The first thing Y/n realized as he woke up was that Munin was pecking at his face to wake him. The second thing was the all to familiar face of the barmaid, which was currently peacefully sleeping next to him. Her legs were entangled with his and he could feel that they both were as naked as the day they were born.
Y/n: 'Sleepwalking?' Y/n asked Fenrir who let out a growly laughter.
Fenrir: 'Yes, you went for a few more ales before beginning to flirt with miss Jasper here.' The wolf said. With a sigh Y/n freed himself from his partner and began to get dressed. Just to not be a complete arse Y/n wrote the girl a message with his name and where she could find him if he had managed to create a new life with her, even if he was hoping and praying that would not be the case. While getting dressed Y/n noticed that he was already has a decent start of a beard going and that his chest and neck was covered in hickeys. A small smirk grew on Y/n face as a few memories of the previous night came back.
Silently, making sure not to wake Jasper, Y/n left the room and went down to the tavern, where he spotted a few patreons still sleeping away their drunkeness and he also spotted the siblings and his family.
Venta: "Morning brother." His sister greeted him.
Y/n: "Morning to you too, I see you met Purpur and Rosa, that makes it easier I guess. Let's get going after we had breakfast." They nodded and Y/n sat down joining them. "The way back to Vale could lead through some packs of Canis, I can deal with them but I will need you too stay near Fenrir should we encounter some. Other than that there is no big threat I know of."
Rosa: "How will we get through the gates?" She asked refering to the gates leading into Vale.
Y/n: "As a Hero I am allowed to skip through the checks if my rank is high enough. And luckily I am of a high enough rank to not just skip the queue but to also take people with me." Y/n explained. The rest of the meal the enjoyed in silence and soon the group got ready to leave. Charl was more than happy to give them one of the only remaining carrages that survived the attack on Hull and so the journey back to Vale began. Y/n had Sleipnir pull the cart while he rode on Fenrirs back, both Hugin and Munin were scouting ahead, making sure that the road was save. Only few words were exchanged as there was not much they all wanted to talk about.
Venta: "So little brother any Heroine chaught your eye yet?" His sister asked in a teasing manner.
Y/n: "Yes, there is one. She is part of my Guild, quiet the hot head to be honest but still a very lovely person. We tried to go on a date but were interrupted when we stumbled upon an orphan from Patch. Had to chase him through a few alleys to get back the bread he stole. I offered him a place at my Guild."
Oak: "Why?"
Y/n: "Why not? He had to resort to stealing because he had nothing left but his life and his clothes, sure I could have handed him over to the authorities but he did not deserve that for a single stolen bread, so instead I lied to the guards, took him in and he became a valuable member of the Hunters Guild." Y/n sighed and absentmindedly gave Fenrir a pat. "Since I first got stuck in that Trap Dungeon I had these visions, if I can even call them that. They always feel so real, but only happen in my sleep." Y/n began as he looked up to the sky.
Purpur: "What do you see in those visions?"
Y/n: "Valhalla, the great hall of Odins palace. But it changed everytime I found myself back there. At first it was empty, covered in dust and the furniture looked as if people left in a hurry. As if the Einharjar reacted to the call of Gjallarhorn. The only thing not covered in dust was Odins throne, it called to me. When I sat down things began to be repaired, I think, it was always over before I could get a clear view. The next time I was there I met the, previously presumed dead, mother of two of my Guildmembers, looking like the day she had left was not much longer ago then a week. I tried to help her get out by telling her to hold onto me while forcing my body to wake up. It worked and we learned that the Valhalla I was in must have been part of a Trap Dungeon itself. After that there was a long period of time where I did not go back to Valhalla in my dreams, untill I got put under Merlots spell on Patch. I met Jormungandr there and fought him, completely destroying Valhalla in the process. I found myself in the ruins twice after. First time I only got a massive headache from sitting down on Odins throne but the last time I saw shadowy figure emerge from the rubble that covered the floor. Since then I had not been able to go back to Valhalla." The other listened with great interest as Y/n retold what he saw in his dreams.
The rest of the day was filled with normal chatter between the group, although Y/n stayed mostly out of the conversation except if directly asked something. Once the sun had begun to set they stopped and set up camp. It was only them resting on the back of the cart with Y/n's summons keeping watch, but it was enough for them all to get a good nights rest. All except one.
As if he had forced it by telling the others about his vision he once again awoke in Valhalla, sitting on Odins throne. The change was clear. The remains of the battle had been cleared and a new Valhalla had been build. And Y/n saw by whom it had been repaired. The same shadows he had seen before waking up the last time around, they all now had fully formed into people. It was hard to tell what gender they had but some of them were clearly Faunus, judging by the tails and ears. The shadow people all were still busy rebuilding Valhalla as Y/n watched them work. That was until the first shadow spotted Y/n and soon all of them kneeled in front of him. Y/n was about to ask something but the moment he opened his mouth he found himself back on the cart wide awake.
