“Allow me to explain,” Myri said after a few moments of me not saying anything. I felt like my tongue was glued in place.

I died? Like…expired? Just fucking gone and gave up the ghost?

I didn’t try to stop the entity from speaking, I was too gobsmacked to do anything other than stare at it, trying to process this information. Panic, as it had many times in my life, had set in, and my vision throbbed at the edges as I got truly hot under the collar. Though, this time, I didn’t even know how to rightly process it.

“You see,” Myri began, apparently all-too keen on sharing the details of why I was suddenly ‘born again’ in the eyes of the Bog. “The Verndari covenant is very old. It is an agreement between the Verndari and its chosen individual, where the one selected agrees to accept the Verndari into their Enaid, in exchange for which they gain access to a certain set of powers and abilities.”

“What?!” I shouted, hearing my voice return from the pit in a twisted echo. “I didn’t agree to accept nothing, you damn rhombus! That’s it, I’ve had it—this whole thing is bullshit.”

“Leo,” Myri said quietly—-severely. “The covenant is not something that can be entered into lightly; it requires a great sacrifice on the part of the individual—yourself—and should not be dismissed.”

“I didn’t consent to have my…En-eyed—what is that?”

“It is the spirit inhabiting us all,” Myri said.

“...my goddamn soul fused with something else!” I continued, my breath coming out in a hiss. “If you’d have told me that before I set out looking for the damn thing I woulda politely declined.”

Myri paused for a moment before continuing.

“You were chosen by the Verndari called Jotufinn due to your strength of Enaid, your courage in the face of death, and your willingness to sacrifice yourself for a creature most innocent. The Verndari chose you as its champion, I believe, because it saw true potential in you.”

That left me more speechless than ever before. Not just because the damn thing had completely ignored my protests, but because…well, I had been chosen already by a Verndari? I thought I'd failed. This didn’t make no sense at all.

“When?” I asked.

“When?” Myri questioned. “When, what, Leo?”

“When did the Verndari actually choose me?” I had seen the symbol on the breast of my jacket and I was starting to get suspicious.

“I am unsure, Leo. I would presume it was when you valiantly—”

“Nope,” I said, shaking my head. “I think I can tell you.” I’d been trying to save the owl-goat when I’d died, but they’d shared their vittles with me earlier when I’d first arrived. An acorn.”

“An…acorn?”

“An acorn,” I said firmly. “Does this Verndari business require that I…I dunno, eat something?”

“Well, usually there is something to the covenant—an acceptance of it—an often times this is done through consuming a provided resource that the—”

“Ha! I knew it. I got tricked! Therefore, it ain’t legal and I ain’t beholden to the covenant. It’s null and void!”

“Those are terms I am unfamiliar with, Leo,” Myri said. “Nor does it, I’m afraid, absolve you of the compact because of the methods. It is not uncommon to be coerced—”

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“Coerced?!” I demanded, my panic fueling my anger which in-turn, fueled my panic even more. “I was bamboozled! I’m not doing nothing for the Verndari—I don’t need its help, matter of fact. I’ll be just fine on my own, so you can just tell…Jujutsu Kaisen that—”

“Jotufinn,” Myri corrected.

“Right—you can tell he, or she, or them—whoever—’thanks but no thanks!’”

Myri's light flickered softly, almost in a sigh. "Leo, the Verndari's aid is a boon that few are granted. The power that comes from such a bond is unique to each individual and can greatly assist in the challenges ahead."

I snorted. "Boon? More like a curse if you ask me. I don't need some swamp spirit or whatever hitching a ride inside me. I can handle whatever this Trial throws at me on my own."

Myri seemed to want to argue, but before it could say anything more, a voice reverberated through Hvísla, seeming to emanate from the dark pit at the center.

"That's a pity, Leo," the voice said, its tone carrying a playful, flirtatious lilt. "I was so excited to join you on your path."

I spun around, looking for the source of the voice, my heart pounding. "Who's there?" I demanded, my eyes scanning the shadows.

Myri remained silent, its glow steady as if it knew more than it was letting on.

"Who are you?" I asked again, trying to keep my voice steady despite the uneasy feeling creeping up my spine.

The voice chuckled, a sound that seemed to dance around the room. Then, a shape began to emerge from the shadows, manifesting with a blend of horror and alluring beauty. It was a woman, or at least, something that resembled one, but she was like no woman I'd ever laid eyes on.

