STARBORN: FORTY-NINE - PROPHECY, PROPHECY, PLEASE LET ME DIE.
2013 • ASGARD
"I FEEL NAKED."
Alora stood worriedly beside Thor, hand gripping his arm as she anxiously watched the Asgardian physicians study Kalum's force trying to determine what was the cause of his sudden illness. Kalum stared at the soul forge replicating his body's aura, he raised a hand and tried touching the bronze mist only for one of the Asgardians to push his hand back down, shooting him a stern look.
"Be still, Prince Karim," Erin said in a light but firm voice, Kalum made a face upon hearing his formal title. After spending so much time amongst humans he can't help but feel strange hearing someone address him as Prince instead of Kalum.
"For Horus Eye, it's been ages since someone had addressed me by title." Kalum chuckles, addressing no one. "Now's just...plain weird. Makes me feel important. I mean... I am, bit you know what I mean." He scrunches his nose, blinking a few times as he stares at the soul forge above him before abruptly turning his head to Erin. "Please, just call me Kalum or Kal for short."
Thor placed a reassuring hand on top of Alora's who was unusually quiet as she waited for the diagnosis, worried grey eyes met with confident azure, she gave him a nod and watched him step away from her and closer to the bed. "This is not of Earth, what is it?"
Erin sighs apprehensively. "The soul forge is picking up a tremendous amount of energy, a power that exceeds even the All-Father's." Erin breaks the news, Alora inhales sharply and makes her way near the bed, and makes eye contact with Kalum, he sends a reassuring smile her way. "But we fail to determine what it is, it is crucial that we extract this power from his body or else... I'm afraid it will be too much for him to handle."
"Excuse me? I'm a demigod." Kalum raised an eyebrow, scoffing in offense. "I can handle anything, ma'am."
"No you can't, now shut up." Alora rolled her eyes, shooting Kal a fleeting glare before her eyes softened, returning to Erin's ebony eyes. "There has to be something we can do. Maybe try going old school and look it up in a medicine book, something of the sort has to come up."
Thor nods, supporting her idea. "I agree, send one of the nurses to the library to get all the medical books available so we can come up with a fast solution."
Erin bows her head at Thor. "Of course, my prince, we will do anything in our power to come up with a solution. However, I would like to be transparent with you." Thor let out a sigh but nodded. "What we're dealing with right now has never, to my knowledge and in the history of medicine, been dealt with."
"There's always a first time for everything." Thor rebutted. Erin nodded, understanding what needed to be done. "But that doesn't mean it is impossible."
Alora swallowed thickly, her heart was drumming inside her chest, reminding her that they didn't know how much time they had to find a solution before it was too late. She licked her bottom lip, tasting the strawberry lip gloss Ebo magic chose for her. "And what would happen if we don't extract the power-on time? What would happen to him?"
"He would become hostage to the power. Right now his body is like an empty vessel, once the power consumes him..." Erin released an apprehensive sigh, Alora's heartstrings tugged fearfully. "I'm afraid we won't be able to help him."
Kal stared at Erin's face as she spoke to Thor and Alora, the demigod had hopes that by coming here the Asgardians would know what to do. Centuries ago, the former All-Father King Bor fought some creatures who possessed the reality stone during that time, they didn't make it that far before the stone was snatched away from them by the Asgardian King. The then King sent the stone far away to a place no conniving creature or being would ever cross paths with, it remained lost for thousands of years until this day. Nobody had ever come to possess an infinity stone but him, Kalum had a lot of mixed feelings, but the one that dominated the most was fear.
Fear of what he was capable of doing.
Thor's booming voice snapped him out of his head. "We mustn't be discouraged, we still have time. Erin, send a nurse to the library. The rest continue to run tests on Kalum and find out what's inside of him." Alora turned to him with hopeful eyes, Thor turned to her, placing his big hands on her bare arms, and spoke in a soft voice. "I give you my word, no harm will come to him. Do you trust me?"
