Beloved Betrayal - 4

Loki’s smile remained unchanged.

“Your majesty?” He intoned in confusion. “I fear I don’t understand what you—”

“Enough of that.” Freya cut in, her words silencing the sanctum. She swept her gaze across the temple.

“I have already seen through you."
"This isn’t a temple.” The sword of victory deduction was correct. In truth, this was an ancient dungeon from an era no longer remembered by anyone. The Vakya family had only found the dungeon two decades ago.

“The statue behind me.” She pointed her sword toward Voldr’s obsidian statue.

“It’s fake. The whole sanctum, no, maybe the whole place. They’ve all been altered with illusion magic.”

“Your illusion magic.” She said, her sharpened gaze piercing through his facade.

“Big sister!” Skadi looked between them in confusion. "What are you talking about?”

Freya didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she touched the storage scroll with Retainer cards resting in her belt pocket.

“He’s a liar, Su. He planned to murder me, no, maybe both of us…after the contracts had been completed and transfer their ownership to himself.”

Freya finally looked back at Loki. A long silence followed. And then, Freya opened her mouth again

“Isn’t that right…” She raised her sword in the direction of Loki.

“Heretic…Loki Odinson.”

“N-No…” Skadi stepped backwards. “Minister…why? Were you really going to kill us?” She asked, her voice trembling, as fear grasped her heart.

“But…We’ve never done anything to you.” She confronted him.

For a moment, nothing happened. Loki simply stared Freya who had figured out his truth. Then, a quiet chuckle escaped. Followed by another, and then another, it continued until his maniacal laughter echoed throughout the sanctum.

“Hahaha…Marvelous” He applauded.

“That was my finest creation. I spent years perfecting it. Not even S class mages could detect it so easily. How did you do that?”  

“…Valkya scum.”

His smile twisted. The smile that had always bothered Freya disappeared. What remained behind was an expression of pure disgust and hatred.

“Why would I tell that to a heretic like you? The only thing you shall know is my sword as it severs your neck from your body.” Freya declared.

Hearing it, Loki sighed.

“Uh! Such a pity”. His smile widened and then he snapped.

"DO IT.”

“AND KILL THE YOUNGER SISTER FIRST.”

In seconds, ten Knights charged as one. Six broke toward Skadi while the remaining four left tried to cut Freya’s path leading to her sister.

Freya’s pupil narrowed. The order of Tryggskoldr. She knew them all too well. These knights were famous for their agility and endurance. So, Freya had to be deal with them quickly.

“SU, I’M COMING. WAIT FOR ME!” she screamed, her voice thundering through the sanctum.

“No, you won’t.” Loki thrust his gloved hand forward. His chant echoed through the hall.

“Jörð” “Binda”

Stone erupted beneath Freya’s feet. Chains of earth shot upward trying to bind Freya. But they were too slow.

Freya, using her superior agility, easily dodged his spell and slipped between the charging Knights like lightning splitting the sky.”

In the same instant. A silver arc flashed.

“Wind slash.”

Freya called out. As her sword released a compress wave of air hurling the four advancing knights backwards as though struck by charging wyvern, their armored bodies slammed into the dungeon wall with a deafening noise.

Yet, Freya didn’t even bother seeing them land as she already started moving. She twisted her body. And with another perfect sword arc.

“Wind slash.”

A second gale burst forth. This time, she positioned the attack in a way the wind created a wall, intercepting every sword spell launched toward Skadi before repelling them into nothingness.

“Impossible,” One knight whispered.

“You idiots.” Loki’s roar shook them from their hesitation. “Don’t let her reach the girl!”

But they were too late, Freyas was already there. She stepped before Skadi, her sword facing Loki and the other knights.

Loki gritted his teeth and fired a desperate flame attack at them.

“ Eldr.” A torrent of crimson flames rushed towards them. Freya, calm and steady, answered with a single swing. The wind born from her strike tore the flame in half, scattering burning embers throughout the sanctum.

