A week had passed since that moment.

  I had been diligently training with this rune until I reached the point where I could perform several animal transformations with equal proficiency. So far, I had successfully taken the forms of a raven, human, snake, eagle, fish, lizard, spider, and a few other creatures.

  Beyond that, I continued to explore the rune further, testing the extent of its potential and discovering ways to utilize it through various methods.

  "Yata…"

  A soft voice called from behind me. I turned around and saw my master, Fenrir, lazily lounging about.

  "I want rabbit meat…" she pleaded, her expression pitiful, like a child begging for sweets.

  I immediately shifted into my human form so I could communicate with her properly. "Didn’t you just eat that yesterday? It would be better if you had some fruit today. You need a balanced diet."

  Truthfully, I wasn’t entirely sure whether humanoid beings like Fenrir had the same nutritional needs as humans. Or perhaps she required more meat, just like an actual wolf.

  "But in winter, meat tastes better than fruit," Fenrir tried to negotiate. "Besides, what is nutrition anyway?"

  "Nutrition is what your body needs to grow properly. Without a balanced diet, you could get sick. Some people even become weak if they don’t eat enough fruits or vegetables."

  Fenrir straightened up, looking at me with deep interest as she listened to my explanation. "Does that also affect body size?"

  I nodded. "Of course. Without enough nutrition, your body won’t develop properly, you know?"

  "I see…" she murmured, nodding slightly.

  A faint smile crossed my lips. I had a small hope that I could convince her to eat more fruits and vegetables. Right now, she looked more like an innocent girl on the verge of maturity. Perhaps eating more nutritious food would help her growth a little.

  "So that means my chest is small because I’m malnourished?" She stared at her chest with a serious expression, as if she had just unraveled the great mystery of her life.

  I choked and quickly turned my flushed face away. "A-anyway. I’ll go get some fruit now!" I hurriedly declared, desperate to escape the conversation.

  "Bring a lot, Yata. So my chest can—"

  "Henshin!" I immediately transformed into an eagle and flapped my wings, soaring away as if I hadn’t heard the rest of her sentence.

  Rising high into the sky, I scanned the quiet yet fertile Lyngvi valley in search of fruit. After some time, I spotted a cluster of trees bearing an abundance of fruit. Without hesitation, I descended to gather them.

  The moment my small talons touched the ground, I shifted back into my human form. But then...

  "Hahahaha…"

  A chilling cackle echoed through the air.

  I spun around, my body tensing up.

  A man sat on a tree branch, biting into an apple. Shoulder-length black hair, piercing green eyes, and a sly smirk stretched across his face.

  "Loki…" I breathed, his name slipping from my lips before I realized it.

  "Oh? Looks like you recognize me," he said, his mysterious smile widening.

  A powerful aura radiated from his gaze. This trickster god, with all his mastery of deception, sent a shiver down my spine. My legs trembled as his smirk deepened.

  "W-what is a god like you doing in such a remote place?" My voice shook, unable to mask my fear.

  Loki let out a small chuckle. "What’s wrong with a father coming to see his daughter?"

  I froze. His daughter?... Fenrir!

  Before I could react, Loki vanished from the tree. I glanced around, but he was nowhere to be seen. As I stood there in confusion, his voice suddenly echoed through the forest.

  How strange. Why does my daughter’s scent cling to you so strongly? And it seems she’s even given you my inherited rune. What’s so interesting about you? What have you done to her?

  Caught in a whirlwind of confusion, I was bombarded with questions, unable to answer any of them.

  "Did you deceive her?"

  The voice came from right beside my ear. When I turned, Loki was already there, staring at me blankly, our faces so close they were nearly touching.

  Startled, I stumbled backward and fell to the ground.

  "Heh, you’re sweating. Are you feeling hot in the middle of winter?" He chuckled, his enigmatic smirk never leaving his lips.

  I was frozen in place, unable to react.

  "Hmm, that’s a pretty pathetic reaction," he commented. "Well, whatever. It doesn’t really matter." He took a few steps away, his tone light, as if nothing truly concerned him.

  I could only stare blankly at his broad back.

  "Just so you know, little creature, I’m not here to hurt anyone." His voice was gentle, but I knew better than to trust a single word from the Trickster God.

  "Then why are you here, Lord Loki?" I finally managed to find my voice.

  "How should I put it?" He sighed, scratching the back of his head. "A father naturally misses his little girl after not seeing her for so long. Especially when her birthday is coming up."

  Her birthday? Was he talking about Fenrir?

  Loki’s words echoed in my mind, reminding me that I actually knew very little about Fenrir.

  "You see, every good father in this world wants to visit their daughter and give them a present on their birthday. Unfortunately, I know my daughter hates me. If I showed up now, she’d probably snarl at me, or worse, she’d rip my face apart."