Alora stared at him with crystalized eyes, the sun goddess tried her hardest to shake away thoughts regarding Kalum's death. She felt helpless and desperate, she had hoped that by coming here they would know exactly what to do to overcome this but even the Asgardian physicians had no idea how to treat this. But even if the odds didn't seem to be working in their favor, Thor stood in front of her like a mountain, confident and determined. His azure eyes alone told- no, promise her that no harm will come to Kalum as long as he lives and breathes. Thor Odinson was a rebel with a cause, even if the odds didn't work in his favor, he will always push through until he reaches the other side and accomplishes his purpose. He was a fighter, giving up wasn't in his vocabulary.
"Always."
As those words left her rosy lips, the golden doors swung open, a white-haired man with a golden eyepatch stormed in followed by guards. Kalum immediately rose up and Erin backed away from the table, all eyes were on Odin. "My words are mere noises to you that you ignore them completely?"
Alora turned around to face the elder, Thor's callous hands brush down her arms creating goosebumps. He gently moved Alora out of the way and made his way towards Odin with a grave expression, the All-Father didn't spare Kalum a glance as he observed Alora's Egyptian outfit with hatred. "Father, I didn't mean any disrespect by bringing Kalum and Alora to Asgard. But he is ill. He needs our help."
"Who?" Odin's eye averted to his son. "A mortal? Ill? My son, your love for these midgardians has clouded your judgment, sickness is in their nature. That's why they have their healers, they're called doctors."
Alora narrows her eyes at him, Kalum feels slightly offended by his attitude, after what he did for them he was expecting a warm welcome. "Demigods don't grow ill, father."
"Demigod?" Odin voiced, he finally turned to Kalum who sat on the table with sullen eyes. Odin observed his haggard appearance, his bags were prominent and his sun kiss skin had lost its glow. "Karim?"
Kal slowly got off the table, Alora instinctively reached out to aid him but Kal brushed her off with a smile, he turned to Odin and bowed. "All-Father, I apologize for showing up unannounced to your home but I thank you for your kindness and hospitality."
Alora watched Kalum express his gratitude and followed his lead by bowing her head at Odin before standing beside Kal and gripping his arm. Thor glanced at his friends before turning to his father. "If you are ill then I'm afraid it means that the mortal years finally caught up to you, it was bound to happen sooner or later and there's nothing to be done. Escort them back to the observatory."
Guards march their way towards them but Thor steps in front of his friends and growls. "Don't you dare take another step or you'll come to feel my wrath."
"And whose wrath do you think they fear the most?" Odin deadpanned. "As your King, I order you to step aside or I will see myself forcibly removing you."
Thor gripped his hammer and stubbornly held his ground. "Father, whatever is inside of him, it is not from earth. Our physician can prove it to you."
"Guards!" Odin yelled, Alora subconsciously reached out for her sword but remembered it was back on earth.
The guard's storm past Thor, some were flung to the wall by him as he tried to keep them away from his friends, Kalum felt furious and betrayed. But since the reality stone was now inside of him, any sign of negative emotion or aggression was fuel for the relic. At this point Kalum wasn't even thinking anymore, he took a daring step forward and held his palm up at the guard that made his way to him. Red energy shot right off his palm and into the guard's chest, Kalum's eyes went pitch black as he watched how the guard's flesh turned into stone.
"Kal..." Alora gasped as she watched the guard let out a whimper before completely turning into rock.
Odin stared at the guard, he walked closer to him and placed a hand on his shoulder feeling the solid texture. His blue eye averted to Kalum's right arm and without fear, he gripped his wrist and ran a hand over his forearm. With his bad eye, the eye that sees everything, Odin was able to catch a glimpse of the Aether living inside of Kal.
He snapped his head toward a tired Kalum and mumbled, "Impossible."
"Told you this wasn't from Earth," Alora spoke up, Thor let go of a guard's collar and patted him on the back before walking up to his father.
