Chapter 30: Breakfast with Loki and granting a falna
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Hel walked into the dining room without ceremony, her presence alone enough to quiet what little noise there was.
The hall was nearly empty at this hour—long wooden tables half-lit by the pale morning sun, plates and mugs abandoned by early risers. A few members of Loki Familia lingered, armor loosened, laughter muted by fatigue. Most were gone already, swallowed by the Dungeon in another expedition.
Every eye that was present turned, if only briefly.
Hel did not acknowledge them. She rarely did.
Behind her came her familia—an odd little procession.
Ruby bounced along at her side, red cloak swaying, silver eyes alight like she'd just discovered a secret level in reality. Taylor followed more cautiously, posture stiff, gaze sharp and analytical as she took in exits, people, weapons—old habits refusing to die. Blake moved last, quiet as a shadow, ears tucked low beneath her bow, golden eyes tracking movement with practiced wariness.
Loki, already sprawled sideways across a bench with a mug in hand and her boots up on the table, grinned the moment she saw them.
"Well I'll be damned," she drawled, raising her mug in salute. "Mornin', kiddo. Man, you sure are adoptin' fast, ain'tcha?"
Hel stopped at the end of the table and looked at her.
"I rescue," Hel replied flatly. "They decide."
Loki laughed, loud and unbothered. "Uh-huh. Sure. That's what all the soft-hearted gods say."
Ruby beamed. "Hi Loki!!"
Loki leaned forward, peering at Ruby like she was a particularly interesting puzzle. "Still vibratin' at unsafe frequencies, I see. Good. Means you're alive."
Then her gaze slid—keen, assessing—to Taylor.
"Oh?" Loki hummed. "Now that's an aura coming off of you."
Taylor stiffened immediately. "I don't like the way you said that."
"Good instincts," Loki said cheerfully. "Means you'll live longer."
Her eyes flicked again, this time to Blake, lingering just a second too long. Something unreadable passed over her expression before she smirked.
"And you dragged back a cat with trauma. You really are speedrunning the whole thing."
Blake bristled. "I am not—"
"She means well," Hel interrupted.
Loki snorted. "No she doesn't."
Hel ignored her and gestured to the bench opposite. "Sit. We eat. Then we do the falna."
That got everyone's attention.
Taylor's head snapped up. "Now?"
"You know with how fast your familia is growning Hel you are gonna have to move out sooner or later." Loki states
Hel didn't look at Loki when she answered.
"I am aware."
She took the seat at the head of the table with practiced inevitability, as though the space had always belonged to her. Ruby slid in immediately at her side, still half-asleep but already attacking a plate of bread with frightening enthusiasm. Blake followed more cautiously, posture guarded, eyes constantly moving. Taylor hesitated only a second before sitting—spine straight, hands folded, already bracing herself for whatever came next.
Loki grinned, chin propped on her hand. "Still—this is fast. Two lost strays, one probable monster-in-the-making, and a reaper kid who keeps smiling like the world hasn't tried to kill her yet. You sure you're ready for this?"
Hel finally turned her head.
Her gaze was flat. Absolute. Ancient.
"I do not take what I am not prepared to keep alive."
The grin on Loki's face widened—sharp, delighted. "Yeah. You really are mine."
Food arrived quickly after that—simple but hearty. Eggs, bread, roasted vegetables, meat that still steamed when torn apart. Ruby was halfway through her second helping before Taylor realized she'd started eating too, hunger sneaking up on her now that the adrenaline had ebbed.
Blake ate sparingly, but steadily. Like someone afraid the meal might disappear if she blinked.
"So," Loki said lightly, tapping her fork against the table, "who's first?"
Taylor swallowed. "First… what?"
Hel placed her palm flat on the table.
"Falna," she said. "You will each choose. No obligation. Once granted, it cannot be taken back without consent."
Taylor felt something tighten in her chest.
"I'll go first." Taylor states
====
Taylor didn't fully know what she had volunteered for.
Breakfast had been… surprisingly normal. Loud, chaotic, full of Loki Familia banter that bounced off the walls like thrown knives. Ruby had fit in immediately, Blake stayed quiet but alert, and Hel had eaten with the same calm inevitability she did everything else.
Then Hel stood.
And Taylor followed.
