Chapter 24: The Oath

In the history of the gods, there are pacts sealed with blood…
and others, with fear.
An oath may seem like nothing more than words,
but among divinities, words are bonds stronger than steel.
To swear is to promise the cosmos that one will keep their word.
And to break an oath… is to defy the order of the world.

Odin, the wisest among the wise, he who gave up an eye for knowledge,
now faces not an enemy,
but something he has never truly understood:
Destiny.

Can a prophecy be stopped if one moves ahead of it?
Can a father’s will be enough to prevent the twilight of the gods?
And if every oath has been fulfilled…
what fails when fate laughs?

Ragnarök does not begin with war.
It begins with an arrow.
So light…
that not even the world thought to stop it.

——————————————————————————————————————————

The golden hall of Asgard seemed darker that morning, despite the sunlight streaming through the columns.
Odin stood before his sons, his expression graver than ever.

“What did you just say, Father?” Bragi exclaimed. “Balder… dead? That’s impossible! There’s no one who would wish him harm. The entire people love him!”

Odin lowered his gaze. In his voice there was no doubt—only pain.
“I know that… but the witch of Helheim told me so. And her prophecies… always come to pass.”

Hemord, pale, stepped forward.
“We must do something. Whatever it takes. At any cost.”

“That is why you’re here, Hemord,” Odin declared firmly. “I want you to travel across the Nine Realms and make every being swear not to harm Balder. Every living creature. Every object. Every weapon. Everything.”

“That’s… impossible,” Hemord muttered.

“Then we shall do the impossible,” Odin pronounced. “If Balder dies… Ragnarök will be inevitable.”

His words thundered through the hall like sacred lightning.

“Ragnarök!?” Bragi and Hemord shouted in unison.

Bragi swallowed hard.
“That has to be a joke… right?”

“No,” Odin replied, never shifting his gaze from the horizon. “Ragnarök is real… but we can still prevent it.”

A shadow rose behind the throne.
The witch of Helheim emerged from the air like a dead sigh.

“Did I not warn you, All-Father? Balder’s death… is inevitable.”

Odin frowned, unsurprised.
“What are you doing here?”

“I only came to remind you not to defy destiny. This is no longer in your hands. It is greater than you.”

“Destiny…?” Odin removed the patch covering his left eye.
In its place, a whirlpool of galaxies and runes turned slowly, as if the universe itself resided within it.

“Do you truly think such nonsense matters to me? There is none who surpasses my knowledge. And if need be, I will resort to forbidden magic.
I will not allow Ragnarök to come.”

The witch looked at him with pity… and scorn.
“Have you always been this arrogant? Your power… your vision…
They’ve only blinded you. You are so lost in your wisdom that you no longer see what is essential.”

“Begone!” Odin roared. “Balder will live. The gods will reign for centuries more.”

The witch paused before vanishing.
“Remember this, Odin…
No matter how much knowledge you hold, no matter how much power you amass…
you are not immortal.
Death stalks all… even the gods.”

And with a blink, she disappeared.

Silence fell upon the hall.

Odin drew a deep breath.
“There’s no time to waste. Hemord, leave at once.”
“Yes!” Hemord replied immediately.
“Bragi,” he added, “go with him.”
“Understood.”

...
FWOOSH!
Mounted on Sleipnir, Odin’s eight-legged horse, Hemord and Bragi began their journey across the Nine Realms.

Their first stop was Vanaheim.
A hanging world, formed of floating islands suspended over an endless abyss, adorned with forests that brushed against the sky.

Bragi looked around, astonished.
“I don’t remember this place being so massive...”

CLACK!
A blade of ice pressed just inches from their necks.

“What are Aesir doing in our territory?”
The voice was as cold as snow. Skade, goddess of winter, glared at them with suspicion.

Hemord calmly raised both hands.
“Skade, we have not come to fight. We carry a direct mission from the All-Father.”

Skade narrowed her eyes… then lowered her weapon.
“Then it must be important… if he has lent you his horse.”

“Balder’s life is in danger,” Hemord explained. “And we need your help.”

Skade nodded gravely.
“Then come with us.”

Soon after, in the great hall of the Vanir, all were gathered: Skade, Nerthus, Frey, Freyja, Njord, Lytir, Hœnir, Gullveig, and Gerd.