"This is too much power to have contracted it on Midgard, they are still primitive beings but nevertheless, that is where he found it." Thor pointed out, Odin took in a sharp breath and let go of Kalum's wrist. "What was an ancient power doing on that planet?"
"Come with me."
ODIN TAKES THEM TO A BEAUTIFUL RENAISSANCE LIBRARY, HISTORICAL PAINTINGS ADORN THE WALLS OF THE DOME-SHAPED CEILING. Alora couldn't help but find how strikingly similar the Egyptians and the Asgardians were, if only they would resolve the beef between them -which happened centuries ago- and unite forces they would undoubtedly create a powerful alliance. The blonde Stark glanced over at Odin, Thor, and Kalum who all gathered around a thick book, she could always find out later what they were discussing, in the meantime, she decided to explore the beautiful paintings.
Her heels clicked softly against the floor, her white dress gracefully swaying as she moved, eyebrows knitted together as she studied the paintings. She came to a halt in front of a painting of Asgard in flames, a fire giant gripped his sword as he buried it deep on Asgard, she took a step closer as she spotted something familiar. That thing on his head looks like the big ugly eyebrow my celestial father was forging, she thought. It can't be a coincidence.
"This looks important." The Sun Goddess mumbles to herself, her eyes skimming over the painting before noticing a plaque in the bottom of the painting's frame, she bends down to get a closer look.
Ragnarok: The End of Asgard.
When time comes that the first one is reborn,
the accused shall mark broken friendship
and an eternal night shall reign.
Alora frowns as she quietly re-reads the message engraved on the plaque, she slowly rises to her full height and her eyes stare once again at the painting but this time her eyes caught something new. There was a beautiful red star shining above Asgard's palace, her hand brushed against the skin of her inner wrist, she could feel her tattoo growing warm which reminded her that she was no longer alone. She smiled softly at the memory and felt excitement brewing in her chest. Alora was overwhelmed by the type of satisfaction you feel whenever something is finally working in your favor when you have a clear goal and you know exactly how to get there. Alora grew up fearing her power, she was scared that one day her powers would overpower her, but as time passed she learned that she was the power and the power is her, they were codependent and couldn't coexist without the other.
She was finally seeing with clarity. The mark she carries officially made her one of the Egyptians, she was one of them and she felt inexplicably proud, she always wanted to belong and be understood. Now she was.
But she still had a lot to learn, the Egyptians and the Norse were realms built by secrets. She wondered to herself how two separate realms are linked to one another other than by their mutual hate. Right in front of her Alora was staring at a painting that foresaw the ending of Asgard, back in the Ephemeral Orbit Amun-Ra was forging the crown the fire giant wore, and in the Norse painting, there was a red star shining above the Asgardian Palace. Then a thought hit her: is it possible that the Egyptians have something to do with Asgard's fall?
Shivers ran down Alora's spine as a bad feeling settled in her chest, she needed to speak with her father about this, he owes her the truth. The Sun Goddess decided it was enough exploring, she turned on her heels and made her way towards the rest of the group. Kalum and Odin were conversing about something in the book, Thor turned around as soon as she came closer to them. Alora let out a sigh and tried to act casual as she came to a halt besides Thor, the God of Thunder studied her and Alora held his electrifying gaze feeling those unique shivers he's been giving her.
"Everything alright?" Thor asked her in a soft voice, Alora opened her mouth to respond just as he brushed a strand of hair over her ear but his callous hand didn't stop there. She felt his fingers brush down the curves of her neck as he pushed her blonde curls off her shoulder revealing her exposed neckline. "Mmm?"
Alora nodded, not trusting her voice at all, her mind had burned the feeling of his hands brushing against her skin and it refused to think of anything else. The Sun Goddess let out a shy chuckle as she glanced down to his chest, she was praying to every god in this universe that she didn't look as flustered as she felt. Thor, on the other hand, couldn't take his eyes off her, he loved how delicate yet powerful she looked. Her presence had always warmed Thor in a way not even his mother's love has, there was something about her that just made sense.
