Nightfall.

  Fenrir lay asleep beneath the contemplation of the stars, mumbling in her dreams between the rhythm of her breathing. A bit of drool trickled from the corner of her lips.

  “Mmm… yum… yum… deer meat.”

  I sat beside her, gazing at her with mixed feelings before shifting my focus to the star-filled night sky, trying to distract myself from the wolf girl monopolizing the atmosphere.

  “Does she always mumble about food in her sleep?” I muttered softly. “Well, at least she doesn’t snore.”

  Shaking my head slightly, I brushed aside my thoughts of Fenrir and refocused on a far more important task, delving deeper into the secrets of my shapeshifter rune.

  The moonlight illuminated my surroundings as I sat cross-legged, attempting to grasp the mysteries of the power within me. In my hands were strands of pitch-black feathers, remnants shed when those three gods had crushed my dignity just days ago.

  If only time could be reversed, I would make them pay for what they did to me.

  Though my wounds were beginning to heal, the pain still lingered. The scars left by their torment refused to fade from my mind. But little by little, I managed to suppress them.

  “Haaah… whatever, it’s in the past.”

  With full concentration, I channeled my energy into the feather in my hand, intending to transform it into something useful for our journey. A backpack, perhaps, that was the thought that crossed my mind.

  “Henshin.”

  The incantation left my lips, accompanied by a soft glow that enveloped the feather. But suddenly, heat surged through it, and in an instant, the feather burned up, crumbling into black ash that vanished into the night breeze.

  “Tch. Failed again,” I sighed in frustration. “What went wrong? I turned it into fabric just yesterday.”

  I fell silent for a moment, lost in thought, trying to figure out what was flawed in my method.

  A few days ago, I had effortlessly transformed a single feather into soft fabric to wrap fruit in. I had even managed to fuse the knife Loki had given me with my feathers. So why did everything feel so difficult now?

  Tired of overthinking, I lay back and gazed at the bright moon hanging in the night sky. The stars seemed to dance above, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.

  “Scorpio still hasn’t stung Orion…” I murmured as I spotted the Orion constellation shining clearly. “Forget the scorpion. Virgo hasn’t shown her beauty yet either…”

  Observing the constellations made me realize that winter might last a little longer.

  The star formations in this world were identical to those in my previous one, as was the knowledge of astronomy. Luckily, I possessed that knowledge, allowing me to navigate easily and predict seasonal changes with greater accuracy.

  My train of thought was abruptly cut short when a familiar voice shattered the silence.

  “Yata… hungry.”

  I turned and saw Fenrir still fast asleep, curled up on the hard stone bed, unbothered by the winter snow. She looked comfortable, completely lost in her dreams.

  “Give me… more meat…” she mumbled, a line of drool sliding down her cheek.

  I approached her with a small smile. “I thought something was wrong, but she’s just mumbling again.”

  But just as I was about to sit back down, something in her sleep-talking caught my attention.

  “Wait… more meat?” My words trailed off as my eyes widened. “Ah! That must be the answer!”

  With newfound determination, I grabbed several strands of feathers. Clutching them tightly, I also held onto a primary feather in my grasp. This time, I was more confident.

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  “Henshin.”

  The spell flowed more smoothly than before. A soft glow enveloped the feathers in my hands, merging them, and within seconds, a small backpack formed. My eyes sparkled with excitement.

  “Yes! It worked!” I exclaimed in triumph.

  Even though she was only talking in her sleep, Fenrir had unknowingly given me a crucial hint. The reason for my failure was that I hadn’t used enough feathers to create a complex object. Meanwhile, strong items like Loki’s knife could easily be transformed into smaller feathers.

  I chuckled at the realization.

  “Looks like… I owe her a thank you later,” I murmured, glancing at Fenrir, who was still lost in her dreams.

  With a lighter heart, I continued my work, one by one transforming the remaining feathers into small items that would be useful for our long journey.

  Even as the night grew deeper, my determination remained unwavering, guiding each creation born from the power of the rune entrusted to me by Fenrir.

  ****

  The Next Morning.

  The sun shone warmly, casting its light over the Lyngvi Valley, still blanketed in thick snow. The crisp morning air bit at my skin, but my spirit burned with anticipation.

  "Are you done packing?" Fenrir's voice came from behind me.

