Dungeon of Niflheim-Chapter 883: Update on the Lunar maidens
Within Shivali's private study, isolated from the rest of the palace Frost and his future father in law traded barbs like a pair of squabbling relatives. There was no aura, divinity, magic or even naturally imposing presences used only words laced with frustrations and angers.
Shivali wanted to vent his frustrations on his future son in law while Frost refused to be a punching bag for his nonsense reasoning. He couldn't offer up his daughter and then get up in arms when she was taken.
Of course the little rite of passage he arranged was an utter failure, there wasn't the slightest hint of fear in Frost's heart.
"Is this why you called me to your office so suddenly, to put the fear in me?" After several minutes of loud exchanges Frost finally asked the question that was bugging him since the moment that royal guardsmen forced him out of bed.
"Partially yes….but more importantly we have some time sensitive business to discuss." He wouldn't abuse his authority just to threaten his best friend's son he wasn't that petty….it had to be a one stone two birds sort of deal.
"Business?" Frost's ears perked up at the word, he and Shivali only had one issue of business, the Lunar maidens. "Is it about the Lunar maidens? Has there been a development?"
Shivali didn't give him a clear cut timeline when they last spoke he merely availed him of their current situation and described what he wanted done.
"Yes, I spoke with their current leader Neve, that exiled frost giant came to them again and this time he gave a more immediate ultimatum."
"How immediate?"
"Two days, after that if they don't come willingly he'll take them by force, starting with the children." Shivali's right eye twitched when he brought up the children, he had seen an awful lot in his long life, cruelty you couldn't even imagine yet still he found crimes against younglings incredibly distasteful.
"Two days…." Frost did some math in his head but no matter how many times he tried the answer was always the same. There was no way he could make it to them in such little time.
"Technically it's a little less now, closer to 36 hours."
"Tsk damn! I totally could have made with those extra 12 hours." His sarcasm was grating to hear but strangely Shivali smiled. Not many dared to be this open and relaxed with him.
"Cute but don't worry about that it'll only take you a few hours to reach them." Shivali leaned back in his chair, anticipating the confusion that would soon appear.
"Huh a few hours….didn't you say they're on the other side of the Glacial mountains, hiding in a cave system between the external and inner regions." Even if he was a hundred times faster he'd never make in time, that was several thousand kilometres of travel through dangerous territories.
"Yes I did say that."
"….."
"….."
"You know I don't have wings or the ability to teleport right." The smile on Shivali's lips stoked Frost's urge to slap but he restrained himself. It was all well and good to toss around a few choice words but laying a hand on the man was too reckless at least before their relationship deepened a bit more.
"You might not but I do." An almost blinding light flashed behind Shivali, giving weight to his godly status. Dark did the exact same thing when he wanted to impress or wow him, shame it never worked. Instead all he got in reply was an empty stare and silence.
"….You're not all that fun are you Frost?."
"Your daughter certainly seems to think so."
"Oi!"
"My bad." Frost held his hands up as Shivali's warm attitude started to freeze. A risky gambit but a payoff that felt mighty good.
'Would have been even better if I could have put a sexual spin on it.' Of course that may have been too risky, maybe even enough to make the old man snap, that was his precious baby girl after all.
"Cheeky brat haaaaa while there may be few entrances into Niflheim from the inner regions there are innumerable exits." Shivali sighed feeling like he'd punched cotton only to suffer a blow from his own fist.
"Innumerable?" No fixed or round number rather something beyond counting or something he'd lost track of after the number got too large.
"Yeah, the Glacial mountains are akin to my extended domain thus they hold sparks of my divinity which allow me to not only observe pretty much the entire place but also allow me to open up temporary doorways if you will that prevent contamination from Niflheim and myself from spilling over." Gods couldn't interact with the mortal world beyond a certain threshold due the possibility of this contamination, their very presence paints the land in their colours. Too much and a schism happens, a conflict between influences that promises nothing but destruction.
