Point of View: Tharok
Every movement caused me pain, and yet I could barely feel it anymore. My mind was too occupied thinking about everything that had happened.
My mother.
My grandfather.
My promise.
And then there was Loki.
The more time I spent around him, the more I understood something.
That being…
Was not simply powerful.
He was something far worse.
"Wait…"
My voice came out weak and hoarse.
Loki stopped, his black eyes silently observing me.
I swallowed hard.
"You… who are you really?"
The wind blew between us.
For a moment, Loki simply stared at me.
Then he spoke.
"I am Loki… the lord and ruler of the Nightmare Realm."
My breathing stopped for a second.
Snow slowly fell between us as he continued speaking with absolute calmness.
"And I am also one of the three legendary beings of this planet."
His words struck my mind like a direct blow.
I never expected something like that.
No…
I had never imagined anything remotely close to it.
My hands trembled slightly.
And then I realized something else.
If the Nightmare Realm had a ruler…
Then that meant…
"You said you are one of the three legendary beings…"
My voice came out slowly.
"Then… do the Main Plane and the Celestial Realm also have rulers?"
Loki nodded without hesitation.
"That's correct."
"And they would not allow someone like you to freely roam the Main Plane."
My heart sank.
So this was the reason.
In the end…
Nothing truly changed.
I would only gain power.
But I still wouldn't be able to take my revenge.
A bitter smile appeared on my face.
How ironic.
After all this…
I still couldn't fulfill my promise.
I lowered my gaze toward the snow.
The cold pierced through my weakened body, though I could barely feel it anymore.
"Is there no way…?"
Loki observed me for a few moments before replying,
"If I asked him for a favor, he might allow you to act."
His lips curved slightly.
"But… why would I do something like that for you?"
Slowly, I clenched my teeth.
I already understood what he was trying to tell me.
My hands trembled faintly.
"Then… if I make my revenge a condition…"
I raised my eyes.
"Would it be possible?"
Loki nodded slowly.
Silence once again fell over the crater.
Only the sound of the wind remained.
What should I do?
Slowly, I closed my eyes.
What would my mother say if I accepted this?
What would my grandfather think?
Surely they wouldn't be happy.
They taught me to protect.
To help.
To be honorable.
But…
The images shown by Loki resurfaced in my mind one after another.
My mother dying alone.
My grandfather being slowly poisoned.
Marek smiling while doing it.
Sara betraying us.
My father escaping.
And me…
Always far away.
Always helping others.
My hands slowly tightened against the snow.
My entire life, I sacrificed my own desires for others.
I helped tribes.
Protected strangers.
Risked my life countless times.
But…
Where were they when my mother bled to death?
Where were they when my grandfather was murdered?
Where were they now?
Slowly, I opened my eyes.
The answer to all those questions was the same.
They were never there.
The freezing wind struck my face once more.
I took a deep breath.
I didn't know if this decision was right.
I didn't know whether I was doing something just… or unforgivable.
But I knew one thing.
I could never live with myself if I left things like this.
My heart would never find peace while they remained alive.
And then I remembered my own words.
"I will kill him, no matter what I have to sacrifice."
A bitter smile appeared on my face.
It seemed the time had finally come to fulfill that promise.
Slowly, I raised my head and stared directly at Loki.
"I can accept becoming your herald…"
Loki showed no emotion.
But his eyes focused completely on me.
I continued speaking.
"But I have two conditions."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
The air seemed to grow even colder.
"The first…"
I clenched my teeth.
"I want to take my revenge personally."
Loki remained silent for several moments.
Then he nodded.
"That, I can grant."
I slowly exhaled before continuing.
"The second…"
My voice became firmer.
"After accepting the ritual, the very first thing I will do is take my revenge."
My eyes never left his.
"Only after that will I serve you and swear my loyalty."
Silence returned once again.
Snow continued falling slowly around us.
I could tell Loki disliked that.
His eyes darkened slightly.
But I didn't back down.
I had nothing left to lose anymore.
Everything I loved…
I had already lost it.
"It's either that…"
My voice came out hoarse.
"Or you'll get nothing and waste your time."
The wind blew between us.
For several seconds, Loki simply stared at me.
Then…
He smiled.
A small smile.
A dangerous one.
"Very well, Tharok."
A chill ran down my spine.
"Your first mission will be to take your revenge."
Loki's smile slowly widened.
"And after that…"
His black eyes glimmered amidst the snowstorm.
"You will serve me with absolute loyalty."
Slowly, I clenched my fists.
It was done.
There was no turning back anymore.
Loki slowly raised one hand.
Dark energy began spreading around the crater like living mist.
The air became heavy.
Cold.
Unstable.
Snow slowly began rising from the ground.
And then I heard his voice.
"Prepare yourself, Tharok…"
His black eyes seemed to stare directly into my soul.
"The ritual will begin now."