Atop the tower Aelfric had purchased near Vyxora, Tyr sat at a conference table with a tablet in hand. Yuna, fully clad in her Abyss Aegis suit, stood guard at the elevator door. The room had since been refurbished to look like it belonged in a wealthy corporation’s headquarters. Reina watched several feeds of the room from every angle back at Vyxora. Tyr set the tablet aside while remaining seated in contemplation.

  “Well, Tara Aesir, how you feelin’?” Yuna asked, her voice filtered through a voice changer.

  Did she just? Reina thought. How’d she know that? No…she couldn’t—. It’s Yuna. She would.

  “Yuna,” Reina said, via the Aegis suit. “You read the journal, didn’t you? I purposefully left that out!”

  “Left what out?”

  “Don’t play dumb, you just said ‘Tara Aesir’. You’re hoping to fight him, aren’t you? That’s why you went along with this!”

  “Ahh…damnit. Gave myself away already, huh?”

  “Swear to me you won’t antagonize him.”

  “C’mon, Reina, I only—,”

  “Swear! Or…or I’ll stop watching Lord Robin!”

  “Fine. I won’t. God damn. But if he hints at revenge or some shit—.”

  “I know.”

  Tyr glanced between a device on the table, then Yuna. “What do you hope to gain from having me read this now? Have I not been forthcoming and cordial in our dealings thus far? I fail to see what purpose extortion serves at this juncture.”

  “‘Extortion’?” Reina asked, via the device, her voice also altered. “What do you mean, Tyr?”

  “Is this not about Odin’s death?”

  “Odin’s death? No, it’s about Freya?”

  “Oh, shit.” Yuna broke stance and pointed at Tyr. Freya’s last conversation with him played in Yuna’s head. “I randomly remembered. Did Freya kill Odin? And you hid it?”

  “Why’re you phrasing it as a question? Is that not the reason I’m here? What is it you want?” Tyr asked, unflinchingly calm.

  “The heck’re you saying, Yuna?” Reina asked via Aegis. Yuna quickly explained what she overheard after the duel with Freya, leaving out most details. Reina paused for several seconds as everything clicked into place.

  “I do not wish to complicate things. I’m unable to fathom your intentions, but I request that you lay them plain and speed—.”

  “Wait, wait, wait! Tyr, that’s not why we called you here. We’ve no intention of blackmailing you.”

  “Yeah, man, I legit only realized it just now.” Yuna chuckled. She looked at her hands in awe. “This must be how the inspector feels. I get it. Re—.” Reina and Griff, too. Oops. Almost said that out loud. Wew.

  “Why am I here then?” Tyr asked.

  “I just, uhm, thought you should know…about Freya. And…for her,” Reina said.

  Tyr remained silent for several seconds. He glanced toward Yuna. “I had my suspicions, but you’re Yuna.” He looked at the device. “And you must be Reina.”

  “Huh, wha?” Yuna said.

  “What? How?” Reina said, then muted herself.

  “Leon was a man of few words. Except when it came to his daughters while loosened by some liquor,” Tyr said.

  “You knew Pops?” Yuna asked, curiosity outweighing caution.

  “We had a few dealings over the years. I wouldn’t go as far as ‘knew’, but I’d like to believe we had a mutual respect. I’m sorry for your loss.”

  “Pops ain’t dead.”

  “Truly? I assumed the worst.”

  “Leon’s alive, but it’s complicated. Still, how did you know who we are?” Reina asked.

  “I see. I won’t pursue further. It’s still good to know. As for the how. I strongly considered Yuna to be the combatant against Freya from Leon’s descriptions of her abilities. Then, with the many meetings us two have had sorting out the transition, I couldn’t help but wonder if you were the Reina he bragged about. Now, if I’m to understand you correctly, this—,” Tyr grabbed the tablet, “was meant as a kind gesture?”

  “Well, yes.”

  “Your father always worried you would offer kindness to the wrong person. If I were in your position, I wouldn’t have shared this. Did it not occur to you that this may cause me to seek revenge?” Tyr looked at Yuna.

  Yuna shifted into a fighting stance, transarms already brandished. “That’s why I’m here, ‘Tara Aesir’, if you’re feelin’ froggy, let’s—.”

  Tyr made a stopping gesture with his hand, while forming a slight grin. “So you’re not wholly na?ve. I’ve no desire to risk a confrontation with you. There’s no point.” If I recall correctly, Yuna has quite the temper and loves an excuse to fight. I should quell her before she even has the chance to try inciting me.

  “The fuck you mean ‘no point’?”

  “Yuna!” Reina yelled, only to Yuna.

  “However,” Tyr said, “how would you know I’m not plotting revenge? I could leave after whatever else you plan to say, merely pretending. Yet what if you were to realize this after the fact and come after me? I’m aware of Yuna’s prowess. And Reina’s abilities are arguably far more dangerous.”

  “I don’t think you’re the type,” Reina said.

  “And why would you think that?”

  “It hasn’t been long since we first spoke, but right away you were putting the well-being of those under you first. I know this is a risk. So much so that I swore to Yuna I wouldn’t protest if she truly deemed you a threat. I just…couldn’t sleep when I think about how lonely Freya must’ve been. Her entire life.”

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “You mentioned this was for Freya earlier. Even though you didn’t know her at all, you would take pity on a stranger? Your enemy. A dead enemy.”

  “Freya, she…lived in pain for so long. Maybe she reminded me of Yuna, some? My chest hurts thinking of what might’ve been had Papa not taken her in. Freya had no one. She lived off the need to survive, then didn’t know what to do when she lost that need.”

  Tyr paused in thought. “You’re certainly Leon’s daughter. I’ve never known such an oddity as him. The capability to be compassionate, even when in general, he was ruthless. Thank you.”

  “Oh.”

  “This journal reveals merely another facet in which I failed her. Freya.” Tyr had a distant gaze. “Alas, seeing as Yuna’s bloodlust is still palpable, I’m not going to risk you regretting this course of action. Therefore, I’m going to explain myself, and even go so far as to tell you my greatest weakness. Please sit, Yuna.” Tyr gestured to a chair.

  Yuna deflated while sheathing her weapons. “God damnit.” She fell into the chair with a thud.

  “I assume the reason you think I’d seek revenge would be out of some obligation to Freya? Allow me to address that directly, first. I hold no malice for the result of an agreed upon contest. Though I’ve long since stopped being ‘Tara Aesir’, my warrior’s pride hasn’t dulled. I’d perhaps seek retribution were she assassinated or the like, but that’s indisputably not what occurred. Next, even were I aware of her feelings for me when she was alive, I fear there’s little chance I could have satisfied her desires. That’ll make more sense, soon.”

  Tyr explained why he’d been put in charge of Freya’s training. He filled in the gaps the journal left out or glossed over, like the other Freya’s and the eventual contest to decide Odin’s ‘warrior goddess’. He even included details Freya left out entirely, despite how they’d make him look.

  “Damn, that’s almost as fucked up as my early years. In some ways worst, even…ew.”

  “It’s not an excuse. However, there was no disobeying the All-Father. There’s no justification for what I allowed to happen to such a young girl.”

  “But you saved her from something, right? Her entries weren’t clear, but it might’ve been the happiest she sounded in the entire journal.”

  Tyr sighed. “It’s true I likely saved her life at that time.” Tyr explained how Thor had been caught with his Freya and summarily executed, which led to Tyr leaving with his Freya. He also briefly explained of Loki’s permanent disappearance and why Fenrir wasn’t a target. “She’s mistaken, however, that Odin was the one who offered me a deal. Herein lies my weakness. There was never a chance I’d run away with her. I, as well as the other Captains, are the bastard sons of Odin himself. Despite not even knowing he existed in my adolescence, Odin possessed a powerful charisma. So, when he came knocking after my mother passed, I eagerly followed. My every day was devoted to pleasing the All-Father from then on.”

  “Long after I’d joined and rose in the ranks, I dared to disobey Odin once on an order. In his rage, it was made very clear to me my brother’s lives were at stake for my actions. My devotion to Odin shattered in an instant. I realized he’d merely been taking advantage of our shared blood all along. So when that carrot wasn’t enough for my unwavering loyalty, just the once, he went pure stick.”

  “He threatened to kill his own sons?” Reina asked.

  “Well, he killed off Thor pretty easy sounds like, so hardly a stretch,” Yuna said.

  Tyr paused. “On reflection, I neglected to mention I have two brothers unrelated to Odin.”

  “Damn.”

  “So your mother’s side, I’m guessing both younger, and you took care of them?” Reina asked.

  “Yes. They and their families are the most important things to me in this life. I’ve chosen them over everyone else time and time again.”

  “Like Freya.”

  “Yes. I share this with you on the gamble that you are Leon’s daughters. I would do anything for Juuka and Jaryn.” Tyr had a resolute gaze, as if he could see through Yuna’s helmet to meet her eyes.

  “We’d—!”

  “Hold up, motherfucker.” Yuna pointed a transarm sword at Tyr, who didn’t flinch. “I’d never target family to get to someone. That’s as bitch a move as it gets.”

  Tyr had a slight grin. “I’m grateful to hear that. My gamble’s already paid off, then. However, I assume Aelfric is unaware of at least the subject of this meeting and ask that it remain that way. I’m unable to read that man’s character.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ve no obligation nor reason to tell him and never planned to,” Reina said.

