In front of Altera and Eric materialized an entrance hall. To their right was a door that led to the guestroom toilet. Jackets and pairs of shoes occupied the wardrobe, and in the distance, people were talking. The sound of their discussions reverberated to the entrance hall. Moonlight fell through the orichalcum door’s windows, creating a trail of glint that illuminated the dust particles and chemicals on the floor.

“We’re at your brother’s place,” said Eric.

“Altera nodded. “Why did the tower choose Geißel’s house?”

“Let’s figure that out.” Eric was about to enter the living room when Altera touched his shoulder and pointed with her head at the wardrobe.

“Fine, fine.” Eric removed his jacket and took off his shoes, putting them together with the other ones, and Altera did the same.

That this level took place at her brother’s house could work to her advantage. She knew this place and could get a home field bonus here. At least, that was what she picked up when her classmates in high school discussed upcoming soccer games where a team played in their own city.

While being on the outside would have allowed her to do some physical activities, here, she could make Eric realize how useful she was. As long as she didn’t have to put up with Quin, she could show him her best side. Maybe then, they could become friends? That was a good plan. Yeah, she was brilliant, and he would see it. Wait, why did she have to prove anything? How long had they been traveling together? And Eric didn’t attempt to know her better. By contrast, he had gotten close to Ragna after one day. It took Ragna a few hours to become friends with Puck and Grendel too. Meanwhile, she had traveled with Ragna the longest and was the furthest apart from her. Why? That was so unfair.

“Altera. Everything alright?”

“Yeah, of course.” Altera’s focus went back to reality, and she smiled. “Let’s go to the noise. Just standing here makes me want to scream.”

֎

“What the…” Altera stared at the scenery before her eyes.

The dining table occupied most of the room and reached from one end to the other. Shadowy figures sat on the table. Darkness constructed their forms into round human shapes. It was as if one had cut out the templates for a humanoid cartoon creature. Every second, their forms distorted. Greenish-red stripes and lines went through their bodies like scissors. White light had replaced their eyes, and a black mist coiled around them like snakes.

When words discharged from their form, it turned into a hotpot of noises and whispers emulating dozens of humans speaking at once. All it resulted in were incomprehensible voices. These beings spoke a language that shouldn’t exist.

“What’s going on?” Altera’s body stiffed, and the rune tattoo on her shoulder started to glow.

“Seems like a normal boring-ass dinner party.” Eric’s eyes shifted towards the food on the table. Wine glasses, Utgardian bread, and starters, Geißel had offered his guests.

Altera's stomach growled as her eyes latched on the food: spicy guinea fowl salad with crisp alliums; chicken and green mango in savory coconut broth and blue swimmer crab; wild prawn and red grouper fish in grilled banana leaf pockets with red curry seasoning.

“Normal? Look at the guests.” Altera pointed at one of the shapes. “There’s something wrong with them.”

“They look normal to me. Maybe the tower’s messin’ with you?”

Altera went with her hand over her face. “Maybe you’re right.”

He wasn’t right. Something was going on, and she would uncover the mystery behind it.

Altera looked over the dining table. Not all the attendants were shapes. Her brother talked to a person wearing a mask possessing no features besides two black eye slits and two lines that went down from the sockets like tears. While it concealed all hints regarding the person’s gender, the deep voice dispersed most of the ambiguity.

His long-layered dark-blond hair ended in spikey strands on top and long, straight hair on the bottom. It was in the shape of a mullet and resembled the white wigs actors wore in traditional Utgardian theater. He wore a high-collared black overcoat. Underneath was a silver silk satin shirt with a jabot. That man wouldn’t look out of place in a village like Tintagel. He could be one of these aristocrats Grendel had mentioned.

The man took a wine glass and held it in front of his face. A chasm opened within his mask where his mouth should be, and he let the drink flow inside the darkness.

Who was that man? She had never seen someone with such features before, and his voice didn’t resemble anyone she ever had met. He didn’t seem like one of Geißel’s usual associates. Though, that man seemed familiar, or rather, he reminded her of someone else. But there was no doubt that he was a foreign element. He didn’t belong to Utgard and had to be the key for this level’s task.

Opposite of the masked man sat Nephthys. She turned around, and her smile turned into a grin.

“Eric, Alta.” She jumped from her seat and ran towards them. “You’re here.”

She gave Eric a hug. Given their height difference, it was like a bear hugging a beehive nest. Nephthys turned her attention to Altera and opened her arms. Altera’s body became stiff, and she hugged her as well.

Why did she go to Eric first? Didn’t she know Nephthys longer?

“Come, take a seat. And you later gotta try the water chestnut cake. They’re to die for. You know what? I’m tellin' the cook to make you one.”

Some of the shapes turned their heads and emitted noises. Nephthys pointed at the two empty seats between her and Ragna, who was talking with Quin. Eric took the one next to Nephthys, and Altera sat next to Ragna, grumbling all the while.