As they returned, he barely raised a barrier in time, throwing him backwards.

A silence of domination once again reigned.

“Su...” Freya spoke without turning around. “Are you hurt?”

A pair of trembling arms wrapped around her from behind.”

“No.” Skadi buried her face against Freya’s back. “Not while you’re here.”

A small smile appeared on Freya’s lips.

“Well, you are right about that.” Freya intoned. She looked ahead once more. The knights were back on their feet. Loki also had regained his footing. And neither looked willing to retreat.

Freya could defeat them any time. But she couldn’t just charge mindlessly. Because it could create an opening for them to attack Skadi. So, in reality her movement was restricted. The realization should have frustrated her.

Instead, her heartbeat quickened. Blood rushed through her veins and a smile quietly found its way onto her lips.

“Interesting.”

Without taking her eyes off the enemy, she grabbed the storage scrolled in her belt pouch.

“Take this.” Skadi’s eyes widened.

“Sister…”

“No, you use it. There are too many of them. Summon one of the Retainers.” Skadi pleaded.

Hearing that Freya laughed softly. “What are you saying, Su?”

She tightened her grip around the sword. Then raised it toward the enemies.

“I don’t need Athena’s retainers to crush these traitorous insects. My sword is enough.” Her voice rang proudly through the dungeon hall. The tip of her blade settled towards Loki.

The traitors offered no reaction. The knights merely tightened their grip around their swords. No one among them believed they could defeat Freya Valkya in a fair fight. They knew the gap. Yet, retreat meant death. Charging meant death. The only choice left was trusting the mastermind behind the plan.

Meanwhile, Loki alone laughed. Softly at first. Then louder. Until his maniacal laughter was the only thing that could be heard in that sanctum.

“Very well...” His expression twisted. “Then, kill us. But if you fail…” His eyes drifted towards Skadi.

“I’ll show you a hell from which you will never return.”  "...Starting with my finest toy.”

Anger exploded inside Freya. “You...bastard...I’ll cut you into a thousand pieces.” Her finger tightened around the hilt, while she shifted her footing ready to charge.

But something soft tugged gently at the hem of her robe. Freya stopped. A nostalgic gesture. Ever since they were children, Skadi would do that whenever she was scared.

“It’s alright, Su.” Freya’s shoulder relaxed slightly. 

“I’ll finish it quickly.”

…

“...I can’t” The words were barely a whisper.

“I can’t let you do that, big sister.”

“...Otherwise…everything would have been for nothing.”

The word caught Freya by surprise. The smile disappeared from her face. Slowly, she turned around.

“What do you mean, S–”

Then, warmth spread through her chest. Not pain but warmth. The world became strangely quiet.

Freya lowered her gaze. A curved short Kucheme sword pierced through her ribs. A crimson slowly spread across her white robes. For a moment, she couldn’t understand what happened. No. She refused to. It had to be someone else, she thought.

Su…would never, she thought. Slowly and slowly, she lifted her head. Her golden eyes met pink ones.

“...Skadi?” The name escaped her lips like a plea. Her left hand trembled as it reached toward the girl’s face. The same hand that has swung a sword thousands of times The same hand that had promised to protect her.

Her fingers brushed against Skadi's cheek. It was warm, soft and real. It was truly her.

Tears streamed endlessly down Skadi's face.

“I’m sorry…” Her voice shook. “I am sorry.”

“...Please…don’t hate me.” “Big sister…You promised.”

“You would always love me…no matter what.” Her lips quivered. “Right?”

Freya opened her mouth, yet no words came, only blood gushed out.

Skadi closed her eyes, as she murmured the same words repeatedly.

Then, with both hands, she yanked the blade out of her sister. A torrent of crimson burst from Freya’s chest.

She tried to grasp her sister, but her knees buckled. For the first time in sixteen years. The sword of victory knelt.