Njord was the first to speak.
“What is this matter so urgent?”

Hemord placed a black sphere on a stone-carved table.
“By Odin’s order, you must all swear never to harm Balder.”

Njord raised an eyebrow.
“And what good would that do? Even if we swear… it doesn’t guarantee anything.”

Hemord shook his head.
“Not if you use this.”

The sphere began to glow with violet smoke.
“If you place your finger on this sphere and swear not to harm Balder… then none of your actions will ever be able to hurt him.”

“Well now…” Njord muttered. “That old man surprises me more every day.”

“What nonsense,” Freyja interjected. “Who in all Nine Realms would want to hurt Balder?”

“Sister,” Frey said gravely. “The world is full of malice. Better to be safe.”

“What a foolish waste…”

Njord raised his hand.
“I’ll do it. And so will all the Vanir under my command. But tell that old man he owes me something very big.”

“I’ll make sure to tell him,” Bragi replied.

Njord pressed his finger against the sphere.
CLACK!
A purple energy wrapped around him. Ethereal chains coiled around his wrists.

“What is this!?”

Frey drew his sword, but Njord stopped him.
“Relax… it’s already gone.”

“How strange,” Njord thought. “And yet… I don’t feel anything inside me has changed.”

“Are you alright?” Gerd asked.
“Yes. Nothing to worry about.”

One by one, the rest of the Vanir swore the oath.

“Thank you for your help,” Hemord said, bowing his head.

“We’re not doing this for Odin…” Njord replied. “We do it because we don’t want anything to happen to Balder.”

“I know.”

Bragi and Hemord exchanged glances.
“It’s time to move on.”

FWOOSH!
Both vanished in a flash of speed.

And so, the oath… began to take form.

A shadowy, frozen realm.
Blizzards struck like invisible blades. The mountains were black, twisted like thorns stabbing the sky. In the distance, the wails of cracking ice echoed. Even the air itself seemed to whisper lies.

Loki awaited them in the middle of the path, seated on a shattered rock as though he had been waiting for centuries.
“Well, well…” he said with a crooked smile. “What a surprise to see you here.”

Bragi crossed his arms, irritated.
“We’re not here because we want to be.”

Hemord stepped forward.
“We carry a direct request from the All-Father.”

Loki touched his chin, pretending to think.
“The old man? And what does he want from me this time?”

Bragi clenched his teeth.
“Don’t call my father that. Show some respect… Jötun scum.”

Loki burst into laughter. In a blink, he appeared before Bragi.
ZSH!
A thin line of blood appeared on his neck.
“You’re lucky you don’t interest me…” Loki whispered. “Or you’d already be dead.”

Bragi swallowed hard, frozen in place.
When…? When did he cut me?

Hemord watched in silence.
We can’t beat him. Loki is too unpredictable. Too precise. That’s why he’s… the god of lies.

Loki returned to his rock with a casual step.
“So… what do you want?”

“We want you to swear never to harm Balder,” Hemord said bluntly.

Loki raised an eyebrow.
“And what’s behind that request? Let me guess… Odin used some ancient magic to seal the oath, didn’t he?”

“We won’t tell you,” Bragi snapped.

“Bragi, enough,” Hemord cut in without looking at him.
“Loki… I know we can’t lie to you. So I’ll tell you straight: Odin fears that Balder’s death… will trigger Ragnarök.”

A frigid silence fell over them.
Loki smiled… but his eyes didn’t shine.
“Ragnarök… I thought the old man didn’t bend to prophecies.”

“Things have changed since you were banished,” Hemord replied.

Loki stretched lazily.
“How dull everything has become… Maybe one of these days I’ll drop by Asgard, see how things are going.”

“You know very well you’re not allowed in,” Hemord said sternly.

“Well… if I do this favor, you’ll owe me, won’t you?”

“We’re not here to negotiate,” Bragi snapped. “You know very well where your place is.”

Loki laughed. It wasn’t amused. It was hollow.
“My place…? Here, boy, the disadvantage is yours.”

WHOOOSH!
A brutal blizzard swallowed the ground. Around them, hundreds of red eyes opened in the gloom.
“Here, in my realm… I hold the advantage.”

