East Wing, Valaskjalf, Asgard

Diana swung her legs back and forth, a motion that matched her growing impatience as she peered down at the bustling training yard below. There, her brothers and Sif were locked in sparring matches with other children their age. Yet, Diana was stuck in her mother's chamber, seated before Frigga like a doll as gentle hands wove her hair into intricate braids.

Her mother's voice brought Diana's attention back to the present. "How go your numbers?" Frigga asked, once again adjusting Diana to an upright position.

"Mimir says I learn quickly and with ease, mother. Though I find my history and culture lessons to be more to my liking." Diana responded, her voice trailing off as she stole another glance outside the windows.

Her mother made divisions and crosses with the expertise of one well-practiced. "That's good to hear, minn barn. His teachings will serve you well down the road."

"Thor said that he rarely finds uses for Mimir's knowledge in his daily life." Diana retorted.

Frigga chuckled lightly. "Then you, dottir, will soon learn that your brother does not know best."

A moment of silence passed before Diana voiced the question that had been burning within her. "Mother, when am I to learn the arts of fighting and war?"

"Is that what you want to do?" Frigga's question was soft, yet probing.

"Loki and Thor started around my age. I think I should start soon." Diana answered, briefly glancing once more at Thor and Loki below.

"You are not your brothers, Diana. Would you not find seidr better to your taste?" The queen suggested.

"I've tried, mother." Diana admitted, a hint of frustration in her voice. Her palm raised while she called upon all the mana she could to produce a lesser fire spell she had learned. However, nothing happened. "Magic just doesn't come naturally to me. I could understand the theories a little, and Loki attempted to teach me some basic spellwork, but I've never been able to do any of them."

Frigga paused her braiding, her hands resting lightly on Diana's shoulders. "To master any skill, you will require perseverance and effort. Whether it is seidr or swordplay."

Diana looked downward, staring a hole into the ground, her fingers twiddling and swirling against each other. "I know that, and I am willing. It's just that I want to learn how to fight so I can keep our people safe."

"If there was something endangering Asgard, we have the Einherjars and many great warriors who would take up their weapons to safeguard the realm. You are a princess. You can choose other pursuits to study and dedicate your time to."

"I think…I know this is what I want. I lost my first family to war. I need to learn how to protect the family I have now—to protect you." Diana's expression turned earnest, and her voice echoed with both determination and distant grief for those she never met.

"Oh, my sweet child." Frigga caressed Diana's still chubby cheeks with fragility in her tone. "You'll find that I can very much defend myself. Although, I know that your intention is noble."

Diana immediately lighten up with each word. "Does that mean I can start training soon?"

"I will talk to your father. However, there are things you need to grasp first." Frigga's voice turned serious as she moved to face Diana.

"Yes, mother." Diana nodded, signaling her readiness to listen.

The queen knelt down to Diana's sitting form and held the princess' smaller hand in her palms. "Asgard, despite its advancements and position in the universe, clings to old traditions and beliefs like a badge of honor. Sometimes even the ones that stunt its own growth. When I arrived in this realm from Vanaheim, it was the first thing that I noticed and the first thing that I learned to adapt to."

Puzzlement crossed Diana's youthful features. "I don't understand." She admitted.

Frigga elaborated, her voice calm but firm. "There are certain roles that many expected people will be sorted into. Most think of the Dwarves of Nidavellir as craftsmen and forgers, yet there are Dwarven poets, warriors, and others of any station. There has also been a growing resentment toward the Jotnar, with many Asgardians believing they are all villains due to their King's previous decision to sow war."

Diana narrowed her eyes at the world outside the chamber's frames as if she were scolding the realm itself. "I don't think they are all villains. I've heard many delightful tales of Aurvandil, The Wanderer, and Fjolverkr, The Earnest. They seemed nice."

Frigga continued. "Yes, my stars. Although, many will not share your view. Now, we get to the topic of gender. As a girl and later as a woman, there will be some who question your future of being a warrior and others who may look down upon you for your choice."

"It doesn't make any sense." A spark of exasperation lit Diana's eyes as she considered her mother's words. "Commander Nanna is well respected by her soldiers. Sif trains with Thor and Loki all the time. And the Valkyries were Father's greatest soldiers. Why would people look down upon them?"

Frigga took a deep breath and explained the reality of their realm. "Regrettably, they are the exceptions, not the norms. Sif and Commander Nanna fight against these dated beliefs every day as they will continue to. The Valkyries themselves, back in their time, had to prove they were better than any warrior through valour and prowess before they were even recognized by the masses."

"That's stupid!" Diana spoke out in protest, her face scrunching up in disapproval.

Frigga softly chided. "Manners."

"I'm sorry, mother. But it doesn't seem fair." Diana muttered, her sense of justice clearly riled.

"I agree with you, Dottir." Frigga assured her. "While my interests and talents lay in what was embraced by most, Loki, who is a gifted sorcerer-in-training, is not so favourably looked upon by his peers and those who should know better. They view using seidr in combat as dishonorable when wielded by men."

