Around a week earlier, in the Ferdreisa:
Stupid me. Stupid. Of course they won’t welcome you, they never liked you. Nobody likes you. They even prefer Dad, when he’s the one at fault, just because he’s a ‘true’ god. I’m a true goddess! I was made one by Odin himself, how do they dare chase me from the table. He expressly said that every god was welcome to the table. That’s it, I’m going back.
Having resolved herself, Hel peeked at the banquet hall from the shadows of the pillar she was standing behind. The feast was going strong, and Thor and Tyr were already drunk out of their mind. Oh, and Freya is flirting with Skirnir. Poor Skirnir, she’s always teasing him.
So, where can I go? Maybe there, with Heimdall, he’s always been, well, neutral. Wait, Dad’s here?! Oh no, Odin please make it a dream! No, he’s still here! He’s going to do something embarrassing, I can feel it!
Her musing were interrupted by the sound of the great door opening, Thrüd walking in with two mortals in tow. Hel couldn’t help but notice a strong death aura from both.
Strong for new mortals at least. And the tallest one even has darkness. And the other has life! Maybe if I can speak with them before anyone tell them I’m no good I can convince them to join me? That would show those stupid stuck-ups! I would have two valkyries, both sporting my aspects, and they would have none!
While she was daydreaming, Odin had explained something to the girls, and the feast was going on again.
Oh, they’re alone, and seem lost. Now’s the perfect time! So, I go to them, greet them, lead them outside, and then… Wait, no, Dad’s going to them! NOOOOO!!!
Hel was forced to follow the newly formed trio from a distance, as there was no way in Hell she would go near her father.
As soon as he get away, I will go greet them. I think they’re going to see Mimir, so he will leave them outside the grove, or Mimir would beat him to death. I’ll have an opportunity then.
The short girl then started having a mental breakdown, and the timing made it quite clear it was Loki’s fault.
Cursed idiot Dad, now she’s mad! I can’t go like this, she would scream at me! Maybe if I take care, and come from a distance… Yes, that’s good!
Hel made herself visible, then started slowly walking toward the duo from a distance. The problem being that she totally misread the perception ability of two low-level mortals, and was too far for them to see her, except if they already knew where to look. So they didn’t, and went in the grove.
Stupid, stupid me. Now I can’t go in, Mimir hates me. Maybe after that they will go back to Odin? I’ll wait here, it shouldn’t be too long.
After some time, they indeed came out… Flanked by Mimir! Hel reinforced her camouflage, and though Mimir seemed to have catch on something, he would probably not be able to find her, or even find it was her. He would probably attribute it to her father. Having the same aura can have some good moments, but rarely.
Hel watched from her hiding place, as the tall girl (‘Sarah’) affiliated herself with the norse pantheon. She almost screamed in despair when that sly fox of Mimir made her accept a Divine quest, but contained herself.
It’s probably going to fulfill her Truthseeker requirements, not the Valkyrie one. Yes, that’s it, everything’s okay, don’t panic. Now, Mimir and Wolündr will go back, and I will approach them to… I HATE YOU OLD FOX!
The two girls were going away on Mimir’s crow, and of course, since he had some divine essence, she couldn’t manifest herself on it. She took flight to follow the crow, trying not to cringe to hard at Mimir self satisfied smile. One day I’ll kill him.
They flew for a while, and stopped in Berlin. Yes, I can manifest myself there! Here I go!
As Hel was going to the ground, she saw a small winged spirit appear in front of her.
“In the name of Pacollo, you’re to stop right here.”
“Oh come on, we’re in german territory, I’m a norse-germanic goddess, I have every right to manifest myself here.”
The spirit had a smug smile, and she was beginning to be irritated.
“We’re in prussian territory, and there’s already a death god here. Begone, unless you want to start a war?”
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AAAAAAAAAAAH! I hate them so much! Everyone of them! To her great displeasure, Hel took to waiting while invisible in the sky. She saw the two girls display against the fire man. Already an acolyte of Surt, that was fast. When Audrey and Sarah went back in the sky she followed them again. At least now I have both their names, and I know they have good instinct, and even some combat experience.
They flew south, and she was almost grateful to see them landing in Athens. Hel immediately went to see Persephone in her Underworld palace, and left a crow to look for them. At least Mimir’s crow is gone. They won’t move too fast now.
The Underworld, Hades palace, Persephone’s aisle:
Hel was leaning on a couch, eating a few grapes, while Persephone was serving herself a cup of wine. She came to seek the authorization to manifest herself before the two girls, and even if she kinda interrupted Persephone’s bath, the death goddess agreed to intercede for her to her husband, Hades. After all, the two had known each other for a long time, and talked about a lot of things. Even some of their circumstances in the regard of their domain attribution, as they were both abducted and forcefully named Death goddesses. And Persephone had just come back from it, and the news weren’t good.
