Loki stood up to go in when all of a sudden, Goku broke out of the door with Nataku, Odin and Esmeralda at his trail. Son Goku was serious and Loki could see the change of expression in his golden eyes even in the dimness of the porch.
“What’s going on?” Loki asked but no one answered. Goku walked out on the street, seeming to look far out to where the others could only see the usual alley. But it seemed Goku could see more. And he pressed his ear onto the ground firmly, listening as the others watched. Then he straightened and said, “Get ready. They’re coming.”
Nataku was the first to take the warning seriously. She took out her ofudas and began chanting. Then she drew a symbol in midair and the inscriptions on the ofudas came off the parchment and surrounded the twins. The glyphs surrounded them and slowly disappeared in mid-air. Then Odin pointed at Esmeralda with his head. The Battle Aesir took out her sash and made it hover around Esmeralda before saying, “This will keep you safe. It will not leave your side until I say so.”
Esmeralda turned to Odin, her eyes filled with tears in confusion. The God of Light put his hands on her shoulders and said, “The sash will shield you just as it had protected us. Wake up the villagers and warn them of a battle. Tell them to gather in one place. Tell them the dark elves of Svartalfheim are coming and that Odin has sent you to tell them.”
“What if they don’t believe me?”
Then Odin whistled and an eagle came and perched on the god’s shoulder and on its beak it placed a sphere then let it fly.
“The floating sash is enough proof. Tell them Odin has sent you to warn them and they will believe you. Now take the people to the village’s underground shelter and do not leave. This eagle is Hugin and he will help me find you so I could protect you and the people.” And when the beautiful mortal did not answer, Odin kissed her forehead and said, “It’s all right. Now go.”
Loki stretched out his arm, said something foreign and light begin to take the form of Azaran, a pair of swords – one short and the other longer. Odin watched Esmeralda go before grasping his staff, Laevatin, in the way Loki did. This was a special ability that only Aesirs could do. They are allowed to create a certain weapon out of their minds and souls. These weapons are given a name, which, when called, are summoned to its owner’s grasp immediately. These are called Maidatania meaning “weapons embedded in the soul”.
“I feel a battle coming…” Nataku was holding rings of light in her hands.
“Dark elves of Svartalfheim.” Son Goku followed up flatly, still seeming to look far out, “I could smell them from here.”
Loki looked at Son Goku. Smell them…? Hear them…? See things from a distance…? Only the white and dark elves have the ability to do such things. How come he has the holy mark of Gaea and at the same time possesses abilities from the white elves of Alfheim and the dark elves of Svartalfheim? But he did not look like a white or a dark elf at all. Then he stretched out his arm and whispered “Nyoi-bo” and just how the weapons appeared for the Aesirs, a black staff with golden poles appeared in his right hand.
Son Goku also had a Maidatania? But he wasn’t an Aesir, too, was he?
Could this be the reason why Asgard ordered the Valkyries after him? And Persephone, too?
Who is this person?
And yet Nataku did not look a bit worried or concerned with what Goku was doing or acting. Maybe it was indeed a serious matter that Goku’s abilities were of no account, at least for now. After all, Nataku knew more of battles than anything else. Perhaps it would be better if they would let Goku stay with them since he might play a role in their search for the Runes or anything to do with Fenris Fenrir.
Then the large bell in the Town Square tolled its warning to everyone. Panic struck light lightning. The men were taking arms and the women and children were evacuating, praying to the goddess Kuan Yin for mercy. Everyone was leaving for the shelter. The footsteps sounded and resounded from the pavement and yet, the Aesirs did not seem to be shaken.
“Before anything happens, I’d like to tell you that we are not involved in this war.” Nataku announced, stepping out into the street with Goku.
“What?” Odin and Goku chorused.
“It is a war between humans and elves.” Loki nodded in agreement to Nataku, “The Weaving must go as it is. We are not to interfere. We are only to defend ourselves and the Valkyries will come to gather the souls. We are not here to side on either the humans or the elves.”
“The people prayed for my protection.” Odin cut in seriously.
“The people were praying to Kuan Yin.” Loki replied, stepping into the street with Nataku and Goku.
“Esmeralda prayed to me!” Odin insisted.
“She did not! She was praying to Kuan Yin!” Loki was not looking at Odin.
“Esmeralda prayed to me!” the older brother’s voice was beginning to take up an angry tone, “Her prayer is enough!”
“You thought she prayed to you!” the Aesir of Darkness whipped around towards Odin, “Esmeralda did not utter a word of prayer to you!”
“She prayed to me! I could see it in her eyes!” Odin shot back, gained back his poise and said “There are things that could not take shape in words but could be clearly seen in the eyes.” Loki stopped and his expression changed and he softened, feeling a bit of guilt as he contemplated. Then Odin stepped out into the road and said firmly, “I promised her I’d protect her and this town. And this town… They are my people now…”
Everyone kept silent. Loki wasn’t budging. Perhaps he would not understand because people seldom prayed to him. It was not that he was jealous that somebody prayed to Odin. It was just that, he could no longer remember how it’s like to say “They are my people now”.
As if ignoring the exchange between him and his brother, Odin put his fingers in his mouth and whistled again and a falcon came. He looked at Nataku and she nodded. Odin was thankful for Nataku’s conformity at the moment and he was glad his mother had insisted for them to take her along. Having the Captain of the Valkyries would now be the Goddess of Victory. Odin left for the shelter with his falcon Munin. “Hey, Mr. Esmeralda-prayed-to-me…” Loki called. Odin stopped and looked at his brother whose back was facing him.
“Make sure the sash doesn’t get ruined.”
Odin smiled and went away.
“Master Loki.” Said Nataku as people ran back and forth, “Please do not stray away far from me. I wish to protect you at all cost.” Loki did not say anything. Then all of a sudden, Nataku and Goku chorused.
“I feel the battlefield coming closer.”
“I smell blood.”
In a moment, as if on cue, there was screaming and shouting and battle cry.
“It’s begun.” Goku announced the obvious and turned to Nataku, “Now what?”
“Orders have been given. We protect this town.”
“I understand.” And Goku sped off, jumping skillfully from roof to roof. Nataku was about to follow when Loki grabbed her wrist and called her name lowly. “Master Odin asked me to help him protect this town. I have taken my orders.” Nataku said before Loki could say anything to stop her.
“I know…” Loki muttered sheepishly, “But I want you to know that I’ll protect you, too…”
Nataku blinked and looked at Loki’s hand on her wrist. Somehow, he had been used to pulling her back whenever he wanted. But his words just now told her everything’s going to be all right.