"Is father not also well versed in the ways of magecraft?" Diana queried, seeking clarification. She recalled the lessons from Mimir about the many battles that were won through her father's seidr alone during the Asgard-Jotunheim War over Midgard.

"Your father excelled in both warfare and magic, although most ignored the latter to their own liking." Frigga said, hoping to highlight the complexity of Asgardian society for her daughter.

The princess struggled to comprehend the contrast in how Asgard celebrated her father as a hero, while her brother was seen in an unfavourable light. Loki had his faults. His penchant for pranks and his all-too-frequent distortions of the truth, to name a few; which Diana learned that Loki shared with their father– She preferred it if they didn't lie at all. However, she knew Loki's heart was kind, and his mind was smart. He never hesitated to answer her curiosity, even though, he was not always happy with her questions. To this, Diana decided that some only accepted half of the truth, and half-truths were not truth of any kind.

"Diana, I do not tell you this to deny or convince you from learning the blades. I only hope for you to be aware of the world we live in. Stay true to your path no matter what others say, and know that as long as you try your hardest in whatever you choose, I will always be proud of you." Frigga smiled in a warmth that only a mother could. She then returned to the task at hand. "Now, shall we finish your braids? I believe you would very much like to leave my presence with all you stealing looks beyond the windows."

"Actually, mother. I think I'd like to stay here a little longer with you." Diana replied, though her thoughts were miles away in considerations of mages and warriors, women and men, and the unknowing future of her path.

______________________________

Valaskjalf, Asgard

The princess, her arms aching and her breath ragged, repeated the motion of dicing and slicing with a timber sword for what felt like the billionth time today. Before that, the old pegg-legged combat instructor had her navigate through obstacle courses with hoops and crates of all kinds around the training yard. Kvasir stood aside while he poked at her limbs with the end of the training staff to correct her postures and techniques of her swings.

Diana was getting fed up with Kvasir. She knew that no matter what happened, she had asked for this. But in her exhaustion and growing impatient with the endless repetitions, she allowed a complaint to pass through her gritting teeth: "I don't see why I have to do all these exercises and stances, Kvasir. We've been at this for hours."

Kvasir's response, a simple hum and a face as unreadable as stone, sent waves of dread throughout her body. As goosebumps grew on Diana's tanned skin, she knew then that she had royally messed up. "Defend yourself, Princess Diana." He commanded, his voice booming across the training yard.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Diana could only mutter a shocked "What?" Before a sharp pain radiated through her arm, a direct result of Kvasir's staff finding its mark. The sting had hurt like nothing the princess had ever felt, she raised her sword in guard as she was taught earlier, but her movement was not quick enough for another hit to thumped against Diana's side.

The subsequent onslaught was brutal. Each strike, each stab, was a lesson in humility—a reminder of her powerlessness and the gap between the wisen retired Einherjar's skills and her current abilities. Diana found Kvasir's method of teaching was unforgiving, unlike the firm but calm scolding of Mimir or her other tutors. "Does your body not listen to your mind? Does your mind not know what actions to take?" He taunted, his every question followed by another blow.

She had been here once before, scared like a stag in front of a predator, waiting for the monsters to consume her wholly. Yet, Kvasir wasn't the Outcasts and she wasn't the same girl all those years ago. Fury and pride of Olympus and Asgard fueled Diana's rise back to her feet.

"I will not take this!" She shouted, launching herself at the instructor with a barrage of wild slashes. Despite her efforts, Kvasir was an unyielding and impenetrable wall. He blocked, dodged, and easily deflected every attack she made with swift motions

"Stand still!" She cried out, frustration boiling over with everything she threw at the man ended up hurting her more.

Mocking her efforts, Kvasir retorted. "Look at you. Fragile. Coddled. Weak. A battlefield is no place for a spoiled princess."

In a moment that seemed both an instant and an eternity, Kvasir was upon her once more, no longer on the defensive. His wooden leg swept out, knocking Diana's feet from under her and sending the girl crashing to the ground. The impact clattered her teeth, but her spirit remained unbroken.

"You're wrong!" Diana protested, voice ragged but resolute. Her resolve to prove Kvasir otherwise only intensified.

"Am I now?" Kvasir's sneer, his challenge laid bare. "Then show me!"

Driven by a mix of determination and anger, Diana rose and made one final, desperate overhead slash. Her wooden sword barely missed the instructor and met the ground with such force that it splintered into fragments. The air around them rushed away with the raw energy of the impact. When the dust settled, Kvasir was nowhere in her line of sight.

A sudden push from behind sent Diana tumbling forward, her drained form surrendering to the ground's embrace once more. She was not certain if her body could get up this time.

