Chapter 10: Ghost in the Graveyard

It's been a few days, or at least, I think it has. It's hard to tell 'cause it's always daylight here. But anyway, I feel like a lot of time has gone by since then, and I've been hanging out a ton with Magni, Modi, and Horsey. Yeah, I named the black horse Horsey. At first, he wasn't into it, but it was just hard to not call him that, since everyone here calls him Horsey.

Right now, Magni and Modi are teaching me one of their moves called the 'Zerschlagen'.

"Aye! I hope ye be watchin' me! 'Cause I ain't showin' ye again!" Magni barked aggressively, clearly annoyed that I wasn't paying attention.

"Uh, sorry, Modi," I replied sheepishly.

"Hmph!" Modi huffed in response.

Although Magni has quite the attitude, that's the eighth time he's said that line to me before, yet he still ends up showing me again. Hehe, he may be a grown man, but sometimes he acts downright adorable; he's really a kid at heart.

"Nay! Watch me! I can do it better!" Modi intervened, always striving to catch up to his big brother. I know he wouldn't admit it, but I'm sure he craves his brother's attention and probably looks up to him.

"HeeeeeYaaaaeewww!"

And there's Horsey beside me, letting out a huge yawn. It's always sleeping or dozing off, but it doesn't give off vibes of laziness since it tends to follow me everywhere I go. I think it's probably just bored. Also! Did you know that Horsey lives inside my shadow?! That's probably how it just appeared out of nowhere to save me earlier. But for some reason, it loves staying out with me.

"After this, do you want to go on a jog with me, Horsey?" I crouched and patted its black fur, though it was clear that Horsey was trying to hide its embarrassment as it turned its head away. When I stopped, it wore an annoyed expression, wanting me to carry on petting it. Haha! It's so cute!

"Hey! I said watch me!" Magni screamed out.

"Okay, okay, I'm watching," I raised my hands in surrender.

Suddenly, Magni got into position, opening the palm of his left hand and raising his sword with his right hand. His hand began to conjure a ball of blue thunder, with static electricity spiraling everywhere, making a crackling and sizzling sound. Then he tossed the ball of thunder upwards. Within the same motion, he used the blunt side of his sword to slam into the ball of thunder, propelling it a distance away with incredible speed, causing destruction elsewhere.

"Whoa!" I exclaimed in amazement, giving Magni a round of applause. No matter how many times I see it, I just think it's awesome to witness something like that! It feels like I'm not used to seeing stuff like that. It's unreal.

"I can do mine better! Watch!" Modi declared, eager to prove himself as he performed a Zerschlagen, which was also impressive.

"Well done, Modi! That looked good!" I applauded, but Modi wore a smug look on his face as he scratched the back of his head.

"Pft! Obviously, mine was better than yours!" Magni stated confidently.

"Are ye daft? 'Twas clearly mine that was better!" Modi argued back.

"No, 'tis me!"

"No, 'tis me!"

"Ye pig!"

"Ye swine!"

"'Tis the same thing, ye idiot!"

"Hey, boys! Stop fight-"

Instantly, they both gave me death glares. "Stay out of it!" they screamed in sync, making me shriek as they looked like they wanted to kill me.

"Let's ask the Headless Knight who did it better!"

"Tha' sounds fair!"

What?! They both just told me to stay out of it, and now they want me involved?! You just can't win with these two. I need to change the topic once again.

"I-I want to try the Zerschlagen," I said, feeling intimidated by their intense stares.

The brothers looked at each other and burst into laughter. Well, it’s not like I took what I said seriously, but it got those two laughing, so who cares.

"You want to learn the Zerschlagen? You?! Impossible!" Magni exclaimed, laughing hysterically in a condescending tone.

"The Zerschlagen is a family technique that was passed down from our great grandfather, Bor Burison, but then it was later developed and evolved by our current grandfather," Modi revealed.

"Actually, fer the Headless Knight, 'tis quite possible fer 'im to learn it."

That was Odin’s voice as he flew above us.

"Wait, I-I was only joking when I said I want to learn the Zerschlagen," I confessed.

"Havn’t ye heard, every joke has a percentage of truth," Odin responded.

"No, seriously, I was really joking!" I said desperately.

"But wait, grandfather, how's it possible for someone like him to learn the Zerschlagen? He's not even Asgardian, let alone havin' our family blood. It would be impossible!" Magni explained.

"Are ye trying to say it’s even impossible for a deity like me?!" Odin raised his tone, causing Magni to submit as he bowed his head.

Sorry, I don’t mean to doubt ye," Magni said with a touch of humility in his voice.

"But at the same time, I'm a kind man. And I don’t want to force ye to do anything since ye're a long-time friend to me, right?" Odin said, which I'm liking what he’s saying already. Phew! It’s not like I don’t want to learn it, but I can’t be bothered to learn it. Why do I need to learn it? It’s not like I'm gonna fight anyone.

But then I remembered what Odin said to me before about how he wants me to join his fight against his son Thor. But I quickly brushed that thought away, clearing my head of that memory. Why go through the trouble of fighting when staying here isn't actually so bad?

"But—"

Uh-oh! He said "but". Odin said the word “but”.

"Let’s play a game."

“A game?” I looked around, which Magni, Modi, and even Horsey wore confused expressions.

"What sort o' game will we be playin'?" Modi asked.

"We’ll be playin' a children’s game that they play in Asgard; Ghost in the graveyard."

