Wow, amazing story. I always do like the way you put members in your stories. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Epwna, I will definitely try.
I like it, but make sure you include me.
P.S. I think you posted twice.
I know, I edited the first post but I forgot to hit save, it is corrected now.
And yeah, you will be included.
Here is part 3/3.
Saga, having been nothing but a killing machine before, caressed the fallen girl's face. It was slowly turning cold. That made him remember just how many victims had suffered the same fate at his hands. Hundredths, no, thousandths had, before Saga himself had come to know such a feeling at the hands of the supreme god himself.
Saga calmed down and with his other free hand he brought out a pendant that he wore underneath his torso's plate.
The Pearl of the Chooser it was known as, it served as a house for souls. Saga had received it from Lord Odin himself weeks ago when he had been appointed the new chooser of the slain, a position that had been handled by three valkyries who were sisters. Being the first male who was to perform such a job, he had been given the title
Valkyrion and the pendant.
Feeling a little tense, for this was the first time he did that kind of thing, Saga closed his eyes, focused his thoughts on what Freya had told him to do when capturing a soul, and attempted to call the girl's soul on to the pendant, and he succeeded. He smiled proudly when he felt the girl's soul dancing within the pendant.
Moments later, from within the pendant, he heard the girl's alarmed cry. He could hear her in his own thoughts as if she was standing next to him.
"Do not be frightened, Shan! I assure you everything is alright." he spoke it out aloud, for Shan, who was trapped inside the pendant, would be able to hear him.
Eh? Where am I? Why is everything so dark?
Then, suddenly, Shan realized what had happened earlier, her thoughts came back to her as a rampaging river running loose over the country side. She was in spirit form yet could remember the past, the life that she had lived.
Ahhh! Gahhh! Am I really dead? Those damned beasts...they killed me, they drained me completely of my blood, didn't they?
"They did, to the very last drop," Saga answered with a low and saddened tone, his eyes closed and the chooser of the slain feeling guilty of it. "But I killed them too, not that that will be making you feel any better. If anything will make you feel better, perhaps it is these news: You have earned the right to live."
The right to live? But I am dead, how is that possible? Who are you, anyway, are you God?
"I...my name..." Saga coughed, feeling embarrassed with himself for stuttering so. "My name is Valkyrion Saga, Saga to you, missy. I am a servant of the all-father Lord Odin, I am the chooser of the slain."
Silence, Shan was too confused to say anything. She could not see anything wherever it was that she was, she could only think and feel her own feelings, everything was darkness all around.
"Take your time with it, Shan," Saga went on to tell her, he knew how confused she must be feeling, he himself had been like that many weeks ago when he had been granted life again. "I know it's not easy at all. You will be fine. I'd summon you out and let you see the world, but now is not the moment, it is a mess here, I'd hate for you to see the mess I made."
Never mind me, Saga. The kids! Are they safe? That's all that matters to me at the moment.
"They are fine but frightened," Saga replied and grabbed his helmet from the ground. "Your shout surely scared them, I can feel their fear and their worries for you..." He put the helm back on and then went for his sword, feeling nauseous at the sight of so much blood.
Is there a way I can see them? I...I would do anything if you could let me do that, Saga.
Saga considered her question as he put the sword back in its scabbard. He could summon her out to the world if he chose to, but she would be in spirit form, nothing much but a specter as the ones circulating the monastery that night, except Shan was special, she had been chosen by Saga, she had a place to call home. Saga could also summon her and give her back her flesh and bone state, but he was not about to do that, Lord Odin had prohibited that. The warriors he was to seek out were to aid him in spirit only, not in bone and flesh. Saga and his Einherjar would be traveling to other dimensions as soon as he gathered a few fallen Midgardians.
Saga...you are quiet. Did you hear my plea?
"Yes, There is a way, but you will be in spirit form and will see the world a little different than what you were use to. You still want to see them?"
Yes. And what do you mean by me being in spirit form?
"I will explain all that much later. For now you just have to know that you have stopped living a human's life. You are now a spirit, you have become an Einherjar and will serve me in times ahead."
