After Odin and Thor joined forces to defeat Surtur and bound him at the Rainbow Bridge, satellite broadcasts were cut off. While discussions about the Aesir Gods and Norse mythology were rampant on the internet, nobody had any knowledge that a Valkyrie had stayed behind and arrived in Northern Europe from the Antarctic at a speed surpassing that of a regular passenger plane.
The people of Arinad, the small town, could never have expected to encounter a figure they so devoutly believed in, a member of the Aesir Gods.
She was undoubtedly a true Valkyrie. Her commanding presence, wild elegance, noble demeanor, and her winged steed—a magnificent, winged horse raised head high—made her an extraordinary figure, far beyond anything modern society had ever witnessed.
Particularly striking was her unblemished skin and her lithe, feline body, attributes that transcended the capabilities of ordinary modern humans.
The Valkyrie, although not considered a part of the orthodox Aesir Gods, were nevertheless a semi-divine class of beings in Norse mythology.
"Great Valkyrie!" Mayor Beinhard was the first to regain his senses and promptly knelt on the ground, calling out the name of the Valkyrie in worship.
"Great Valkyrie!"
"Great Valkyrie!"
“......”
Soon, the other townsfolk quickly followed suit, prostrating themselves. They praised the great god Odin and chanted the name of the Valkyrie in prayer. Even the children knelt on the ground, occasionally lifting their innocent faces to gaze at the beautiful and gallant older sister before them. They joined in calling upon the name of the gods, following the lead of their parents.
The woman who had previously emanated a warrior's aura felt the sincere devotion of the townsfolk. Her expression softened, and she became gentle. If the Valkyrie before had looked like a female general on the battlefield, now her aggressive air receded, and she exuded an allure of high nobility.
The Valkyrie, known to be the daughters of gods and princesses of kingdoms in Norse mythology, naturally carried an air of grandeur.
"I am Hladgudr, one of the Valkyries of the great god Odin and the keeper of Valhalla."
The warrior introduced herself in a high, noble tone. Her words, however, were too ancient, leaving the townsfolk of Arinad in complete bewilderment, as none of them understood her language.
Swedish is the official language of Sweden, with English also widely used as a second language. However, the words used by the female warrior were ancient and cryptic.
When the Valkyrie noticed the confusion among the townspeople, she furrowed her sharp brows slightly and quietly chanted a mysterious incantation. Then, when she spoke again, her words became standard Swedish.
This time, the townspeople finally understood the language of the Valkyrie.
"I sense your devotion. I came here on a mission from the great god Odin himself, and I can't believe that humans have forsaken their rituals. Have you truly forgotten the language of the Aesir as well?"
The Valkyrie's expression revealed a profound sense of regret and sadness.
The townspeople, still on their knees, were filled with reverence. The town mayor, serving as their spokesperson, hurriedly replied, "Respected Valkyrie, under the intrusion of Christianity, the number of those who believe in the great Aesir has dwindled significantly. Our village is one of the few places that still holds the faith."
Of course, the mayor didn't mention that the Aesir had never responded to their prayers in the past few centuries, which led to the loss of faith. He attributed the decline of the faith to the influence of Christianity and sought to make the town appear as a unique bastion of Aesir worship, hoping to gain the Valkyrie's favor.
It must be said that Mayor Bernhard had a way with words.
The villagers were also slightly surprised to realize that the language the Valkyrie had used earlier was the language of the Aesir. It explained the sense of mystery it carried. Moreover, the Valkyrie, in all her divine wisdom, referred to the journey from the distant continent to this place as 'not far', a description that differed from human perceptions.
"I understand now. The Nine Realms are vast, and the gaze of the gods may have been somewhat neglectful of this place."
The Valkyrie responded to the mayor's explanation and once again introduced herself.
When the townspeople heard the Valkyrie’s name, they were filled with astonishment. This name closely mirrored one of the legendary Valkyries from Norse mythology, whose name signified "warrior maiden with a crown." The Valkyrie's name seemed perfectly in line with her majestic and noble demeanor, and the townspeople couldn't help but be awed by the authenticity of her presence.
The townspeople, as faithful followers of the Aesir, were well-versed in Norse mythology. They observed that the Valkyrie indeed matched the description from the myths: a warrior woman with a silver eagle helmet, a blood-red fitted battle dress, and a radiant spear on her back.
"I have felt the faith present here, but the situation here is different from what I imagined. Loyal believers, tell me, who is the king of this country? I wish to question him about why the faith in the gods has dissipated from this land!"
The Valkyrie's aura was like an unsheathed sword, cold and sharp. With each word she spoke, it felt as if she was carving it into the air, bringing a chilling breeze.
However, despite the powerful presence of the Valkyrie, the fervent townspeople felt as though they were being caressed by a warm breeze. They were completely unharmed.
The townspeople exchanged glances and readily disclosed the information about their king and prime minister.
"Lady Hladgudr, the ruling figures in Sweden are two individuals. One is King Carl XVI Gustaf, and the other is Prime Minister Lofven. Both are in the capital city of Stockholm, Sweden!"
The townspeople spoke with enthusiasm, showing that in the face of their faith, kings and prime ministers were insignificant. If the Valkyrie were to make a call to action, these townspeople would likely arm themselves without hesitation and march on Stockholm to drive out Christianity and restore the faith of the great Aesir, just as Christianity had done a thousand years ago.
In matters of faith, there is no room for compromise.
"Two kings? I do not understand modern political systems," the Valkyrie responded.
……
From the USA, a fighter jet was scrambled into action, and Prime Minister Lofvn of Sweden sat inside, wearing an oxygen mask, with an anxious expression.
He had just received word that the Valkyrie had indeed arrived in Northern Europe and appeared in a small town seventy kilometers from Uppsala.
"Why is the Valkyrie so fast?"
At this moment, the Swedish prime minister had lost interest in America's affairs. Upon receiving the news, he quickly prepared to return to his homeland, and for the sake of speed, he borrowed one of the fastest American fighter jets from the U.S. President, who readily agreed to his request.
With the American fighter jet roaring through the skies, the Swedish Prime Minister got a taste of the exhilarating sensation of flying at supersonic speeds.
This chapter is updated by freew(e)bnovel.(c)om