Vol 1 Ch 5

The arena was completely silent. Loki had stepped forward, "Are you not entertained." He called out. He was greeted by silence.

"Lady Sif, it's your turn." He said, his entire body burning with anticipation.

So close.

There was a time when Loki and Sif could be considered friends. They had met up near the garden and had gotten along well enough. They used to play together most of the time as well. There was also a time when Loki may had a crush on her as well. He may not remember the scene well but Sif had once told him that she wanted to be a warrior. She wanted to prove to the world and to asgard that women could be warriors as well. Loki smitten with her had agreed to help her.

During the trials, he had helped her dress up as a man and had applied illusion magic on her. During the training period, he had helped her disguise herself. She had revealed herself when she had completed her trials and had been named an Einherjar. Her revelation had caused a bit of discontent, but Loki had calmed it down by convincing his father and brother. Giving the example of his elder sister Hela as an excellent warrior and pointing out the fact that it was her own strength and skill that had helped her win her place among the ranks of the Einherjars.

Yet, after that point of time, they had drifted apart. Sif too began to look down upon Loki for pursuing Sied'har berating him any moment she could. Sif began to pursue Thor and at that point the illusion was broken. He would have at that point just wanted to be friends but at one point she had called him a dishonorable cur whose presence was the only failing of the realm of asgard. She had proceeded to laugh at him along with the rest of the Einherjars.

And so Loki had begun a series of pranks on her with the one ending where he cut off her hair. He had been punished by Thor for that and had been made to replace them. He had commissioned golden hair for Sif after that.

Sif had stepped into the ring.

SIf was one of the strongest Asgardian warriors. She had the standard boost from being an asgardian. Speed, strength, vitality and agility. She fought with the standard sword and shield combination. And so to unbalance her, Loki began to speak.

"How are your pursuits going Lady Sif. Have you managed to woo Thor." He proceeded to say mockingly. "Has your Honor served you well Sif. Remember, you reached where you did because of my trickery and silver tongue. Anything you have or will ever achieve will be a result of lies and trickery."

Sif remained quiet but she had started to clench her sheathed sword.

So she is angry. That's good. Loki had thought.

"Begin", Odin had announced from among the spectators.

This time, Loki took out his sword and threw his sheathe away. An indication that there would be no going back from this and a promise to himself that he would show no mercy.

Sif raised her shield and Loki got into the water stance. A stance meant to overwhelm any defense as if being battered by continuous strikes of water. Loki held his katana above his head horizontally in his right hand. Both of them began to circle one another. Looking for any openings in each other defenses.

Sif approached and swung first, Loki deflected her strike moving out of the way, causing her to pass him. He could see her back, he swung her katana. With lighning's speed, she had turned around and raised her shield to defend against the strike. The next strike, she batted away opening up Loki's defense giving her the opportunity to land a sword strike drawing blood.

Loki realized he had become a little bit too complacent. Loki performed flowing strikes, holding his katana down to his left side, pointed with the palm facing slightly upwards. Gathering strength, he unleashed it three swift strikes smoothly, the first two cutting from the lower left to the upper right then back to the lower left, followed by a horizontal strike from left to right. Sif shield arm lost strength from such a quick flurry of strong blow. The final strike caused her shield to move sideways. A dull pain and the feeling of weightless in her shield arm. Loki started to launch quick elegant strikes against her, slashes appearing on her torso. Loki raised his katana to decapitate her, when Sif used any remaining strength she had left to use her shield to push him away.

She launched a few strikes of her own but Loki had jumped away. Her strikes hit nothing but air. Loki charged once more and Sif quickly brought up her shield preparing herself to deflect his strike and finish this fight. Seeing her raise her shield Loki smiled and instead tackled her. Sif was disoriented from the strike, Loki took the opportunity to go for her launching quick strikes against her tendons and bringing her to her knees. Putting his feet on her arms, he disarmed her and kicked her sword away.

Looking at Lady Sif on her knees at his mercy. Loki realized something, he felt nothing. He thought that revenge would be sweet, it would feel satisfying. He would get some measure of peace. But he felt nothing.

"There was a time when I used to love you, when we used to play in the garden. I felt at home during that time." Loki began to reminisce. His katana at her throat. An empty look entered his eyes. "I thought this moment would be more satisfying. But I only feel empty. Goodbye, Lade Sif." At the last part of the sentence, Loki raised his Katana and beheaded her. Sif appeared outside the arena.

Loki wiped off the blood on his Katana and walked out of the arena. He picked up his sheathe on the way, and re-sheathed his katana. Securing it on his his, he stepped out. An empty look in his eyes. The spectators looking at his with some astonishment. No one had cheered at him and Loki felt fine with that. Thor looked ashamed and Odin was glaring at him and telling him some thing. Loki left the venue to go back to his room. He would leave tonight.

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Odin had watched Loki fight in astonishment. He had used no magic, no what was worrisiome was that he could sense no magic on Loki. He had asked Tyr his general and the trainer for soldiers.

"Who trained Loki." Tyr began to go through his trainers in his mind and no one came to his mind.

"No trainer uses a similar style as the one used by Loki." Tyr answered. "From the reports I got for the prince's training. He just swung his sword and ran around the training ground. Doing some physical exercises."

"He does not get along with the other trainees."

"No, they look down on him for his magic. I believe they also resent him for the attention he gets from Princess Hela."

"I see." A hard look came onto his face. "And what about Thorm does he defend his brother."

"Thor believes it to be true and thinks Loki should be more like a warrior."

The scene entered Odin's mind where Thor had defended his friends. Asgard's power was based upon magic. This would need to be corrected, Odin had decided. Thor would be educated properly.

As people retired to go go back to the feast. Frigga began to head the party as Odin approached Thor and his friends.

An angry look in his eyes, "Thor, did you try to declare that Loki was not your brother."

Thor became ashamed, "Yes, father." Atleast he was redeemable if he felt some shame. Yet, Odin's eyes hardened. "You are not King yet, with your words you have insulted all of the sorcerers of the realms. Can I even leave the realms in you hand. Hela must stop the invasions on our lands hence she cannot rule and yet within one night you have insulted four of the nine realms."

Thor interjected, " But Father, the way of magic is one of cowards."

"Have you learned nothing from your teachers. Magic flows through all of us. How do you suppose your hammer work. You are using seid'har. We asgardians are stronger, faster and live long lifes because of the magic flowing through our bodies, thorugh our very blood." Odin yelled at his son. "I have failed you but no more. I and your mother will personally teach you. Maybe, you could finally learn some humility."

While he was yelling at Thor, Odin was approached by Tyr.

"Lord Odin, Heimdall has a message for us. the western part of asgard is being invaded by demons."

"Gather the army, we march to defend asgard." He ordered Tyr.

Saluting , Tyr moved to carry out his orders.

Odin turned to Thor, "Help your mother protect the guests and our people." Odin said summoning his spear Gungnir. "Remember, home is where our people are."