Why was she talking with that man-eater? She didn’t pay any attention to her. No, that shouldn’t be an issue. If she initiated a conversation, she could drag her away from that skank.

Within seconds, Eric had started talking with Nephthys and Altera to frown and stare at the wine glasses Nephthys had given them.

Why didn’t Ragna talk to her? She was sitting next to her, and she hadn’t turned around? Everyone else was talking to someone. Eric chatted with Nephthys, and what the others said, she couldn’t understand. Why was she always the one everyone left out? Was it her fault? No, it wasn’t. Ragna was just dense. If she made her notice her, it would be fine.

“Ragna.”

Ragna didn’t react and continued talking to Quin.

“Ragna.”

Ragna, again, didn’t bother to turn around.

Altera puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms.

Couldn’t Ragna pay attention to her? She was a woman and deserved attention. Why didn’t Ragna want to talk to her? Was she so repulsive? No. She was a flower. The people would love her as she was on the way to become a Valkyrie. She had defeated Quin and proven her superiority, so Ragna should pay attention to her and not to that skank.

Altera drank from her glass and emptied in one go. The wine rinsed down her throat, warming her stomach. Her brother didn’t notice and continued his conversation with the masked person, or if he did, he didn’t seem to care. No one did.

Dammit. Notice me.

A fire blazed inside Altera. It burned through her throat and heart, and no matter how much she would drink, she couldn’t quell the flames. They whispered to her, played their song of envy and desire.

She couldn’t listen. These dark thoughts, she ought to destroy them for a Valkyrie didn't possess such feelings. How could she guide others if she fell from her path? No, she had to be stronger. To become a Valkyrie, she had to be perfect.

Altera grabbed a piece of bread and bit into it.

Delicious. Utgardian bread was the best.

Altera swallowed and poured more wine from a bottle next to her into her glass. She drank half of it, and as the wine cleared her throat, she grabbed another piece of bread from the baskets while munching the one in her hand.

Altera took a fork and rammed it into fowl salad. A big smile appeared on her face as she put meat into her mouth.

Oh, Twice. It tasted amazing. She could eat the entire day from this, and it wouldn’t quench her desire for more food.

She poured like a cat and let the fork’s metal glide over her tongue.

֎

Altera’s fork scraped against the banana leaf. Its content, she had long emptied.

Why was there so little? There had to be more. But thank Twice, the cooks hadn’t made anything with durian. Then again, since she was a Valkyrie candidate, she might power through the taste. Yeah, she could do that. If she ate that disgusting fruit without problems, everyone would see how awesome she was. She would prove that she deserved to be a Valkyrie, and everyone would like her. That had to be it. If she wanted to finish the level, she had to eat some durian. It was so obvious. A child could have come to that conclusion. Now, where was the durian?

Altera’s eyes darted across the table. None of the plates had any dishes resembling durian. Most of them were empty as well.

Dammit. Why was there no food? It couldn’t be that everyone had already eaten their plates. Why were these fancy dishes always so small? One had to be an ant to get full of that.

Altera reached for the breadbasket, but her fingers grabbed air. Her brow furrowed. With every thought her mind spat out, her arms and hands moved in theatrical motions.

Why the Hel was the bread gone? What now? She had to sit here instead of proving that she was a Valkyrie. How could Ragna like her if she couldn’t demonstrate her skills and talents? That was so unfair. Why couldn’t Twice let her go? She had to go out for a run. Yes, that would help. Being in the tower and now eating resulted in a lack of exercise. But no, thanks to the stupid level, she had to sit.

On Altera’s palm manifested a frozen spinner. She pressed her fingers against its center, and it started to rotate. She changed the pressure she exerted, and the rotation adjusted. Her mind focused on the construct’s movements and the maintenance of balance on her fingertips, pushing away all her thoughts but the mission.

Altera nudged Eric with her elbow, and he turned around.

“What’s up?” Eric asked. “Why so gloomy?”

“We should try to figure out the objective of this trial.”

“You need to relax.”

“Relax?” Altera raised her voice. Her fingers increased their pressure, and cracks started to run through the ice spinner. “Have you forgotten how much’s at stake?”

Eric raised his fingers, and Altera looked up.

“You need to relax because we don’t know our objective.” Eric munched on a watermelon nut cake. “It could be anything, and if the past trials are anything to go by, we’ll find ours sooner or later. Hel, maybe the mission is for you to relax?”

“Hey.” A high-pitched came out of Altera’s voice, and she hit Eric’s shoulder with her fist. “Take this seriously.”

“I do.” Eric remained deadpan, not given Altera the dignity of a reaction. “But admit it. You’re only so cranky cause she doesn’t notice you.”

“Am not.”

Eric chuckled. “You’re way too complicated. Hey, Ragna.”