“Damn it…” Hemord muttered, raising his guard. “So you already knew we were coming.”

“News travels fast, Hemord,” Loki said calmly.

Bragi clenched his fists.
“What do we do?”

Hemord kept his composure.
“You know full well it doesn’t suit you to kill us. If you do… Odin himself will come for you.”

“Odin…?” Loki tilted his head, thoughtful. “He can’t even touch me. I couldn’t care less if he comes.”

CRACK!
A spark of energy burst behind him.
Thor appeared in a flash of lightning, hammer in hand, wearing a calm smile.
“He may not be able to touch you… but I can.”

Loki turned his face slowly.
“Been a long time, brother.”

“Do what our father asks… or regret it.”

Loki let out a dry laugh.
“Always so confident… Always so sure of your strength… But you’ll see. Your end is coming soon.”

“I don’t care what you say,” Thor retorted. “Swear.”

Loki looked at Hemord… then at Bragi… and finally at the sky.
“I swear not to harm Balder.”

A violet chain appeared, coiling around his wrists. The spell was swift… and binding.
Loki offered no resistance.
Such overwhelming power, he thought. That old man… still manages to surprise me.

Thor put away his hammer and turned.
“Hemord. Bragi. Do your duty.”

“Yes,” they answered in unison.
Both vanished in a flash.

Loki did not move.
Neither did Thor.

“Why did you stay?” Loki asked after a few seconds.

“I thought… you might have changed.”

Loki lowered his gaze.
“Things aren’t like they used to be. Don’t expect everything to return to normal just because you wish it so.”

“I wish things had been different.”

“Not everything turns out the way one wants,” Loki said, almost in a sigh.

Thor vanished, wrapped in lightning.
Loki, alone, gazed up at the pale sky.
“See you soon, Thor…”

The sky turned gray and silver as Munin and Hugin, Odin’s ravens, flew across the Nine Realms.
Their wings stretched like ancient shadows, and wherever they passed, they left behind whispers and a divine command:
“No being shall harm the god Balder.”

And the world obeyed.
From the radiant lands of Álfheim to the depths of Svartálfaheim,
from the enchanted forests where elves dwelled to the echoing halls of the dwarves,
from wild creatures to enchanted weapons,
every living thing —and even the lifeless— spoke the oath.

Guided by Odin’s decree, Hemord and Bragi crossed realms like rushing winds.
The frost giants swore.
The sacred stones swore.
Even swords that had never been wielded proclaimed their vow.
Every corner of the cosmos bent to the power of the sealed word.

…

In Asgard’s castle, the massive gates finally opened.
Hemord entered with steady steps, accompanied by the echo of his completed mission.

“All-Father,” he said, kneeling. “After much effort, we have succeeded. Every being has sworn not to harm Balder.”

Odin leaned forward slightly.
“Are they… all?”

Hemord hesitated for a moment.
“Almost all. Only a single branch of mistletoe has yet to swear. If you deem it necessary… we can go for it.”

“No,” Frigg interjected softly. “It is not needed.”

Hemord bowed his head.
“Understood.”

Odin rose to his feet.
“Thank you for your work, Hemord. You shall be rewarded… without question.”

The young god lowered his gaze with solemnity.
“It is an honor to receive such words from you… All-Father.”

Odin turned toward the great stained glass window, where the sky gleamed in stillness.
Fate… will not restrain my power. If necessary, I will defy it itself.

…

Far away, hidden among shadows, Loki held a slender branch of mistletoe between his fingers.
“Well then…” he whispered with an almost nostalgic smile. “What comes next?”

...

In Asgard, the halls were filled with light, laughter, and wine.
The gods had gathered around a long table, just like in the ancient days.
Cups overflowed, plates piled high, and roaring laughter filled the air.

Odin, seated at the head, watched in silence.
After so much… I have finally managed to keep my son safe.

At the other end of the table, Vali leaned toward Tyr.
“Hey, Tyr…”
“What do you want?”
“Give me a hand?”
“Oh, sorry… I forgot you don’t have one.”

Vali burst out laughing.
“Get it? Because Tyr only has one hand…”

Without hesitation, Tyr slammed his face against the table.
“You damned idiot.”

