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00:01In Midgard, I used my power to force Sigrid into marriage, tearing him away from his beloved.
00:06After death, he ascended as the Arbiter of Helheim, imprisoning and torturing me.
00:10For a hundred years, he made sure every soul in Helheim knew I was his wife.
00:15Then, upon finding his dead childhood companion, he drove dozens of hell-forged spikes into my body.
00:21He declared, my heart was vile, my hands stained with the lives of the innocent, and he flooded my soul
00:26with darkness.
00:28Then, before every watching eye, he gave me two choices.
00:32Remain and become his companion's servant as penance, or enter the Hall of Anguish as a corrupted soul,
00:37to suffer endlessly and be reborn into servitude across every life, never to know a good death.
00:42He knew I feared pain, feared suffering, but even if I had to endure every torment,
00:47even if my next life would know no peace, I could not bear to remain at his side one moment
00:51longer.
00:52After a hundred years imprisoned beside Sigrid, I was finally released from that lightless dungeon.
00:56When the iron chains fell from my pierced collarbones, I thought I would feel lighter.
01:01Instead, all I felt was the dense, crushing wave of pain across my shoulders.
01:04Seeing me hesitate, a death guard shoved me hard from behind.
01:08My lord summoned you to the wanted one city.
01:11Move!
01:13Don't make me late with my dream.
01:15His expression was stone cold.
01:17He had no fear that I would disobey, because Sigrid had placed a curse on me.
01:20From the moment I entered Helheim, I was every soul's dog, summoned, dismissed, forbidden to resist.
01:26Now, I lowered my eyes, swallowed the pain, and walked out of the Arbiter's Hall.
01:31The moment I entered the city, a force seized me and wrenched me down.
01:37I crashed hard to the ground.
01:38The wounds on my shoulders tore open, another bloom of blood and rot.
01:42Sorin, standing at Sigrid's side, let a flash of pleasure cross her eyes.
01:46Then she twisted her face into fear and reddened her eyes.
01:51Sigrid, what did I ever do to make Rowan hate me so much,
01:54that she would sever my limbs and have me tortured to death?
01:57The moment she spoke, Sigrid's gaze turned to ice.
02:00Don't be afraid. I'll make her pay.
02:03He never merely said things.
02:04The moment the words left his lips, he drove dozens of hellforged spikes into my forelimbs.
02:09The agony hit like a collapsing sky.
02:11I couldn't hold back my scream.
02:12Every wound Sorin bore, I will return to you a hundredfold.
02:18Rowan's heart is rotten.
02:20She has taken lives without mercy.
02:23Her crimes are unforgivable.
02:25Under Sorin's cues, the crowd began to point and condemn.
02:27A woman like her deserves to be cast into the deepest abyss of Nif'him, never to be reborn.
02:34Hearing their words, Sigrid poured more darkness into my soul.
02:37His voice cold as iron.
02:38I give you two choices.
02:40Either remain and serve Sorda in penance, or enter the Hall of Anguish as a corrupted soul,
02:46be reborn into slavery across every life, and never know a good death.
02:50The pain was so absolute, I couldn't form a single word.
02:53Of course. You're too selfish, too cowardly.
02:57Why would you ever choose the cycle of Yggdorik?
03:00He turned and took Sorin's hand.
03:02Let's go.
03:04We have a wedding to plan.
03:06He knew I feared pain, feared suffering.
03:08He didn't believe I would choose rebirth, and so he went off cheerfully to plan his wedding.
03:12What he didn't know, was that the moment I was released from the dungeon,
03:16I had already gone to the Hall of Anguish to register for the cycle of Yggdrasil.
03:19Even if I had to endure every torment, even if my next life would know no peace,
03:23I could not bear to remain at his side one moment longer.
03:28By now, every soul in Helheim knew the story.
03:31In Midgard, I had used my power to force Sigrid into marrying me.
03:34I had murdered his aging mother.
03:36I had ordered Sorin's limbs severed and left her to be tortured.
03:39He had hated me with everything he had.
03:41In Midgard, he endured it all in silence.
03:43And in the tenth year of our marriage, he slaughtered the entire Rowan clan, dozens of lives, and then killed
03:49me.