Ragna turned around. “Whatcha want?”

Now she paid attention? What the Hel? Was she not enough?

She crushed the finger in her fist and forced herself to smile.

“Just some small talk between friends. Ain’t too much to ask, right?”

Ragna waggled her head back and forth. “I guess.” She turned to Quin. “You don’t mind if they steal me away?”

“I don’t think I have much to protest.” Quin smiled and looked at Altera. “Besides, I’m not one of those women who have a meltdown if their darling spends time with other beings. Vindictiveness, wrath, and vengeance may be my sins, but I am above pathetic possessiveness and envy.”

“You talk an awful lot for a woman who has little to say.” Altera narrowed her eyes.

Who did this bitch think she was? She should have finished Quin off during the last level. And why the Hel did she treat Ragna as if they were lovers? Of course, Geißel did nothing. Like she had predicted, their marriage had made him impotent.

“Of course, I do. It’s the imperative of every woman to give voice where she’s denied.” Quin waved her fan. “To remain silent when one should speak, such girls will always lose. In society, in career, in emancipation.” She let her finger run over Ragna’s cheek. “In love.”

“I think we all said what we needed to say. We got your blessing. That’s the most important part.”

Before Altera could retort, Eric had ended their argument, and Quin had turned her back.

“So.” Ragna crossed her legs. “What do you wanna talk about?”

“You shouldn’t be doing this.” Altera lowered her eyelids. “Acting like that with a married woman isn’t what Valkyries should do.”

Ragna pressed her finger under Altera's chin and lifted it, forcing Altera to stare at these blue eyes. And while Ragna gazed at her, she was smiling.

“You shouldn’t be saying things like this. Loving a married hero, I think that fits a Valkyrie like you. Besides, I’m not going to be one, anyway.”

“What, why?” Altera raised her eyes open. “It was everything you dreamed about.”

“I also dreamt of becoming Sven’s wife. Look how that went. Sometimes, it’s time to wake up.”

“That’s not true. You just have to try hard enough.”

“You know that’s just a lie.” Ragna chuckled. “Just look at the facts. There’s nothing I could salvage. My honor and home are gone. And my father was an evil bastard who had tricked me into working for Vaix. And all he could think about was my sweet ass.”

“Wait, what?”

“How do you think I killed him? I strangled him while he was busy coming inside me.” She put her hands on her stomach. “Now, all that’s left of him is this memento.”

Altera froze. The light in her pupils died out. Every thought inside her, Ragna’s words had shattered.

Ragna laughed as loud as she could and filled the dining room with her merriment.

“I’m joking, I’m joking.” She wiped away the tears from her eyes. “I simply found the weak spot in his armor and rammed a sword inside him.”

With her hand, she imitated the thrust of her seax. “Besides.” She leaned forward to Altera, her eyes brimming in electric blue. “My interest in men died with Sven.”

“Would you get off my sister?” Geißel blew his cigarette smoke in Ragna’s face.

“How scary.” Ragna chuckled. “You think you limp-dicked wannabe dictator can command me?”

“This is my territory. Here, I am god. My words are the force of nature, and my will is fate.”

“Ah, forgive me my insolence, then.” Ragna stood up from her seat and raised her voice to a posh level. With her arms, she gesticulated like an actor in a drama. “Allow me to give you the respect you so deserve, o god of a playground.”

Ragna bowed down and chuckled.

“You really wish to die, don’t you?” Geißel took another puff from his cigarette and smeared the bud against the plate. “But people shouldn't claim I’m not benevolent. I’ll grant you your wish and let you taste god’s scourge.”

"That's not how you ask out a girl." Ragna straightened her body, and her hand slipped to her stockings. “All you did is hide in your little corner of the world and declared yourself a god. It couldn’t be more apt that Utgard is in its dimension. You can only be a god in your own reality. But go to the outside world and see how little power you have.” Her lips twisted to a grin. “And in all of Aes, there’s no being more capable of defying god than a dragon. I’m the avaricious wyvern. Everything I want, I take.”

“Strong words from a girl with a father complex. Tell me, why again did you hump your uncle’s lap?”

Geißel hissed, and Ragna showed her teeth.

“Careful, little emperor. Your mouth will stink if you keep talking shit. And Altera will never wanna kiss you.”

“What?” Geißel raised his brow, and his hand he made into a claw.

“Ain’t that the truth? You’re so pissed cause Altera pays attention to someone else. And you have to play with your ding ding dong all alone.”

“Ragna!” Altera became red.

“Don’t worry.” Ragna glanced at her. “He wouldn’t get it up anyway.”

“What shitty last words. Know that this is the punishment of god. If you had not committed great sins, I would not have sent this punishment upon you. “

Ragna drew her seax, and a sword appeared in Geißel’s hand. Ragna jumped on the table, and they swung their weapons.