Author:
Sweiza:[leans back in her chair, arms crossed]
You already know me. Sweiza. Valkyrie. Hero. Occasional troublemaker. And the most fun person at this table.
Rezra:[tail flicks] Rezra. Tigerfelk. Former thief, now a respectable—well, semi-respectable—part of this group. I bring the charm and the claws.
Brynhilde:[pauses, adjusting the blindfold covering her eyes] And the unfortunate voice of reason among certain individuals.
Sprite:[wings flutter] I’m Little Sprite! I sparkle, I fly, I cause mischief. Oh! And I am far more powerful than I appear.
Strife:[slowly sips her coffee, unimpressed]
Strife. Former Valkyrie, current headache manager. Though some are more persistent than others.
Author:
Sweiza:[face darkens slightly] Leaving Strife behind in Valhalla. That… that was tough. I mean, what if I’d never made it back? But hey, I did.
Strife:[sets down her cup] Sacrificing my past. My friends. My time. I didn’t have a choice, but I had to live with the consequences.
Brynhilde:
Rezra:[ears flatten] Giving up my tail. Stupid Odin. Stupid rules.
Sprite:
Rezra:[snorts] Not enough, apparently.
Author:
Strife:[deadpan] Are you expecting an apology?
Sweiza:[grinning] She won’t say it, but she missed me.
Strife:
Author:
Brynhilde:[crosses arms] We fought. I lost. Then Odin threw my familiar into the abyss. So, yes, ‘tense’ is a good word for it.
Sweiza: [mutters] I didn’t want to fight you, you know.
Rezra: [interrupts] Alright, enough of the heavy stuff! Can we talk about something fun?
Author:
Rezra:
Sweiza: [ And how’d that go?
Rezra:
Brynhilde: [smirks] I once convinced Rezra that the stars whisper to me.
Rezra: don’t?
Strife: [pinching the bridge of her nose] I once let Sweiza and Sprite convince me that breaking into Odin’s vault was a idea.
Sprite:[giggling] It was a idea.
Strife:terrible idea.
Sweiza:
Salmira:[suddenly appears out of thin air, her voice both distant and immediate] A moment of wisdom. You will never regret the mistakes that led to victory—only those that led to loss.
Rezra:[ears flatten] How long has she been ?
Sprite:
Salmira:[smiles knowingly] Perhaps.
Author: Well, before we all get caught in a time paradox, let’s end on this—where do you all see yourselves after all of this is over?
Sweiza:
Rezra:[tilts head] I want my tail back.
Brynhilde:
Sprite:
Strife:[softly] I want to believe in the future again.
Author:
Sweiza:[grinning] Oh, no, thank .
Rezra:
Author:
Rezra:
Salmira disappears—one moment she's there, the next, the space she occupied folds into itself, leaving behind only a lingering shimmer, as if time itself hiccupped.
Rezra:[ears twitch] That is unsettling. Does she always do that?
Sprite:[casually sips tea] Oh, all the time. Sometimes she appears she leaves.
Sweiza:[laughs] I think that’s just your brain being slow.
Brynhilde:[smirking] Unlikely. Sprite’s mind is many things, but slow is not one of them.
Strife:[exhales, rubbing her temple] Can we move on before we invite another existential crisis?
Author:scares each of you?
Sweiza:[stiffens slightly before forcing a grin]
Oh, you’re going for the heavy questions, huh? Alright. Fine. Losing people. Again. I can take any fight, any challenge, but being alone? That’s worse than death.
Rezra:[clears throat, shifting in her chair]
Yeah. Same. But, you know, also, uh… dogs.
Brynhilde:[raises an eyebrow under her blindfold]
Dogs?
Rezra:[ears flatten] They’re too friendly. No one is that friendly without an ulterior motive.
Strife:[dryly] I’m concerned for you.
Rezra:you and you don’t see me making a big deal about it.
Strife:[sips coffee, unimpressed] I know.
Author:[amused] What about you, Brynhilde?
Brynhilde:[quietly] Power without control. Strength without purpose. I’m already blind—I can’t afford to be lost, too.
Sweiza:[glances at her] You won’t be.
Brynhilde:[softly] You can’t promise that.
Sprite:[cheerfully, completely ruining the moment]
I’m afraid of running out of sugar.
Rezra:
Sprite:[dead serious] That’s EVERYTHING.