Ghost in the graveyard?

"What?! Aren’t we too old for that?! I don’t want to play a childish game!" Magni roared out.

“Your father always used to play that game when he was young,” Odin remarked.

“Let’s play the game!” Magni bellowed with determination.

What an easy man.

“But, grandfather, how come we’re playin' a game like ghost in the graveyard?” Magni inquired with a hint of confusion in his tone.

"Like I said, I don’t want to force the Headless Knight into doin' anythin', but it’s been quite borin' here, right? So I thought let's have a bit of fun, but if the Headless Knight loses, he’ll have to learn Zerschlagen," Odin explained.

“What?! But you said you’re not going to force me?!” I exclaimed.

"I’m not forcin' ye, but if ye lose, ye have to learn the Zerschlagen," Odin insisted, his voice carrying the weight of command. Odin insisted.

“No! No! I don’t want no part! And what would you do if I say I don’t want to play your game?”

Suddenly, Odin wore a smug, goofy face. “Well, back in the day, you was known as the man who never backed down from a challenge, an honorable and respectable man. The word ‘no’ was practically not in your vocabulary... wink.”

Did he just say wink?! And it’s obvious that he’s just making that up! He’s trying to manipulate my memories! Look at the stupid face he’s wearing!

“Even if it was true, I don’t care about the past,” I said, not folding for no one.

"What a loser," Magni scoffed, his voice filled with disdain.

"And he’s meant to be grandfather's friend," Modi added, his tone dripping with mockery.

“Hee-yaaaw.”

“Even you too, Horsey?!” I said in shock as I felt a sense of betrayal.

“Okay! Fine! But what do I gain from this game!” I said, throwing a slight tantrum.

"If ye win, I’ll never bother ye again, meanin' ye don’t have to fight with me and ye can do whatever ye want," Odin promised, his voice carrying the weight of his words.

I'm sort of warming up to that idea. Even though I'm not entirely thrilled about being confined here without exploring the world outside, if it means avoiding future violence, then I guess I wouldn’t mind living a peaceful life here.

“But what do ye get if we win, grandfather?” Magni inquired.

“Aye! What do we get! We want somethin' too!” Modi chimed in.

“Hmmm...” Odin mused, pondering what he could offer his grandchildren.

“Okay, if one of you two wins, then I’ll give you Gungnir.”

Upon hearing Odin's words, both Magni and Modi's expressions dropped in astonishment.

“Don’t jest like that, grandfather!” Magni exclaimed.

“Think ye, a deity, I’d make measly jests about my most treasured weapon?” Odin retorted.

“That’s the point?! Why would ye even offer up Gungnir?! Do ye not want it?!” Modi questioned.

“Offer up?! Is that how ye see it?! Think ye two will best me?” Odin's voice turned stern.

The weight of Odin's voice suddenly compelled everyone, including me, to drop to their knees. The air grew heavy, making it difficult to breathe.

“Forgive us, if we insulted ye, grandfather, but one thing I must say is that now that ye’ve said it, ye know ye can’t take back yer words,” Magni said, his tone respectful yet firm, echoing the weight of his words.

“Don’t worry, I won’t take back my word. Now, shall we get along with the game?” Odin said, suddenly, the pressure in the air disappeared, and everyone was able to stand back up and breathe normally.

What was that all about? How does this black bird have such power?

“What are we meant to do in this game called ‘Ghost in the graveyard’ and what are the rules?” I asked.

"It’s simple. One person, who's the ghost, will close their eyes and count, while everyone else scatters around and starts hiding. Once the ghost finishes counting, their goal is to search and find the hiders. Once they find someone, they must make contact with them as proof they’re caught, and they're eliminated from the game. If the ghost manages to catch everyone who’s hiding within the time limit, then the ghost wins. However, if anyone is able to survive being caught by the ghost within the time limit, then the ghost loses, and anyone who is still in the game wins.”

Okay, I think I get it. It sounds easy enough.

"But, grandfather, let’s say me and Magni are both still standin' by the time the game wins, who’s goin' to get Gungnir?" Modi asks.

"Do ye really think I'd allow both of ye to survive in the game together? What a naive thinkin'," venom laced Odin's voice, striking fear into Modi.

“However, let’s say that does ever happen, then no one gets Gungnir, as it’s a weapon only one person can use and can’t be shared. So that means you’ll know what to do if you want my Gungnir badly,” Odin said, smirking deviously.

That guy! He’s already trying to break us apart.

“How long are you going to count up till?” I ask.

“Seven days.”

“Huh?! Seven days?! That’s way too long!”

"No, if it’s with grandfather, it might even be a bit short, anything less than that, and he’ll find us in a split second. I’ll even say it’s a bit unfair, that it should be us tryin' to find and catch him," Magni remarked, his tone tinged with a mix of concern and admiration for Odin's abilities.

"If that was the case, ye guys will never find me till eternity," Odin said.

"Then how long will the time limit be once you're done counting?" I inquired, seeking clarification.

“To make it fair for you... hmm... let’s make it twenty seconds.”

“Twenty seconds?! Are you underestimatimng us?!”

“Trust me, anything longer than that, you wouldn’t be able to last that long, especially with these eyes like mine,” Odin remarked, tapping his eyepatch with a knowing smirk.

“Alright, Headless Knight, Magni, Modi, and including Horsey, you're all participating in this game, which the game will begin now!”