The two began wrestling like children.
“Even with one hand less, I’m still stronger than you,” Tyr growled.

Vali stood back up, blood on his lip.
“We’ll see about that!”

“My, my!” exclaimed Freyja, pressing her hand to her forehead.
“You haven’t changed at all. Still just brats.”

“Don’t be such a sour one,” Frey laughed, raising his cup.
“It’s been centuries since we gathered like this.”

“You’re right…” Freyja sighed.
“Maybe… I’m just getting old.”

Vali grabbed a chair and hurled it at Tyr—who dodged.

CRACK!
The chair smashed directly into Freyja.

She froze for a second, then clenched her fist.
“Damn men.”

With a single punch, she sent Vali flying into a table.
The hall erupted in laughter.

“Come on, Vali! Don’t let yourself lose!” Ull shouted.

Vali counterattacked, but his fist missed… and struck Njord in the face.
“Eh? I’m sorry!”

Njord didn’t answer with words. Only with a punch that sent him crashing against the wall.

“Fight, fight, fight!” everyone chanted.

Between drunkenness and blows, the feast turned into joyful chaos.

…

Balder, seated beside Odin, smiled quietly.
“It’s been so long… since I last saw them this united.”

Odin glanced sideways at him.
“This is your doing, my son.
You’ve managed to make all the gods set aside their differences… to protect you.”

Balder lowered his gaze.
“Yes… but that’s also a double-edged sword.”

The perspective shifted, showing Thor standing before Eden.

“What are you doing here?” Eden asked, bewildered.
“Balder gave me a mission,” Thor replied, arms crossed.
“And I intend to see it through.”

“Balder? And what does that have to do with me?”
“He asked me to take you to Helheim. He can’t do it himself.”
“Was that today…?” Eden scratched his head. “I’d forgotten.
Thanks for bringing me.”

“For your own good…” Thor said, placing a heavy hand on his back, “you’d better hold on tight.”
“Huh? Wait, what—?”

KRAAAACK!
A colossal bolt of lightning struck them both, and in a blinding flash they vanished from the world of the living.

…

Moments later, they reappeared in the middle of a frozen, desolate plain wrapped in darkness.
Eden landed… disheveled, dizzy, and staggering.

“What the hell was that?!
How can you travel like that without messing up your hair!?”
“Genetics,” Thor answered flatly.
“Genetics? What the hell are you talking about…?”

From the fog, a figure emerged.
Hela, goddess of the dead, walked with a cold, elegant stride.

“So it seems the day has finally come.”
Eden narrowed his eyes.
Looks like I wasn’t the only one who forgot.

“I’ve done my part,” Thor said. “Now he’s in your hands, Hela.”
“Yes, yes…” she replied, as though receiving an unimportant letter.

“Oh, by the way,” Thor added, turning away. “Frey left you a message.”
“A message?”
“Thanks.”

In an instant, Thor vanished into a cloud of lightning.

Eden frowned.
“Thanks? Why would he thank me…?”

“Boy,” Hela interrupted with a chilling smile. “You’d better prepare yourself.”
“For what?”
“During your training with me… you will suffer greatly.”

Eden crossed his arms, skeptical.
“Suffer? I doubt your training could be that harsh. You don’t seem like a very powerful god…”

Hela smiled.
A broken smile.
Sadistic.

Her skin began to melt away, sliding off in pieces.
Eden’s face twisted in horror as, before his eyes, half of Hela’s visage was revealed:
one half alive… the other, nothing but bleached bone.

“Welcome to hell, boy.”
“…Shit.”

…

Meanwhile, in Asgard…
The clamor of the hall rose again as Thor strode through the gates.

“I’ve returned, Father.”
“Sit down, Thor,” ordered Odin, standing at the far end of the hall. “I have words to speak.”

Thor settled in beside the others. All the gods—even the drunkest among them—turned in silence.
Odin raised his spear and struck the ground.

THUM!
The entire hall trembled.

“Sit.”
Everyone obeyed.

Odin’s gaze swept over them one by one.
“I am grateful that you are all here.
Without you, none of this would have been possible.

Thanks to each of your oaths, Balder is safe.
And with him, the Nine Worlds.

Drink, eat… take whatever you desire.
Today, we celebrate victory over fate.”