Strife:[leans back, exhaling] My fear? I’ve already lived it. But if I had to pick something else—
Sweiza:[grinning] Wait, seriously?
Strife:[deadpan] Yes. They are grotesque mockeries of human expression. I refuse to elaborate further.
Rezra:[snickering] Oh, this is
Author:[laughing] Alright, alright. Let’s move on before this spirals into clown-related trauma. If you could trade lives with someone at this table for a day, who would it be?
Sweiza:[points at Rezra] Definitely Rez. I want to know what it’s like to be a sneaky, tail-less cat with trust issues.
Rezra:[crosses arms] Wow. Rude. But fine. I’d trade with Sprite. I want to see how it feels to be small, sparkly, and constantly on a sugar rush.
Sprite:[grinning] You’d have much fun!
Brynhilde:[sighs] I’d trade with Strife. I want to know what it’s like to walk into a room and make people without even trying.
Strife:[flatly] It’s a gift.
Author:
Strife:[sips coffee] No one. I wouldn’t trust any of you with my life, and I certainly wouldn’t trust myself with yours.
Sweiza:[huffs] Well, dramatic.
Sprite:
Sweiza: [grinning] You just want to play with my hammer.
Sprite: [innocently] Maybe.
Rezra:lose the hammer in like five minutes.
Sprite:[offended] I would NOT!
Rezra:[crossing arms] You misplaced an entire last week.
Sprite:my fault! The wind took it!
Brynhilde:[deadpan] Indoors?
Sprite:
Sweiza:
Rezra:
Sweiza:
Brynhilde:[sighs] This has been a mistake.
Strife:[standing up, already leaving] I’m never doing this again.
Sprite: [waving happily] Let’s do this every week!
Author:
Author: [watching Strife walk off] …Well, there goes my most serious guest.
Sweiza: [leaning back in her chair] You should’ve known better. Strife doesn’t do social gatherings.
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Rezra:[tail flicks] I dunno, I think she secretly enjoyed herself. She just has to maintain her image.
Brynhilde: [adjusts her blindfold] Or she simply has better things to do than humor this nonsense.
Sprite: [grinning] Like brooding in a dark corner somewhere?
Rezra: [laughing] Exactly.
Author: [chuckling] Well, that’s Strife for you. But for the rest of you, we’re still going. Next question—if you could relive any moment in your life, just for a day, what would it be?
Sweiza: [pauses, then grins] Oh, that’s easy. The time I first hit Odin’s Sentinel in the face with my hammer. That of shock? Priceless.
Rezra: [smirks] That’s the moment you’d relive? Not something more… sentimental?
Sweiza: [shrugs] Nah, smashing things is cathartic. Besides, I don’t do the whole thing.
Brynhilde: [quietly] I’d relive the day before I lost my sight. Just… to see, one last time.
Sweiza: [softens] Bryn…
Brynhilde: [straightens up] But, since that’s not an option, I’ll settle for the first time I sparred against a full Valkyrie and That moment was everything to me.
Rezra: [musing] I’d go back to the first time I successfully picked a noble’s pocket.
Author: [raising a brow] Really?
Rezra: big moment for me. That was the day I realized I could outwit people who thought they were better than me. It was
Sprite: [bouncing excitedly] I’d relive the time I made an entire feast appear out of nowhere just to confuse the humans. Their faces were amazing!
Sweiza: [laughing] Wait, was that you? I heard stories about that!
Sprite: [innocently] Maybe.
Brynhilde: menace.
Rezra: [snickers] Yeah, but she’s menace.
Author: one
moment from your past, what would it be?
Sweiza: [staring at the ceiling] …The If I could make it so that attack never happened, I would.
Brynhilde: [clenching her hands] The moment Odin took my sight. Not because I fear the blindness—I’ve adapted. But I’d rather have lost it on terms. Not his.
Rezra: [ears flattening] The moment I was caught. The moment I lost my tail.
Sprite: [quietly, for once] I wouldn’t erase anything. Even the bad moments made me who I am.
Sweiza: [blinking at her] …That’s surprisingly deep for you.
Sprite: [grinning again] I contain multitudes.
Rezra: [side-eyes her] You contain
Author: any
animal—real or mythical—as a pet, what would it be?
Sweiza: [grinning] A dragon.
Brynhilde:
Sweiza: imagine flying around on one! It’d be cool.