"Good. You have the flame in you." Kvasir spoke while he stood above her. He jabbed his staff to her joints and bones as he saw fit. Diana noticed the sensation was not painful, just intensely annoying as before. Satisfied with whatever he was checking for, the instructor continued. "But you are untrained, untamed, and undisciplined. These 'exercises and stances' were meant to drill the art of war into you from generations of refinements of our ancestors. Do you believe you know better than them?"

Feeling small under his towering presence, Diana's anger dissipated, leaving behind a humble whisper. "No..."

"No. You do not. You do not know better than our forefathers. You do not question me. You only do. You absorb. You learn. For the rights of opinions need to be earned." His voice, though stern, carried a lecture she needed to hear.

"I understand, Kvasir." Diana replied, her resolve strengthening even as she acknowledged her current limitations.

"And you will address me by my title. Are we clear?" Kvasir demanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Crystal clear." Diana responded, her tone lighter, seeking a small victory in the exchange through humour.

"Do not quip me, girl." Kvasir warned, his glare cutting down her rising boldness.

"Yes, instructor." Diana corrected herself quickly, the seriousness of his voice sinking in.

"Good. Now, go back to the palace if you can, and I will see you tomorrow at dawn." He ended before leaving her lying on the dirt with the declining sun.

"Yes, instructor!" She shouted, but she heard nothing back. As the princess continued to plop on the ground, her muscles refusing to move an inch, she thought to herself. 'He wouldn't just leave me here, would he?'

"Hello? Instructor? Anyone? KVASIRRRR?!?!?!?!"

______________________________

West Wing, Valaskjalf, Asgard

Kvasir did not, in fact, just leave her there. Immediately after the instructor left, Thor came for Diana to take her to the healing chambers. Healer Eir had taken one look at the girl and decided she was to be dumped into a rejuvenation tub, no soul forge diagnosis needed.

Now, Diana, out of her training clothes and into a much more comfortable robe, lay in one of the many waiting beds. She was grateful that she was able to move again, but she was feeling a little nervous about seeing Kvasir again tomorrow. Before the doubts and anxiety could eat up at her mind, Thor entered the resting room.

"Here you go." Thor said and handed Diana a ice-cold mug filled with elderberry juice and honey, taking a chair that was standing beside her bed in the infirmary.

As he gave her the mug, she couldn't help but giggle at the humor of the role reversal. She'd been on the visiting end of this scenario far too many times with her brothers. She was not sure how she felt to be on the receiving end instead.

Gulping down the liquid, she barely registered the taste, focusing instead on the soothing coolness that spread through her throat and into her stomach.

"The first day is always the worst one. He'll ease off on you tomorrow." Thor spoke, extending a towel to wipe the residual juice on her face. Etiquette was not the first thing on her mind at the moment. Her mother could always scold her later if she wanted to.

"Really?" Diana questioned, skepticism coloring her tone as she gave the cup back to her brother.

"A little." Thor offered a hesitant but small nod. "You'll get used to it."

"I don't think instructor Kvasir likes me very much." She admitted, voicing a concern that had been nagging at her since the start of the intense training session.

Thor chuckled. "I don't think he likes anyone." Her brother's words were meant to soothe, but they did little to quell Diana's mind.

"He doesn't think a princess should be on the battlefield. Mother had warned me that others would challenge my choice to learn melee combat. What with me being a girl. I had not expected it to come so soon."

"I had my own doubts when I saw you on the ground back in the training yard. I did not like seeing you being hurt, but I respect your choice, sister. Pay others no mind. You will make a fine shield maiden." Thor's expression softened with a mix of concern and pride. "Besides, I don't think that was what he meant, Diana. Kvasir's been saying similar things about every student he's ever had. Trust me, I've been through it."

Curious, Diana pressed on. "What did he say to you, Thor?"

Thor's smile was wry as he recounted. "That I am a thunderheaded prince who should not have been allowed to hold a weapon."

Diana couldn't help but disagree. "I don't think you are that. You're plenty smart." She countered. Her brother may not enjoy reading as much as Loki and Diana did, but that didn't mean he was mindless. Thor picked things up easily when it came to topics he found interesting. It was he and Loki that had taught her much of her heritage, after all.

Thor's laughter lit up the room. "Yea? I don't think so either, and Kvasir likely doesn't as well. Father said it's just his way of breaking us down to build us back up stronger, faster, and better."

"And did you get better?" Diana murmured, seeking assurance more than anything else.

"Yes, I did. So did Loki, Sif, and the others. Kvasir's training is as infernal as Muspelheim but it works. I hate that it works." Thor confirmed, horror and respect both laced his voice.

Diana stared down at her hands and crunched them into small fists. "I won't give up." Her resolve solidified, fueled by youthful defiance and a deep-seated desire to protect her family. "No matter how hard it gets. I can take it!"

Thor beamed at his sister. "There's my sister." Simple though the statement was, it was all the encouragement Diana needed. Despite the residual soreness in her muscles and the daunting path awaiting her when tomorrow came, she knew she was ready to face whatever challenges Kvasir—or anyone else— threw her way.