Vyrheim was the starting village, the connection between Yggdrasil and outlying communities.
What had started as a square, a vast open space opposite the railway station leading to the seven cities of Yggdrasil called The Forest Station, had transformed in a few days into a village and then into a real city.
In just two weeks, this simple space had become a small, surprising, and vibrant modern city. The buildings rose in open terraces, blending human structures with still-young plant matter, sculpted by the inhabitants and nature itself.Fluorescent trees replaced streetlights, diffusing a soft, colored light that bathed the streets and open squares. Polished roots naturally shaped the pathways, walkways, and suspension bridges, as if the city had grown rather than been built. Everywhere, nature breathed with the city: green walls, hanging terraces, and lush gardens made Vyrheim a place where the urban and the organic blended seamlessly.
The city teemed with life. Restaurants opened onto airy squares, lively markets and attractions sprang up quickly. Locals and visitors strolled freely, savoring this atmosphere where the power of Yggdrasil's inhabitants was suspended, released just enough to feel a sense of freedom.VyrheimIt wasn't immense, but its energy made it a unique place: a point of passage and discovery, where people came as much to see the Tree as to enjoy its lively and luminous streets, breathe the fresh air and observe the world with new eyes. Small compared to the inner cities, it nevertheless possessed a fragile and vibrant beauty that already made it indispensable.
"So this is Vyrheim, it's only been a few days since our last visit and it's changed so much," Ivar exclaimed in astonishment.
"Seen from above, it's magnificent," Raven added.
"Let's go see if it's still as beautiful on the ground," said Lucy.
They got out and went to the entrance of the city.
"Hello young people, my name is Zac and I am the gatekeeper at the southern entrance to the city ofVyrheim.I'd like to see your identification papers," Zac asked.
"Of course," replied Ivar, handing over his student card; the others did the same.
"Will this be enough?" he asked.
"Obviously, and have a good stay, young students," replied Zac after verifying their identities.
In the city:
They had crossed the threshold ofVyrheimThey had only been there for a few minutes, and yet neither of them felt rushed. The city didn't seem to expect anything from them. It simply existed, and that was enough.
"Are we looking for something to eat?" Lucy asked. More to anchor the group, and that was enough.
Sigi nodded without immediately replying. He observed his surroundings with his characteristic quiet attentiveness, as if trying to understand the logic of the place before acting. In Vyrheim, nothing seemed designed to forcibly attract attention. The paths opened of their own accord, the spaces invited without calling.
Ivar walked a few steps behind, his hands in his pockets. He wasn't hungry in the strict sense, but he could feel the fatigue of the journey, this heaviness that slows down decision-making. He noticed that Raven, too, remained slightly withdrawn. Not out of shyness, but out of habit to observe before committing.
"That's strange," she murmured. "It seems like there's no center."
"Perhaps the center changes depending on who passes by," Ivar replied after a moment.
She looked at him, surprised by his reply, then gave a brief smile. Not a seductive smile, but rather one of silent recognition. They resumed their walk side by side, without trying to fill the space with unnecessary words.
Lucy stopped in front of a building half-hidden by foliage.
_ It could be a restaurant, right?
No one answered immediately. Through the large openings, one could see tables, but also people talking at length, without being served. Nothing indicated a specific purpose.
"If we just go in to have a look," suggested Sigi.
They continued on their way, however.Vyrheim, each place seemed to demand mutual consent: you had to want to enter it as much as the place seemed to want to welcome you.
Ivar gradually felt Raven's presence become more familiar. Not intrusive, nor laden with expectation, but steady. She didn't try to get physically closer, didn't cast lingering glances. She was simply there, and that created an unexpected sense of comfort.
"Do you often travel like this?" she finally asked.
Not really. Usually, I know exactly why I'm going somewhere.
_ And now?
He hesitates.
_ At that point, I think I mainly needed to stop.
She nodded, as if the answer were sufficient.
That was it, not seeking to go beyond what could be given at the moment.
They finally found a restaurant with no sign, suspended between two ancient trees.
The place promised nothing spectacular, but something about the atmosphere resonated with everyone. No one proposes to continue searching.
Once seated, a natural silence fell around the table. Not an awkward silence, but the kind that arises when no one feels the need to fill the silence. Lucy placed her bag at her feet and turned slightly toward Sigi. Without even looking at him, she slid her fingers against his, a discreet, almost automatic gesture. He responded immediately, gently closing his hand around hers, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Ivar observed the scene without really thinking about it. This wasn't a verse trying to prove anything. Their closeness manifested itself in invisible details: the way Sigi leaned slightly towards Lucy when she spoke, or how she instinctively adjusted her posture to stay in his field of vision.
When the waiter arrived, Lucy looked up at Sigi.
_ What are you having?
"Like you," he replied without hesitation.
She smiled, not out of surprise. They shared a quiet trust, forged by time, compromises, and repeated choices. Nothing fragile about it.
The sun was beginning to set when Sigi and Lucy left the suspended restaurant to explore the heart ofVyrheimThe passersby, few and discreet, seemed to float between the wooden walkways and the giant roots, creating an almost unreal atmosphere.
Lucy slipped her hand into Sigi's without warning, just like that, to feel his presence. He gently squeezed her fingers, without a word, and she smiled against his palm.
"It's amazing how alive this city is," she murmured.
"Yeah," he replied, "but not noisy. Just...she breathes with us."
She laughs softly, a gentle sound that harmonizes with the moving leaves around them.
"Do you think we could get used to it?" she asked after a silence.
"Perhaps," replied Sigi. "But I believe it's not the city that matters, it's us."
Lucy leaned over him and placed a discreet kiss on his cheek.
"I like that certainty," she whispered.
They continued walking, their shoulders brushing at every turn. At one point, Lucy stopped to admire a tree with luminescent roots. Sigi, without her asking,raisinHis arm around her shoulders, pulling her a little closer. She rested her head against his chest and remained silent for a moment.
"Can you smell that?" she finally asked.
_ What?
Peace. Not just here… with you. Everywhere. Even in the world that awaits us outside.
He nodded his head deeply.
I know. That's exactly how I feel.
They then reached an elevated walkway, offering a panoramic view ofVyrheimLucy, a little overwhelmed, shivered slightly. Sigi slipped his hand into hers, squeezing just enough to convey his reassuring presence.
"Thank you for being here," she said, looking at him.
"Thank you for letting me be here," he replied with a tender smile.
They stood for a moment contemplating the city, but in each other's hands, silent yet perfectly understood. Every gesture, every touch, every glance seemed to say what words could not.
Later, they found a small, shady spot, perfect for a moment of rest. Lucy sat down and Sigi knelt beside her, placing his hand on her knee. She looked up at him and smiled.
"Do you want me to tell you about a memory from when I was little here?" she asked.
"Yeah, tell me everything," he replied attentively.
And she spoke, her words cradled by the fading light, while he listened with that total attention which never fades in a true couple.
With each laugh, Sigi would slightly bring his hand closer to hers; with each silence, he would put a protective arm around her shoulders.
When the sun disappeared completely, they rejoined Sigi and Raven, but their bubble remained intact. Lucy snuggled against Sigi, and he held her in his arms, as if to prolong a perfect moment that refused to end. Even in a new and strange world, they knew they were an anchor for each other.
The trip had only just begun, but already, every gesture, every glance, every shared silence had strengthened the invisible thread that bound them. This bond, both gentle and strong, would carry them throughout.Vyrheim, between discoveries, walks and shared nights, but indestructible, mature, and perfectly at home in this living and strange world.