Chapter 92: Strength in Unity
The crisp air of Asgard's training fields crackled with magical tension. Snow had fallen lightly the night before, now packed beneath the boots of young warriors as they clashed, chanted, and cast under the watchful eyes of their mentors.
Among them stood Rossweisse, her expression focused, arms outstretched as she maintained a shimmering barrier against a barrage of elemental projectiles.
Hidden from view atop a distant rise, Volundr observed silently. His arms were folded, eyes sharp, his mind assessing not only Rossweisse's growth—but how she handled herself among others.
She was no longer the uncertain girl struggling to mold herself into the Siez-style magic system.
Over the past months, she had steadily begun shaping her own path, blending her defensive and support magic into a unique hybrid style—one that prioritized strategic placement and battlefield control.
It was still rough, still full of inefficiencies, but the foundation was there.
And now, it was time to test how she worked in a team.
Volundr had discreetly arranged for several young warriors—each one secretly marked under his Limitless Aura—to train in Asgard for a season.
Caelum, the first of his future Pawns, and Kuroka , the second pawn had been sent under the guise of studying Norse mana harmonics.
Others, too, had been positioned with plausible justifications, carefully vetted to ensure they wouldn't overshadow Rossweisse, but would still challenge her.
Their presence served a dual purpose: training themselves, and subtly preparing her for the dynamics of a future peerage.
Rossweisse sparred alongside Caelum that afternoon, coordinating a defense-and-attack rhythm.
When Caelum surged forward with aerial magic blades, Rossweisse laid down rune-based barriers to shield his flanks. Their synergy was clumsy at first, but with each round of sparring, it improved.
After the final match, she sat on a frost-covered bench, wiping sweat from her brow. Her chest rose and fell with exertion, but her eyes were alive with thought.
Volundr approached, not as a mentor, but as a curious observer.
"You've improved," he said simply.
Rossweisse looked up and smiled faintly.
"I didn't think I'd ever feel useful in group combat. I used to think my magic was just… a wall. Now it feels like I can do something."
"You always could," Volundr replied, voice calm. "You just needed to see it."
She studied him for a moment, then nodded. "You've helped a lot. I don't know why, but… thank you."
Volundr gave a small nod, his expression unreadable. Because your potential is beyond what even Odin imagines, he thought. And I need you ready—not now, but one day.
That evening, Rossweisse continued training, this time taking the initiative to instruct one of the younger trainees in a new shield variation she'd developed.
Volundr watched from afar, the corners of his lips curving slightly.
The bond between them had deepened—built not through promises or declarations, but through steady presence and subtle support.
Trust was forming, not as a command or duty, but as something earned over time.
She still had years to grow. But she was on the path.
And when the time came, she wouldn't just join his peerage.
She would belong to it—unshakably, brilliantly, and completely.