Rezra: am part animal. But if I had to pick, I’d want a giant panther that could shadow-step through walls.
Brynhilde:
Sweiza: [grinning] You just want to send it to peck at Odin’s window, don’t you?
Brynhilde: [smirking] That would be a
Sprite: [giggling] A cat that I could ride into battle!
Rezra: do realize I am cat-like, right?
Sprite: [gasps] Rezra, can I ride on your shoulders?!
Rezra: [horrified] Absolutely
Author:[laughing] Okay, okay. One last question before we wrap up—if you had one wish, what would it be?
Sweiza:[pauses] …That Strife could have her old life back.
Brynhilde:
Rezra:before Valhalla got its claws in me.
Sprite:[thoughtful for once] That all of you get what you really want, even if you don’t know what it is yet.
Sweiza: Okay, that was weirdly sentimental. I don’t know what to do with that.
Rezra:[grinning] Yeah, I think we broke her.
Sprite:[cheerfully] I’m full of surprises!
Author:[smiling] Well, this has been… enlightening. Any final words before I release you all back into the wild?
Sweiza: [smirks] Just make sure you write me as the most badass character.
Rezra: [stretching] I demand royalties.
Brynhilde: [sighs] I need a drink.
Sprite:
Author: Maybe.
Sweiza: [grinning] You us.
Author: [laughing] I tolerate you.
Rezra: [leans back, arms behind her head] I , but I’m too comfortable.
Sweiza: [grinning] And you attention too much to leave.
Rezra:[smirking] I don’t attention, I just know I
it.
Brynhilde: [sighs] I’m reconsidering my decision to stay.
Sprite:[clinging to Brynhilde’s arm] Noooo, don’t go! You’re the only one who balances the chaos!
Brynhilde: [deadpan] That’s exactly why I should leave.
Sweiza:[laughing] Oh, c’mon. You know you’d be bored without us.
Brynhilde:
Rezra:
Sprite: [nodding sagely] Chaos is more fun.
Author: [chuckling] Well, before Brynhilde rethinks her entire life and walks away, let’s continue. If you could have a for anything, what would it be?
Sweiza:[pauses, tapping her fingers on the table]
You already asked what we’d erase. A
is different.
If I could redo our fight in the coliseum, I’d change how it ended.
Brynhilde:[stiffens slightly] And what would you have done?
Sweiza:
Brynhilde: [quietly] You assume there another way.
Rezra: [interrupting before the mood gets too heavy] I’d redo my first heist. I got too cocky, almost got caught. I could’ve cleaned out that merchant if I hadn’t been an overconfident idiot.
Author:[raising a brow] Of all the things, what you’d redo?
Rezra: better crime.
Sprite: [grinning] I’d redo the time I turned a whole room’s worth of food into floating orbs! I didn’t get the spell quite right, so some of the bread exploded. Next time, explosions.
Brynhilde: [muttering] I still find crumbs in my armor from that disaster.
Sweiza: [grinning] That was , though.
Brynhilde:[flatly] You were while dodging flying soup.
Rezra: dove behind me for cover, might I add.
Brynhilde: [folding arms] Because I knew react fast enough to avoid it.
Rezra:[mock offended] Oh, so I was a ?
Sprite: [brightly] Yes! But a effective one!
Rezra: [grumbling] I should’ve left with Strife.
Author:[laughing] Speaking of leaving… Are you actually going to walk out on us?
Brynhilde: [pauses, considering] No. But if the conversation keeps spiraling into ridiculousness, I
Rezra: [grinning] Too late. We live in the ridiculous.
Author: [grinning] Alright, let’s see if we can keep you engaged. If you could trade places with in the world, not just at this table, who would it be?
Sweiza: [immediately] Not Odin. That guy is
Rezra: [smirking] But wouldn’t it be fun to mess with his stuff? Imagine having all his power for day.
Sweiza: [thoughtful] …Okay, maybe for a Just long enough to wreck his plans.
Brynhilde: fight
for everything. Just once, I’d like to wake up without a battle to prepare for.
Rezra:
Brynhilde:[mutters] Possibly.
Sprite:[raising a tiny fist] I would trade places with a !
Sweiza: [snickering] Oh, you’d be
Rezra: [grinning] You’d still be a menace. Just a one.