Shivali being a Primordial, a being that has lived since the conception of Nova was acutely aware of his own influence thus he always took great precautions. A doorway that opens on both sides would always be more susceptible than one that only served as an exit. With negligible contamination Shivali could drop Frost and Kiba off practically anywhere within the Glacial mountains. A feat that served well when it came to managing the area.
"So you'll basically drop me off at their front door." If the distance was no longer a challenge then he was left with only one problem….that exiled frost giant and his gathered forces.
"You'll still need to find the right cave system but yeah I'll pretty much deposit you at their front door thus eliminating the time constraints." A few hours would be enough for Frost to find them and then devise a plan to either escape from the exile or confront him… both becoming harder the longer he had to build his forces.
The Lunar maidens despite some being at the C-rank and in their prime were of no threat to the exiled frost giant, confined to their cave as they cared for their wounded and wailed at the injustice of their fate. What threatened him were others in his position, others who were scrambling to accrue power from the scattered remnants following the monster stampede.
"So I'll need to be ready to leave by tomorrow afternoon." Depending on how late he left that would leave him with 3 to 6 hours, plenty of time.
'So soon.' He wanted to spend some more time with his new lover, deepen their connection before their inevitable albeit brief separation. Her face flashing through in his mind as he started thinking about her.
"Correct…. And it'll probably be a while until I get to see you again given how tumultuous your life as a Dungeon core is." Shivali revealed a depressed smile as he gazed fondly at the young man sitting across from him. It was nice having him here in Niflheim, he was a reminder of his best friend and a beacon of hope and good tidings for his youngest daughter. He really couldn't have picked a better partner for her.
'I'm glad he could pierce that wall of hers.' As a father especially a well experienced father he worried about Khione, afraid that her determination, her fervent chasing for power would ultimately consume her. Behaviour that even if achieved would not necessarily grant the satisfaction she sought.
Freyja was similar in nature but unlike her daughter she didn't close herself off, she made connections, bonds and even loved partners more than a few times. She had interests beyond the eternal rat race, whereas Khione lacked such things or at least they often fell by the wayside.
"That's true, getting here isn't exactly a walk in the park given my circumstances." Not only was it risky for someone with his strength he simply didn't have the time. The Dungeon and his burgeoning city-state demanded his full attention, getting away for even a week put stress on his nerves. Away from his other half he felt weaker and vulnerable.
Internally he thought it was a real shame, Niflheim was paradise in his eyes, every second here was uplifting and inspiring. He could easily spend years or even decades here and never get bored, that's just how prosperous and magical this place was.
'If I foster my strength then the trip wouldn't be as arduous….it'd make for a good holiday.' He envisioned bringing the whole family, Maya, Daki, Nanna, Loki and perhaps maybe his officers, Findley, Khuno and Yuna if the circumstances allowed.
The endless list of shops with a plethora of high ranking items for sale was another thing he'd struggle to pass up. Pool his gold together for a while and perhaps he'd be able to mint all his strongest monsters with equipment beyond their means.
His current production abilities paled in comparison, Daki was just one woman after all, and she hadn't even reached the level of a 4 star smith let alone 5 star.
"Once I've settled my affairs some more and once Khione arrives I'm sure we'll find time to visit uncle, I won't keep her from you. I understand how much your treasure her after all." Frost winked, hinting back to the man's earlier intimidation efforts causing him to guffaw.
"Hehehe that I do Frost, that I do…but it's good to know that I'm not the only one." Shivali then placed one of his hands on Frost's shoulders with a sense of camaraderie, a bond uniquely shared between a father in law and a son in law…love towards the same woman.
In response Frost couldn't help but display a heartfelt smile, his expression smitten.
"It's impossible to not care for someone so adorable right?" He shared a knowing look with Shivali.
"True, she is adorable." As her father all he could see even after she reached her current 3 metre height and gained that intimidating figure was the tiny little munchkin that would clamber over him calling him daddy over and over in the cutest voice you could imagine and even then it'd likely fall short of the real thing.
Most parents were the same, unable to see beyond the child regardless of how old and or how large they became.
