The Hall of Eternity was now far behind Velkharion as he strolled through the bustling streets of Celestra, one of Asgard's most prominent cities. The sprawling metropolis hummed with the sound of life—vendors shouting their wares, adventurers boasting of recent conquests, and the distant clang of blacksmiths at work. The raid on Vanaheim had been an undeniable success, but Velkharion had politely turned down the guild's offer to officially join their ranks. He preferred his independence, and the thought of being bound by guild politics didn't sit well with him.
As he meandered through Celestra, Velkharion found himself fascinated by the towering spires, intricate architecture, and the vibrant tapestry of life woven into the city's streets. His steps eventually brought him to an unassuming alley, and tucked away at the far end was a run-down shop, its sign barely legible beneath layers of frost and dust.
Velkharion smirked to himself. "Always in fiction, places like this have something special to offer," he muttered, pushing open the creaking door.
Inside, the shop was just as unkempt as its exterior suggested. Dust motes danced in the dim light filtering through grimy windows, and towering shelves groaned under the weight of old tomes, trinkets, and various oddities. Behind the counter, an elderly woman sat hunched over a steaming mug, her wizened face partially obscured by a hood.
"We're closed," the woman said gruffly, not bothering to look up.
Before Velkharion could turn to leave, the old woman glanced up, her sharp eyes narrowing as they settled on him. Her demeanor shifted instantly. "By Odin's beard!" she exclaimed, standing abruptly. "Your level is so low, yet you're walking around with such blessings! The blessings of Elyssera, the Verdant Queen, and... by the gods, even the Elves' mark? Could it be—maybe you're the one."
A thudding sound interrupted her, drawing both their gazes to a staircase that spiraled up along one wall. Another old woman descended, balancing precariously on the steps as she packed books into her arms. "Don't be ridiculous, Ingrid," the second woman scoffed, her tone sharp. "He's just a wandering adventurer. Look at him—. No way he's the one."
Velkharion blinked, utterly baffled. "Uh," he began, raising a hand, "should I come back later, or…?"
Ingrid shushed him with a wave of her hand. "Hush, young man. I need to think."
The second woman—Elira, judging by her name floating above her head—snorted. "Think all you want, Ingrid, but he's not your chosen savior. Mark my words."
Velkharion sighed, rubbing his temple. "Look, I'm just here to browse. Do you have anything for sale?"
Elira gave him a flat look. "If you've got gold to waste on junk, sure. Enjoy."
With a flick of his wrist, Velkharion opened the shop's item menu. A long list of unusual items appeared, most of them rare but not particularly useful. His gaze landed on an Old Frostbitten Map, its faint runic markings oddly familiar.
He tilted his head. "This…" he murmured, pulling up his inventory to compare it with the glowing Blue Map he'd acquired in the Frostbound Expanse. The two maps were almost identical, their glowing runes seeming to call to one another.
Curious, Velkharion purchased the Old Frostbitten Map. Elira cackled behind him. "What a fool," she sneered. "Buying an old piece of paper? Good luck with that."
But as Velkharion pulled the two maps from his inventory, a sudden surge of energy coursed through the room. Both maps began to glow brilliantly, the runes shifting and rearranging themselves until they formed a single, complete map. A system notification flashed across Velkharion's HUD:
Main Story Quest Triggered: "The Spear of the All-Father"
Objective: Travel to Gjallar's Cradle, the ancient sanctuary of the gods, and repel the Frost Giant invaders. Recover Gungnir, Odin's spear, from their clutches.
Level Requirement: 50 (Warning: current level 41).
Reward: Unknown.
Velkharion let out a string of curses under his breath. "Seriously? I'm not even close to being ready for this," he muttered. "Why do these quests never come with a 'maybe later' option?"
The room fell silent as the glowing light subsided. Ingrid and Elira exchanged wide-eyed looks, their bickering momentarily forgotten. Ingrid stepped forward, her voice trembling. "It's true… you're the one foretold. The bearer of blessings past, a bridge between the realms."
Velkharion raised an eyebrow. "Foretold by who, exactly?"
Elira sighed, descending the last step from the staircase. "Oh, for Freyja's sake, stop being cryptic. He deserves to know." She turned to Velkharion, fixing him with a sharp stare. "We're not just shopkeepers, adventurer. We are the remnants of Asgard's old gods. I am Elira, Keeper of Knowledge, and my insufferable companion here is Ingrid, Warden of Runes."
Velkharion blinked. "You're… gods?"
"Fallen gods," Ingrid corrected, bitterness creeping into her tone. "Our time has long passed, but we are still bound to this realm. And you…" She placed a hand on his shoulder, her expression softening. "You've inherited our burdens. But we'll not send you into Gjallar's Cradle unprepared."
With a wave of her hand, Ingrid summoned a glowing runestone that hovered in the air before Velkharion. "I grant you the Rune Master class," she intoned. "Master it well, and you'll weave magic through both combat and the very fabric of existence."
Class Unlocked: Rune Master
Unique Skills Gained:
- Runic Bind: Temporarily immobilizes enemies within a set radius.
- Carve Rune: Stormcall: Summons a tempest to disrupt enemy formations.
- Empowered Engraving: Buffs weapons with runic magic, enhancing their attack power.
Elira stepped forward next, handing him two glowing orbs. "I bestow upon you two subclasses," she said. "Warden Duelist, for wielding dual blades with unmatched precision, and Ethereal Healer, for mending both flesh and spirit."
Subclasses Unlocked:
- Warden Duelist (Advanced melee subclass specializing in dual-wielding).
- Ethereal Healer (Support subclass focused on AoE healing and purification).
Both women chanted in unison, their voices harmonizing with ancient power. Four blessings descended upon Velkharion, each one a mark of their gratitude for his unintentional heroism.
Blessings Received:
Blessing of Knowledge (Enhances intelligence and spell effectiveness by 20%).
Blessing of Runes (Amplifies all rune-based magic).
Blessing of Fortitude (Reduces physical damage by 15%).
Blessing of Spirit (Increases mana regeneration and healing efficiency).
As Velkharion absorbed the gifts, the system exploded with notifications. A server-wide announcement echoed across Asgard:
Main Story Event Triggered: "The Spear of the All-Father"
- All monsters in Asgard have received buffs. Beware! The world grows more perilous.
Velkharion groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I just escaped fame by changing my name. Now I'm going to be hated for this."
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