Author:
Rezra: rich. Not noble-rich, because but like… pirate-rich. No responsibilities, just treasure and freedom.
Brynhilde: [dryly] So, a
Rezra:[grinning] I the term ‘independent entrepreneur.’
Author: [laughing] Of course. Alright, last question before we wrap up—if you could leave behind forever and go anywhere, where would it be?
Sweiza: [quietly] …Maria Village.
Rezra: [softly] Yeah. Same.
Brynhilde:[exhales] Somewhere I could be free of Odin’s reach.
Sprite: [thoughtful] A place where no one has to fight just to live. A place that’s
Sweiza: [grinning again] You us.
Rezra:[stretching] I still want royalties.
Brynhilde: [standing, exhaling] I need drinks.
Sprite: [fluttering up] This was Let’s do it again!
Rezra: [grinning as she follows Brynhilde out]
Maybe next time, we interview
Author: [laughing nervously] Oh no. That’s happening.
Author: [watching Brynhilde rise from her seat, rubbing her temples] And there she goes.
Brynhilde:[standing up with an air of finality] I’ve tolerated enough. I’m leaving before whatever happens next ruins my day.
Sweiza:[grinning] Oh, come on, Bryn. You’re having much fun.
Brynhilde: [deadpan] This is not my definition of fun.
Rezra: [smirking] You just don’t want to admit you enjoy our company.
Brynhilde: [pauses, sighs] I will admit nothing.
Sprite:[calling after her] Love you, Bryn!
Brynhilde:[raising a hand in silent farewell but not turning around]
Rezra: [stretching] Well, that’s one less brooder in the room. Now, who’s next?
Uma:[cheerfully striding in, arms full of books and scrolls] Oh,
Rezra: [eyes widening in horror] …Oh no. Nope. Nope. Not today.
Sweiza:[startled] Wait, what?
Sprite: [delighted] Oooh, I this reaction.
Uma: [pausing, blinking at Rezra] Oh, dear. Did I startle you?
Rezra: [hissing like an angry cat, backing toward the exit] Nope! Absolutely freak me out.
Uma: [smiling innocently] I an enigma, aren’t I?
Rezra:[pointing accusingly] You too much. You always too much. It’s
Uma: [tilting her head] But I love knowledge! And I love reading! And
Rezra: [barreling out of the room, muttering] I refuse to be studied like an insect. I am
an experiment.
Sweiza:[watching the door swing slightly, then turning back to Uma] …Okay, what the
was
Uma: [cheerfully sitting down in Rezra’s abandoned seat, adjusting her glasses] I believe she’s unsettled by my curiosity.
Sprite: [grinning] You have an ominous vibe.
Uma: [pleasantly] Why, thank you!
Sweiza:[shaking her head] I swear, I don’t understand you people.
Uma: [suddenly brightening] Oh! Speaking of I have something I need to ask you, Sweiza.
Sweiza:[raising a brow] …What now?
Uma:[pulls out a very familiar diary, one that looks like it’s been soaked in something suspiciously dark and ink-stained, with pages curling at the edges] This!
Sweiza:[expression instantly darkens] Uma.
Uma:[beaming, holding it up like a prize] It was
Sweiza:[eyes narrowing]
Sprite: [hovering over Uma’s shoulder, peering at the book] Ooooh, that’s not supposed to happen, is it?
Sweiza: [gritting her teeth] Uma, what the did you
Uma: [tilting her head] I merely observed its… properties.
Sweiza: [snatching the diary out of Uma’s hands, flipping through the now-smudged, ink-blurred pages] What part of
was unclear?!
Uma: [calmly sipping tea, unbothered by Sweiza’s fury] Oh, I didn’t with it. It to me.
Sweiza: [slamming the diary shut, jaw tightening]
Uma, this isn’t a
Uma: [smiling pleasantly] Oh, I That’s why it’s
Sweiza: [throwing her arms up] You are
Uma: [pleased] Why, thank you again!
Author: [watching the chaos unfold, sipping coffee calmly] You know, I should’ve expected this.
Sweiza: [grumbling, rubbing her temples] I need a break. A break. Maybe a vacation.
Sprite: [brightly] Oooh, can I come?
Sweiza: [deadpan] No.
Uma: [tilting her head] But if you go on vacation, wouldn’t you want a record of the experience? Perhaps… in a new diary?
Sweiza: [pointing aggressively] Don’t.
