Days earlier, after the Duel with Tezcatlipoca.

  “Are you alright, Ana?” Tania asked, worried, seeing her friend covered in sores all over her body. But the Irish goddess was completely unconscious—though in her expression there was a faint trace of calm and peace.

  “Anpiel!” Tania shouted desperately. “Ana needs ambrosia now! Her heart isn’t beating anymore!”

  The angel rushed to her and poured plenty of mead onto Ana’s lips. After a moment of silence, the goddess began to cough as her sores sealed shut.

  “Ana! Are you okay?” the red-haired goddess asked, still trying to revive her.

  Ana slowly opened her eyes and weakly looked around. She saw Anpiel and Epona beside her as well.

  “Everyone’s alright… I’m glad,” Ana said, her voice still dim.

  “We’re supposed to be the ones worrying about you, not the other way around!” Epona snapped, seeing how painfully Ana could barely move.

  “Anpiel! Give her more ambrosia!” Tania commanded, and the angel conjured another horn of mead.

  “Don’t worry… I just need to rest,” Ana murmured in that faint voice—and immediately passed out again.

  Tania touched her chest and felt her heart beating. She checked her body temperature and saw it was normal.

  “She must’ve consumed far more manna than her body could withstand,” the Punic goddess said, resting Ana’s head in her lap.

  “What happened, Tania? Did Ana save us from that man?” Anpiel asked, confused.

  “I don’t know. But for some reason, he left—and Ana was the only one badly hurt on the ground,” Tania replied.

  “I only remember a dark cloud wrapping around us… and then this,” the malak added.

  “It’s possible that man had the ability to stop time—and only Ana could witness it, because of her affinity for dark energy,” Menrva said as she approached, carrying Bellona unconscious.

  "If we remain ignorant of what hath transpired, it is entirely possible that rogue still lurks nearby, and that he hath done harm to Ana-hime—dost thou not share my apprehension?" Susanoo asked, joining the conversation.

  “Either way, the best plan is to rest here until Ana recovers,” Menrva said, dropping Bellona’s unconscious body onto the ground.

  “Ana defeated that guy and forced him to leave,” Loki said, arriving naked and flying to where they all were.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing naked, you idiot?!” Tania shouted at the sight of the Norse god without clothes. Epona covered her eyes too.

  “Oh, are all you surprised by the enormous size of my jotun friend?” Loki said with a mocking grin. “It’s so enormous it’d make the member of the god of erections, Freyr, look pale—”

  Epona sprinted forward and kicked the Norse god away.

  “PUT SOME CLOTHES ON, DAMN IT!” the Celtic goddess yelled. Loki landed on his back, still laughing.

  Then Loki swapped with Bellona—who was still wearing her totema—and left the goddess, now naked, on the ground.

  “Anyway, like I was saying, Ana defeated that guy,” Loki continued. “You didn’t see it because I couldn’t move inside the dimension that god created—but I could stay conscious and hear everything.”

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  “You’re incredible, Ana,” Tania said, astonished, stroking the goddess’s head.

  “Wait! That guy came to kill Rodrigo, but I don’t see him anywhere,” Epona said, alarmed.

  “That’s true—I haven’t seen Rodrigo either!” Tania added, worried.

  Loki flicked his fingers and made Rodrigo appear. The young tannin was drenched and fell to the ground, still in shock.

  “I had to swap his body with Bellona’s immediately, and then swap Bellona’s with mine—otherwise he would’ve been killed,” Loki explained.

  Epona ran up and hugged Rodrigo with all her strength.

  “I’m so happy you’re okay,” the Celtic goddess said, her eyes glassy.

  “I don’t know what happened,” Rodrigo said. “One moment I was in the water, drowning, and now I’m here.”

  “What matters is you’re okay,” Epona said—and in front of everyone, she kissed Rodrigo.

  “Ana saved you, Rodrigo. I expect you to thank her when she wakes up,” Tania said, trying to cut into the awkward scene.

  “Sure. Because I didn’t do anything at all,” Loki remarked cynically, annoyed no one thanked him for saving Rodrigo.

  “What happened to Ana?” Rodrigo asked, worried, after ending the kiss with Epona.

  “That girl screamed that she loved you, and that helped her boost her powers,” Loki said, almost mockingly.

  “But seeing you kissing the blonde girl, I’m guessing her feelings won’t be returned. Poor thing,” Loki added, pretending to cry.