How am I to serve you? And what the heck is an Einherjar?
"As I said," Saga clarified, moving toward the front of the creepy monastery. "all that will be explained to you much later. For now, just wait a bit, I am on my way out of here and you will get to see your brothers and sisters one more time before we move on."
That is all I ask of you now...and Saga?
"Yes?"
Thank you for the opportunity.
Saga walked on, saying nothing. Aside from having to deal with the Einherjar, he also had other perturbing thoughts in his mind. How had Queen Hel known that he would be coming here for his first task? Why hadn't she sent other strong foes to await for him if she knew he would be coming to the monastery? Saga shrugged it off and continued to the front as he said in a low voice, "You are welcome, Shan."
He disappeared from view and flew off into the monastery. Using a quiet order, he summoned Shan out of the pendant. An invisible silver light spread out from the pendant and moments later, Shan hovered near Saga in spirit form.
She was surprised to find herself hovering.
"There they are," Saga pointed out. Shan glanced upon him, investigated him fully now that she had come out from that dark place. She had many questions she could ask him, but upon seeing that he had a fair face and a reddish stare, she simply gulped her troubles away and glanced down upon the group of kids, who were all huddled together, some crying, others trying to calm them down.
Can they see or hear us? Shan said but knew that had been a stupid question. Of course they could not see them, they were nothing but spirits, invisible figures to them.
Saga confirmed her fears with a nod. "I could let them see us and hear us..."
Shan instantly turned his way. Though she knew she was dead, her human life gone, she knew she now belonged to Valkyrion Saga. Asking him for something would have to become a habit for her.
But you wouldn't do that, right? It would scare the kids even more and perhaps...
"Perhaps," Saga said as he looked at her dreamy eyes. "But believe me, it would alleviate their fears. Even if they saw you as you are right now, you would be able to talk to them and let them know that you are okay and that you will always be watching out for them."
Shan looked from her master to the kids below and couldn't help but feel pity for them. She closed her eyes and started sobbing.
No. Even though I love them too much, the right thing to do would be to leave it all to the matron mother. She will explain what happened.
"The kids will be alright. They have food and water and will make it till the matron mother and the rest of her crew return. Are you sure you don't want to say good bye to them? Our road will get tougher as we move on."
Shan kept her head down and she simply shook her head.
"Dear Shan, believe me when I tell you that there are more roads ahead of us, death is not the end. Even if we are spirits now, we still will face new trials that will put our spiritual lives at risk, we could be obliterated from total existence by other supreme beings that you don't know about...yet."
At that, Shan turned to stare at him, and though she was just a spirit, she realized she could still fear death.
"Yes...you have been chosen to help me out in a series of missions that are important to the Aesir and their war against their enemies. You are now an Einherjar, a warrior that is to serve me and the gods of Valhalla. So believe me when I tell you that things are just beginning for you."
Shan listened on, for she knew how important all the information her master was sharing was. She still could not believe any of it. She could not believe she was dead and now living in spirit form. But she was, she had been granted a new life by Valkyrion Saga, and she knew she would now have to walk the road beside him, wherever that road led, just as she had walked down the road in her human life.
"Are you sure you will be okay without saying good bye?"
Shan turned to the kids again. She felt pity for them, but she knew leaving without causing more fear to them was the right thing to do, they would understand in due time. Her eyes went back to Saga.
I am. Let us leave, Saga. I trust in your word that the kids will be safe and sound. I am dead to them now...I must adjust to my new Einherjar life, so let us get going...you will explain more, right? I mean...I'm still unable to fathom it all.
Saga nodded at her, then without letting her know, he summoned her back into the pendant. Shan did not protest, rather just said,
Will I have any other companions besides yourself?
"Many others, yes," Saga said as he flew out of the monastery. The road awaited, and so did another Midgardian who was to become an Einherjar as well.
(Part 3/3)
(End of Chapter 1)
(I'll post a preview soon as I can, gotta go have fun tonight)