The private room was small, stone-walled, warded—Taylor could feel it the moment she stepped inside. Her bugs reacted instantly, spreading out, probing seams and shadows, mapping space the way they always did when she was afraid.
Hel closed the door behind them.
"Sit," Hel said, already removing her cloak.
Taylor did.
"I need you to take off your shirt and lay down on your stomach." Hel states
Her stomach twisted as Hel rolled up the sleeve of her dress, exposing pale skin.
Taylor froze for half a heartbeat.
Then she nodded.
"Okay," she said quietly.
She turned away, fingers a little clumsy as she pulled her shirt over her head and folded it neatly on the chair. The scars along her side were old and pale, the kind that spoke of fights that never quite healed right. She lay down on the stone bench as instructed, the cool surface grounding in its own way.
Hel watched her for a moment longer than strictly necessary.
Not judging.
Assessing.
"Breathe," Hel said, placing two fingers lightly between Taylor's shoulder blades. Her touch was cold—not painful, just present.
"This should not hurt," Hel said,
"…That's not reassuring," Taylor muttered.
Hel's lips twitched. "You survived far worse."
She wasn't wrong. Then a light burning sensation tingles all over her body
"Oh? You have a passenger." Hel mutters
===
Ruby and Blake watched Taylor leave the room with a light blush holding a sheet of paper.
"It-ts your turn blake." Taylor mutters
Blake blinked. Once.
"…What?"
Taylor did not meet her eyes. She shoved the paper into Blake's hands and very deliberately stared at the wall.
"Just—go. It's not bad. It's just… weird."
"Mine wasn't that weird even my aura reacted fine." Ruby states confused
Ruby
Level 1
Strength: I – 88
Endurance: I – 12
Dexterity: I – 54
Agility: H – 140
Magic: G – 230
MAGIC
AURA
Pedal Burst
SKILLS
Scythe wielding C
Marksman Ship E
Taylor
Level 1
Strength: I – 40
Endurance: I – 8
Dexterity: I – 54
Agility: I– 10
Magic: D– 540
MAGIC
Queen Administrator
Skill
Queen Administrator E
Blake
Level 1
Strength: I – 70
Endurance: I – 11
Dexterity: I – 30
Agility: I– 60
Magic: D– 540
MAGIC
AURA
Shadow
Skills
Marksmanship G
The hall was nearly empty at this hour—long wooden tables half-lit by the pale morning sun, plates and mugs abandoned by early risers. A few members of Loki Familia lingered, armor loosened, laughter muted by fatigue. Most were gone already, swallowed by the Dungeon in another expedition.
Every eye that was present turned, if only briefly.
Hel did not acknowledge them. She rarely did.
Behind her came her familia—an odd little procession.
Ruby bounced along at her side, red cloak swaying, silver eyes alight like she'd just discovered a secret level in reality. Taylor followed more cautiously, posture stiff, gaze sharp and analytical as she took in exits, people, weapons—old habits refusing to die. Blake moved last, quiet as a shadow, ears tucked low beneath her bow, golden eyes tracking movement with practiced wariness.
Loki, already sprawled sideways across a bench with a mug in hand and her boots up on the table, grinned the moment she saw them.
"Well I'll be damned," she drawled, raising her mug in salute. "Mornin', kiddo. Man, you sure are adoptin' fast, ain'tcha?"
Hel stopped at the end of the table and looked at her.
"I rescue," Hel replied flatly. "They decide."
Loki laughed, loud and unbothered. "Uh-huh. Sure. That's what all the soft-hearted gods say."
Ruby beamed. "Hi Loki!!"
Loki leaned forward, peering at Ruby like she was a particularly interesting puzzle. "Still vibratin' at unsafe frequencies, I see. Good. Means you're alive."
Then her gaze slid—keen, assessing—to Taylor.
"Oh?" Loki hummed. "Now that's an aura coming off of you."
Taylor stiffened immediately. "I don't like the way you said that."
"Good instincts," Loki said cheerfully. "Means you'll live longer."
Her eyes flicked again, this time to Blake, lingering just a second too long. Something unreadable passed over her expression before she smirked.
"And you dragged back a cat with trauma. You really are speedrunning the whole thing."
Blake bristled. "I am not—"
"She means well," Hel interrupted.
Loki snorted. "No she doesn't."
Hel ignored her and gestured to the bench opposite. "Sit. We eat. Then we do the falna."