03:50After my death, I learned the truth.
03:52He was the arbiter of Helheim, the High Valkyrie.
03:54Because of his hatred for me, he kept me imprisoned at his side for a century and subjected me to
03:59every torment he could devise.
04:01But what he didn't know, was that he had hated the wrong woman.
04:04I had never killed his mother.
04:06I had never touched Sorin.
04:11For the first ten years of my imprisonment, I never stopped trying to explain.
04:15It wasn't me.
04:15But Sigrid would grab me by the throat, eyes blazing red, and scream,
04:19I only believe what I saw with my own eyes.
04:21Time wore me down.
04:23I went numb.
04:23I stopped explaining.
04:25Now he told every soul, it was I who had taken him by force and compelled him into marriage.
04:29He had forgotten.
04:30The year we first met, he was huddled among beggars.
04:33And he took the bowl of porridge I extended to him, and he looked up at me.
04:37That young man had gazed at me with something pure and shy in his eyes.
04:40My lady, do you need a guard?
04:43I'll work for a meal.
04:45It was a time of war and chaos.
04:47My heart had gone soft.
04:48I brought him home.
04:49I had people care for his ailing mother and younger brother.
04:52Years passed.
04:53He stood in front of me, unyielding, when danger came.
04:56Then came the day the royal house called for concerts.
04:58He grabbed my hand with reddened eyes and pleaded,
05:00Don't go.
05:02I'll work until I'm worthy of you.
05:04Can't you just consider me?
05:07I had no desire to marry some prince, and he had moved me just a little.
05:10So I said yes.
05:12He said he loved me.
05:13He said he would give himself fully and would not waver for a lifetime.
05:16After we wed, he gave me everything.
05:18He was tireless, devoted, always striving.
05:21Ten years passed.
05:22We were bound without doubt or shadow.
05:23Then came the moment he raised a bow and put an arrow through my chest,
05:26and I finally understood he had never loved me at all.
05:33Now he looked at my wretched figure, with not a single flicker of emotion in his eyes.
05:38In seven days, Sorda and I will be wed.
05:41Right now I need to take her to be fitted for wedding robes.
05:43Crawl back on your own and prepare to begin your penance.
05:46With that, he left with Sorin.
05:48The onlookers needed no invitation.
05:50The sneering words came fast.
05:51She entered Helhem and immediately called herself his wife.
05:54I almost believed they were devoted to each other.
05:57Turns out he only kept her around to let his beloved vent her anger.
06:01They laughed.
06:01They sneered.
06:02I did not raise my head.
06:03I used every last fragment of strength to drag myself forward.
06:07Blood trailed in thin streaks across the road.
06:09I ignored the pain consuming my body and crawled, truly crawled, back to the Arbiter's Hall.
06:16When I finally looked up, I did not know how much time had passed.
06:20Sigrid and Sorin returned to find me at the gates, drenched in blood.
06:23Sorin let out a sharp cry and rushed over, pulling me upright.
06:27Rowan, why are you covered in blood like this?
06:30She asked, though she already knew.
06:31The delight behind her eyes was unmistakable.
06:33My stomach turned.
06:34I tried to pull my hand free.
06:36Sorin crumpled straight to the ground.
06:38Sigrid's eyes went wide with fury.
06:40Sorin!
06:40He caught her immediately.
06:42When he saw she had fainted, his expression darkened.
06:45Without pause, he blasted me away.
06:46I was hurled a dozen meters and slammed into a wall.
06:49I couldn't stop the blood that came up with the impact.
06:51The pain in my body doubled.
06:53I clenched my fist against it.
06:55Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Sigrid carry Sorin on his back and leave swiftly,
06:59pausing only to give a cold order.
07:01Throw Rowan into the chasm of Niggdug.
07:03Let her learn her place.
07:05I won't have her forgetting what she is.
07:07He didn't hesitate for a single breath before concluding it was I who had harmed Sorin.
07:11He never once asked,
07:12What could I, a hollowed out soul, have even done?
07:15I said nothing.
07:16I did not call after him.
07:17I simply let the death guards drag me away.
07:20Because I already knew, Sigrid would never believe me.
07:22The pain was overwhelming.
