A 'New' Arrival

Freya turned in her bed, peacefully breathing as she indulged in some much deserved sleep and rest after her exhilarating night with her Odr. Perched on a bedpost by her feet, Moloch the Screech owl watched her like a guard.

Moloch was the name she decided to give him in the end.

But that was not what she regarded as important as of the current moment. For in her deep sleep, she was having a deep dream. And the content of that dream was what put a large smile on her face even as she slept. They say dreams are just a result of the most dominant thoughts you had just before going to sleep.

For Freya, nothing could be more true.

...

Her dream took her to a grass field with flowers under a deep blue sky. In the dream she was seated upon a tree stump in a white dress, a wedding dress to be more specific which excited her greatly. But her attire in the dream was not what mattered, but what was in her lap.

Her dream-self radiated with the light of released Arcanum, perhaps indicating that this Freya was not acting under the Pact anymore. Sat upon her thigh was an entirely new concept. What looked like an ordinary human boy was sat on her lap as she sang wonderous songs and hymns in a beautiful to him. The boy could not be much older than 5, and he was a stark contrast to herself.

While she radiated power of the divine, this little boy was as normal as it could get...or so perhaps was the illusion.

For the little boy she was singing to had the face of her Odr as well as Lyze's hair-style, but at the same time he was quite different. This boy had silver hair and purple eyes just as she did, and he was comfortable leaning back into Freya as she rocked with him, humming or singing songs. The boy looked up at her with stars in his eyes, to which she returned with equally as big eyes but ones that were burning with so much love and pride, it almost choked the real Freya on her shock.

"I love you mummy." The boy said to her dream-self. 

"And I love you too, my little prince!" Her dream-self half-cooed and half-screamed in adoration and happiness as she grabbed him and started hugging him close and peppering his face with kisses. The tiny boy at first tried to wriggle his way out of her grasp when she grabbed him, but then smiled wide from ear to ear as his mother showered him with affection, her silver hair streaming across his face. The shade of his and her hair was exactly the same. "My little Balder."

Balder. 

Her son. HER son.

After Dream-Freya was done kissing Balder as much as she could, she hugged him into her bosom as tight as possible without suffocating him, while his arms wrapped around her torso as they basked in the special love only existent between mother and son.

The real Freya's heart began to speed up as she looked at the image with longing. But ever her superstitious self, she believed that this was not just some idle fantasy of the sleep but perhaps a glimpse into something yet to be? Whatever the case, her heart ached for a little boy like that all the same.

"Calm down Freya. You'll kill him before he ever gets the chance to have the crown." A voice said suddenly in her dream.

Out of nowhere, a very tall man appeared in the dream with the same hair-style as the boy. She knew instantly that this was supposed to be an envisioning her Odr as an adult. His voice was definitely no more of a boy's but a grown man. 

Sitting on both the man's shoulders were two little girls. Beautiful, gorgeous little things with twinkling purple eyes. But instead of their mother's hair, they had their father's long silky black hair. But she knew them to be the daughters born between her dream-self and her Dream-Lyze. For the twin girls were the spitting image of their mother in terms of facial appearance.

"But he likes it." Dream-Freya reasoned with Dream-Lyze.

"Does he?" Dream Lyze raised an eyebrow before looking at Balder. "Do you boy? Do you like it?"

"Yes I do!" Little Balder nodded enthusiastically. 

"Mommy's boy." Dream-Lyze muttered. Dream-Freya just stuck her tongue out at him and then kissed Balder's face again for good measure. Dream-Lyze then let down the two girls on his shoulders gently.

"Hnoss, Gersemi. Daddy is going to be away for a bit so listen to Mummy, and respect your older brother, Okay?" Dream Lyze asked his daughters. They responded with the same generic statements kids give as they were more interested in catching the grasshoppers. "And you boy, you listen to your mother good and proper while I'm gone."

"Yes dad." The boy smiled brightly at him.

"Have a safe journey Odr!" Dream Freya waved at him. Dream-Lyze leaned forwards and planted a chaste kiss on her lips as a farewell, much to the chagrin of his innocent kids, who 'eewwed' at the sight of this affection. 