  "Almost," I replied, stuffing various supplies and necessities into the new backpack I had successfully crafted last night. My hands moved swiftly, arranging the items.

  "Knife, chain, clothes," I checked everything carefully, then smiled in satisfaction. "Alright, all set."

  But suddenly, Fenrir's eyes widened in alarm. "Wait. Why are you bringing pieces of Gleipnir?"

  "Is that a problem?"

  "Of course it is, you stupid bird! Get rid of that thing right now!" she snapped harshly, a faint tremor in her voice betraying the fear she was trying to conceal.

  I stared at her for a moment before shaking my head. "Sorry, but I can't do that."

  "Hah? Why?" Her voice was filled with disbelief. "What are you planning to do with that cursed thing?"

  "I believe it will be useful. Trust me. I know I can tame it."

  Fenrir's expression grew even more disapproving, with a flicker of fear in her gaze. I knew very well what Gleipnir meant to her, the chain that had bound her for so long, the symbol of her imprisonment.

  But to me, it was a power far too great to be discarded. A force strong enough to restrain Fenrir until Ragnarok surely had the potential to become a formidable weapon against the gods.

  I had already attempted to reshape it using my shapeshifter rune, but so far, my efforts had failed. Perhaps because I did not fully possess it yet. But I hoped that, on our journey, I would uncover the means to tame Gleipnir and turn it into my secret weapon, my trump card.

  Fenrir let out a deep sigh, her expression softening as if trying to understand my reasoning. "Fine. I'll trust you on this."

  "Thank you," I said, grinning.

  A faint blush spread across her cheeks, and she quickly turned her head away to hide it.

  "Ah, I almost forgot," I suddenly remembered something. Reaching into my backpack, I pulled out a piece of clothing I had prepared the night before. "This is for you!" I tossed the bundled fabric toward her.

  Fenrir caught it effortlessly and examined it. "What is this?"

  In her hands was a simple white tunic, matching the color of her previous attire. It was designed with an ancient medieval touch.

  "I noticed your clothes were getting tattered, so I made you a new one using my spare feathers."

  Her eyes widened, sparkling with awe as she admired the outfit. "Whoa, this is amazing!"

  "Well, what are you waiting for? Try it on," I urged.

  But suddenly, her face flushed red, a shy expression creeping onto her features. "You really are my pet bird…" she muttered, turning away. "But… would you mind turning around for a moment?" she asked in a quiet voice.

  I tilted my head, not quite understanding at first, until my brain finally caught up, and my own face heated up.

  "Oh! Right! My bad!" I quickly spun around and shut my eyes, giving her the privacy to change.

  I couldn't help but smile a little at this unexpected side of her. Despite her rough and brash demeanor, Fenrir was still a girl with a feminine side. I waited, listening to the faint rustling as she put on her new clothes.

  After a short while, her voice called out, "Alright. You can turn around now."

  When I turned to look, my jaw nearly dropped.

  The white tunic draped elegantly over her figure, made from a lightweight fabric that felt soft against the skin. The design was simple, reflecting medieval-era styles, with a round neckline that remained plain and unembellished.

  The long sleeves tapered at the wrists, while the shoulders featured a half-open design with subtle slits, revealing just a hint of skin. It added a unique touch without sacrificing elegance. A leather belt cinched at her waist, shaping the otherwise loose garment into a well-defined silhouette.

  Despite her fierce nature, the slight blush on her cheeks and her bashful expression made her look both beautiful and adorable at the same time.

  "Why are you staring at me like that? Say something already," she huffed, a little irritated, yet her bright eyes, twitching ears, and gently swaying tail betrayed her anticipation. She was clearly waiting for praise.

  I smiled, satisfied with my work. "It suits you perfectly."

  "Thanks," she replied, and for a brief moment, we simply looked at each other, a small, unspoken warmth settling between us in the cold morning air.

  "Hey, Yata," Fenrir suddenly spoke, breaking the silence. "Let's go."

  I nodded without a word, ready for the long journey ahead.

  "Where should we start?" I asked, gazing out at the snowy valley stretching before us.

  "Obviously, from here. Jotunheim!" Her voice rang out, brimming with enthusiasm and confidence.

  Together, we stepped forward onto the snow-covered ground, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

  No matter how perilous the journey, I knew we could overcome it.

  As long as we were together.