“Beautiful.” Loki whispered from the other side. As he broke into a laughter. The Knights followed. Their laughter spread through the sanctum. Freya heard it all. But her eyes remained upon the girl before her.

“...Big sister loves me.” Skadi murmured as she walked away.

“...Big sister loves me.”  "...Big sister loves me.”

Like a doll, pulled by invisible strings, Skadi moved mechanically towards where Loki stood.

“No…” Freya forced herself, trying to heal herself with magic.

“It won’t work, you arrogant bitch.” Loki scoffed.

“That sword was imbued with a curse. One that drains magic. You can’t use your magic.” He explained, deriding her attempts to save herself.

“Skadi…Don’t go.” Her voice cracked.

Seeing Freya’s humiliated state, Loki smiled with satisfaction.

“My obedient test subject has no need to listen to you.” Loki mocked, as he licked his upper lip with his tongue.

In that instant, something inside Freya broke. As all light drained from Freya’s eyes. Nothing mattered. Only one image remained.

Skadi’s empty eyes.

And then, as if someone had dropped tons of kilos on everyone’s shoulder, unmeasurable magical pressure hit the sanctum. Cracks raced across the ancient walls and pillars. The knights collapsed where they stood. Even Loki staggered backwards. His deriding smile vanished,

“You, impossible woman. You can’t” Loki screamed.

“Bis sister..”

Freya slowly rose. She no longer held her sword like a knight. Nor like a queen. It hung loosely in her hand. Like a branch held by something that had forgotten what it meant to be human. When she lifted her head, her golden eyes had turned red.

Then, she spoke, her voice like a cursed spirit carried through the sanctum as she repeated the four words.

“I will…kill you.” “I will…kill you.” “I will…kill you.” “I will…kill you.” “I will…kill you.” “I will…kill you.” “I will…kill you.” “I will…kill you.” “I will…kill you.” “I will…kill you.” “I will…kill you.” “I will…kill you.” “I will…kill you.” “I will…kill you.”

“Try me,” Loki’s wicked smile returned. “You monster.”

He raised his hand, another chant echoed through the hall: Curse einn

Instantly black magic chains burst from the wound in Freya’s chest. Binding her body in that position.

But, it was futile. First, one chain snapped. Then another and finally Freya broke through all of them and lunged forward like lightning in the sky.

“Protect the minister!” The knights threw themselves between them.

But, that was a mistake. Freya, the unconquered queen, who had turned into a rampaging beast. With one massive mana burst swing slashed the five knights into half along with their heavy armor. Blood rained upon the floor and walls.

“I’ll …kill…you.” She repeated.

A cold chill ran through everyone’s spine. The surviving knights instinctively stepped back. Every instinct screamed at them to flee.

“Keep your distance!” Loki barked.

“She can't cast spells. She has no control. Wear her down.”

Heeding the minister's advice, Knights fired sword spells from a safe distance. While Loki charged up his spell.

Freya neither defended nor countered. She simply advanced like a beast. Every swing carried enough power to splatter head into pieces. Every step left the ground in fractures. Even though it was Freya. The beast had no swordsmanship. It only moved with overwhelming strength driven by murderous instinct .

And that was exactly what allowed Loki to cast another spell.

“Curse tveir.” He whispered.

The curse hidden within Freya’s body awakened. A throbbing pain spread through her. She grew heavy, her knees buckled and the sword slipped from her fingers as she collapsed on the floor.

A short silence followed. No one moved or dared to breathe. A fear that she will rise again. But nothing happened.

A smile played upon Loki's face.

“I did it.” he whispered triumphantly. “I won over the Valkya monster.”

Then he walked towards her collapsed body. He wanted to see the humiliated body closely. When he did, it filled him with a strange catharsis. For the first time, he felt like he was alive.

Next, a kick followed. Then another. Freya’s body rolled across the stone. He smiled. For years, he had imagined this moment. The mighty woman, broken beneath his feet. But no matter how many times, he kicked. It wasn’t enough. It would never be enough.

