Chapter 2: Tears Across Worlds

Logan finally arrived at a hidden cabin, its roof swallowed beneath the massive branches of Yggdrasil. Here, at last, he had returned to where he truly belonged.

Sitting in a rocking chair outside was Rina — a beautiful elf with short green hair, crimson eyes framed by delicate glasses, and a noticeable swell in her belly.

The moment she saw him, she rose quickly and rushed forward, throwing her arms around him in a loving embrace. She pressed a kiss to his lips, tears streaming down her cheeks as she whispered, “I’m glad you made it back safe. I’ve been praying every day for your return.”

Logan held her tightly, his voice low and steady. “I’m home. And I don’t plan on leaving you ever again.”

Their embrace lingered until they finally turned toward the cabin. But there, standing before it with an irritated expression, was the Goddess Veyra.

“So this is the true reason you refused to return,” she said coldly. “You thought this tree could hide your presence from me?”

“It doesn’t matter anymore. The Demon Lord is dead, and I have no need to play nice with you any longer.”

Logan’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not going back. Leave us in peace.”

Veyra’s smirk widened. “I cannot do that. You will return — and I am here to ensure it. But first…” Her eyes slid to Rina’s belly, her voice dripping with malice. “I think I should get rid of this mistake.”

Logan immediately stepped forward, placing himself between them. He pushed Rina behind him and roared, “You won’t touch them! If I must, I will stop you myself!”

With one swift motion, he drew his sword.

Veyra tilted her head, smirking. “Then try it, hero.”

Logan charged, his sword singing down with all his might.

“Get away from her!” Logan screamed.

But the sword froze inches from Veyra’s face. She smirked, her voice sharp with disdain. “Stupid hero. Did you truly think to harm me with the sword I bestowed upon you?”

With a flick of her wrist, Logan was hurled backward. His body stopped in midair, suspended, unable to move. He strained against the unseen force.

Veyra turned her gaze toward Rina, her expression twisting into cruel amusement. “Now, before I forget… let’s rid the world of this mistake, before it spreads your human taint across my realm.”

The goddess raised her hand, and shackles of radiant light coiled around Rina’s limbs, wrenching her into the air. Veyra approached slowly, her eyes cold.

“Despicable child,” she sneered. “Trying to bring a monster into my world? You will be punished.”

“Rina!” Logan screamed, thrashing in the air. He struggled helplessly, until he realized what bound him wasn’t the goddess’s magic alone — it was his own armor, locked tight around him like a cage.

Desperately struggling, he reached for his dagger. He sliced through the leather straps holding his armor together, the pieces falling away with a clatter. Suddenly freed, his body dropped heavily to the ground.

Logan quickly forced himself up. His hand closed around the sword he had dropped, and with every ounce of strength left in him, he charged at the goddess.

The goddess grew more annoyed as Logan came at her, swinging his sword with all his might. Just as before, she stopped the blade, inches from her face.

But this time, Logan was prepared.

The instant the weapon froze, he released his grip. With every ounce of strength he had left, he hurled his fist forward, empowering it with all his magic, striking the goddess squarely across the face.

Her head snapped to the side from the impact. For the first time, her expression faltered, and a thin trickle of blood slid down her lip.

Logan smirked through the pain, his voice sharp. “So… gods can bleed.”

Veyra’s expression twisted with fury. With a burst of her divine power, she flung him across the ground, his body tumbling as he bounced across the floor. The goddess advanced, her steps heavy with wrath.

“How dare you force me to use my precious power,” she scolded, her voice trembling with rage. “I will make you suffer for this humiliation.”

Logan tried to rise, but shackles of radiant light wrapped around his limbs, pinning him to the ground. His muscles strained, but the more he struggled, the tighter the bindings pulled, draining the last of his strength. He could only watch helplessly as she knelt down beside him, her words venomous.

“I have changed my mind. I will not kill your wife and child. No… I will make you both suffer for the rest of your lives. Now watch, hero, as I give you one last memory you will never forget.”

“No!” Logan screamed, thrashing against the shackles. His energy was gone, his power fading away into nothingness. “Fine! I’ll go back — just leave them alone!”

The goddess paused, turning her head slowly. Her lips curved into a cruel smile. “Now, was that so hard?”

For a fleeting moment, relief crossed Logan’s face — until her next words pierced him.

“But it’s too late for that now. You both will be punished.”

Veyra turned and approached Rina. Her hand lifted, black fire igniting in her palm. Strange runes floated around the flame, glowing with sinister light.

As the dark flame floated in her hand, she leaned in close and whispered into Rina’s ear. “Fear not, my child. I have changed my mind. I shall not punish you for tainting yourself with a human and creating a monster. Instead, I think it only fitting that I pass your punishment to your unborn child. Now… prepare yourself. This might hurt. A lot.”

Then, the goddess forced the dark flames into Rina’s belly. The black fire sank into her body and vanished. A dark aura coiled around Rina, clinging to her like a curse.

Rina screamed, her body convulsing as agony tore through her. Blood spilled from her mouth as she coughed violently, crimson streaks seeping from her ears, nose, and eyes. Her frame twitched uncontrollably, and her eyes rolled back into her head, bloodshot and clouded with pain.

Veyra turned her gaze back to Logan. With a flick of her hand, his restrained body lurched forward, dragged helplessly before her. She seized him by the hair, forcing his head up until their eyes met.

“Now look. Isn’t this a great memory? I hope you remember it forever. Now… begone from my world.”

A portal swirled open beneath Logan, its glow swallowing the ground. The shackles of light dragged him downward inch by inch, chains clinking as they pulled him into the portal.

With a snap of her fingers, Veyra released Rina. The elf collapsed to the ground, her body trembling and broken.

Then, with a crash, Logan struck earth once more. He groaned, lifting his head just enough to see buildings in the distance. The realization cut deep — he was back on Earth.

Rage boiled over. He threw back his head and screamed, cursing the gods with every breath until his voice broke into madness.

His fury echoed into the night — but when the rage finally ebbed, grief and sorrow crashed over him in its place. He thought of Rina’s face, of her pain, of the child now cursed before ever taking its first breath. Tears welled in his eyes and streamed down his cheeks as his body shook with anguish.

Overcome by both rage and grief, his strength failed him. Darkness closed in as exhaustion claimed him, and he collapsed into silence.