Knowing flooded Oryn's Mind as he was slowly rose to standing realizing that he was no longer in his old hut, by about miles away, leading against an old Rowan Tree. One had knew from the countless days he would eat by it. The knowing his mind bore was not just the locator spell Loki had promised, but an understanding of his new potential. The knowledge, born from Loki's own lessons from Freya and Frigga, danced across his mind in their combined voices.

  'Jotunn magic balances between Ephemeral and Elemental, controlling the forces of Nature itself such as Ice and Rock and Fire while also interweaving illusions and trickery. Their magic, your magic, draws on chaotic, primal forces that made your very species.

  Aesir gods draw their powers from physicality and rage, there is a reason they have long since been a battle race of gods. They are the essence of strength and conflict made manifest. Most are incapable of seeing through that aspect of themselves to manifest any other form of magic. Bloodlust and Rage are quite literally the core of their powers.

  The Vanir are Nature Gods, and Humans were first born of Sacred Trees, in both cases we draw Seidor Magic from the essence of Nature and the Soul... however, as we are gods, we can tap into infinitely greater powers, without risk. Humans are weak, though those with the strongest of souls can draw on greater powers, there will always be a limit of physicality. Humans wielding magic... it can warp them, taking a toll that could as simple as exhaustion and death... and complex as mutation. Many evils that walk the world are born of Twisted Magic gone wrong.

  You Loki, are special, in that you are a Jotunn that can tap into Aesir Magic and have a strong enough soul to manifest Seidor Magic. Your uniqueness is why so many consider you a threat, and I am sorry for that... we both foresee that one day, that mistreatment will twist you and the world into something it can never recover from...'

  Stunned and stumbling, the boy reached out and grabbed his favorite tree, almost screaming as waves of warmth flooded him from the tree's core. "What the...?"

  It was here that Loki's presence flickered across his thoughts. 'Rowan Trees are potent protective magic, now that you have awakened your own potential for magic you can taste such potency.' There was a pause, before pain overtook the connection. 'Look to the east, child... and bear witness to the evils you were spared.'

  Haunted, the boy turned... and what he saw left him shaking with pain, with rage... with fury that would make Odin tremble.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  The Nameless village, really more of a new settlement, was gone... the walls had been obliterated, each building in splinter. Bodies of men, women and children were scattered in literal pieces...

  And the boy felt his soul shift, as if bearing witness to this had only confirmed the new power he bore.

  "Will they... will they be allowed into a peaceful afterlife?" Loki answered with a sigh. "Can we... do anything?"

  'Do you know how to build a pyre?' Oryn nodded. 'There is a spell... and one that can also be used to amplify greater magics. Release them before their pain taints the world, animating their corpses. Reach out with your hands,... and just think of.... your intent. The purer, the better. Thor attacked with a mixture of Malice and apathy, you must be better.'

  Closing his eyes, tears burning, he took in a deep breath and started to whisper. "I was not there long, only a few weeks... just over a month, but in that time... I felt peace, I felt purpose... I felt home. Little Lili, who made me smile with her flower gifts and warm hugs... Sweet Mal, I knew it wasn't her real name, but she had me help her through the abuses of her vile husband. I admired her strength and endurance. Then there was the delicate Rowan, our oldest villager, who helped start the village... though only Thorfinn could really be considered by friend, he was the next best thing... with encouraging words and no judgement. A fresh start was his gift..."

  Something, a Maelstrom of power in his soul, erupted with so much for that the young boy was literally thrown back into the Rowan tree, eyes wide as a literal storm of purple power shot toward his old near home. Swirling with thunderous blasts of condensed power, he saw it reach of the village, drawing in any flicker of remaining torches and fires, before consuming the entire village in flames the color of lavender. Within the storm of power, a bolt of knowledge shot toward him, striking his chest with...

  Love, appreciation and gratitude of those who's souls he had released. They spoke with intent, not a trace of words, and through the strength of their souls, he held out his hand and a light flickered into life.

  "Lead me to..." He stopped, not knowing where he was going, so he instead frowned. "Take me to Safety..." And the light flickered off, like a tiny purple firefly, and he followed it, desperate to find his way to salvation and one day... revenge. However, before he left the shadow of the Rowan, he turned back to the tree and placed a hand on it, allowing instinct to guide him. A tiny flicker of power manifested, before he removed his hand...

  Transforming the Tree into a Grave Marker, for the village he almost called home and Thorfinn, the boy who might have won his heart one day...

  And then he was off, walking away, determined to not get revenge, but justice for all those damned by the vile deeds of the arrogant gods.

  Little did he know that another... being, watching the world, desperate for their own revenge, had felt the release of his power, and used their own mastery of Seido magic to make a simple adjustment to his locator spell, leading him straight to their care.