After Njörðr's welcoming ceremony, 'Narcissus' officially became a member of Vanaheimr.
This kinsman, returned from an ancient slumber, quickly earned the respect and curiosity of the Vanir through his innate wisdom.
However, the will of Hades and Metis was never limited to merely being a 'respected fellow citizen'.
Their gaze had already turned towards a broader goal—to integrate the relatively free and scattered Vanir into a force capable of influencing the structure of the Nine Realms.
To become their most powerful piece on this world's chessboard.
The Vanir, compared to the Æsir who advocated strength and conquest, were indeed weaker in frontal combat.
But they possessed an advantage with which the Æsir could hardly compete—a profound understanding and control over magic, nature, and the origin of life.
And this was where Hades and Metis could make a significant impact.
Narcissus settled in Vanaheimr, choosing the lake where he had 'awakened'.
Instead of building magnificent temples, he let vines and trees grow naturally, intertwining into a vibrant forest dwelling that perfectly merged with the surroundings.
It quickly became a gathering place for many Vanir interested in ancient knowledge and profound magic.
In the Norse mythological system, all magic—whether the runes used by the Æsir or the seiðr in which the Vanir excelled—
had its roots deeply connected to the World Tree (Yggdrasil).
Magic flowed through the sap of the World Tree, permeated its branches and leaves, and was engraved upon its roots.
To understand the World Tree was to understand the magical nature of this world.
And Metis, as the goddess of wisdom, never ceased analyzing the World Tree.
Through 'Narcissus', she continuously perceived, recorded, and deduced the immense and complex energy flow and legal structure of the World Tree.
At the same time, she brought magical theories and knowledge systems from the world of Chaos.
Greek magic focused more on the application of elements, inquiry into laws, and manipulation of souls, and its theories were often more systematic.
(The goddess of magic, Hecate: thanks for that.)
The combination of these two sources gave rise to a magical insight within 'Narcissus' that transcended the habitual perceptions of this world.
He viewed magic both as an internal experiencer and an external interpreter.
This allowed him to point out many shortcomings in Vanir magic, which relied on instinct and inheritance without theory, and to propose more effective ways of casting spells.
Narcissus began his 'teachings'.
As an ancient elder, he naturally started imparting knowledge to the Vanir gathered at his dwelling.
He did not speak of tedious dogmas, but of truths containing profound wisdom.
He explained that plants were not merely magical materials or symbols, but miniature systems of life and energy circulation. He taught young Vanir to resonate with the rhythm of life in plants, to draw pure life energy from them for healing or strengthening, and even to guide plant growth to create barriers for protection or traps.
He demonstrated how to use less power to stimulate more powerful natural forces; how to turn vague prophetic perceptions into clearer information.
He even began to preliminarily systematize runes (at that time, Odin had not yet obtained all the original runes through sacrifice, but the concept of runes already existed) with the flexibility of seiðr magic, proposing a completely new magical theory.
His teachings often hit the mark and could resolve the confusion many Vanir had accumulated over years of cultivation.
The magic he displayed was astonishing and possessed an indescribable beauty.
Soon, the fame of 'Elder Narcissus' was no longer confined to the curious younger generation. Many senior Vanir, including Njörðr himself, began to seek his advice with respect.
Hades understood that relying solely on the transmission of knowledge was not enough. He began to purposefully win over and cultivate his own supporters.
This process did not happen overnight, but the influence of 'Narcissus' quietly spread and took root among the Vanir, like a vine.
Gradually, he became an invisible core, a spiritual leader, and a source of wisdom transcending traditional power structures.
When many Vanir faced problems, they instinctively thought, "Perhaps ask the elder."
At the same time, Ásgarðr maintained its superficial glory and martial spirit.
The Æsir had heard of Vanaheimr's 'awakened ancient god', but most did not care.
In their view, it was just another eccentric Vanir, reliant on magic and nature, perhaps with some abilities, but useless for great conquest and glory.
Loki might have guessed something, but was happy to see anything that could cause trouble for Odin and decided to remain silent and watch.
Odin, on the other hand, was now immersed in his arduous journey to seek wisdom at Mímisbrunnr.
He traveled through the Iron Wood (Járnviðr), battling monsters and calamities, striving to obtain the source of wisdom capable of seeing fate.
So, while Odin ran about seeking wisdom, and the Æsir remained unaware, Vanaheimr was quietly undergoing a transformation.
An ancient god named 'Narcissus', using wisdom and magic as a bond, gradually united the Vanir, who were originally conservative and scattered.
The knowledge he imparted improved the magical achievements and understanding of power among the Vanir as a whole.
His personal charm and wisdom attracted and united a core group of followers.
The new perspective he brought subtly changed the Vanir's perception of their own power and development.
A new force, possessing wisdom, magic, and the power of nature, was quietly forming in Vanaheimr.