章 21: Discussions

Vali who had just left after meeting with Frigga and Loki, asked his guards to take a break and freshen up for a week after the tiring two decades on missions. The reason he was delaying his meeting with Odin was on purpose, as he wanted to have a 'talk' with him alone.

He walked towards his chambers and checked his private weapon collection, before donning his strongest armor filled with enchantments, probably one of the strongest in the entire realm. He cleared his head as he picked up two silver curved blades, which were gifted and enchanted by Odin himself.

He slid those 'butcher blades' behind his armor and they magically stayed attached to his back in a cross-shaped manner, owing to the enchantments obviously. He looked at himself in the mirror before performing a short breathing exercise.

If anyone saw how Vali was dressed right now, they'd say for sure that he was going to the battlefield. Hell, he didn't even dress this heavily when he was out on missions for the last 20 years. The aura he exuded, and the serious demeanour on his face was just him preparing himself for what he was about to face.

He then walked towards Loki's chambers knowing that he was absent right now after all, he had just dunked on him less than an hour ago in his mother's chambers. He made it inside after using his powerful eyes to evade all the alarm traps, and other dangerous ones before sneaking in.

He was after something of Loki's, that Odin had gifted him on the day he became an adult. But sadly, the retard disdained using something like that so he left in his room. It was a pair of sparkly green gauntlets that exuded a mysterious aura, and even expanded into complete arm vambraces once worn.

Loki, someone who disliked close combat obviously felt it didn't suit him. Though that had changed after Vali had taken over his training; now even though he still disliked it, he understood its importance. He had also forgotten about these gauntlets, and let them rust in his dusty storage.

After pocketing the gauntlets and checking for anything else of interest, he left but not before leaving behind a calling card. It was a picture of two blades arranged to form the letter 'V'.

The reason for Vali putting down Loki a lot, had to do with the trickster prince's constant attempt at sabotaging his group which he took on missions. They often ended up with problems right before they were about to leave the realm, delaying quite a few of his missions.

This was Loki's way of getting back at him, knowing that he couldn't directly play tricks on him. So, Vali who wouldn't have participated in something so 'childish' decided, that he might as well help the trickster improve his craft while he was at it, by going against him.

It started with the little things, then with who gave the better gift to their mother and now, it has reached the point where Vali has started 'borrowing' a few of Loki's things. Vali was experiencing a gradual change in his personality with the matters regarding his family.

If his past self from a century ago, saw this version of himself, he would have refused to believe that he wasn't compromised. Vali who had used several methods to check for problems, had to admit that, what was happening to him was completely natural.

'So, this is the influence of a family. As long as it doesn't clash with my goals, it's fine I suppose.' thought Vali inwardly, comforting himself with reluctance.

Now Vali, who was completely armed from head to toe, after adding the magical gauntlets turned vambraces, was ready to meet with his father. He soon made his way towards his father's throne room after noticing his presence there.

As he entered the throne room, he was met with an Odin who an intrigued expression on his face. He even exuded a youthful aura with resolute eyes that highlighted his wisdom, completely different from the old and resigned look he held, the last time Vali saw him.

Odin who saw Vali enter, not giving him any time to speak, decided to talk to Vali about the offer from Yggdrasil. He secured the room before he proceeded to tell Vali about the trial, and his children's chances at getting stronger.

He always found Vali as an extremely mature individual, and since it was Vali that reignited his desire to fight, he decided to let Vali know about the things that involved the realm from now on after seeing his response to the matter regarding the trial. After saying everything he had to say about the trial, he wore a serious expression on his face before speaking,

"RAGNAROK! You've known about it, haven't you?" after observing no surprise in Vali's face, he continued, "Since, none of us would have told you about it, you knowing must have something to do with your strange divinity. Nevertheless, since you've decided to fight it, I as the King have done everything in my power, to help you on your journey."

Vali who had just come in prepared to ask for a battle, after listening to whatever Odin had called him for, was surprised to say the least. His father was actively taking measures to ward off Ragnarok, this was a surprise to him as based on his knowledge, his father was a sucker for prophecies.

