【Beginning】
One day before the selection of valkyries, Gondul arrived at Asgard. She hoped to be the only candidate, but as she entered the hall, she noticed that there were already two princesses standing in the hall. The two princesses had set off earlier than everybody else and even arrived at Asgard on the day Gondul set off, avoiding Gondul’s trap.
As the sun set, the hall was enveloped in afterglow. The candles were flickering, their lights shining unsteadily upon the three candidates. Giallar the Hornist then slowly walked into the hall and announced the beginning of the valkyrie selection.
There were three sessions in total. The candidates would compete against each other in fighting techniques, military strategies, and loyalty. In the first session, Gondul lost to the hunting country’s princess; and in the second session, Gondul was no match for the fishing country’s princess.
After the two sessions finished, it was already night time. Giallar announced that the third session would be held the next day. The three candidates were allowed to rest before their final battle they even stayed in the same room. Then, they began chatting…
- Princess of Hunting: If I become a valkyrie, I can use the granted power to help my father fight off Demons.
- Gondul: What a lofty ambition! I hope you succeed.
- Princess of Hunting: Thank you. We are rivals; I did not expect you two to be this friendly.
- Gondul: It does not matter who the valkyrie is as long as she can protect the North.
- Princess of Fishing: That is very kind of you to say.
- Gondul: And I think, as a valkyrie candidate, I should not have any secrets.
- Gondul: Listen to this: I have already tried Odin’s divine wine. To avoid being discovered, I concealed my true powers in the previous competitions...
- Princess of Hunting: What?!
- Gondul: Everyone in Asgard has drunk the divine wine. I found out about this after coming here.
- Gondul: And I have asked an elder to give me a bottle of it. I got it right here. Let's drink it to obtain the power together and fight off Demons!
- Princess of Fishing: Is this… true?
Without speaking another word, Gondul handed the two princesses a glass bottle. It was half full with honey-colored liquid that shimmered in the candlelight. Gondul then grabbed two wooden cups nearby, filled them with wine, and passed them to the princesses.
- Gondul: Cheers to the future of the North!
【End】
- Giallar: Gondul, where are the two other candidates?
- Gondul: I do not know… I have not seen them since this morning.
- Giallar: Lord Odin, only Gondul is present. Please decide how we should handle this matter.
- Odin: Gondul, I know everything you did, but I still chose you. Do you know why?
Upon hearing Odin’s words, sweat broke out on the back of Gondul’s neck.
There was utter perplexity in her expression as she stared at Odin. Gondul recalled every step to her plan last night, trying to figure out what she had done wrong — adding poison into the mead, persuading the princesses into drinking the poisonous mixture, leading them into a forest miles away from the hall when they were drowsy, and leaving their unconscious bodies there… It was a flawless plan.
- Odin: Valiancy is not an absolute quality for valkyries, while ruthless ambition is necessary.
- Odin: Desperate times call for desperate measures. I hope all valkyries can understand this principle.
- Odin: The divine wine will help you understand your responsibilities. Gondul, do not disappoint me.
Gondul lowered her head without answering. She took a sip of the divine wine she had been longing for and thought to herself: ‘mead is way better than this…’