"Frigga?"
Thor the—what?
Of course, Frigga was still quite young at this point—nowhere near becoming Odin's second wife, let alone the mother of Thor.
Rowe was taken aback but recovered swiftly. He showed appropriate courtesy, offering a polite smile and greeting. "Ms. Frigga."
"Hello, Rowe." Frigga returned the smile with grace. "El often speaks of you. I've heard you'll be participating in the hunting festival. I have no doubt you'll make an impressive showing."
"Thank you," Rowe responded earnestly.
El, with a cheerful expression, added, "Frigga is joining me for dinner prep today. Rowe, you must let her sample your best taste yet."
As El and Frigga immersed themselves in preparing dinner, Rowe lingered nearby. He tried to help but quickly realized he'd be more a hindrance than help, eventually resigning himself to quietly watching.
It was apparent El and Frigga shared a deep friendship. They conversed like sisters, open and familiar with one another.
This was good news for Rowe. Few others knew what he did—that while Frigga was currently just the adopted daughter of Duke Norn, not yet a prominent figure in Asgardian politics, she would eventually become Odin's wife and the mother of both Thor and Loki.
During the meal, Rowe ate quietly for the most part, while El and Frigga chatted enthusiastically.
"El, which side do you think has the edge for this hunting festival?" Frigga asked, raising her goblet lightly.
Frigga tilted her head, thinking. "Aside from the spirit of Norn in the Cave of Time, who could truly predict the outcome? But personally, I hope Hela claims victory."
"Why's that?" El asked curiously.
Frigga hesitated, then replied with a small grin. "She's more... captivating."
"Like her father?" El teased with a sly smile.
Frigga responded only with a mysterious smirk, offering no further comment.
Watching the exchange, Rowe blinked and couldn't help thinking—it seemed Frigga and Odin were already involved, even if unofficially.
Poor Odin's current wife. A moment of sympathy passed over him.
After Frigga departed, Rowe chatted with El a bit more before turning in.
"Sister, is Duke Norn very strict?" Rowe asked as they sat on the balcony under the night sky.
"Yes," El said with a sigh. "Lots of rules—just as many as the lessons. But it's been worth it. With the teacher's guidance, I've progressed much faster. I've even mastered several complex spells."
Rowe nodded in admiration. "Have you ever been to the Cave of Time?"
"I have. I received a prophecy there."
"What kind of prophecy?"
El blushed slightly. "That… I can't tell you."
Rowe's curiosity piqued. He was about to press further when El quickly changed the subject. "Do you want to visit the Cave of Time yourself?"
"Absolutely," Rowe replied eagerly. "I've heard it's tied to fate itself. Many say even Ragnarok was first seen in a vision there."
"I'll take you tomorrow at noon," El promised.
—
The Next Day
The Cave of Time was nestled in the heart of the city, which was aptly named the "City of Destiny." Besides Asgard itself, the City of Destiny was perhaps the most significant Asgardian settlement.
Under El's guidance, Rowe made his way to the most mysterious site in Nornheim—the residence of the Norn spirit, known as the Cave of Time.
At a glance, the cave appeared unremarkable. Aside from its size, there was little to distinguish it—no grand decorations, no divine auras at the entrance.
Surprisingly, there were no significant guards posted. Only two Asgardian sentries stood at the entrance, neither of whom made any move to stop them.
After exchanging a few words with the guards, El led Rowe inside.
The cave opened up into a vast chamber, more like a palace interior than a natural cavern. The walls glimmered like crystalline jade. Gigantic, snow-white stone pillars supported a soaring dome inlaid with radiant gemstones, casting multicolored glows across the hall.
At the hall's center was a clear, still pool of water. It appeared entirely ordinary—almost deceptively so.
"That's the Water of True Sight," El explained, motioning toward the pool. "The spirit of Norn sleeps within it." She grinned playfully. "Not quite what you expected, is it?"
Rowe didn't respond. He crouched down, studying the pool more intently.
There was… sand? A lot of it, settled quietly at the bottom.
"Careful!" El gasped, yanking him back.
"What?" Rowe blinked in confusion.
"That's one of the most dangerous bodies of water in the known universe!" El scolded.
"Besides our teacher, Karnilla, and Frigga, any living being that touches the Water of True Sight has their life force absorbed by the spirit of Norn."
"If someone falls in—even if they climb back out—they'll probably turn to dust."
"Yikes," Rowe muttered, quickly backing away. That was a bit too close for comfort.
El continued, "To receive a prophecy, one must sacrifice life force to the Norn spirit. The greater the life force offered, the more profound the prophecy granted."
"Last hunting festival, Balder sacrificed the dragon he'd slain. The beast aged rapidly in the Water of True Sight, crumbling into dust and bone in seconds. It's said he received an extremely important prophecy in return."
"What was the prophecy?"
"No one knows," El said, shaking her head. "But I have a bad feeling about it."
There wasn't much more to see in the cave, and the two eventually departed.
—
As they walked through the city streets, Rowe wore a thoughtful expression.
"Sister?"
"Hmm?"
"Have you ever heard of any sand that contains time magic?"
El blinked. "Not really. If anything came close, I'd say it's the sand at the bottom of the Water of True Sight. But no one's ever retrieved it, so who knows?"
—
Later That Evening
[106% Replacement Identified: Substitute for Sun Grass]
"I found it!" Rowe grinned as the appraisal finished.
El's herb stores were vast, and at last, Rowe had found a viable replacement for sun grass—and a highly compatible one at that.
However, he didn't rush to use it. The herb was rare, and El only had a few samples. Despite their close relationship, Rowe decided to seek permission first.
El returned late that night, and after Rowe explained, she gave him the go-ahead.
The next morning, he got to work on crafting the agility potion—and succeeded.
He placed the potion onto the sacred deed for evaluation.
[Completion: Perfect]
Rowe allowed himself a moment of pride. The agility potion was ranked as a fourth-tier elixir by the sanctuary, and creating one at perfect completion using non-optimal ingredients was no small feat.
Hopefully, it would live up to expectations.
—
Two Days Later — The Hunting Festival
The day of the hunting festival had arrived.
Rowe arrived at the designated square, joining dozens of other competitors. Most were tall, muscular, and radiated the confidence of seasoned warriors.
In contrast, Rowe—smaller and leaner—stood out awkwardly.
Still, years of training had hardened him. While he remained compact, he no longer looked scrawny. Once upon a time, he'd been little more than a stick figure.
"You made it, Rowe!" Heimdall's voice called out. He stood beside Hela, waving with a rare smile.
Rowe jogged over. "Your Highness."
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