Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

After realizing that she had no chance of beating Kaizen, Maria took a deep breath and said:

"All right, I surrender. But at least help me understand: what exactly are you looking for in Olaynore, Kaizen?"

Kaizen raised his right hand and a book flew into his palm. "I've come for answers, of course. And if I'm looking for those answers in this particular section, you can imagine that it's not simple answers I'm looking for." He replied, looking around.

Maria put a hand to her chin. "I caught a glimpse of the subject you were talking about. You mentioned Týr, the God of War..."

"Yes, why?" Kaizen narrowed his eyes and asked.

At that moment, Vorian let out a surprised sigh and arched his eyebrows, only he wasn't looking at any specific person, as if he had suddenly remembered something. So it was he who answered Kaizen's question instead of Maria.

"How could I have forgotten that? Kaizen, Madam Maria was responsible for brokering our negotiations with the gods of Asgard a few decades ago. She was the one who renewed our treaty of non-intervention in each other's affairs." Vorian said.

This certainly surprised Kaizen. He knew that the Elders were quite powerful, perhaps as powerful as the Evolved, but he had never imagined that they had such a close relationship with the gods that they had contact and even a "peace" treaty. He looked Vorian over from head to toe, giving more respect to these long-robed, strange-looking mages.

"So, you mean Maria, all this time, was the right Elder to talk to instead of this guy?" Jayaa questioned, pointing at Vorian, who felt as if a hammer had fallen on his head because of Jayaa's tone.

"Hey! More respect, please!" ordered Vorian, raising a hand and snapping his fingers.

Kaizen didn't pay any attention, because he knew that Vorian wouldn't do anything to Jayaa. Instead, he turned his attention to Maria and said:

"Yes, we were talking about Týr. We haven't found much information apart from a book that talks about how and why he became an exiled god. Do you have more to tell us about him?"

Maria stared at Kaizen, pondering whether she could trust him even before answering. She could feel the tension in the air, but also the genuine curiosity in Kaizen. The dim light from the crystals danced over the dusty books on the shelves around them, creating a mysterious atmosphere in the hidden library.

Finally, she realized that there was no reason to hide information if Kaizen was an ally.

"Yes, I have knowledge about Týr that goes beyond what is recorded in this book," Maria began, her voice laden with wisdom. "Týr, the God of War, was a striking figure in ancient times. His devotion to justice and order was unwavering, and he was respected by many. He was said to be the bravest god of them all and would one day surpass the father of them all."

"Isn't that Thor?" Jayaa asked.

"Thor? Humph! Back then, he was nothing but a boy. Týr was young too, but highly respected for fulfilling his duties with mastery." She walked slowly to a nearby bookcase, her footsteps echoing in the silent room.

Her fingers traced the spines of the books as she searched for something specific. Finally, she pulled out an ancient scroll and carefully unrolled it on a worn wooden table.

"The story that few know," Maria began, "is that Týr did not become an exiled god by his own choice and also by influence. He was involved in a divine intrigue, a plot hatched by forces within Asgard. As he was also the God of Justice, Týr was the fairest of all the gods and justice is always accompanied by a touch of naivety.

Týr never imagined that his choice not to participate in the other gods' orgies and parties with mortals could result in a reputation as bad as if he had personally killed a god. False accusations were hurled at him, undermining his reputation among the gods in whispers, and when he found out, he was furious."

Kaizen's eyes shone with a mixture of curiosity and fascination as he listened intently. Vorian, Jayaa and the others remained silent, absorbing every word.

"Týr asked Odin, his father, to find and punish the person responsible for spreading such vile rumors, but Odin refused, saying that this was Týr's obligation, after all, the rumors were about him, not Odin. This event was what planted the seed of doubt in Týr and this soon turned into doubt about his own purposes," Maria continued.

"He believed he needed to rest for a while and not coincidentally sought out Olaynore for refuge. He believed that here he would find a place where his true intentions would be understood. He was a wise god and had a good relationship with the founders at the time. However, the shadow of his past haunted him, and he sought redemption, a chance to clear his name and regain his place among the gods."

Kaizen nodded, absorbing the narrative. "So he returned to Asgard after that?"

"Yes, he returned to Asgard a few times after that, but the longer he stayed away from home, the more the rumors died down. It was as if the others were annoyed by his presence, not that they actually hated him. I can't say for sure, but I believe this may be one of the reasons why he exiled himself to Niflheim in the last millennium.

Such a vast place, with a constant fog covering everything, is the perfect place for someone who doesn't want to be found, even though it's a world that isn't controlled and guarded by the Aesir or the Vanir."

…

Edited by: DrHitsuji

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