Loki stood on the castle balcony the following morning. His hands pressed to the cool stone of the railing as a breeze blew against him. It was nothing but another small sensation, not strong enough to relieve any dread. As he looked across the expanse of the northern lands, he tried to peer through the darkness that now appeared to have swallowed the sky whole. Dark clouds had fallen and began touching the trees and grass, an ugly fog that misted in.

The hands Loki had resting on the rails balled into fists. He peered into the darkness like the lie it was, yet he couldn't see past it. His personal lack of magic had begun to anger him more than ever before. Was it worth ever giving it up to escape Asgard and reunite with Jennica? She hadn't even spoken to him since their last altercation over Oveaus. Of course, they were all mourning, but the division it brought was the last thing needed.

I would be able to see through this like glass with my old magic, he thought to himself. We need more of it. Sadly, despite the Fractals' power within Jennica, it wasn't a power suitable for combating the level of dark magic being used. On top of that, it was accompanied by the power of yet another Fractal. They were fighting for good yet on the weaker side. The natural magic of the Light Elves did no good, either.

An idea began to stir inside of him, although he wasn't sure if it would work. He left the balcony knowing a walk would help his thoughts stir. The castle halls were eerily quiet as the fear spread with news that The Neo was planning to make an appearance. Some servants he passed had visible tears in their eyes, unable to hide their emotions within. Word that Oveaus had died also spread, along with the realization that he was truly their prince. So much despair settled over the Light Elves.

Taking his attention off of those around him, Loki returned to his thoughts. An idea had occurred that there may be another person powerful enough to help them, but getting her to leave her planet of solitude was unknown. He wasn't sure if it could be done, given what she said during their previous encounter. Regardless, the little chance they had of convincing her was enough to motivate the thought.

The more he thought about it, the more sure he was of the idea. If he could get Even on board, they could perhaps propose the idea to Kvasir to allow passage beyond Alfheim. They needed external reinforcements. Mounting a horse, he rode out to the village where Even and the soldiers were serving the common folk.

The air felt stiff as he rode. As he approached the village, he also brought himself closer to the shore of the outskirts where the darkness was seemingly thickest. His chest felt heavy. None of it is real, he told himself. The fog was nothing but an illusion to keep them trapped and undeniably, that was the reason he hated it the most. No one, not even him, could see through it without The Neo's permission.

He caught up to Even near the farmlands and signaled him over. The farmers were making haste to replant crops that were lost from the storms and used an emergency supply of seed the soldiers brought in. Alerting his nearby commander, Even stepped away from his task and met Loki before he could dismount his horse.

"I was planning on returning before sunset," the elf spoke, watching as Loki dropped from his steed and fastened the reins to a neighboring fence post.

Loki pushed back the hood of his cloak. "It couldn't wait. Would you allow me a moment?"

"Well, yes, I trust that it's serious."

"Good." Loki lowered his voice. "Please help me convince your king to travel beyond this realm again with the Fractal of Teleportation. I know of someone who is strong enough to help us."

Even hesitated to respond. "Someone you trust?"

"With my life. I owe it to her, in fact." When he could see the uncertainty in Even's eyes, Loki pressed further. "You know we've run out of options. Don't tell me that Kvasir is weary of involving others at this time, I already know it well. But how can we hope to preserve any more lives if the strength we have cannot match that of our enemy?"

Nodding, Even's gaze wavered. He knew Loki was right. "So who is this person of hope?"

"The Great Farbauti. Surely you've heard of her."

"In tales surrounding the Great War. I'm certain your people know more than us, but what I do remember is that she is Jötun. There is a chance our king may despise the idea."

A lump rose in Loki's throat. He had nearly forgotten that the Light Elves were oblivious to his true heritage, how Jötun blood was flowing through his own veins. "She is unlike the others. I promise you, her strength in magic and heart are unmatched. She would be the answer."

"And how likely is she to help us?"

This made Loki's words hesitate. "That's what we would be betting on."

"I see."

As the tone in Even's voice changed, Loki began to feel disheartened. Perhaps the elf would tell him that he was against the idea. If that were the case, Loki would meet with the king himself, but how likely would he be to succeed?

"I will do it with or without your permission," Loki admitted, hoping to drive some sentiment into the elf. "Just know that regardless, I still need your help."

Even straightened, and with a firm look, he said, "Then we shall meet with the king upon my return tonight. I agree, we have no other choice. May King Kvasir see the same."

A sigh of relief blew through Loki's nostrils. He smiled, lips pressed together. "I certainly expect him to."