The gods erupted in cheers.
Cups were lifted.
Wine flowed.
Music filled the air once more.

Odin turned toward Hemord.
“Above all… thanks to you.”

Hemord lowered his head respectfully.
“There is nothing to thank me for, All-Father.
I only fulfilled my duty as a god…
and as Balder’s friend.”

Odin nodded. But before he could speak again—

CRACK!
The palace doors burst open.

Loki strolled in with a relaxed gait, hands clasped behind his back, as though arriving late to a family dinner.
The atmosphere shifted at once.
Every face hardened.

“Seems you’re all having fun… without me.”

Tyr was the first to react, pressing his sword against Loki’s neck.
“What are you doing here? You’re forbidden from entering Asgard!”
“If you truly wanted that,” Loki replied, “you’d have put up a better defense, don’t you think?”

“Bastard…” Tyr muttered, tightening his grip.
“Tyr, stand down!” Odin ordered.

The god of war lowered his blade with frustration.
Odin turned to Loki.
“What do you want?”

“This is a feast of gods, isn’t it?
I just came to spend some time.
After all… I am a god.”

Vali stood abruptly.
“We don’t welcome filthy Jötun like you here.”

Loki turned his head calmly.
“Come now, Vali… don’t be a hypocrite.
If that were true, Freyja wouldn’t be here.”

“Don’t lump me in the same category as you!” Freyja spat.

Loki smiled.
“Besides… isn’t it true, All-Father, that Jötun blood runs through your veins as well?”

Thor rose to his feet.
“You’d better shut your mouth, Loki.”
“Relax, Thor.
You’re much scarier when you get serious…”

All the gods reached for their weapons.
Loki raised both hands.
“Easy now. I’ll leave.
The mood here feels a little… tense.”

Tyr hissed venomously.
“Your poor mother must feel shame, scum.”

SHINK!
A dagger flashed at impossible speed, grazing Tyr’s neck.

Loki began juggling three gleaming blades.
“You’d better keep my mother’s name out of your filthy mouth.
Next time… I won’t be so kind.”

Tyr surged forward in rage, but Thor stopped him with a firm arm.
“That’s enough.”

Loki halted. He pocketed the daggers. Smiled.
“I’ll take my leave.

By the way, Balder…”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry.”

And in the blink of an eye, he was gone.

Balder frowned.
“Sorry”…?
What was that supposed to mean…?

Odin struck the ground once more.
“Enough with the tension. Please, enjoy the feast.”

Odin raised his cup.
“To Balder.”
“To Balder! Cheers!” everyone shouted.

And the feast…
…continued.

The main courtyard of Asgard, at dusk.
A crowd of gods gathered with laughter and games, hurling weapons toward Balder, who stood smiling in the center as every single one bounced off without even grazing him.

Njord watched, astonished.
“Incredible…”
Forseti, his son, could not hide the pride in his words.
“You’re immortal, Father.”

Balder nodded, though his smile was more melancholic than victorious.
“Yes… it seems so.”
“Doesn’t that make you happy?”

Balder drew a deep breath.
“I’ve always believed death has a purpose…
And that immortality… is meaningless.”

Frey let out a hearty laugh as he tossed a rune-engraved dagger.
“Come on, Balder! Don’t talk nonsense.
What would we gods do without you?”

Hemord nodded with solemnity.
“Thanks to you, the gods are united again.”

Vali stepped forward with a cup in hand.
“You are the core of it all.
Without you, the gods would lose everything we’ve achieved.”

Balder lowered his gaze, uneasy.
“You’re putting a lot of pressure on me…”
He smiled.

…

In a quiet corner of the courtyard, an old woman in a gray cloak approached Hodr, who was watching from afar.
“Why are you standing here all alone, boy?”

Hodr turned his head, confused.
“Who are you?”
“Just an old woman. A great admirer of your brother… Balder.”

“Everyone is,” Hodr replied.
“There’s no one in this world who doesn’t love Balder.”

“Aren’t you tired of always being in his shadow?”

Hodr shrugged.
“Maybe… but Balder is an incredible person.
I have no reason to be jealous.
The only thing I feel for him… is admiration.”

“Well…” said the old woman with a smile.
“What a good heart you have.”
“Thank you.”