  His expression shifted dramatically as he spoke, making me feel exhausted just from listening to him.

  "I just don’t understand why she despises me so much. Her dear father loves her very much. Or maybe she’s just shy. Just like when she was little. Ah, yes, she’s definitely just embarrassed."

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  I was growing tired of his nonsense, but this was exactly how he was described in mythology. A deceitful, noisy, unpredictable, and cunning god. The last two traits were by far the worst.

  "So, since I can’t give her this gift directly, khu, khu, khu." A sharp grin stretched across his face. "Little raven, you’ll have to deliver my present to my daughter."

  I swallowed hard, a bad feeling creeping over me. Especially when Loki shot me a piercing look, making my feathers, no, my skin, prickle uncomfortably.

  Unconsciously, I shook my head.

  "You refuse?" Loki raised an eyebrow. "Fine, then I suppose you’d rather be roasted and served as grilled bird instead of being a messenger."

  "W-wait. F-fine. I’ll do it."

  "Good. Smart bird."

  I should’ve known refusing him wasn’t an option. Now I understood where Fenrir got her selfishness and threatening nature from.

  Before I could even blink, I found myself standing up without realizing it. My mouth was slightly open, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

  Loki then grabbed my right hand and placed a small dagger in my palm. "Take it," he said, still wearing that ever-present smirk. "This is my gift for my foolish daughter."

  I stared at the dagger with hesitation. But the moment my fingers wrapped around its cold metal, a searing pain shot through my head. Images flooded my mind as if something was being forced into it.

  A vision of Gleipnir shattering flashed before me, piecing itself together like a puzzle wrapped in mystery.

  My grip on the dagger tightened as dread settled in my chest, now fully aware of its power.

  "This dagger…"

  Loki’s smirk deepened with satisfaction. "Ah, looks like it already told you what it can do. That means it has acknowledged you as its master. Well, I suppose I can’t exactly give it to my daughter as a gift anymore."

  I looked up at him in confusion. "What is it that you truly want?"

  Loki shrugged. "I already told you, didn’t I? I just wanted to give my daughter a present. But since you ended up taking it instead, you’ll have to take responsibility, right?"

  I swallowed hard, staring at him in distress. "What exactly do you want me to do?"

  Once again, Loki shrugged. "How should I know? Just figure it out yourself with that tiny brain of yours, Ya-ta-ga-ra-su."

  I clenched my jaw. He knew everything about us. He had been watching us from somewhere.

  That sharp grin returned to his lips. "One week from now, I’ll be expecting your answer. Let’s see if my gamble was worth it."

  With a pat on my shoulder, he turned away and strolled off lightly, as if everything had been just another joke to him.

  "See you around, Yata~"

  I could only stare blankly at Loki’s back as he slowly vanished into the shadows of the forest.

  ******

  The sun hung in the sky, radiating warmth that was barely felt in the biting cold of winter. The chill that once made my body shiver no longer affected me as it used to. I knew it was because of the contract I had made with Fenrir. Even though I had only received a fraction of her power, for some reason, I felt incredibly strong now.

  "Phew... maybe it's time to head back." I wiped the sweat from my forehead.

  The bundle of fruits I had gathered was wrapped in a piece of cloth, formerly my own feathers, which I had transformed using runes.

  A small smile tugged at my lips as I marveled at these seemingly simple yet endlessly versatile symbols. Who would have thought that my odd idea would actually work? I felt a sense of pride in myself.

  "Sometimes, it's true. After hardship comes ease. We just haven’t found it yet," I murmured, trying to soothe the restlessness in my heart.

  Ever since he left, I had been trying to push thoughts of him aside. I even attempted to throw away the dagger he had given me, but I knew that wasn't a wise solution. In the end, it remained tucked in my pocket.

  I walked slowly, following the forest path while carrying the bundle of fruits in my hands. Though I appeared calm on the outside, my mind was a mess. Even the sweet chirping of the birds around me couldn’t ease my unease.

  "What should I do?" I whispered into the silence.

  Even so, my feet did not stop moving. I kept walking until I finally reached the depths of the forest, the place where Fenrir was waiting.

  "Yataaa~ Hurry up! Did you get the fruits? I’ve been waiting so long!"

  I smiled, raising a hand in greeting, trying to act as usual.

  "Yata, why did you take so long?" she asked cheerfully, at least at first. until her expression changed. The joy in her eyes disappeared, replaced by a sharp, suspicious gaze.

  Damn... she noticed.

  "So... you met Loki, didn’t you?" Her voice turned cold, her gaze clouded.

  She didn’t bother with pleasantries, just accused me outright.

  I remained silent, not answering. The lingering scent on me was already enough of a confession. Her keen sense of smell wouldn’t be fooled.