"I'll see you soon honey." Dream Lyze professed to Dream Freya. "I love you."

"And I love you, my Odr, My destiny, My everything..." Dream Freya said as a small tear formed at her eye. 

"Are you happy Freya?" Dream Lyze gestured to the playing kids as the two girls tried to wrestle their older brother to the ground, but were unfortunately not strong enough to do so. "Is this what you wanted?"

"It is everything I wanted and so much more. All thanks to you my Odr." Dream-Freya leaned into his chest. "I'm glad I found you Odr. Are you glad you found me?"

"Of course. You bore me a son and my two little princesses. But even before that, you always had my back. For that, I love you more than you can imagine."

The couple said nothing as they opted to watch the children playfight for a few minutes before Lyze would have to go, while they sat on the stump, Freya on Lyze's lap as their fingers intertwined, while staring at their offspring with eyes full of love.

And this made the real Freya squeal in happiness as she saw so much romance and happiness in the simple gestures. Was this her future? A possibility? Something she could earn? If it was so then truly she would not stop trying to pressure her Odr until he gave her children. 

That she vowed.

---

(Orario-South Gate)

At a relatively early time in the morning, when the sun was still climbing in the sky and when most of the city had woken up did a tall young man with black hair and green eyes join the long que leading into the city. He was dressed like any typical traveller, and his body bore the scuffs of someone that had been sleeping in rough conditions for a few nights.

His clothes also had a bit of wear and tear on the hems and sleeves, indicating it all to be of some age and to have seen a journey through difficult terrain. One look and a person would definitely say that this man had been travelling a long time on foot...all a great contribution to the intended illusion.

But regardless of clothing, one thing could not be denied. The guy was devilishly handsome, the kind of handsome who would look good even if he had the contents of a trash can dumped all over him. He was of a relatively lean figure but he packed quite a lot of muscle and adding it to his height of about 6'8, he was eye-candy for all the blushing young women nearby.

Slung over his shoulder was what looked like sack but was in fact a pack attached to him by a single strap. A red and weathered neckerchief provided his throat some protection against the chill of the morning as he grinned while chewing on a stalk he'd snapped off a bush.

Finally it was time for him to reach the security booth where a rather famous post-guard stood at apt attention.

"I AM GANESHA!" The masked god bellowed. "Your pass please! Or if you don't have one, then I'm afraid you'll have to go to the guards office to get one!"

"Don't worry." The stranger chuckled as he stuck a couple of fingers into the breast pocket of his leather waistcoat. "I have one." His fingers wrapped around an all too forgotten object. He pulled it out and observed it for a moment as time slowed-don around him. "Gosh, does this bring back old times." The stranger said quietly to himself before handing it to Ganesha.

The god took it from him and gave it a once over.

"Funny." Ganesha said. "I didn't know we manufactured passes like this. Are you certain that this is legitimate?" The god raised a brow as he braced his divine senses to catch a lie.

"It's genuine alright." The stranger said. "It's just a little old and weathered from accompanying a fellow who's travelled a little too far and wide for his own good." The atmosphere seemed to shift around the stranger as he spoke his next word. "...but it should still check out."

Ganesha's mind ever so briefly became numb as he succumbed to the effect of the man's words. But before even the affected could notice it, it was gone in an instant although it had served its purpose. Ganesha happily handed the pass back as all his scepticism and doubt just evaporated, like they were never even there.

"Welcome back to Orario then...Mr Nekros." Ganesha puffed out his chest happily. "I AM GANESHA!"

"I'll make sure to keep it in mind." Nekros said as he put the pass back in his pocket.

"Oh by the way..." Ganesha said as he leaned out of the window of the booth. "...what exactly have you come to the city for?"

"I've come to find a friend of mine." Nekros said as he looked back. "He came here not too long ago, so I thought I'd visit him and his family."

"Happy reunion then good sir!" Ganesha saluted as he tended to the next immigrant.

"Thank you." Nekros said as he kept his eyes on Ganesha a second longer.

