The sound of a man singing lulled him back to the what he presumed was the real world, looking about through acrid mist until he made eye contact with a vile green serpent. It was dripping harsh venom downward, glaring with hateful eyes the entire time. However, before he could even cringe, the same voice whispered to him. "He will not harm you, the snake is bound by Ancient magic to harm only me, Dear One..." His gaze moved down, to where he saw a man, flawless in disposition, staring back at him. Hair flickering with various shades of amber and crimson, there was an inhuman sharpness to his gaze, and the look of despair that only one that had endured countless loses could manage. "My son chose well in his blessing, you hold a strong heart."

  Stunned and startled, Oryn nodded absently. "Um... thank you? What happened, how did I get here, where is here, who are you?"

  Laughing, the man's voice filled Oryn with hope and healing, especially as his memories flooded back all at once. "Do not despair, there is still hope, my son." The mist around the man started to fade, and he saw who it was clear as dad. Bound head and foot by literal organs, a serpent dripping venom onto his face... there was but one that had suffered such a fate.

  "Loki..." He muttered, looking at the poor, miserable Giant. Once Odin's Blood brother, he had been sealed and forced to endure this hellish torment for the crime of causing Baldur's Death. A story that had never set right with Oryn, who knew full well how power allowed those with it to change the way information was presented... how many women had he patched up, call clumsy and other such things because their husband held the power in their relationships.

  "Do you fear me, Dear One?"

  Oryn shook his head. "No... I fear becoming you. Defying those in power until they turn on me..." Looking about, he realized... a lot. "Wasn't your wife supposed to be here?"

  Sighing, Loki let out a sound of longing. "Jotunn, and Gods... be they Vanir or Aesir, ... hold primal power, that cannot be easily contained. Even bound as I am, my mind wanders. My son, Thorfinn-" Oryn may have let out a long pained sound that Loki ignored. "called to his Giant Ancestors to watch over you, the boy who showed him more compassion and care than any other. You never saw him as untrustworthy for being a stranger, nor any of the other ill ideas in people's cruel hearts. I admit, it impressed me.... the world is so unkind, especially to my kin... thank you for allowing him such a blessing, as to find peace even for a moment."

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  Shuddering, Loki let out a single tear.

  "Thor... he attacked my son, unleashing a cursed storm... one that, without Thorfinn's blessing, would have obliterated you, body and soul... as it did... you died, my son." The boy cringed, yet Loki still continued. "That is not your end, child, Death will not hold those that choose to fight their fate! Since you did not die in battle, the Valkyries ignored you. Hel, my daughter would normally hold sway over you... and yet you held the blessings of my son, through that means... your death is... flexible. Should you choose too, you may return to your body, the power of sacrifice and my blessing will awaken the latent magic in your soul. Like Guelvig before you, Like Odin hanging himself on the Branches of The World Tree..., you shall become capable of magic."

  That made Oryn frown. "Wait, Odin was already a god, and he sacrificed himself to himself... and Guelvig was killed three times before she ascended, right? I've never sacrificed anything that big."

  "Ahh, but you gave you life in service of others, choosing a life as a servant of the people. Countless sleepless nights, saving abused children, feeding the sick, working whilst sick... it is not entirely different from those in battle sacrificing themselves for a cause. You soul was filled with potential from such a life, but my blessing simply allowed it to manifest upon your death... should you choose to accept such a power, and live on life once more, what would you do with it, my Child?"

  Oddly, that was easy for Oryn to answer, as the memory of Thorfinn's last look, the pain in his beautiful eyes lingered in his heart. "Learn... I am a healer by more than trade, I like to care for others... but I would also fight." A growl came to his lips, startling himself. "The Gods have harmed so many, look at Thorfinn, or you! I... I cannot just let that happen. Good is only possible when we fight against those that wish harm. I refuse to enable others, even the gods. How... I am not sure, but I will do my damndest!"

  And that made Loki choke not with joy or mocking, but a sound of pride. "Child... I would never set another after the Gods, but I will not deny one that wishes to punish evil. I cannot leave my prison physically, but I can channel my knowledge of Giant Magic into you and through that, guide you to all you need. Should you agree to it, I will bind our minds as one, so that you will never be alone."

  The Giant's voice lingered for a long time in Oryn's mind, pulling out of his soul a darkness and anger he never knew... and with that, he nodded.

  And pain, unlike any other seared across his face.

  "Pain is Power, it is the source of all magic, inherited or not...and by connecting to me, you will share my burden... Not entirely, but enough that you will entirely feel why I have chosen to stand against ALL of the gods!" The world around Oryn shattered as the pain binding him and Loki became too great, pulling him beneath the riptide of agony and sleep once again. "When you awaken, you will have the knowledge of how to cast a Locator spell... the release of the power you have built inside, as one capable of Magic, will draw the eyes of the gods... Travel cannot be avoided. Good luck, child... good luck."