Chapter 27: News rides at a rapid pace on the horizon.
The day had barely begun, Hermes observed Charon moving away and the dawn of the sun was already showing its signs.
He looked at his watch and it was still very early, but nothing that couldn't be resolved with a brief visit to Chronos.
But before he even had the opportunity to leave, he was faced with the appearance of a greenish light on the horizon.
He sat down on a rock near the riverbank and waited attentively for whoever it was.
It was very obvious that it was one of the Nordics, they love to use portals of light.
The story of the light portals was curious to say the least.
Balder the Norse god of light and purity, wisdom and justice, radiated an enormous amount of light and heat.
As a gift to Odin and all the other gods, he created the possibility that everyone could move around by means of light.
It was enough to imagine the place, recite a short prayer and a beam of light would be present.
In moments the gods could travel between realms and worlds.
It wasn't long before Hermes could see a battalion of Valkyries.
Well, it was really strange, as far as he knew nothing unusual was happening between the worlds to need a group that size
Next to the Valkyries was the beautiful Freya.
Yes, maybe Hermes was in a sigh right now.
Freya walked smoothly towards Hermes and sat beside him.
One of the Valkyries, more specifically Skuld, knelt in front of Freya just waiting for orders.
Skuld was the Valkyrie responsible for deciding the fate of people who arrived on the banks of the Nastronol River.
Valkyries were responsible for taking the souls of honorable warriors towards Valhalla.
Freya faced Skuld and sentenced. "Search for the dead and bring them to Odin and our palace... I have a matter to discuss with Hermes."
Freya was the mother of the valkyries, sovereign over them.
The Valkyrie quickly nodded and stood up.
They kept silent and quickly lined up.
They raised their weapons in a single, synchronized motion and a light surged between them.
Horses began to appear one by one and as they appeared the Valkyries climbed over them.
In moments the valkyries left riding towards their destination.
Freya watched them walk away and sighed.
Hermes was watching Freya intently and could only feel curious about it all... After all, they had something to discuss?!
"I want to talk about Hela..."
Hermes sighed a little relieved, knowing that the subject was Hela made him less tense. "Go straight on."
"Hela gave part of her heart to Odin... I'm worried, she doesn't seem to care about the consequences of her actions..."
Hermes nodded, Hela was exactly like that. "It's not something I can stop."
Freya smiled. "I don't want it to get in the way... Love is beautiful, I'm glad to see her dedicate herself to something other than lost souls... But the prophecy isn't very encouraging."
"Prophecy?"
Hermes did not know of any prophecies.
Finally understanding what Freya meant by unfinished business.
"Everything points to her being the culprit in provoking Ragnarok..."
Hermes heard that with a certain disbelief.
Hela? Blamed for Ragnarok?
Of course he knew about Ragnarok, everyone knew that the Norse gods were perpetually preparing for the end of the world.
End of the world that could be in a few days or millennia from now.
"Does the prophecy point out the reasons that could trigger this?"
"No… But I have my suspicions…"
Freya watched the banks of the Aqueronte River, she felt especially worried about the whole situation.
Hela was a bright, beautiful and kind girl.
He felt sorry for the slightest possibility that Hela would have a cruel fate ahead of her.
"... The lack of heart... Her heart is what makes her able to understand the living and the dead... There is no life without death, but there is also no death without life..."
Hela was the one between life and death, but without her complete heart how would she be able to understand people in life?!
The yearnings of those who remained.
When Hela lost her connection with life, she ran the risk of losing intrinsically human aspects such as kindness, gentleness... What could Hela do if there was no value that would prevent her from succumbing?
She could be capable of anything.
"... She only manages to do justice by being able to understand everyone's needs and desires..."
Freya played with her fingers, she felt complicated.
"... Ina's death could be the last straw... We all know that this girl will do anything to save her wife..."
Hermes frowned, he couldn't imagine Hela reigning over chaos.
It didn't seem to match her profile.
"Do you think Hela will be able to lead the end of the world?"
Freya looked at Hermes and stared at him for a few moments... She didn't know how to answer that question.
Yes, for a long time she would never believe this would happen.
But now she couldn't tell.
Would Hela be able to reign chaos? Would she be able to not succumb to madness?
Freya didn't know.
Hermes sighed restlessly.
The Norse gods were important allies, there was no question about that.
In case of war most likely the Greeks would fight in favor of Odin.
Asked Hermes a little surrendered to the situation. "What do you want me to do about it?"
"Do not allow Hades to approach Hela or Ina, watch his steps and keep me informed if you can..."