She floated forward, ethereal yet solid, her presence commanding the space. She was taller than most, easily six and a half feet, and every inch of her exuded an eerie, otherworldly grace. Her skin had a greenish tint, making her look like she’d just sprouted right outta the swamp itself, and she was stark naked, yet there was nothing vulnerable about her.

Where you'd expect feet, she had these cloven hooves, tapping soft and steady on the stone. Small, delicate horns curved from her head, framing her face in a manner that was both intimidating and mesmerizing. The most striking feature, though, was her eyes – birdlike, predatory, surrounded by inky tendrils that sprawled across her skin like spider webs.

She smiled at me, and it was the sorta smile that invited you in but also let you know she was in charge. She moved smooth as silk, stepping closer like she owned the place – and maybe she did. That felt both captivating and disconcerting, her just sauntering closer with an air of someone who knew exactly the effect she had on others.

I stood rooted to the spot, unable to look away, fear and fascination coursing through me. She was a creature of both beauty and terror. I knew, right there, likely due to Marshlore—she was an embodiment of the mysterious, ancient forces that governed this swamp and perhaps even beyond. Her very presence seemed to warp the air around her, blurring the line between reality and something far more primal and arcane.

My jaw clenched. It was hard to look directly at her—intimidating as she was. It reminded me of elementary school when I’d put that love letter in Rhea Elsbury’s mailbox. She was a neighbor girl a few years older than me and I thought she was just about the prettiest thing I’d ever seen—though, I know, small sample size being my network at that age was pretty small. But I was also terrified of her, cause of the fact she was so much older than me. Afterward, anytime I saw her…I ran. Not really sure why. I just did. One time she came over with her mom to chat with Marius and Selena and I hid under the bed. Kids are weird. Anyway, all that was to say that this…woman, I guess, gave me that same sensation. Like it was dangerous to be near her or she might scoop my heart outta my chest and make me enjoy it.

"I am Jotufinn, your Verndari,” she said finally. “And I must say, I'm quite fond of you already, Leo."

"Well, ma’am…” I started, finally able to find my voice, but not my gaze. “I ain't…ahem, fond of being tricked into some pact I didn't agree to.”

"Tricked?" the voice mused. "You gladly took of my offering. You wanted food, and you received it.”

“So…” I said slowly, risking a look up. Man, this was weird. “That was you then? You were pretending to be one of the little bird ungulates? With the acorn?”

“The sitfriga?” Jotufinn asked in disbelief. “No, indeed not. They are my children. As such, you have my thanks.”

She’s their mother? I thought. Well, then their father must be ugly as all sin.

“Save your thanks,” I said. “I don’t want it. In fact—”

“You seem confused, Leo,” she interrupted. “About…this.” She gestured around us, the chamber, the pit, Myri, me. “You say you do not want it. What is the it you speak of? To my recollection, you have not begun to understand what it is you are offered, here, so near my bosom. Did you think that perhaps you would be better off with my assistance? Chosen for something greater than you ever imagined? Our bond, Leo, it's not just about power. It's about a connection, a merging of spirits that can bring forth incredible strength and understanding."

I shook my head, my anger giving way to a sense of being overwhelmed. "I don't need it. I don't want it. I can do this on my own."

Jotufinn floated closer, her tone softening. "Leo, you're not alone. Not anymore. I'm here to help you, to guide you. To be a part of you. Together, we can face whatever lies ahead."

I felt a twinge of something in my chest, a flicker of curiosity—though also: defiance. "I don't need help," I insisted again, though my resolve was starting to waver.

Jotufinn sighed, a sound like the wind whispering through leaves. "Perhaps, in time, you'll see the value of our bond. Until then, I'll be here, waiting, watching. Ready to lend my strength when you need it."

Then she was gone, leaving me alone in the room with Myri—and the whispers from the well.

I looked down at the acorn symbol on my chest, a symbol of a connection I didn't fully understand or want. Yet…there was something there, in the way she spoke to me. Maybe it was something about her manner, or maybe it was Galdur…but, there was truth there. It might not have been a friendly truth at the end of it, but it was one, I was fairly certain. And that itched at my brain a bit.

With a heavy heart and a mind full of questions, I turned back to Myri. "I need some time to think," I said quietly.

"Of course, Leo," Myri replied. "Take all the time you need."