That got everyone's attention.
Taylor's head snapped up. "Now?"
"You know with how fast your familia is growning Hel you are gonna have to move out sooner or later." Loki states
Hel didn't look at Loki when she answered.
"I am aware."
She took the seat at the head of the table with practiced inevitability, as though the space had always belonged to her. Ruby slid in immediately at her side, still half-asleep but already attacking a plate of bread with frightening enthusiasm. Blake followed more cautiously, posture guarded, eyes constantly moving. Taylor hesitated only a second before sitting—spine straight, hands folded, already bracing herself for whatever came next.
Loki grinned, chin propped on her hand. "Still—this is fast. Two lost strays, one probable monster-in-the-making, and a reaper kid who keeps smiling like the world hasn't tried to kill her yet. You sure you're ready for this?"
Hel finally turned her head.
Her gaze was flat. Absolute. Ancient.
"I do not take what I am not prepared to keep alive."
The grin on Loki's face widened—sharp, delighted. "Yeah. You really are mine."
Food arrived quickly after that—simple but hearty. Eggs, bread, roasted vegetables, meat that still steamed when torn apart. Ruby was halfway through her second helping before Taylor realized she'd started eating too, hunger sneaking up on her now that the adrenaline had ebbed.
Blake ate sparingly, but steadily. Like someone afraid the meal might disappear if she blinked.
"So," Loki said lightly, tapping her fork against the table, "who's first?"
Taylor swallowed. "First… what?"
Hel placed her palm flat on the table.
"Falna," she said. "You will each choose. No obligation. Once granted, it cannot be taken back without consent."
Taylor felt something tighten in her chest.
"I'll go first." Taylor states
====
Taylor didn't fully know what she had volunteered for.
Breakfast had been… surprisingly normal. Loud, chaotic, full of Loki Familia banter that bounced off the walls like thrown knives. Ruby had fit in immediately, Blake stayed quiet but alert, and Hel had eaten with the same calm inevitability she did everything else.
Then Hel stood.
And Taylor followed.
The private room was small, stone-walled, warded—Taylor could feel it the moment she stepped inside. Her bugs reacted instantly, spreading out, probing seams and shadows, mapping space the way they always did when she was afraid.
Hel closed the door behind them.
"Sit," Hel said, already removing her cloak.
Taylor did.
"I need you to take off your shirt and lay down on your stomach." Hel states
Her stomach twisted as Hel rolled up the sleeve of her dress, exposing pale skin.
Taylor froze for half a heartbeat.
Then she nodded.
"Okay," she said quietly.
She turned away, fingers a little clumsy as she pulled her shirt over her head and folded it neatly on the chair. The scars along her side were old and pale, the kind that spoke of fights that never quite healed right. She lay down on the stone bench as instructed, the cool surface grounding in its own way.
Hel watched her for a moment longer than strictly necessary.
Not judging.
Assessing.
"Breathe," Hel said, placing two fingers lightly between Taylor's shoulder blades. Her touch was cold—not painful, just present.
"This should not hurt," Hel said,
"…That's not reassuring," Taylor muttered.
Hel's lips twitched. "You survived far worse."
She wasn't wrong. Then a light burning sensation tingles all over her body
"Oh? You have a passenger." Hel mutters
===
Ruby and Blake watched Taylor leave the room with a light blush holding a sheet of paper.
"It-ts your turn blake." Taylor mutters
Blake blinked. Once.
"…What?"
Taylor did not meet her eyes. She shoved the paper into Blake's hands and very deliberately stared at the wall.
"Just—go. It's not bad. It's just… weird."
"Mine wasn't that weird even my aura reacted fine." Ruby states confused
Ruby
Level 1
Strength: I – 88
Endurance: I – 12
Dexterity: I – 54
Agility: H – 140
Magic: G – 230
MAGIC
AURA
Pedal Burst
SKILLS
Scythe wielding C
Marksman Ship E
Taylor
Level 1
Strength: I – 40
Endurance: I – 8
Dexterity: I – 54
Agility: I– 10
Magic: D– 540
MAGIC
Queen Administrator
Skill
Queen Administrator E
Blake
Level 1
Strength: I – 70
Endurance: I – 11
Dexterity: I – 30
Agility: I– 60
Magic: D– 540
MAGIC
AURA
Shadow
Skills
Marksmanship G