Their short-lived moment was interrupted by Odin slamming the book close and glaring at the couple, but his anger was mostly directed towards Alora, the Egyptian Goddess. "What an insult. You people have no shame."
"Excuse me?" Alora frowned as she realized Odin was speaking to her.
Thor clenched his jaw, the desire to protect the woman he would live and die for took over him. "Father, enough with your rudeness. She has done nothing to deserve such treatment from you."
Odin snapped his head toward his son, shocked to hear those words coming out of his mouth. "Nothing?" He said incredulously. "My foolish and gullible son, she's Egyptian! Has history taught you nothing? Her mere presence here is violating the treaty we have between those conniving narcissists and the Asgardians. I could start a war and it would be her fault."
Alora's eyes widened with dread. "Please, don't."
"She is not to blame!" Kalum jumped to defend her, Odin turned to Kal. "She has nothing to do with what happened between my people and yours." Alora was affected by how harsh Odin treated her but she didn't give him the satisfaction of bowing her head in shame, she stared at him right in the eye without any fear. "She is innocent, taking your anger out on her will gain you nothing."
"Haha, perhaps it won't gain me much, but the satisfaction of treating them the way they treated us will suffice."
Thor placed a comforting hand on her back, letting her know that she wasn't alone.
"Father, I think that's enough."
Odin made an indignant sound as his blue eye stared at Thor and saw defiance in his eyes, the All-Father could foresee everything and anything but he never thought that Asgard's fall would be caused by childish love.
"You'll be under Thor's care for now," Odin announced as he stared at his son before his eye averted to Kalum. "Once we figure out how to extract the Aether out of you, you leave and never return. Understood?"
Alora's chest was hit with a pang of sadness, her eyes glanced over at Thor but the God of Thunder was already looking at her with sad eyes.
"Crystal," Kalum answered.
"Good," Odin said. "Thor will now show you to your chambers, fresh clothes await you there so you can change."
Alora nods and Kal bows his head. "We are thankful."
Without another word, Thor gently guides Alora towards the door and Kalum follows them, once they were out Thor immediately apologized for his father's behavior. Alora was a forgiving person so she didn't hold it against him although in her eyes you could see the sadness and grudge, Kalum on the other hand said nothing, he felt betrayed and he was just starting to learn from his mistakes. The God of the South had a tendency of giving more than what people really deserved, helping others brought him satisfaction, it was something he truly enjoyed doing. But he couldn't help but feel betrayed by Odin's attitude towards them, he understood if Odin decided to hate his people, but Kal isn't them, he stopped being one a long, long time ago.
He gave up his future, his home, his people, his family, all for doing what was expected of him. Sometimes.... sometimes Kalum believes that the prophecy that was bestowed on him was nothing more than living in hell for the rest of his life until he turns one hundred in human years and turns mortal.
Perhaps that was his birthright, deception, and eternal punishment.
🅐🅚🅐 🅕🅘🅞🅡🅔🅣🅐🅛🅚🅢!
I
t's been a while, I know, I know.
I blame life, it just keeps getting in
The way yk. Oh, how I've missed
Writing this book, I loki have a soft
Spot for this story.
It's not the end for Eternal Temple,
For Ragnarok I've prepared (spoiler alert)
A tournament, I won't say of what I'll
Leave it to ur imagination but what I
Will tell u is that Alora is invited. Hehehe.
It's gonna be Bananas.
Also, what'd u guys think of the painting?
It's pretty thorough isn't it? All I can say is,
A lot is in store.
I also got some news, idk if have Spanish-speakers in here but I'm planning
To write an OG book. I've been reading a lot
In Spanish and y'all got me so hyped so
I wanna give it a shot. Just wanted to let u
Guys know bc I'm very excited for this, once
Done I might even translate to English.
Another thing! Sorry this is getting too long, but I wanted to invite u guys to check my other stories. I fully recommend Karma since it's tied to the Bellator Universe, go
Check it out, give it some ❤, and let me know what u guys think in the comments.
Stay safe mis amores 🤍