He knew they were not alone anymore even without his summons telling him. Without needing to tell him Fenrir appeared in his armor form around Y/n, but not just that. Heidrun, Sährimnir and Jormungandr all must have managed to unlock their second form too as an axe decorated with images of snake scales and a shield that had a boar and a goat on it appeared in Y/ns hands. Y/n did not bother with questions as he looked around, spotting the red glows in the bushes around him. In one quick motion the first Canis that broke through were quickly dispatched and so were the ones following. It was not a hard fight and even less one that needed all of Y/ns mind to be on the task ahead and so he allowed himself to think back to what he had seen in his last vision.
It was clear that these shadowy people were possible summons yet no matter how hard he tries to call upon them they would not appear like his other summons would. He also had noticed the 'clothes' the shadows had worn, they looked to be mainly pelts and leather. Each and everyone had been armed, he had seen swords, axes, shields, spears and bows. What else had caught Y/ns eye was that the Valhalla they were rebuilding looked different, not by much but there were clear changes made. Y/n would have to take a look around once it was finished to find out what had changed.
While so deeply in thought Y/n did not notice that he had been fighting for hours. Soon the sun was rising and he was still slaughtering Canis left and right.
Y/n: "Something is not rig-" There and then he felt it, a feeling he had experience once before. The feeling of pure dread and fear enveloped him, feeling as if he had just broken through ice and was now surrounded by the freezing cold water below. His knees shook in terror but he kept fighting the urge to run. "Salem." He said earning a chuckle from the dark goddess.
Salem: "Glad to see you have improved since we last met." The woman said sounding almost impressed.
Y/n: "What do you want?" Y/n growled out trying to keep himself fighting.
Salem: "I should be the one asking you that question, seeing that you have called me." Y/n nearly missed the Canis trying to bite him out of shock.
Y/n: "How?" He saw the woman shrugg.
Salem: "Usually the people calling upon me are happy that I answered. Just state your wish and I shall leave again. Better make it quick, you did not really provide a lot of negativity for me to manifest."
Y/n: "I will no-"
Rosa: "Bring back our parents!" Y/n and Salem turned towards the girl with different emotions shown. One was shocked at the sheer stupidity of the girl the other amused.
Salem: "Very well." The boy could only watch in horror as Salem snapped her fingers turning all the remaining Grimm to dust. "Have fun." Was all Salem said before leaving, taking the pressure with her.
Y/n: "YOU IDIOT!" Y/n shouted angrily as he grabbed the girls shoulder roughly. "I told you what happenes when Salem grants you your wish."
Rosa: "Back off, I changed the phrasing so we should be fine."
Purpur: "It is not fine!" They heard her brother exclaim and they turned to see him point at something. Something that looked remotely human, but were clearly Grimm, and there were two of them. The creatures looked like an older pair but the signs of decay were clearly visible. Sickly grey and even black flesh barely held on to their bones, missing pieces of skin and their entirety of the hair that once crowned their heads. Their arms and hand were grotesque in shape and length as they dragged them over the ground. "Those are not mom and dad."
Y/n: "Oh they are, happy to be alive and stuck in these suffering shells, forced to watch their bodies rip their own blood apart." The Hero said as he got ready to fight. "Sleipnir, bring them to Vale." Y/n took out a scroll and ripped it apart opening a call with Ozpin. "Salem appeared again, somehow I managed to call her and she answered. One of my companions foolishly stated a wish that created two humanoid Grimm near the main road towards Hull. I request back-up."
Ozpin: "I will send help. I hope you can fight them off long enough."
Y/n: "Same." The Glyph broke and Sleipnir ran off. "Odin, Tyr, Thor, Hlin, Magni. Please give me strength." He prayed as his grip tightened around his axe handle. The two being were still slowly walking towards Y/n who watched them approach. The closer they came the more he felt that he should watch out for something to happen. Deciding to take initiative Y/n roared and rushed towards the pair, his axe ready to strike, ready to free their souls once more.
He did not get far before having to dodge the extanding arms that soared towards him. Dodge after dodge Y/n managed to gain on the Grimm but soon it was clear that he alone will have a hard time fighting the pair. The lack of inteligence Grimm usually have was countered by the brain of humans that they now had and so they were able to fight in near perfect synergy, blocking attacks, causing openings for the other to attack or just overwhelming Y/n with their quick wave of attacks. It was an uphill fight for the Hero and he could only hope that his help would soon arrive.
That is it for this chapter, just so nobody is confused yes it is shorter when usual, I have decided that 2k+ words are acceptable for a regular chapter instead of the 3k I usually do.
Like always you are free to comment down below or to join the discord where you can ask questions and chat with fellow readers.
Stay healthy and have a nice week.
Wolfy out.