The scorching sunlight pierced through my still-closed eyes, forcing me to wake up. I stirred from my long slumber, my head still throbbing. Perhaps this was the aftereffect of the pet contract ritual I had performed with Fenrir.

“Damn it, my head feels like it’s going to split.” I massaged my temples, trying to ease the dizziness.

Suddenly, I sensed something was wrong. I glanced down at something hanging from my right shoulder. A right hand.

My heart skipped a beat. A hand? Since when did I have a hand?

Sleepiness and dizziness vanished instantly, replaced by an immeasurable sense of curiosity and confusion. Slowly, I lowered my gaze, staring at the unfamiliar body before me.

I blinked several times, unable to believe what I was seeing. “What… what is this? What happened to me?”

Overnight, my body had completely transformed. My beautiful black feathers had been replaced by smooth white skin with only a slight layer of fine hair. My wings had turned into hands, complete with fingers. My thin legs were now human legs, thicker and more muscular.

And somehow, my body was now clad in a black cloak adorned with bird feathers, resembling the ones I had when I was still a raven.

I turned toward Fenrir, who was still fast asleep despite the sun being nearly overhead. “This girl… what did she do to me?”

A pet contract ritual couldn’t possibly change a pet’s body into that of a human or anything remotely similar. So why had I turned into one? The answer had to lie with Fenrir. She must have done something without my knowledge.

“Hey, wake up.” I shook her gently, eager for an explanation. “What did you do to me?”

“Mmm… yahmm.” The girl groaned lazily. “It’s still morning. Stop disturbing my sleep.”

Losing patience with her attitude, I shook her harder. “I said wake up!”

She finally sat up, rubbing her eyes groggily before stretching both arms above her head. “What is it? What’s with you? Why are you bothering me at this ungodly hour?”

“Explain to me right now what happened to me!”

Fenrir’s eyes scanned me from head to toe before a small smile curled on her lips. “I didn’t expect you to master it in just one night.”

I tilted my head. “Excuse me?”

“I understand why you’re confused,” she said, her tail swaying elegantly. “I accidentally included a Shapeshifter Rune in our contract ritual. That Rune grants the ability to change forms into anything you desire, just like my father’s.”

My eyes widened. “You gave me a Rune?! Do you have any idea how valuable that is?”

I knew exactly what a Rune was and the risks of accepting one. But the real issue here was, did this girl truly not grasp the worth of what she had given me? Was she out of her mind?

Fenrir let out a deep sigh. “What’s the use of having it if you can’t even use it? It’s like giving the strongest weapon in Yggdrasil to a shepherd. It’d be useless to him except maybe to sell for some gold koins.”

I furrowed my brows. What she said wasn’t wrong. But still, giving away something like this wasn’t normal.

“But this…” I started to protest, but Fenrir quickly silenced me by pressing her slender index finger against my lips.

“I know what you’re thinking. Remember, I am your Master, and you are not allowed to question my decisions.” She smiled, revealing the tips of her fangs.

I fell silent, unable to argue. Instead, I found myself feeling deeply indebted to her. I had never intended to take anything from her. After all, I had only given her a little food. That was nothing compared to the Rune she had bestowed upon me.

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Ravens are known as vengeful birds, but there is something few people realize. In truth, we are also birds that never forget a favor. When we are saved, we do not hesitate to repay the kindness with gifts of shiny trinkets we find.

“Hey, Little Raven.”

I turned toward Fenrir at the sound of her call.

She hesitated for a moment. Her golden eyes, usually sharp, now gazed at me with an unusual softness. The gentle breeze tousled her hair, while the sunlight bathed her face, making her fair skin and golden eyes glow in its radiance.

My breath caught, swept away by the sudden silence between us.

“Now, tell me your name.”

A faint smile tugged at my lips. I hadn’t expected her to ask for my name so earnestly.

“Yatagarasu.”

“Yata…garasu?” Fenrir frowned. “Your name is too long. Can I just call you... Yata?”

I nodded slightly. “Of course, you may, Master.”

Fenrir chuckled softly, covering her mouth. “You can just call me Fenrir or Fen if you’d like.” She then placed her hands on her hips in front of me. “Now, try saying my name.”