Freya ever since she saw Hades in Odin's palace realized that he would be a big problem in the future.
He clearly looked like he was up to something and Hela was the main target.
"Do you think it's safe to do this on the banks of the river that leads to the underworld?"
Freya launched herself and smiled. "If he really did his job... He would seek out the souls of his kingdom himself...."
Freya raised her weapon, repeating the same gestures previously made by the Valkyries.
Next to the light a horse appeared.
Freya without saying much climbed on the horse and looked at Hermes.
"It may happen that Hela initiates Ragnarok... But Hades will die before that happens... Take this as a severe warning from a longtime ally."
Hermes nodded, maybe Hades deserved to die.
It's not like I'm really going to be a part of it.
Watching Freya on her horse, he spoke. "Go visit Hela… She and Ina are doing really well as a couple."
Freya smiled openly, full of beauty and subtlety. "I will do it... Goodbye Hermes..."
She would definitely visit her dear Hela very soon.
Freya quickly disappeared into the horizon leaving Hermes completely alone again.
He looked around her and there was not the slightest sign of any being.
Freya was right about one thing: If there was one thing Hades would never do, it was fetch souls from the Acheron River.
She glanced at her watch one more time and it finally seemed like a good time, snapped her fingers... As usual, she emerged from the kitchen.
It didn't even seem like a few moments ago he was talking to Freya about the possibility of Hela turning against Asgard...
In Hela and Ina's kitchen.
It was really curious how almost all of his visits were based on food.
Upon emerging the first thing to be noticeable was Hela and Ina hugging next to the table.
She sat on a chair and watched the couple interact for a few moments.
They were so busy in the middle of their caresses that it took them a considerable amount of time to realize that there was someone else beside them.
Well, it is true that it took a while for Hela and Ina to finally realize that Hermes was present next to them and they smiled at him.
Ina and Hela were so used to Hermes' presence that they weren't even bothered by the sudden appearances he insisted on making.
He always appeared in the kitchen, which was a huge relief.
"Good morning Hermes..."
Ina sat next to Hermes around the table and Hela remained standing preparing breakfast.
He laughed, feeling funny.
Hermes brought the tips of his fingers to Ina's face and briefly poked the woman's flushed cheeks.
She was completely embarrassed.
Really cute.
"Good morning Ina… Your skin looks so healthy… Hela too…"
Ina touched her face and tried to hide her blush, which was really hard.
She felt that she was only growing more and more embarrassed.
Hela heard Hermes' funny tone and just ignored it, it's not like he was wrong.
She smiled to herself and poured some coffee into a cup and handed it to Ina.
"Your coffee..."
Hermes always when he was in the presence of Hela and Ina understood that it was very bitter to be single.
So depressing.
Ina received the coffee and a soft kiss on her lips.
After the conversation about children she even felt a lightness in her shoulders and if her days with Hela were already kind, this morning was especially sweet.
Ina sipped her drink turning her attention to Hermes. "I am?"
Hermes smiled and spoke. "Yes, love really is rejuvenating..."
Hela listening to all that conversation could only think that Hermes was very noisy even early in the morning.
She smiled, feeling funny.
She poured some coffee into two other cups, one for herself and one for Hermes.
Hela finally handing over the steaming liquid, kept her tone serious. "Don't talk nonsense."
Ina laughed at Hela's way, Hermes just nodded too, finding the whole situation funny.
Hermes had always known that Ina was the woman to be protected, Hela was so protective and it was always really curious to see her around Ina.
But Ina despite not having the vision in her eyes she knew how to defend herself very well.
Ina wasn't as powerful as Hela, but she wasn't as soft and gentle in her gestures.
She is always ready to observe and judge the people around her.
It was really hard to find Ina off guard.
Hermes took a piece of cake for himself and spoke excitedly. "Let's go to your store today."
Ina agreed.
That had been pending since the previous day, when the initial plan was to go to the university and on the way back to the store that Hermes had got for her.
But the class and the long conversation with Lauren were unforeseen situations that consumed much of the time they had.
Hela was barely a day away from giving her heart away and it was just Ina's first day as a human.
They were naturally tired.
Ina quickly realized that her days would be tiring and short.
She wasn't very strong and if she used her third eye she would strain her life energy even more.
A human with godlike powers required an enormous strain on his body, he would be consumed quickly if he wasn't careful.
Well, she would have to be careful about that in the future.
Ina after eating and saying goodbye to Hela took a coat and put on her shoes.
In moments they were leaving the house towards their final destination.
Hermes smiled and offered his arm to Ina which was quickly accepted by her.
"We will..."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone