Freyr walked to the shore and looked at the dried ocean as he looked for his father's where about. He then waited for a whole minute, but there was no sign of Njord until suddenly a tall bearded man with long brown hair came out of the ocean with wounds and blood all over his body. He was staggering and couldn't walk properly because of the serious injuries on his body.
"Father!" Freyr shouted as he flew to the ocean as the water started to come back to shore.
"Did you just almost kill the strongest Vanir God?" Jeanne asked as she watched Freyr carry Njord out of the ocean.
"He was the one who asked for it," Mykel casually answered.
Freyr flew back as he carried Njord in his arms and since there was nobody powerful enough to heal Njord's wounds, he came to Mykel. Mykel already knew and healed all Njord's wounds instantly since he felt bad because he never thought he almost killed Njord with a single attack.
"He's not from the Constellations?" Jeanne asked Mykel.
"Many Gods from the Norse don't partake in the game. Even if he joins the Constellations, he doesn't have wealth to offer to his Recipients since he has nothing but this land," Mykel answered as he got up after he healed Njord.
Njord slowly opened his eyes and saw Freyr, Mykel, Jeanne, and Elena staring at him. He slowly got up and groaned because he didn't remember when was the last time he got passed out so embarrassingly like that.
"Was that enough of an introduction, Njord," Mykel asked. "I believe I went too far because I thought you were strong enough to hold off my attack. My apology," Mykel smiled as he stared Njord in the eyes, but Njord knew that apology was an empty word.
Njord looked at Mykel and realized the prophecy that Loki had spread around wasn't just empty words. He heard that both Nidhoggr and Jormungandr were in Mykel's possession, and saw Elena had Jorumngandr slithered around her neck. He realized that Mykel could single-handedly destroy the Yggdrasil Tree if he wanted to with powerful allies with him as he looked at Elena and Jeanne.
"I have become too old to act all high and mighty," Njord answered as he chuckled. "I see you have come to visit, but what's the reason for you to come here?" Njord asked.
"I came to see Freyja's father and twin brother, also for letting one of my men learn magic from you," Mykel answered as he looked at them and then looked at Rozan.
Njord looked at Rozan and noticed he wasn't a mortal, but a Demi-God by the look of the aura around him. Njord didn't mind the request, but he didn't want to do it for free, and that might be the best chance for him to ask something back from Mykel.
"I can teach him rune magic, but it won't be free," Njord took his shot and looked at Mykel to see what kind of reaction he would make.
"Name the price," Mykel answered without showing any expression, but his eyes were sharp as he stared Njord in the eye.
"Odin's death," Njord answered without hesitation.
Mykel wasn't surprised by the request since he already knew it might have something to do with Odin. Although he knew this, he believed it would only create another civil war against Vanir and Aesir. Not only those two, but the Jotunn would also partake in it and join hands with Vanir. If that happened, it would only reduce the amount of Gods that could join him in fighting Mara.
"Odin's death? You're saying that your magic is worth the previous All-Father's life? You? The God of Sea and Wind that almost got killed by mere wind magic?" Mykel asked with his eyebrow raised. "Why don't you ask for the throne as the All-Father as well?" Mykel approached Njord with the intention of killing him.
Njord didn't flatter by the threat and stood tall to show that he had no more fear. He would rather die trying than stay quiet and accept the past. He regretted giving Freyja to Odin, and the humiliation that he received after the war was too hard to endure.
"I don't care about all those things. I want Odin's death," Njord said without showing any fear.
"He's already as good as dead. He will spend the rest of his life in Urdarbrunn lake. Do you really want to end his suffering and kill him?" Mykel asked. "You know where he is, and you could easily go there to kill him, but you didn't. You're waiting for someone that's strong enough to back you up for your action. Now that I'm here, you're trying to use me and make me your shield. Are you perhaps a coward?" Mykel asked again.
"You're mad because someone pissed on your small puddle of water while everyone has been swimming in a lake or even on a beautiful ocean. Open your eyes because the past doesn't matter, and nobody cares about it anymore," Mykel pointed out and stared Njord in the eyes. "Do you think if Odin recovers and goes back to rule Asgard, people will follow him?" Mykel asked with a smirk.
Njord furrowed his eyebrows and looked at Mykel with a confused look.
"Think about it. Who makes Thor the new king? Who makes Odin in that condition? Who's Freyja trust? Who's Skadi and everyone from Jotunnheim respect? I can bring all Odin's old enemies back to life if I want to. They fear the one who has power over their fate and destiny," Mykel explained as he put his hand on Njord's left shoulder. "Why don't you join me before it's too late? I can turn the situation around without having to kill Odin. In the first place, I don't like Odin, so that should be enough to tell that we are allies of the same enemy," Mykel continued.
Njord and Freyr looked at each other as they were thinking about what Mykel meant by that. Since they had nothing else to lose, and knowing Freyja had been on his side made them think that it would be the best option to join with Mykel's hand.
"If we, the Vanir decided to join hands with you. What are you going to do with us? Are you going to turn us like those Gods? Your followers?" Njord asked.
"Followers? I never asked or ordered Loki, Freyja, Thor, and Skadi to follow me. I gained their trust, and that's why they follow me," Mykel answered and smiled. "If you think that I'm someone worthy of you and think that following me is the right thing to do, then go ahead," Mykel pointed out. "If what you want is revenge, then I'll give it to you, but in the sweetest way that you won't regret it," Mykel continued.
Njord was thinking about it and couldn't give an answer yet because he needed to ask Freyja what kind of a person Mykel was. He then told Mykel that he needed time to think, but in the meantime, he would teach Rozan rune magic. Mykel was fine about it and let Rozan stay in Vanaheim on his own.
Mykel and the others went to Asgard where Thor, Loki, and Skadi had been waiting for him. They were welcomed with a feast and prepared a whole place for them to stay for the next three weeks.
The night came and Mykel was enjoying the scenery outside the palace. He was staring at the Yggdrasil Tree and wondered what it looked like to be on the top of the tree.
"I knew you would be out here on your own," Jeanne said as she walked down the stairs with Elena. "Why are you here on your own?" Jeanne asked as she stood next to Mykel.
Mykel looked at Jeanne holding hands with Elena in her six-year-old body. She had been staying in that body ever since she came to Folkvangr. He wondered if it was because of Edith's daughters or because Jeanne had been spoiling her.
"Fresh air, the silence, you name it," Mykel answered as he gently lifted Elena's body and put her in his arms.
"I guess we are the same. Can I stay here?" Jeanne asked with a smile.
Mykel looked at Jeanne and was confused as to why she asked such a thing of him. But it turned out she wasn't asking that question to him, but to Elena when he heard Elena hum.
"I got my permission," Jeanne whispered to Mykel as she held his hand.
Mykel chuckled and nodded his head with understanding.
