I was silent the entire time we moved inside. I brought the tea tray for Vala. I wanted to follow behind them, keeping Sigurd between us.

When we entered the house, I placed the tray on her table. Vala had already started the fire before, so the room was warm. Vala's living space usually made me feel calm, but knowing Sigurd had been hiding something from us all along, I was not calm now.

I sat beside Vala at the table. I wanted to be near her incase Sigurd turned out to be truly nuts, and did something stupid.

Sigurd was admiring the Vines on the roof, and Vala's herb collection, the furs that lay in front of the fireplace, the jars of dried meat, everything, Moving slowly towards the table to join us.

Taking an impatient breath Vala finally said. "for the sake of all the Gods, sit down. I'm old, and tired. I am a Seer, I have seen you sitting at this table. Now sit."

She picked up her tea and nodded in satisfaction, and started to drink.

Sigurd sat down and smiled. "Yes, of course." He reached for his tea off the tray, and then placed it down in front of him. "Also, these are for you. " He pulled out a pouch that he had stuffed with the herbs he had picked earlier. He tossed them onto the table between us. "Heard from a bird that you needed those"

Vala picked the pouch up and stood up. Walking to the fire and putting some of them into boiling water. She was pulling some leaves and a few Berries off the vines on the roof, and gathering other materials around her hut. While Vala was concocting, Sigurd was eating a bun making loud noises indicating he was enjoying it. I wanted to shove it in his face so he would stop.

Sigurd smiled at me as he finished, finally. I knew he had knowledge of my future. That much was obvious. He wasn't here by chance. I was fairly tired and growing impatient with all the secrecy. Slamming my hands on the table, I stood up.

"I have had enough! Who are you Sigurd? Why are you here? And Vala, what the hell am I here for?" I was going to get my answers

Vala turned to me and sighed.

"Patience, Kaida."

" I have been Patient, playing along with you and Bellator. Just tell me already." I said impatiently.

"To help!" Sigurd interrupted. "With Kai, and Amaia!"

He laughed a little as if it was obvious and I was incredibly behind on facts.

Vala gave an impatient huff, again. "Amaia is not a name I enjoy listening to, or repeating."

Sigurd bowed his head, "Apologies, Vala. I understand. I'm here to help!"

Who was Amaia?

"Amaia is a God." Vala answered my question like she was in my mind. "She is who we are trying to stop coming through the gate that Kai is going to open. She is a god who wants to rule both gods, and all of us here in this realm. She started a war long before our time. She did not succeed, and was jailed by the other Gods. Sent to another realm to live out her time in solitary."

Sigurd clapped. "Thank the Gods!"

I have never heard of a god called Amaia before. No doubt there are lots of gods that have faded in and out of history, and memory. Myths and Legends are full of gods and creatures we no longer talk about, or seen. If they were really ever true.

"Tell me about her" I sat back down and took a long breath. Vala brought me a mug filled with hot liquid, whatever she was brewing over the fire.

"This will be easier I think" She told me as she sat beside me, using my shoulder to keep her steady. "Trust me, Kaida."

She pushed the mug into my hands. "Visium. I would rather not have to tell a long story."

Visium was Seer magic. A potion that allows you to share a vision with them.

I trusted Vala. I drank the Visium.

Vala stood up and motioned for me to follow her. Sigurd was silent. For once.

Vala and I sat on the floor in front of the fire on large furs. There were runes painted in a circle around us. Protection, Elemental, Versatility, Discipline. Runes that we use in most of our daily lives. There were also destruction runes, and a variety of other runes dedicated to combat. Strength and stability, healing. I knew these from my own home. My father insisted we mark ourselves with combat runes, so we had more magical protection during our times in battle. I had a few of these across my shoulder blades.

In between the runes were offerings like glass, and resin. Some smoking herbs, and a few rare crystals and gems. A dead crow, and a few insects. A dagger and a hand size shield. All items that again, are not unfamiliar to me. These items are usually offerings used to satisfy gods when they are being asked for something.

Vala was praying to Ota, I was thinking about the god Amaia. Who was she? What does my fate have to do with her?

I felt good. Really good. I could see a figure standing behind Vala. Out of focus, but I knew they were wearing a black cloak and holding a mighty sword. I tried to reach for my dagger, but they were not there. The figure held a hand out to me, I reached up as an automatic reaction grabbing the hand that was reaching for me. The moment my hand connected with the figure, I was standing in an empty space.

There was white smoke in the air. It smelled like cloves and something else I wasn't sure of. A crow came into sight flying towards me its flapping wings filling the silence, and as it passed me it brought into view a great room.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

It had pillars of gold lining the walls. The walls themselves were silver, there were thousands of runes that were scattered over them, I lost track of what they all were. Braziers of silver filled with oils and woods stood evenly along the silver walls on either side. There were plants everywhere. Potted plants, plants growing out of the ceiling, and vined plants crawling down the walls in parts. I don't think they were of my worldly plants, because I did not recognize them. The leaves were Orange and Yellow, Blues and Violets. Flowers the color of Silver. There were birds perched on the vines, and flying around collecting the berries and the leaves for their nests. The Birds themselves were white. So white they looked like they shined. And pixies. Buzzing around with their annoying little wings, occasionally stopping to stare at themselves in a shiny spot on the walls. They were trying to pull off gems and other treasures that were mounted on the walls with no luck, flying away angry, until they spotted a new Shiny object.