“Would you like to join the game they’ve organized?”

Hodr tilted his head.
“The one where they throw things at him? I’m not interested.
I don’t want to hurt him, not even as a joke.”

“Come now, don’t be boring.
There’s nothing in existence that can harm Balder.”

“…All right. If you insist so much… I’ll do it.”

The old woman placed a thin arrow in his hand—dark, cold to the touch.
His hands trembled as she guided him to aim.

“Just like that,” the voice whispered.

“Brother, I’ll join too!”

Balder looked at him and nodded.
“All right, go ahead.”

THUNK!

Silence fell, absolute.
The arrow did not bounce off.
It sank.

Balder staggered back a step… then another…
And blood began to pour from his body.

“What the hell have you done?!” Tyr roared, horrified.

Hodr let his hand fall, his face pure bewilderment.
“W-what… what just happened?”

Odin shot to his feet.
“No… it can’t be…”

Freyja stepped forward.
“Impossible!”

Several gods lunged at Hodr in blind fury, tackling him to the ground, beating him mercilessly.

“STOP!” Odin thundered.

Tyr, furious, turned on him.
“Why are you stopping us?!”

“Save Balder first! Quickly!”

Eir rushed to Balder’s bleeding body and placed her hands on his chest.
…And slowly shook her head.

“There’s nothing I can do.
The arrow… pierced his heart completely.
Not even I… though I am a goddess… can save him.”

Odin fell to his knees.
“No… It’s not possible…
I cast the magic myself.
It’s impossible for it to fail!”

Thor watched him, tense.
“If that were true… this wouldn’t have happened, would it?”

Odin did not answer.

Thor rose and walked slowly toward Hodr.

“I’m sorry!” the boy sobbed. “I didn’t want to! I didn’t know!”

Thor’s eyes were emptied of all feeling. Only rage remained.

“Thor!” Odin shouted.

CRACK!

The hammer struck with such brutal force that Hodr’s head disintegrated instantly.

Everyone froze. No one breathed.

Odin clenched his teeth.
“GET OUT!
ALL OF YOU, NOW!”

One by one, the gods left in silence, heads bowed, until only Odin, Frigg, and Thor remained.

“What do you think you’re doing?!” Odin bellowed. “How dare you defy my authority? You’re just a child!”

“You’re wrong…” Thor whispered.
“The one who knows nothing here… is you.”

“What…?”

“How do you explain this?!” he shouted, pointing at Balder’s body. “TELL ME!!”

A dark energy enveloped Odin. The tension was suffocating.
“Silence.”

“Both of you, stop!” Frigg cried through her tears.
“The fault… is mine.”

Odin and Thor turned to her, confused.
“What?”

“Hemord told me something was missing.
A sprig of mistletoe…
And I… I thought it wasn’t important…”

Frigg collapsed to the floor, broken.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

Odin lowered his gaze.
“Damn it…”

Thor drew a deep breath.
“It’s not too late.”

Odin looked at him, a spark of hope in his eyes.
“What do you propose?”

“Speak with Hela.”

Odin nodded.
“Prepare the horse.
At dawn, we’ll send someone to Helheim.”
“Yes.”

Odin remained alone for a moment longer.
“May the gods… have mercy on us.”

…

In a dark corner of Helheim, Loki held a thin branch of mistletoe, snapped in two.

“You took your time.”

A hooded figure appeared through the mist.
“Forgive me. I had other matters to attend to.
Did you play your part?”

“Yes… phase one is already in motion.”

“I can’t imagine the weight you bear now.
Do you regret it?”

Loki smiled without joy.
“If I had to regret everything I’ve done…
not even immortality would be enough time.”

The stranger nodded.
“Now I see why he trusted you.
I’m sorry you must carry all this on your shoulders.”

“Don’t apologize.
I’m only a piece of the mechanism.
I trust what he said.
If all this is true…
it will be worth it.”

“You’re right about that,” the stranger said with a smile.
“I’m glad to see you one last time, my friend.”
“And I, you… my friend.”

The hooded figure vanished.

Loki sat alone on a stone.
I thought wearing a mask… wouldn’t hurt this much.
But it does… far more than I imagined.

A tear slid down his cheek.
“I’m sorry, Balder…”