“I know it must be frustrating dear, but I can’t go against his decisions if they make so much sense. We can’t let any other god manifest itself on our territory as long as everything’s not perfectly stabilized. There’s already conflict between pantheons, caused by population movements. Plus, some of us got their image changed a lot during our absence.”
“I know, I never saw Thor so fair looking, and Dad seems a bit more cunning than before. He has that smile like he always has a big plan that no one but him can see.”
“Talk me about it, my dear Hades is lot hotter than before, and he even made some jokes!”
“Were they good?”
“I don’t know, maybe? I was too stunned to really think at that point.”
“I can imagine. So, since I can’t manifest myself here, I’ll continue trailing them. Take care of you.”
“You too, and try to come more often, it’s been eons since the last time.”
Hel took off, both disappointed and relieved. Disappointed by the outcome of her query, relieved because Persephone had not come on to her. The goddess was beautiful, with an alabaster skin so perfect it was said to have been polished in the Styx. But her sexual needs were well known, and she made no distinction between men and women in that regard. Happily, it seems Hades gave her what she craved, since she didn’t even try to steal a kiss or a hug from Hel.
As she was going back to Earth, she felt her crow moving. They were going west. Maybe if they stop in Spain?
She finally catched up to them, as they were landing in France. Tch, another waiting time. I’m not coming to the ground, or that boring guy will come to explain me the ‘Wheel of destiny and life’, and all his crap.
Many hours later:
… then I’ll kill that damn Rainbow Serpent for calling little Jorm a tiny worm, then I’ll kill all those damn phoenix lovers and their crap of resurrection magic, and finally I’ll kill the one who decided GODS COULDN’T SPY ON ANYONE THAT WAS NOT DIRECTLY AFFILIATED WITH THEM! Oh, they’re moving. Those were some of the most boring hours of my life I think. There isn’t even enough dead people to entertain me.
Hel saw the two girls taking flight west. Of course, rotten luck of Hel. They’re not going to Spain, but directly above the ocean, so I won’t be able to manifest without those crazy psychos coming at me. Can’t I just kill them and let them out of Hell later? No, the short’s one is Hermes follower. Ah, I see land. They’re going down… It’s Atlantis. That’s it. I think I need to cry. I suppose I can still ask that weirdo if I can manifest. Unless he’s dead? Wait, if he’s dead without new gods, doesn’t that make this a neutral consecrated zone? Please no, I can’t get there either! Tell me it’s not that!
Hel looked around, but even if there was still a fair quantity of Divine aura, it was hard to identify it. She let out a wave of power, prompting anyone to answer her call. But no one came. However, the power in the ground didn’t recede either. Looks like consecrated ground. I hate my life. Guess it’s back to waiting. I’ll improve my speech, maybe I can try to add a smile, that would be nice… Or really awkward… Argh, how does Dad improvises those things!
Precisely 199 hours, 32 minutes and 11 seconds later:
… and he’ll be a fan of twilights under the snow, and he’ll know how to cook, for the days I don’t feel like it, but I’ll still cook most of the time. What if he doesn’t like my food? Nah, I’m a good cook, I trained a lot, and my guests always liked it. Ah, but Jorm was spewing poison, so maybe his tongue was hurt? Oh, another Divine aura, it’s… NO! NO! NOT AGAIN!
Hel had had all the time to look at Sarah’s training, at least when it happened outdoor. But she just caught a whiff of her father’s aura, and looked when Loki manifested himself without a care in the world, right into the young valkyrie bedroom. She didn’t want to get caught, so she stayed out of sight, but clearly noticed the surge of power Sarah had just experienced.
He let himself be hurt? But he can’t! If another god hears that, he can get punished for unbalancing things. She gained close to two levels instantly!
As she was worrying, whatever was happening inside ended, and Loki flew out, a satisfied smirk on his lips.
Oh no, he probably managed to trap her into one of his plans! I can’t let her go! I want a Valkyrie that’s not a complete psycho!
Hel rushed to the door, and lightly knocked, disregarding any safety. Dad just did it, if someone wants to complain, he’s first in line. Ah, she’s coming. Wait, she’s angry. What do I say? What do I say? Wha…
“I’MSORRYFORMYFATHERCONDUCTPLEASEPARDONHIMMYNAMEISHELIWANTEDTOTALKWITHYOUCANIHAVEAMOMENTOFYOURTIMEPLEASEEXCUSEMYINTRUDINGIAPOLOGIZEFORANYINCONVENIENCEIJUSTWANTTOTALKIPROMISEIWONTBEANNOYINGPLEASE!”