Pixies were not cute. They had long legs, long arms, and had giant eyes that felt like they could see through you. They were usually green , or some shade of it. Thin faces and wore leafy clothing. Their hair was usually long and covered in some sort of growth. Twigs, leaves, small gems. Their teeth were sharp. I have been bitten by them plenty of times in the past stopping them from stealing my hair decorations. Rotten, horrid pests.

At the end of the room were three chairs. A larger throne type was in the middle made of Gold and red material. The other two on either side were just slightly small versions. Coming down the middle of the room was a long table and chairs. The table was shinned wood, with gold designs webbed around the surface. The chairs matched, all shinned wood with matching red material to the throne. Looked like enough seating for two village councils.

The door to the room opened and I jumped with deep thought about my surroundings.

I knew visions given from visium meant I was not apart of the vision, but only a viewer, that didn't make it any less real.

A group of people were streaming in the room. They were awakened. Except, their marks.

They were all the same. A rune on their foreheads. The rune Duw, the mark of Ota, the king of gods. I gasped. They were the first awakened.

All people were one once. Non awakened and Awakened. We shared villages and married each other. There were no differences between us. Then the god Ota appeared for the first time to us. The first awakened were followers of Ota and his kin. Ota, the mighty ruler, wanted to give them a gift for their sacrifices and devotion they had given him for years, to show he loved them back. He granted them magics. This is where the ability to cast came from. As long as we were devoted to Ota, and the other gods, we would remain living with those magics. Those of us who did not, no longer were granted the magics. Of course there were people who split from the gods, thousands of years ago, this is what began the two very different lives of the awakened, and the non awakened. Those who turned from Ota and his fellow gods, gave birth to non awakened and magics faded from their lives as if they never had it in the first place.

The first awakened split into two lines and walked towards the table and took their places. Standing and waiting in silence.

Another set of doors opened on the opposite side of the room, and two Gods stepped through. They had black hair, and Golden eyes, they were both tall and fit for battle, dressed in the same Armor. Fine leather, with golden belts. Each had curved long daggers on each of their hips. And a single shoulder covering made of gold, that was decorated with Runes of protection and prosperity, glory, Many more. Each wearing cloaks made from the fur of a Fenrir, clasped to their armor by golden discs with the rune of power pressed into them. Tall leather boots with gold armor coverings. Their amour was beautiful. They were beautiful.

They both stepped in front of the in the two chairs beside the throne. The throne belonged to Ota. The two gods looked almost exactly like the other. One Male, one Female.

Twins. Twin Gods? I have never read or heard of these Gods before.

The people of the first awakened all yelled, "ALL HAIL GOD AMAIA, ALL HAIL GOD AADI"

"ALL HAIL" the room echoed.

Amaia, and Aadi. Amaia was the God that Kai was intent on summoning.

Our gods were all supposed to be giving and mighty. They were known to give us what needed, and to punish us when they deemed fit. We prayed to them for good crops and fat animals. For babies, and love. Everything. Not one was more important than the other, except Ota. He ruled them justly, and they respected and obeyed him.

Amaia stood tall and held her hands in the air. The hushed whispers that were floating around the table went silent, the awakened sat in their chairs.

When it was absolutely silent, Amaia spoke. Her voice made me cold. I could feel the cold in my entire body, in my entire being. It made me uncomfortable.

"Gratiam" She bowed her head just slightly. " I will make my sacrifice to guarantee our victory. Ota will fall on this day, and I will be Queen of Gods."

The people cheered.

She raised her hands in silence again.

"Ota does not love you. I will give you more power then Ota ever granted you. He allows you to die and suffer. I will love you. I will give you long lives, filled with everything you hope for, everything you want."

Every single word makes my throat dry. She was luring them. Giving them everything they wanted. She bought their loyalty. And how could they resist? They were only earthly beings.

The braziers against the walls light up fiercely as the awakened cheered for Amaia.

Aadi stood up and smiled. "My Sister will prosper! ALL HAIL AMAIA!"

The people cheer again.

As they were cheering Amaia stepped in behind Aadi, pulled out one of her Long curved golden daggers, and stabbed Aadi through the back. The blade burst through his chest, as he coughed up his golden blood. His eyes showed the shock he was in. He grasped his chest and turned around to look at his sister, holding the table in front of him for support. He grabbed Amaia's shoulder, sputtering blood all over her face.

"Why, Amaia?" He begged, confused.

Amaia laughed. The evil poured from her smile. "For your power, Brother!"

She then let his body fall to the ground and plunged her hand into his chest, pulling out his heart. It was still beating when she began pressing it between her two hands. Light was pouring through the cracks of her fingers. Within what seemed seconds, she opened them to reveal a bright yellow gem.

I felt as if I was being ripped backward by a dozen horses. The pressure made me yell out in pain. The next thing I knew, I was laying on my side on the furs in front of Vala's fire.