“...Stop that.” Skadi's quiet voice interrupted. “We need her alive for the transfer. You can’t kill her.”

“Ah.” “Yea...I almost forgot.” He chuckled to himself.

Then, he grabbed Freya by the hair. Her limp body scraped across the Graystone. As it did, a crimson trail followed behind her.

It was time for the real ritual. The illusion around the sanctum disappeared. Beneath it, a far bigger circle stretched across the chamber connected to the Great Summonance circle with one straight line. A magic riitual circle that transfers all magic inside one body to another body.

At one end was the collapsed body of Freya, while on the other side, inside the bigger circle stood Skadi. And so, the magic transfer began.

Freya screamed from inside her own heart. As everything that once belonged to Freya now transferred to Skadi. Her very existence, being torn away piece by piece. Yet the pain wasn’t what broke her. It was that she was betrayed by the very sister she had sworn to protect.

Once the transfer rite ended. A dead silence returned to the ruined sanctum. Loki stepped toward Freya’s motionless body, a cruel smile curling across his lips.

“At last.” He drew a dagger.

“I think I’ll keep your head. It will make a fine trophy.”

“...What are you doing?” Skadi’s voice stopped him

“I won.” Loki looked at her as though the answer were obvious.

“Shouldn’t a victor claim proof of his victory.”

He looked back at Freya. “The sword of victory. Reduced to this…UH-AHH...Beautiful” He proclaimed.

Skadi remained silent.

Then, a trembling hand slowly rose above bloodstained floor. Raised toward her sister.

It was Freya.

“...Big Sister. "Fresh tears rolled down Skadi’s cheeks.

“She’s still alive.” Loki's eyes widened. Then they gleamed. Then, a grin spread slowly across his face. “I wonder how long she’ll keep breathing if I begin with her fingers.”

Then, he took another step. Before he could move farther.

Skadi held him by his wrist.

“What are you doing?” He asked her in confusion.

“Don’t…I can’t see her get hurt like that.” She intoned, a pained expression played on her face.

“If you truly intend to kill her…” “make it painless. Use the curse.”

“Why would I? "Loki scoffed.

“If you don’t, I'll kill you.” Skadi declared.

Loki looked between the sisters. Then he chuckled.

“...You’re a strange girl.”

Then he raised his gloved hand. “So be it. “Curse þrír”

With that, the traitors turned their backs and left, thinking the biggest thorn on their side had died.

But they underestimated her. Freya Valkya endured. Even as all the blood drained from her body, she endured. Even as her internal organs one by one failed, she endured. Freya kept the fangs of death at bay with just sheer willpower and hatred.

Revenge. The desire of revenge rose through whatever remained of her mind. She wanted revenge against all of them. It didn’t matter how. She wanted to make them feel even a fraction of what she felt now. Those who cowardly defeated her. She wanted to tear them apart by her very bare hands and drink their blood.

Yet, death still inched closer toward her. And every time, it did. She felt something she’d never felt. She knew it was inching closer. But she couldn’t do anything. Everything was stolen from her.

Freya Valkya for the first time in her life felt fear.

She was afraid to die.

I don’t want to die. The thought came quietly.

I still…want to live.

Again.

I want to live.

I want to live.

Please…I want…

But death too, exactly like Freya, was arrogant and invincible. It didn’t care. It didn’t answer. It simply reached out.

At that moment, Freya needed a miracle.

At her wit’s end, Freya whispered.

“Some…one…” Her lips barely moved.

“Please…save…me.”

And then, silence came.

Then, the ancient circle beneath her body answered. Light spread through the blood-filled carvings.

A wish that transcends worlds unite hearts of two who are destined to meet. And so, a miracle came to be.

The gate of stars opened. And from beyond the endless sea of stars, he walked forward.

The man destined to save the woman that history would remember as its greatest conqueror.