I smiled sincerely before bowing deeply, mimicking the manner of a butler addressing a princess. “Understood, Fen.”

When I straightened up again, I noticed a faint blush dusting her cheeks. She quickly turned her back to me, as if trying to hide her expression. “I… I guess that’s enough. Now, go and fetch me some food.”

“As you wish, My Princess.”

“D-don’t call me that! Do you want me to punch you, huh?” Fenrir spun around, protesting my teasing remark, her face bright red.

I chuckled in satisfaction as she began scolding me endlessly with her sharp, playful voice, her words laced with forced irritation. At that moment, time seemed to pause. We shared laughter, something we had never been able to do before.

****

[PoV Odin]

The clash of metal rang through Tyr’s courtyard, a testament to the young gods' unwavering dedication to their training. Asgard’s golden sun shone brightly, casting a warm glow upon the ground and making the surface of their weapons gleam.

Four figures were training with determination. One of them was still very young, yet the resolve in his eyes was no less intense than the others'. He kept up well with his seniors, matching their swordsmanship with remarkable skill.

I stood at the edge of the courtyard, watching these talented young warriors with pride. The future of Asgard lay in their hands, and seeing their relentless training ignited a newfound hope within me.

Suddenly, the youngest among them noticed my presence. His blue eyes widened before he called out, "Father?"

His voice instantly drew all attention toward me. Even Tyr, who had been quietly observing from the sidelines, looked up, his gaze filled with curiosity.

Upon realizing my arrival, he rose to his feet and approached me. A faint smile graced his lips, cheerful expression that had always been his signature since long ago.

We clasped each other’s forearms in greeting, a sign of mutual respect. "What brings you here, Allfather?"

I pulled him closer for a brief embrace before whispering something in his ear.

My words were brief, yet they were enough to make Tyr’s eyes widen slightly before he nodded in understanding. "I see."

Turning my attention back to the young gods still standing in formation, I met their gazes—filled with both reverence and curiosity. A slight smile crossed my lips as I addressed them, "How have you been? Has Tyr been treating you well?"

"Yes, Lord Odin. We have learned a great deal from him, though he is extremely strict in his teachings."

A hearty laugh escaped me at the bold statement from the burly, thick-bearded one among them. If I recalled correctly, his name was Hord.

"This man has always been strict. Even when I first taught him how to wield a sword." I patted Tyr’s shoulder, who stood beside me.

"Teacher, you flatter me."

A simple exchange, yet I could see from their expressions that they appreciated the attention. After a few lighthearted questions about their training, I finally revealed the reason for my visit.

"I need the three of you to accompany me to the Palace of Asgard. There is something important we must discuss there."

The three young gods exchanged glances, sensing the seriousness in my tone. However, before any of them could respond, the smallest among them, who had been the first to greet me, immediately protested.

"Father, what about me?" His voice carried unwavering determination, as if he refused to be left behind.

I let out a deep sigh. I knew his heart longed to prove himself, but this was not the time. Just as I was about to give him a wise yet firm response, a tall god with long blond hair reacted first.

Hojlund, the eldest among them, ruffled the boy’s hair gently, chuckling. "You're clearly too young for this, Vidar. Your father must still be worried about you."

Vidar pouted, clenching his fists, but he did not argue. "Please, don’t treat me like a child, Brother Hojlund."

The three of them laughed at his protest.

Seeing their camaraderie filled me with a quiet sense of joy. Their bond reminded me of my own comrades in my younger days. We had been like brothers-in-arms, much like they were now.

I placed a hand on Vidar’s shoulder, giving him a reassuring pat. "When the time comes, you will have your turn, my son."

I could see him pouting again, but I chose to ignore it. My gaze now settled on the three gods I had summoned. "Prepare yourselves. We depart immediately. I will explain everything at the Palace of Asgard."

Without hesitation, the three of them nodded and swiftly made their preparations to leave the training grounds.

I turned once more to Tyr, who remained by my side. He did not ask further questions, yet I could sense a flicker of concern in his eyes.

With steady steps, I began walking, the three young gods following closely behind me. Above us, the vast sky of Asgard stretched endlessly, bearing silent witness to the great events that were about to unfold.