki managed to ask, to which The Neo cackled.
"All this?? While there was immense dark magic at play I would have never manifested it so. It was all a trick. One that blinded you and your companions so well. With this Fractal, you were all sheep without a shepherd, seeing a cloud of darkness that was never truly there."
The anger welled within Loki and he gripped his sword. All of that time for the darkness to be nothing but a mind illusion. The weight of realization pressed on his shoulders. "So why us? Why me?"
"I wanted to see why you left and following you inevitably led me to more of the Fractals. Thanos' ideas were boring. He wants to cleanse the universe, I want to control it."
"And yours is immensely less boring, how?"
"I will be the New they spoke of! Whatever Thanos plans to do is nothing compared to what I will accomplish. He seeks unspeakable power, I seek inconceivable power."
Loki scoffed. "How poetic. Your monologue is nothing short of disappointing. The reason I left Thanos was because I was freed from his control. I never asked to become one of his children. You watched carelessly as I was tortured and manipulated into becoming one of his puppets. In fact, you are the face I've seen in nightmares as I remember those monstrosities! What gives you the right?!"
The Neo's yellow eyes deepened, looking sharp enough to pierce. "Loki... I am your God."
Seething, Loki swung his sword, initiating a strike. A sword of equals appeared in The Neo's hand in place of the Fractal he was once holding. The clash of the metal rang through the forest as Loki repeatedly swung.
Laughing, The Neo taunted, "I'm disappointed, Loki. I was expecting more." He watched as Loki enacted one move after the other, each one equally countered by the last. "This was Thanos' most prized possession. Weak!"
"You aren't trying to kill me?!" Loki challenged, panting despite keeping his sword high.
The Neo only laughed as he vanished and reappeared behind Loki, who responded with a swift unsheathing of his daggers. The little blades gave him more freedom to move about and make quicker strikes. As they battled, it was clear The Neo was doing it all for play. This wasn't a real fight. Loki was the only one who wanted to kill.
Loki's teeth ground. "Fight like you aren't a coward, dammit!" Feeling a grasp immediately around his throat, his breath choked as he was lifted up in the air. Invisible hands clenched him and pulled him to the frightening glare of The Neo. Now, it was more real than ever. He remembered those eyes during every torture in the Sanctuary. The memories he had blocked out were coming back.
Hissing, The Neo replied, "You go back and tell your friends that I am ready to make an appearance. You have mere days before I decide to return and take the Fractals you are hiding for myself. Run, little sheep." He threw Loki to the ground. "Run."
As The Neo vanished with the return of the darkness, Loki gasped to return air to his lungs once his neck was freed. All light surrounding him was swallowed once more. He needed to find Even and the others. Oveaus was dead.
It was a short encounter with his past tormentor but the reality of what he was planning struck him hard. If The Neo was coming for the Fractals, then he was coming for Jennica and the others. They had to move quickly.
"Even!" Loki shouted when a wisp of their distant voices met his ears. "Even, I'm here!" He sheathed his daggers to move into a sprint. The darkness was letting up enough for him to see a further distance and soon, he found himself back at the ship where the others were boarding.
Spotting the frantic prince, Even straightened and held his hand up to wave him over. "Loki! Where have you been?? Where... is your companion?"
"He's dead, he's gone, I—" Loki choked on his own words and barely had a moment to explain as he was rushed onto the ship. The silence of the crew confirmed their realization of Loki's news. A great aid had been lost.
"We found evidence of nearby Manticores," Kasper explained as they set sail. Some of the elves were offering their condolences to Loki. "We found nothing but leading these beasts back to the kingdom would be suicide."
As the elves dispersed to keep watch and make sure there was not a single Manticore in their wake, Loki found a corner of the ship and sat in its shadow. With a shuddering breath, he pressed a set of knuckles to his mouth and rushed the memory of The Neo through his head, over and over again.
These elves had been tricked into the darkness while The Neo chose to encounter only him and kill the man who was becoming a brother. Nothing had been accomplished other than releasing the inevitable. The Neo had been waiting for them, waiting for him. What else was a lie, then, if the darkness was not even real? He cursed his lack of magic once more and how easily his own mind was tricked by the fractal Neo possessed.
Distraught and worry was evident amongst the elves on the ship. They began to mourn not only the death of Oveaus but their own failure. There had been so much spent to create the artifacts. What did they have to show for it?
Time passed with little more said. A sea of elves waited on the shore as the ship docked. Murmurs rose but when their inquiries were not met, a disturbance settled over their spirits. They soon learned what was wrong. Even, leaving behind the soldiers to the group, escorted Loki back to the castle. Their report was a dreaded one.
How quickly this all fell apart, Loki thought, remembering when there was so much hope despite the fear just that morning. Oveaus' face melted over and over again in his mind's eye. How could he tell Jennica?
As that question arose, Loki found himself facing her in the castle's front room where she eagerly waited with Kvasir and Sol. Even wasted no time meeting with the king and queen to share the news but Jennica didn't bother to face the general. Loki's sullen face was clear and as they met, just the two of them in the corner of the room, whatever voices rang nearby were drowned out.
"What's going on?" She demanded, her voice low. "The darkness hasn't left us and you have all returned silent."
"Jennica," he started but it was so hard to speak. He knew the pain this would cause her. It did nothing but harden her countenance.
"Don't start that, Loki. I need answers now. What did you do??"
He knew she was accusing all of them but he nearly believed she was blaming it entirely on him. The guilt he felt from being unable to protect Oveaus from The Neo was beginning to eat away his protective shell. "Our enemy is stronger than we realized... We tried but we were chased out—"
"Loki." Jennica knew he couldn't have been lying but she noticed the absence of her brother. Her eyes glossed in dreaded anticipation. "Where is Oveaus?" When all her husband did was sigh and turn away, every muscle in her body painfully tightened. "You answer me, where is my brother?"
"He died!" The words burst out of Loki with the building guilt. He watched Jennica's face turn pale white and it killed him. "We never anticipated the attack. It is far more than we realize and his death is only one of many if we don't find another way to fight!"
Jennica's sudden angry cry took the attention of everyone else in the room. Kvasir and Sol both stopped their conversation with Even to notice their daughter. "How can we talk about further plans when my brother is dead?!" She screamed. "All this effort, forging new artifacts, spending my powers only to lose!"
Kvasir stiffened, taken aback by his daughter's change in countenance and unruly tone of voice. "We plan to insure our victory, daughter. Do not mistake these conversations for waste."
"No! You don't understand the loss. How could you?! He kept the secret right under your noses and I was foolish to go along with him!" Tears began rolling down her cheeks. "The ambassador was your son, Oveaus. He wanted so deeply to fight for you without revealing himself because he feared an outcome like this!"
The silence said more than words. Despite the tears, Jennica could see the visible shock and realization that spread on her parents' faces. They were pained.
"Darling," Loki tried to enter again, placing a hand on Jennica's shoulder. "We'll avenge him. I saw who took his life, I will find him again."
She snapped his hand away, fury burning off of her like a dying star. "Keep your empty words from me. Your face says more than your sweet tone and I completely agree. It's your fault. I blame you."
She rushed from the room, carrying with her a heaviness that also settled over Loki's spirit. Soon, the other members in the room became invisible to him. Her words took what was left and crushed him until he felt numb.