"Please don't misinterpret my hesitance as mistrust," Kvasir spoke, leaning against the table in the council room where both Loki and Even met with him. The moonlight lit his face brighter than any of the room's candles, to which it was a comfort to see that the darkness had not stolen away the night sky's gem. "But you must understand my concern with the fractal leaving our treasury."

Loki replied, "With all due respect, I don't believe we'll be able to withhold the fractals from our enemy much longer, given how we're increasingly overpowered." His words seemed to make Even stiffen but he ignored it.

Kvasir sighed. "You do realize you would be the only one sent out, right? I would keep Even here, his work matters to our people far too much. There are no other resources we can spend, especially not people."

"Am I expendable, then?" Loki's lips pressed.

"Come now, Loki, you know my heart has never thought such things. If this is a desire, I will grant it to you, but you must be willing to understand that you will be alone and the trip will need to be quick if I am to let you part with a fractal. It isn't that I don't trust you. We can't risk losing what we've already gained."

Loki grew silent for a moment but didn't withdraw. Kvasir wasn't rejecting the proposal, that much was certain. However, despite knowing there was always a chance of him being sent out alone, being told that he would be made him realize the cons.

"So, who will you appoint to send me off?" He eventually asked.

Kvasir's brow furrowed. "I beg your pardon?"

"Surely you were informed upon my initial return to this realm that I had also been banished from my home. With that came a stripping of my powers. I cannot possess a Fractal in this state."

The look on the king's face made it clear that he had forgotten, which was flattering to Loki, but as Kvasir straightened, he said, "I will assign a mage. This, however, will only make it harder for you."

"My time will be limited. I am aware and ready for it."

Even interjected. "Loki, our time here is vastly different from the planet Vadella. Time will pass quickly there before you're sent back."

"Please, I don't need much time." Loki looked between them. "What other option can you propose?"

The silence that followed said enough but Kvasir responded all the same. "You're right. None."

Loki stood. "It's settled, then. The permission has been given and I am willing to take the risks. I will not allow this monster to swallow Alfheim whole, even if it costs me."

The words Loki spoke sparked a twinkle in Kvasir's eyes. He chuckled, sitting in the seat behind him. "What an admirable warrior you've become."

Shuddering with adrenaline, Loki took his seat back. His eyes wavered. "Forgive me, King."

"No need. I trust you will be successful."

When faced with the Fractal again the next morning, Loki could not remove his eyes from its glory. The mage held it in her palms as it sizzled on the first layer of her skin, its blue light seeping into her veins.

"Are you ready?" She asked him, biting back a quake in her voice. When he nodded, she continued. "I will send you back in two hours, but I cannot guarantee you will experience that time on Vadella. It may be a mere twenty minutes."

"More than enough. Send me now."

He was met with a blinding flash and felt as if the ground below had left him. The rush of magic moved about like a dust storm... or was that really what he felt? Heat began to seep through the soles of his boots and when he felt able enough to open his eyes, the light of the fractal dissipated into a faded purple sand that blew around him.

Vadella.

He spat out the sand that blew in his mouth and used his cloak to cover most of his face, seeing the village just up ahead. He had to be quick, not only for the sake of his time there but for the sandstorm that was obviously approaching. With each step he took, Loki envisioned what he would say, and how Farbauti, his mother, might respond.

It's going to be successful, he believed. We have no other option.

The walk to the village alone felt like an eternity. Loki did hope that time would be gracious. As he walked through the village, it felt so daunting to be back. All surrounding huts were locked up with candles blown out. He couldn't imagine Farbauti would be anywhere but with Thrai Maw so he set his eyes on the Kujoyo hut ahead.

The winds thickened with whipping sand. Loki's vision was cut more as the sand blinded the horizon. He could make out silhouettes and knew he was headed in the right direction, but a shadow stopped him just shy of Farbauti's still-standing statue. This silhouette was one he immediately recognized and his breath froze. In the past, he would have drawn a weapon. Now, he stood his ground and waited for the silhouette to come close enough to reveal his face.

"What are you doing here?" Loki asked. He no longer noticed the blowing sand when he could at last see the face of who was in front of him. Thor.

His brother, lowering the portion of cloak that covered his mouth, revealed a sullen face. "I want to ask you the same thing, but I think we both know we're here for the same reason."

Loki scoffed. Thor wanting help from Farbauti as well was laughable. "You have all of Asgard as a resource. How could you possibly need her as your aid?"

"We are at a loss for where to turn, brother. Father can see that an enemy grows in strength and we have been unable to collect Fractals or Stones."

Thor's words made Loki's blood boil. "So Father knows of the rising danger and yet he still took you from us?"

