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There was silence over the hall. The chains rattled every time I tried to breathe harder, reminding me that I was trapped, utterly vulnerable before the relentless eye of the All-Father.
Odin struck his staff against the floor, and his voice resounded like divine judgment:
"You say your name is Macht… but that does not answer what I wish to know. What race are you from? You are neither Asgardian, nor Jötunn, nor dwarf, nor elf. Your appearance is strange, your horns, your aura. You seem… born from shadows themselves."
I kept quiet for a moment, weighing my words.
"I don't know," I finally answered, my voice harsh. "All I know is what I am now… and my name."
Odin's single eye narrowed, as though searching for a hidden lie within my words.
"Then explain to me," he continued, his voice deep and inquisitive, "how is it possible that you turn matter into gold? How do you wield a curse that even my power cannot defy?"
I clenched my chained fists. I remembered the flash, the tree turning into pure gold with a mere movement. That magic had manifested on its own, like an instinct to escape.
"I do not control it," I admitted in a whisper. "It activates… without me thinking. It surges like an extension of myself."
Odin's face remained impassive, but in his eye shone a glint of interest.
"So you are incapable of controlling it?"
"For now." I took a deep breath. "But I know I can learn… I know I can make it mine."
A murmur ran through the hall. Thor, who had remained silent until then, stepped forward. His youthful yet firm presence radiated energy, like a warrior eager to prove himself.
"Father, if he truly cannot control this power, chaining him will solve nothing. Perhaps we should give him a chance to prove what he really is." His voice was steady, carrying a hint of compassion.
Odin barely glanced at him, but gave no reply.
Loki, however, let out a brief ironic chuckle and stepped forward, his hands clasped behind his back. His green eyes gleamed with restrained amusement.
"How noble you are, brother… always willing to see the best in anyone. But can't you see? —He turned toward me, wearing that smile like sweet poison— This being is already dividing us. You feel pity, I feel distrust. Is that not proof enough of what he truly is?"
His words seeped into the air like invisible venom. Thor clenched his fists, giving him a warning glare, but said nothing.
I, chained, observed them in silence. Inside me, thoughts gathered like a storm.
That Loki… he looks at me as if he wants to cut me open and uncover my secrets. And Thor… too impulsive, but perhaps I can use his spirit. Odin, though… he is different. I won't convince him with easy words. Every answer I give seems to bring him closer to deciding my fate.
Odin raised his staff and struck it hard against the floor. The sound reverberated against the walls like a distant thunderclap.
"There is no place in the Nine Realms for a power without control. If you cannot master it… you are too great a risk."
The chains dug into my skin, reminding me of my helplessness. I tried to move, but each attempt drained my strength as if I were being slowly devoured.
"And what will you do with me, then?" I asked in a grave voice, trying to remain firm though fear gnawed at my bones.
Odin held my gaze with an eye that seemed to contain the wisdom of millennia.
"That depends on you."
Thor frowned, unable to remain silent.
"Father, perhaps this Macht did not choose to be what he is. If he truly seeks control, then… we should guide him, not destroy him."
Loki gave a soft laugh.
"Guide him? A demon capable of reducing the realms to solid gold with a sigh? Oh, brother, your kindness will be your undoing."
Odin interrupted them, his voice striking like a hammer:
"Enough."
The echo of that word filled the hall. Then he fixed his eye on me again.
"I will grant you one last chance, Macht. Answer my questions and prove you are not an enemy. If you fail… your existence will end here, under the judgment of Asgard."
A cold sweat slid down my brow. My thoughts crowded, sharp, desperate:
I cannot show weakness. If I yield too much, I will be Odin's slave. If I refuse, I will die. I must speak carefully, buy time, study every rune of these chains, every word, every reaction. Survival is my only goal. And if I learn to master this power… then perhaps one day I won't have to fear even this king of gods.
The eye of the All-Father shone like a miniature sun. Thor held back his urge to intervene. Loki watched, wearing the face of one who savors the spectacle of the condemned.
And I… I was one mistake away from losing everything.
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