  “Shut up, fucking snake!” Tania shouted furiously.

  “I’m only saying what I heard,” Loki continued. “She said she loved you—and with that, she awakened a secret power inside herself. With it, she beat the monster that came.”

  Rodrigo suddenly felt uncomfortable and anxious. Was what Loki said about Ana true? Did she really love him? He couldn’t believe it.

  Epona felt clearly that Rodrigo was unconsciously rejecting her.

  “Was that what was trapping your mind, Ana? I really think Loki is telling the truth,” Tania thought.

  “I’ve always known, Ana—and for the first time, I don’t feel good being with the person you love,” Epona thought as she let go of the young tannin.

  “Well, once you’re done acting out your improvised comedy, we have pending matters to discuss,” Menrva said.

  Everyone turned toward the Etruscan goddess as she sat down on Bellona’s unconscious body.

  “Two groups. We must split up from this moment,” Menrva continued.

  “I will go into Haida territory, and I’m sure Ana will want to accompany Rodrigo to Tula. So—which group will each of you take?” she asked.

  “Obviously, I’m going to Haida Gwaii to find that idiot Thor and explain where Father Odin is,” Loki said without interest.

  But everyone else fell silent and looked at Rodrigo, as if waiting for him to say something.

  “Alright. I understand. I’ll go alone with Loki to Haida Gwaii, I suppose… So this is where we separate,” Menrva said, her eyes full of sadness and melancholy.

  “Menrva, I’m sorry, but… we want to help Rodrigo first,” Tania said, a little ashamed.

  Rodrigo felt nervous and didn’t know what to say. He felt sorry that nobody wanted to go with Menrva into such dangerous territory, but at the same time he didn’t want to say he’d go with her. And just the idea of facing again that man who called himself the King of Tula made him uneasy.

  In that moment, Epona pulled away from Rodrigo almost reflexively.

  “I’ll go with you, Menrva,” Epona said.

  “Epona, why?” Tania asked, surprised.

  “Back to your jokes again, Epona?” Anpiel asked too.

  Because I have no right to stand between Ana’s love and Rodrigo, Epona thought to herself—but she didn’t dare say it out loud.

  “Because I’m sure Tania, Ana, and Susanoo can protect Rodrigo well. And I owe Menrva and Athena an apology for doubting them,” Epona said, embarrassed.

  Epona quickly looked at Rodrigo, uneasy.

  “Does my decision disappoint you, Rodrigo?” she asked.

  The young tannin felt that Epona had reacted to Loki’s words and partially understood the message. He sensed he needed to give the Celtic goddess space.

  “Don’t worry, Epona. I’ll be fine with Tania and Ana,” Rodrigo said gently, offering her a smile.

  Epona smiled back.

  “Then I suppose I’ll accompany Epona as well,” Anpiel said. But as he spoke, Ana interrupted him.

  “I’ll go with you, Menrva,” Ana said, her voice still very faint. The Irish goddess had woken up recently and had heard part of the conversation.

  “Ana, are you sure?” Tania asked, shocked.

  With effort, Ana lifted herself from Tania’s lap and sat on the ground.

  “I feel… a duty to go with you, Menrva. Because even if I don’t truly care about Asgard, I do have to keep my promise to my teacher to find Odin,” Ana said, trying to sound stronger.

  “Ana, you were the only one who defeated that monster who attacked us. If you go with us, you’ll leave Rodrigo at his mercy,” Menrva said, tense.

  “Don’t worry, Rui. I’ll teach you how to avoid that monster’s technique. With your sacred power, it should be very easy for you,” Ana replied with a smile.

  “Yes, Ana… thank you,” Rodrigo answered, still shaken.

  “Alright, Ana. Thank you for agreeing to travel with me,” Menrva said, smiling more warmly.

  “Take good care of my Rui, Tania,” Ana said to the Punic goddess with a smile.

  “I understand, Ana,” Tania smiled back.

  I’m sure she wants time to think about what she feels for Rodrigo—if what Loki said is true, the fire-haired goddess thought.

  All of these scenes ran through Ana’s mind as she—together with Epona and Menrva—watched the now five Norse gods aboard the great golden ship Freyr had summoned when he defied the King of Haida.

  “Rui, wherever you are, I hope you’re alright. I will complete my mission quickly,” Ana thought to herself.

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