07:23I couldn't stop my eyes from closing.
07:27I drifted in and out of consciousness as they hauled me off the street.
07:31They were not gentle.
07:32They dragged me through thorns, leaving me torn and raw.
07:35A figure made of blood.
07:36The guards felt nothing.
07:37They simply pitched me over the edge and into the chasm of Nidhugger.
07:40The chasm is the one place every soul dreads most.
07:43The void serpents down there will keep you drowning in your own suffering.
07:47Alive enough to wish you weren't.
07:49Every soul in this realm can see how much Sorin means to our lord.
07:54You still went and provoked her.
07:56You deserve exactly this.
07:59They believed I deserved it.
08:00They walked away.
08:01Not knowing I had done nothing.
08:03But I understood.
08:04Even if they knew, they would not help me.
08:07Without Hala present, Helheim answered to Sigrid.
08:09There was nothing more to say.
08:11Nothing that would matter.
08:12The wind screamed past my ears.
08:13Then came the impact.
08:15I hit the floor of the chasm and the force tore more blood from me, painting my pale-faced crimson.
08:20The void serpents caught the scent and struck without waiting.
08:22Fangs sank into my arm.
08:24As the venom spread, I closed my eyes.
08:27Long buried memories were pulled free and without meaning to, I smiled.
08:31Yet a single tear slipped into my hair.
08:33At the start of the story, my eyes had been full of happiness.
08:35Then a snowstorm passed and my eyes were dyed in blood.
08:39My beautiful husband came with an army and slaughtered my entire clan.
08:42When he looked at me, his eyes held nothing but hatred.
08:45That night, surrounded by the bodies of everyone I had loved, I screamed until I had nothing left.
08:50But my parents, who had cherished me, my sister, not one of them would ever answer me again.
08:55Sigrid stood with a bow in his hands, soaked in the blood of the Rowan clan, his eyes cold with
09:00savage satisfaction.
09:01I watched, numb, as he stepped forward and drove his blade through my chest without flinching.
09:06Before I fell, I asked him.
09:08Why?
09:09He stepped closer.
09:10With quiet tenderness, he wiped the blood from the corner of my lips, then smiled, and the smile was winter.
09:16I only ever saw Saul as a younger sister.
09:19Even if she was in love with me, why did you have to destroy her utterly?
09:23My mother treated you with nothing but kindness.
09:25You didn't spare her either.
09:26Rowan, how can you be this cruel?
09:29Desolation rose from somewhere deep in my chest.
09:31He was my husband, and without a single question, he had butchered my entire family and laid every crime at
09:36my feet.
09:37I had barely crossed paths with Sorin more than a handful of times.
09:40I had loved him with everything I had.
09:42Why would I ever have harmed his family?
09:44But it didn't matter.
09:46Nothing had ever been real between us.
09:47There was no tenderness to speak of.
09:49Not once.
09:50Not ever.
09:53Self-loathing sank into the marrow of me.
09:55I could not stop the anguished sounds that tore from my throat, nor the tears that fell without ceasing.
10:00The void serpents fed greedily on my suffering, curling the corners of their mouths in satisfaction.
10:05My family appeared before me, and their accusations came one after another.
10:09Rowan, how can you still love the one who destroyed us?
10:13He killed your family.
10:14Why haven't you made him pay?
10:16Rowan.
10:17If you hadn't let jealousy drive you to hurt Sorin and Sigran's mother, we would never have died.
10:23The whispers and the contempt circled me without end.
10:27I shook my head violently.
10:28The disappointment in their eyes broke something inside me.
10:31I didn't do it.
10:32My voice came out as a ragged rasp.
10:34My eyes were so swollen I could barely see.
10:36The suffering pouring from me drew more and more void serpents close.
10:39They sank their fangs in again, extracting the anguish, harvesting it.
10:43There was no escape.
10:44I could only relive it.
10:45Drown in it.
10:46Again and again, until I lost consciousness entirely.
10:50When I opened my eyes again, I was no longer in the chasm of Nidhugger.
10:54The familiar surroundings told me at once, this was Sigrid's estate.
10:58Rowan, I'm so sorry.