"I..." Thor's breaking voice was an indicator that he still hated it just as much as Loki did. "You know I don't currently have a choice to defy Father. I risk myself getting banished as well and we cannot lose Asgard, even if their aid is from afar."

"Alfheim is in the middle of the chaos! I feel it more than you could ever imagine. My experience is devastating compared to what Father is feeling. He abandoned us and you followed him!"

Thor raised his voice. "Do you still believe that I wanted it to happen, Loki?"

"How could I not at least feel it? I don't care if it's what you wanted or not, what you agreed to do left a wound and hundreds of Light Elves have lost their lives. Their realm is becoming more dear to me than Asgard ever was."

Eyes darting to Loki's hand for a moment, Thor noticed the wedding band. He tried not to ask of it but knew who she was. He was shocked. Loki had been returned to him a different man already. "I wouldn't waste anymore of your time here."

"Why? Because you think you've convinced Farbauti to join you before I ever could? We'll see about that."

"You're mistaken, brother." Thor allowed his saddened heart to show. Loki read it all too well and both brothers felt frozen in time. "I was made aware that Farbauti is dead."

A pain struck Loki's chest after hearing those words. "What?"

"She passed before any of this chaos began. Thrai informed me that she's been dead for a few months and it was peaceful."

Tears burned the corners of Loki's eyes. So many emotions welled up at once and he wanted to explode in a rage. "This... this was our only option left. No..." He took a step back. "No, she was powerful, how could she die now?"

"Any answer I give wouldn't be good enough. It's just... how life is."

"Don't say that." Loki blinked away tears. "Don't just accept it. We can't!"

"Refusing to accept her death is a reaction we can't afford, brother. It does us no good. We must agree to the fact that she is now at peace and our options lie elsewhere."

"We have no other options!" The howling of the sandstorm couldn't drown the despair in Loki's voice. "You have all of Asgard and yet you still failed."

"We haven't yet failed—"

"And you try to be the hopeful one but I won't receive it! Not anymore." He seethed. "I'm tired of your deception."

Thor looked baffled. "You're one to talk. My deception??"

"Yes, you try to bring me false hope and say there's another way but I assure you that this was our last option. Now the people I love will perish and I might as well along with them. Everything we know and love will be gone."

Aching at the breaking sound in his brother's voice, Thor tried to think of what to say next but could only come up with something pitiful. "I'll try to find a way to return. I don't want to jeopardize our connection with Asgard..."

At last feeling the return of the Fractal's magic, Loki knew his time on Vadella was ending. His eyes bore into Thor's like the daggers beneath his cloak. There was no time for forgiveness now. "You had your chance."

"Please, Loki, I will find a way to return. Why can't you see that I did this to help us?"

"You've helped us with nothing but show where your true loyalty lies. The best thing you can do now is stay away."

Thor went to protest further but paused when he saw the blue light whisking Loki away. He loathed his position in that moment, and as the dust of the storm took the place where his brother once stood, he called upon the Bifrost and knew his next steps on Asgard would be to keep the promise of return that he made. The Allfather would continue to be angry, desperate for the advantage but if his own son couldn't convince him to change course, then they might as well already have lost.

As for Loki, the hurt and anger continued to swell within him. When he arrived back on Alfheim, he made no communication with the mage and stormed off to his chambers. It was a wonder that Jennica wasn't there but it enabled his rage to reveal itself further. He tore off his cloak and tossed it aside.

"Stupid... stupid!" He said to the empty room, along with many other words, each one growing nastier. He cursed Thor, he cursed the death of Farbauti, and he cursed their approaching enemy.

So many thoughts ran through his mind all at once. He sat on the edge of the bed and held his head in his hands, feeling that there was nowhere else to turn. There was a new idea that returned but it frightened him. It was an idea but it was wrong.

You can't do it. You can't...

But he could, and that was the temptation. Recalling how even when stripped of his powers, magic came to life for him in the books they studied while on Midgard and he knew it would still be possible. The anger he had began to turn on himself, disgusted that he would allow the desire for dark magic's presence to return, especially when the goal was to rid Alfheim of the same evil power.

But it's possible...

Unable to take the thoughts another second, Loki stood and paced, wanting to resist the temptation. It made him nauseous and the more he tried, the louder his thoughts told him to do it.

You'll be a monster again...

But it would strengthen their side, give them the upper hand.

You'd be no better than him.

No better than their enemy. The Neo. He would be there soon although they didn't know when. Once he arrived, it would be too late. Shuddering, Loki knew he had a choice to make. A very dangerous one.