The sacrificial cave fell silent for a moment. Skadi hugged her arms, eyes lowered, her brows slightly furrowed. Her expression seemed complex, appearing even more elusive in the dim light and shadows.
"Perhaps my wording was off, but to me, this somewhat 'brutal' arranged marriage must carry a similar meaning." Shiomi reached out, attempting to soothe Skadi. "It's not about disrespect or distrust—it's…"
"You don't need to lecture me." Skadi took a step back.
Tears slid down her cheeks, like droplets falling in the harsh winter.
"If you could see so far, if you could leave a message that only the recipient could understand to someone you'd never met... the great god who lost an eye yet gained the Eye of Wisdom, the great god who wove the Runes... why abandon me? Why leave the Scandinavian world to me, forcing me to wait through endless time for someone uncertain?"
She didn't sound like a goddess. She sounded more like an ordinary girl.
After Ragnarök, as the sole surviving deity entrusted with the Scandinavian world, she could only grit her teeth and strive to fulfill her roles as both god and queen.
Though she was a goddess, she remained unmarried, childless, yet had to embody the Mother of All Things—loving every living creature in the Scandinavian world as a mother would. Humans, giants, Valkyries, even Magical Beasts.
No one could comprehend this burden, nor could anyone ever.
Skadi was certain of this.
Even the human entrusted with Gungnir, as Odin had foretold, would never understand in the end.
It should be so—
"You already knew the answer all along." Shiomi forced a smile, bitter and resigned.
"The answer?"
"You said that when you came to your senses, all the Scandinavian gods had vanished, leaving only you behind." Shiomi pressed his lips together. "That is the answer. Because you did not die, because you are the only deity to have survived Ragnarök, Odin had no choice but to entrust the entire Scandinavian world to you."
"That's all?" Skadi's eyes widened in disbelief.
"If you want a prettier reason, I could lie to you." Shiomi shook his head. "But the great Odin knew how heavy this burden was, which is why he added that extra line beyond the prophecy."
"...Because you understand me..." Skadi murmured softly.
"I wouldn't dare claim to understand everything about you, but I know how exhausting it is to walk this path alone." Shiomi said to her, "Even with mutual support, even with trusted companions, Morgan and I still endured hardship and disappointment in Britain... You, who must sustain everything alone, cannot have it any easier than us.
The long, heavy years spent bearing such a burden can only be understood by someone who carries an equal weight. That is why it had to be this man, why it had to be this outcome."
"Then why didn't you tell me from the start?" Skadi wept, her tears falling like pear blossoms.
"The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment. Besides... a great god who never lived through Ragnarök likely didn't have much time to explain these things."
Shiomi held Skadi's shoulders gently. "But I can tell you this: the great god's entrustment was not in vain."
"I—"
Before Skadi could finish, Shiomi pulled her into an embrace.
Unfamiliar and unaccustomed warmth, yet it had the power to embrace everything.
She tilted her face upward, resting her chin on Shiomi's shoulder. Tears fell like silent rain, continuously sliding down and dampening his clothes.
"There's no need to say anything now. Tears alone are enough." Shiomi stroked her hair gently, speaking softly. "Even gods need moments to release the bitterness weighing on their hearts. There's no one else here. I promise you—everything that happens today will remain a secret forever. No one but you and I will ever know. So cry freely."
Each of his words touched the softest part of Skadi's heart. Grief surged uncontrollably with her voice, and soon tears streamed down like a spring.
Skadi had never imagined she'd weep in someone's embrace, yet now she clung to him like a drowning person grasping a straw. Her hands involuntarily reached around to Shiomi's back, clutching his clothes as she cried unceasingly, tears falling without end.
She had no idea how long she cried or what she ranted about in her release. Shiomi remained silent, only gently patting her back and stroking the hair at the nape of her neck.
When she finally came to her senses, she realized she was sitting on the cold ground, her head resting against Shiomi's chest, lost in thought. The tears had stopped, leaving only dry streaks on her face.
Shiomi was like a warm statue, gently cradling her shoulders without a word, waiting for her to calm down.
".....It seems... because of me, you've wasted a lot of time. I was supposed to be your guide, leading you through the trials left by Odin..."
Skadi pulled away from Shiomi's embrace, her troubled expression conveying her apology.
"Don't worry about it. There never was a third trial to begin with." Shiomi shook his head. "This is merely the endpoint of the trials. I discovered that after assessing the situation here earlier."
"No third trial?" Skadi felt a slight shock.
Come to think of it, they hadn't been given much time before the first two trials began. The second trial had even started instantly.
"It's just a matter of perspective. In a way, perhaps you are the third trial." Shiomi extended a finger, pointing toward the altar ahead. "If I couldn't reach your heart, I'd likely have to return empty-handed."
Unnoticed, the magic stones illuminating the cave grew increasingly bright.
"Me?"
"But during your adjustment period, I've nearly grasped the meaning of this trial. Whether it's 'becoming your own master' or 'controlling your being,' these are merely the riddles. The true answer is..."
As he spoke, he rose from the ground, reaching out to Skadi for what felt like the umpteenth time.
"What is it?" Skadi bit her lip softly, pulling his hand to stand.
"Understanding oneself," Shiomi said. "That is what the great god Odin expects of me through these trials—and the gift he bestows—"
Instantly, a blinding light flared before the altar, revealing a white portal of light before them.
"Seems it's time to leave. Come." Shiomi pulled her toward the gate.
Dragged along, Skadi hurriedly asked, "What exactly did you understand?"
"Simply put, the power I touched isn't merely the power of life... or rather, the power of life is just one of its manifestations."
Stepping through the gate, they returned to the entrance of Valhalla, yet neither Morgan nor the other two Valkyries were in sight.
Shiomi grew wary. Before he could assess the situation, the earth trembled.
He saw towering flames erupting between the snow-covered mountains of Scandinavia.
"How could this be..."
Skadi, equally unprepared for this turn of events, clearly knew the answer.