Vali in this life didn't bother attempting to change his father, since he knew that he was more or less resigned to the workings of fate. Now, Odin had made a deal sacrificing his soul, meaning the Allfather wouldn't enter Valhalla once he perished.

If the people of the realm knew of his sacrifice, their bodies would tremble nonstop with tears in their eyes. The greatest warrior of the nine realms, refused to rest even after his life of glorious battles and sacrificed his soul to give the realm another chance at fighting.

Odin could have hidden such a decision from him, but he knew that Vali would eventually figure out the details and this was also a test for the young Prince of Vengeance. He would've even had plans of making Vali the king, if it wasn't for the fact that Vali made it clear that he didn't yearn for the throne.

Vali who had come in with intentions of sparring completely cooled down at this moment, as he pondered over the possible future scenarios now that Odin was taking things seriously. He also thought about the trial; the possibility of death didn't make him hesitate, but he would've preferred if he had started with the development of his magical pathway.

But this could also be his chance, since the reward from the trial would make him a lot stronger, it might coincide with the future he wanted. He might even receive something related to magic or something that made him talented in it, though he wasn't counting on it.

"I'll take the trial first, before my brothers, that way we would know of what to roughly expect when I return. If I fail, you should forget about letting them participate in the trial. They would be Asgard's last chance at survival, however unlikely." said Vali with a serious expression on his face which turned into slight contempt towards the end of his dialogue.

Odin wasn't taken aback by the authoritative tone that Vali spoke with, in fact, if anything he was at peace since he knew that Vali placed the survival of the realm as his top priority. Once he was out his thoughts, he asked Vali with a rare moment of concern on his face,

" When do you plan on taking the trial?" as he observed Vali carefully, with the once-over only to realise that he was fully armored prepared for battle.

"I will have to make a few preparations before I do participate. In fact, I came here today planning to ask for a chance at a spar with you, father." said Vali with a stoic expression on his face, after quickly processing everything that had happened over his conversations with his father.

This time it was Odin's turn to be surprised, as it had been more than a millennia since someone had asked him for a fight. Just to be sure of what he had just heard, he exuded a portion of his aura at Vali, and looked towards Vali who had an extremely serious expression on his face.

Vali who had just spoken, was stunned when he was hit with Odin's aura. He was frozen, completely incapable of movement and was only able to remain standing owing to his stubborn will. His eyes had turned slightly red, and he found that it was impossible to tap into his divinity.

All this was just from Odin leaking a portion of his aura. His thoughts slowed down until it came to a pause as if it was submerged in ice. He felt that he'd become a non-living thing in a few more seconds if this continued, but thankfully the aura withdrew.

Facing the aura had almost killed him, and Vali was inwardly shocked even though he had expected it. He soon calmed down by adjusting his mind, reminding himself of how weak he was in the grand scheme of things. The aura Odin released was extremely horrendous, for Vali could feel that he would cease to exist had Odin willed it.

Odin who had released a tiny portion of his aura infused with his odin-force was gratified with the way Vali dealt with it. In this entire universe, beings he had faced that in battle that could fight back, after he had completely released his Odin-force could be counted on one hand.

Of course, there were stronger beings than him out there, that could make him disappear the same way he could do to weaker beings. He was just a bigger shark in the never ending ocean, that was the cosmos.

"Father, I would still like to battle you, but without you using your Odin-force." said Vali with an involuntary twitch in his face. What happened just now had only made Vali more eager and understand, that he had to speed up his plans on developing his own magic. He decided that he would start the process of acquiring his magic once he completed the trial, as its reward might benefit his path.

Odin who never had the intention of using his Odin-force against a little boy in the first place, was a little irritated now. 'Does this boy think it would end any different if I didn't use my Odin-force? Well, it doesn't matter now. Since he plans to take the trial and become the first among his brothers, I might as well personally test this son of mine before he takes it.' thought Odin inwardly.

"Follow me, Vali! I shall personally judge your growth." said Odin in a casual tone before he got up from his throne and walked down the stairs. He then used Gungnir to open a tear in space that led to 'God knows where', and stepped through it.

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[A.N.]: RIP Vali.

Hand over the power stones! NOW!

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