'He hasn't changed one bit. He behaved exactly the same the first time I came to Orario.' Nekros then looked forwards to see where he was walking and momentarily paused in the middle of the street, and gazed around at the infrastructure as well as Babel Tower in the distance. A wave of nostalgias hit him as well as a touch of depression. 'I remember the first time I myself came to this franchise...the power...the fame... the harem of goddesses and mortal women...destroying the Dungeon...the worship that I got...and now that I look back, it is all just...WORTHLESS."

"Well I guess it's Lyze's turn now." Nekros said as he hoisted the pack again and took an all too familiar road. "But damn that stupid boy. If he didn't act the way he did, I wouldn't have to come down here and supervise this myself."

Nekros had indeed wanted Lyze to grow strong, beyond just the title of 'King of Chaos'. Oh, Lyze was destined for so much more than that. But Nekros had trained him in a certain way and had relayed certain instructions unto the boy, so Lyze would grow organically and safely.

But the presence of the Flame of Origin had completely thrown things through a loop. What was troubling that even he had not seen it. Maybe because of his own carelessness. At the time he took the boy in, the Flame would have been even less than a spark and easily glanced over by anybody, even himself.

It just goes to show that not even a Transcendental is truly worthy of being called 'God'.

But Nekros had assumed even then that Lyze would have a hard time unlocking this power and he would grow with a little more hardship. By Nekros's estimation, Lyze would have had enough power to at least live without the need of the blindfold by the end of the year. But Lyze was growing extremely fast. The progress was just completely insane.

Put simply, the boy had gone off the plot...which was something that in actuality excited Nekros. All these unknown variables coming into play made the entertainment that Lyze was providing him all the more spicier. But Nekros now wanted more of a front row seat to this shenanigan, because he knew something big was about to happen. Something devastating and something useful for 'character development' as he would coldly so term it.

In all fairness, he had warned Lyze to be careful and to watch himself in the Dungeon. However, Lyze hadn't listened and had instead used his Chaos powers. He did have to give credit to the boy for thinking of such an ingenious way to use the full power of Chaos even in such a limited capacity.

But now the Mother of Monsters had an idea of what was crawling in her belly due to that, for it had been observing Lyze for a long time by this point and it understood that something dangerous to her was walking in her halls. If she now had a plan to counter this new threat, then Lyze had only brought it upon himself. Nekros was just here to enjoy the drama unfold and if he was feeling generous, pick up the broken pieces left behind and start anew.

....

Finally he reached his destination, the Twilight Manor. There were some extremely low level adventurers in the front yard who had not been picked to go on the expedition, but were also left behind as security for the goddess they served. Nekros lightly tapped the metal gate with his fingers, catching the attention of one.

The girl, upon seeing the handsome dark haired man at the gate instantly blushed upon seeing his countenance. But nevertheless she marched upright and straight towards the gate.

"Can I help you?" She asked him.

"Excuse me. I would like to have a word with goddess Loki herself." He explained.

"I'm sorry sir." The adventurer said. "We cannot just let anybody enter the Manor and have an audience with our goddess on those grounds alone. You must have a legitimate reason to see her, not just because you want to." She struggled to get the words, her insides squirming as she denied the hot guy. But she had a duty to keep.

He had to give her credit. But, he would have his way nonetheless.

"Take me to her please." He asked nicely. 

The girl's eyes glazed over for a moment before she nodded an opened the gate for him. He stepped inside and gazed up at the large manor. It was too big to even appropriately be called a manor, more like a mini castle. But the again, he remembered Orario always having strange standards. 

"This way sir." The adventurer said as she led him past the other adventurers who were practising their sword swings. They gave him curious looks as he walked by but he only gave them a smile before moving on.

She led him inside and then directed him to a small living area.

"I will go and call Goddess Loki for you. If you could just wait here sir."

"No problem." He replied as he stayed standing in the room.

The adventurer smiled and closed the door as he turned to observe the room. She could not help herself but keep one eye around the door frame up until the very last second before she shut it, just so she could gawp at his attractiveness. None of which really escaped him of course. But over his life-time, he'd had such gazes directed at him by an uncountable amount of women. What was one more to add to the list?