  “Unless I had to get rid of you.” Yuna tapped the table before sheathing the transarm.

  “You have my thanks. I’ll consider the matter resolved.” Tyr said.

  “What was the deal you offered Odin?” Reina asked.

  “Heh. Leon always did boast and lament at the same time how curious you were. You needn’t worry, I will continue. I struggled mightily at the time to conceive a way I could convince the enraged All-Father. He was a paranoid man in general, and an incident such as this sent him spiraling. Time was short, and in his rage it would not be long until he remembered Juuka and Jaryn’s existence. To demonstrate my loyalty to Odin, I told him I would be chemically castrated to remove all doubt, past and future. He accepted.”

  “Holy shit,” Yuna said. “So you’re like, dead? Down there?” She pointed at his lower half.

  “Yes. My emotions in general were also affected. It’s only by faint memory I’m able to occasionally don a relevant facade.”

  “That’s what you meant by ‘Freya’s desires’?” Reina asked.

  “In more than one way, yes. It’s difficult to recall after all this time, but I doubt I ever looked at her in a sexual manner from the beginning. If I were to explain it based off Juuka, I viewed her as a daughter, if anything.”

  “Guess this explains how you missed all her advances. Least, I figure she did after skimming,” Yuna said.

  “Indeed. In hindsight, I’m at a loss how I always assumed the worst. In my mind, her abuse and actions were justified punishment for my sins against her. Her behavior was something to be tolerated. A consequence of the young girl who I did little for finally having control of her own life.” I fear to fathom how I’d reacted if she had confessed.

  “You mean, after Odin?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did that dumbass really think he was a god?”

  “He did. So heavy was his own devotion to that delusion, that he refused to acknowledge his sickness.”

  “She poison him, or some shit?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you covered it up?”

  “Yes.”

  “Wait a minute, how’d you realize all that, Yuna?” Reina asked. “Did you leave out parts earlier? I re-read and just how?”

  “Ooh, wanna know, do ya? Sure you didn’t miss something?” Yuna teased. Reina switched to talking directly to Yuna only. They went back and forth for several seconds, Yuna taunting an increasingly annoyed Reina.

  “She surely overheard all of Freya’s last words,” Tyr said.

  Yuna slammed her fist on the table. “The fuck, man? You know how rare it is I know something Reina doesn’t? Couldn’t let me hold it over her a bit longer?”

  “I don’t understand?”

  “Ignore her,” Reina said. “It’s true, then? You discovered Freya was poisoning Odin? Or after he was gone?”

  “I had suspicions while it was happening. However, Odin’s behavior barred me from confirming anything.”

  “You still let it happen? He was your old man, right?” Yuna asked.

  “I’d never even considered killing Odin, such was his hold on me. Even after castrating myself. I surely felt relief on my realizations, in truth, as much as I’m capable. I covered up Freya’s involvement to seek some small form of atonement, no doubt. I resolved to support her afterwards.”

  “I couldn’t help but glean over the last weeks that she was…” Reina said.

  “A massive cunt,” Yuna said.

  “Yuna!”

  “Correct. I’d hoped she was merely in a phase of her newfound freedom. That if I kept supporting her, she would move past it. After reading this, however.” Tyr picked up the tablet again. “It’s clear all I did was fail her more than I already had.” He started squeezing the tablet and subsequently released it at the sight of it bending. “Endless regrets…” His voice trailed off as he closed his eyes. His hands shifted into fists while he took long, measured breaths.

  “Least she died happy, right?” Yuna said nonchalantly.

  Tyr opened his eyes, slowly turning to Yuna. “Why would you say that? How could you know that?”

  “You know, ‘You chose me?’”

  “I fail to comprehend. Please, explain.” Tyr spoke so quickly it caught Yuna off-guard.

  “Uh, shit.” Yuna felt an oppressive, intense gaze from Tyr. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything, being her killer and all. My bad.”

  “No. I request you explain, please. How do those words make you think that?”

  “Alright. It wasn’t the words exactly. It’s how she said them. Made no sense at the time so I’d even forgotten until today. But… ‘Odin’, ‘I know’, ‘You chose me?’” Yuna briefly described the scene. “They were so, I dunno how to describe it well. Floaty? Soft? Breathy?”

  “She was on her last breath.” Tyr deflated some.

  “Well, yeah, but still.” Now that I think of it, wonder what she meant by ‘found it’? I’ll check with Reina later. Something’s telling me I shouldn’t bring that part up.

  “Yuna’s hearing is amazing, Tyr. I believe that even in that moment she could infer the meaning,” Reina said. I shouldn’t mention my confidence is partly from all her drama watching.

  Tyr turned away. “Whether or not you’re right, I don’t deserve your kindness. But I will forever be grateful for it.”