  "You’re not going to talk?" Fenrir pressed further. She didn’t even glance at the fruits I had brought, as if they meant nothing. It seemed she truly loathed her father.

  I took a deep breath, trying to keep my composure. "How did you know?"

  "The stench of that bastard is all over you."

  I might not be able to deceive her, but at the very least, I could try to ease the tension. Maybe, if we ate together, the mood would lighten. Without hesitation, I sat beside her and placed the fruits between us.

  "Do you really hate your father that much?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer.

  "He only cares about himself. He always abandoned us. Even when Odin punished us, he did nothing. He never came to see me, not even once." Her voice carried bitterness, but her eyes remained firm and unwavering.

  I had no words.

  Who didn’t know about Loki’s treachery? But hearing it directly from his daughter made it feel far more real. Truly, what a cruel irony.

  "By the way, did he give you something? Or scare you?"

  Fenrir abruptly changed the subject. Whether it was because she didn’t want to dwell on the past or because she was trying to appear strong, I wasn’t sure.

  I smiled, deciding to follow her lead. "He did scare me a little, but he didn’t do anything. Maybe he was just passing through?"

  Fenrir let out a low growl. "Don’t be stupid. He’s definitely planning something. That bastard never acts without a reason. I wonder what kind of mess he’s going to create this time, but if he dares to mess with you, I’ll tear his face apart!"

  Her confidence always made me chuckle.

  "Why are you laughing? Are you underestimating my muscles?" She proudly patted her small arm, full of self-assurance.

  I shook my head. "No, no. That’s not it, Fen."

  "Is it not enough? Don’t worry, I still have my fangs and claws to deal with him. And even though it's a bit rough, I also have strong magic, you know."

  I could only shake my head, trying to suppress my laughter at her boastfulness. It was honestly adorable.

  Fenrir was indeed strong, but she had yet to reach her full potential. Not yet. Her true power would only awaken when Ragnarok arrived.

  "Rather than worrying about that, let’s just eat these fruits first." I picked up a ripe red apple. "This one’s really good," I said before taking a big bite, hoping to tempt her.

  "Watching you eat it is making me hungry," she muttered before grabbing an apple from the pile. Without hesitation, she started devouring it greedily, stuffing her mouth full.

  "You were right... thish ish deelicioush!" she mumbled with her mouth full. "I could finish all of these by myself if I wanted to."

  I let out a small chuckle at her childish gluttony.

  "Don’t talk while eating. You’ll choke," I scolded her.

  For a moment, my worries faded. Maybe I could forget about Loki’s so-called gift, at least for now.

  But soon enough, the thought crept back into my mind.

  "One more week, huh..." I murmured, staring blankly at the sky.

  "Yata, aren’t you eating? I’m going to finish everything!" Fenrir called out.

  I snapped back to reality, only to find that most of the apples were already gone, even though I had only looked away for a second.

  "Hey, leave some for me!"

  *****

  The lively chatter of the afternoon had faded, replaced by the tranquil silence of the night. The full moon stood at its peak, signaling the arrival of midnight.

  Yet, I still couldn’t sleep. Luckily, Fenrir wasn’t clinging to me too tightly tonight, so I managed to slip out of her embrace.

  Now, I perched on a tree branch, watching over her as she slept below in a completely disheveled position.

  "Rabbit meat... yum, yum..." Fenrir mumbled in her sleep. The faint jingling of the chains binding her didn’t disturb her at all.

  Gleipnir, a chain that initially appeared as silk, only to transform into golden shackles upon binding Fenrir to seal her. It was crafted by the dwarves of Svartalfheim using six impossible materials.

  Those six were the sound of a cat’s footsteps, the breath of a fish, the roots of a mountain, a woman’s beard, a bear’s sinew, and a bird’s saliva.

  Whether these materials truly existed or were merely poetic metaphors was unclear. But one thing was certain. This chain was what restrained Fenrir, preventing her from growing stronger until Ragnarok arrived.

  Perhaps this chain was the key to keeping her in check. Yet, I also believed it was the source of her deep hatred toward the gods. She must have fallen into despair when the only thing she had left, her freedom, was taken from her.

  What would happen if that chain broke before its destined time?

  I let out a weary sigh. All of this was exhausting. Maybe the night air would help ease my thoughts.

  Spreading my wings, I prepared to take flight into the vast, starlit sky. The night wind brushed against my face. The full moon shone brightly above, far higher than where I was now.

  The dagger Loki had given me was now hidden among my feathers, thanks to my shapeshifting ability. That dagger was the key to freeing Fenrir before her time. With it, I had the choice to break Gleipnir and release her.

  But that choice was exactly what unsettled me.

  On one hand, I wanted to free her from her chains and let her live as a normal girl her age. But on the other, I feared that my decision might bring Ragnarok sooner than it should.

  What should I do?