He looked to the floor and for a period of time, the ground became transparent to him as he saw right into the Dungeon, and watched his disciple slaughter monsters left and right on the 36th floor as he and the rest of the scouts neared the Third Line.

"Right at home." He muttered to himself, before loud voices approached the door and he took his gaze away from Lyze to address whoever was about to step into the room.

"Alright! Which jerk-off came in here uninvited?!" Loki said as she kicked open her living room door and strode in with her hands on her hips. "Listen guy, regardless if my kids let you in, you don't just come to our manor...without...appointments..."

Loki trailed off as she saw who was standing in the room. She took in his appearance properly, head to toe as her goddess senses flared to life and began ringing alarm bells as a deep pit of dread began to form in her stomach as slowly, she stopped thinking like a mortal and embraced her divine senses once more.

Only when she did so did she happen upon a glimpse of the truth...and her back suddenly gained a very, very cold sweat. A few of her girls rushed up behind her, including the one that had led Nekros here.

"Goddess Loki." The girl panted. "This is a visitor. You must observe some level of decorum! One cannot just simply kick open a door and so condescendingly-"

"Leave us." Loki commanded, cutting the girl off.

"Huh? But I thought-"

"I said, LEAVE." Loki ordered more firmly. "And close the door behind you. This is a private matter so I don't want anybody even near this room. Ya hear me?"

The adventurers suddenly realized there was some serious matter here they were ignorant of. With how quickly Loki just switched from her usual stupid self to all serious like this, the Loki Familia knew they had no business being there. So complying with her wishes, they closed the door and pattered off into other sections of the manor.

Loki in the meantime stood in front of Nekros, her hands and fingers wringing and clenching as she tried to think of the correct approach.

"You can start by following the advice of your child." Nekros said, as if he'd read her mind which wasn't too hard to believe. "Proper decorum. You hold your head too high."

Without hesitation, Loki dropped to her hands and knees in a Dogeza form, as a means of offering the respect to his worthy status while also acknowledging how far above her in station he was.

"Good." Nekros approved. "We're off to a good start. I suppose you know who I am then?"

"I have a few guesses." Loki said as her voice muffled on the ground. "But I'm pretty sure one of my children has spoken to me about you..."

"MY child." Nekros said as he sat on a couch. "Let us make that clear Loki. You can get up now...and have a seat while you're at it." Loki obeyed as quickly as possible for her and plopped down on the couch opposite him. "As I was saying, it is I who marked him first. Your blessing is but a temporary cover, a shroud over his true blessing. In that sense, I merely loaned him to you. He is mine before he is yours. Do we have an agreement, an understanding?"

"100 percent." Loki replied. "Crystal clear. But...my Lord...why have you come down to such a lowly realm as ours? What worth could our reality have to you that you would grace us with your presence?"

"None besides the fact that it is home to my greatest disciple." Nekros said. "And also because Lyze himself has forced my hand."

"Your hand?" Loki asked in alarm. "You don't...intend to, errrr-"

"Hurt you? Kill you? Erase your entire omniverse at the snap of a finger." Nekros offered jokingly, though Loki's blood ran cold at the last suggestion. "No, you see my disciple is a brilliant idiot. Brilliant in the many creative applications of his power set, but an idiot in the fact that he spends so much time pondering on whether or not he can do something, when really he should be asking himself is IF he should be doing it. Now things have been put into motion which he will be least expecting of and it will happen in due time."

"Are my children in danger?" Loki asked in alarm.

"Who knows?" Nekros shrugged. "We just have to wait and see. In the meantime, how are you finding him in your Familia? Let's be friendly and chat shall we? Get each other's perspective. It's in our best interest after all, wouldn't you agree?"

"Yes." Loki conceded. "But are you here to stay my Lord, or do you have an agenda?"

"Besides awaiting whatever next great event encounters Lyze, I'm not here for much. I don't have to do anything to live how I want. The difference between sealed powers and active powers, wouldn't you say?"

"Yes." Loki said again. "What would you like to know about specifically?"

"Well, let's start from the beginning." Nekros said as he leaned forwards. "What did you think of him the day you met?"

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