11:00I never expected Sigrid to misunderstand and throw you into the chasm.
11:04I only fainted yesterday because I can't stand the sight of blood.
11:08Startled myself, really.
11:09I'm terribly embarrassed about it.
11:12Rowan is so kind-hearted.
11:14You'll forgive me, won't you?
11:16After all, I've decided not to hold a grudge about what you did to me in Midwar.
11:21Her eyes were filled with triumph.
11:22She was telling me plainly, even the smallest incident would be enough to make Sigrid turn
11:26his fury on me.
11:27I didn't speak, but Sigrid's face had already hardened.
11:30Sorin came to apologize in good faith.
11:32And this is how you respond?
11:34She's chosen not to pursue what you did to her in Midland, and you can't even offer a
11:38single word of apology.
11:40Today, you will apologize to Sorin.
11:43If you don't, I have no problem keeping you in the chas of Nindo indefinitely, suffering
11:48every single day.
11:49Rowan, just bend a little.
11:51After this, we can be friends again.
11:53Her contempt was clear as glass.
11:55It pricked at something in me.
11:58I'm sorry.
11:59I had no desire to apologize, but I knew with certainty.
12:02Sigrid would make me pay on Sorin's behalf regardless.
12:05Good.
12:06At least you know when to yield.
12:08I couldn't afford to lose my chance at the cycle of Yggdrasil.
12:12That apology bought me a brief, fragile peace.
12:15A few days later, the moment I was well enough to leave my chamber, I moved to go.
12:18But Sorin stepped into my path.
12:22Going out to enjoy yourself, Roway?
12:26Then bring me back a lantern.
12:27I'm too occupied with the wedding to bother.
12:32I had no desire to humor her, but even less desire to endure her wheedling.
12:36I agreed.
12:37The moment I stepped out of the estate, I went straight to the Hall of Anguish.
12:40The warden led me inside.
12:42But no sooner had I faced the first trial of love and hatred than I nearly came apart at
12:46the seams, my soul unraveling.
12:51The warden brought me back out, shaking his head with a sigh.
12:57You cannot yet withstand the torments of love, hate, and obsession.
13:03I'll hold your place.
13:05Come back when you've recovered.
13:08There was nothing to be done.
13:10I could only return to the Arbiter's Hall.
13:12Secret's curse left me no choice.
13:13When Sorin saw me, she immediately took the lantern from my hands with a smile.
13:17I wanted to leave.
13:18Someone grabbed my wrist.
13:22I turned.
13:23You went to the Hall of Anguish?
13:25I lowered my eyes slightly.
13:27I merely passed by.
13:28He looked at my ashen face, pressed the unease back down.
13:32What?
13:33You saw the trials and were frightened into looking like that?
13:37He exhaled with quiet relief, a scornful thought crossing his mind.
13:41I was so small and so cowardly.
13:43Why would I ever enter the cycle of Yggdrasil just to leave him?
13:46I said nothing more.
13:48I turned to go.
13:49Then heard Sorin let out a sharp cry and collapse, vomiting blood.
13:52The lantern had been unwrapped.
13:54The warmth of Midgard still clung to it.
13:57Any soul who had passed into Helheim would be burned by such living light.
14:02Do you hate Sura so much you'd see her soul torn apart?
14:05I pressed my lips together and said nothing.
14:07Since you love the light of the living world so much, let me give you your fill of it.
14:16At noon the following day, I was taken to Midgard.
14:19The blazing sun fell on me like a judgment.
14:21The pain was beyond bearing.
14:23In the shadows, a death guard shuddered.
14:25You can offend anyone in this realm.
14:29Just you.
14:31My lord is merciful.
14:33For one moment, I felt myself beginning to dissolve.
14:36Then Sigrid reappeared and wrenched me back into Helheim.
14:39I was forced to my knees before Sorin.
14:41Sigrid's voice was flat as still water.
14:43Apologize.
14:44He stood firm.
14:45I said nothing.
14:47Sorin glanced between us and waved Sigrid off.
14:51Let me have a word alone with Rowan.
14:53Of course.
14:56The moment he left, Sorin rose from her sickbed as though nothing had happened at all and produced a memory
15:01stone.
15:02Look at these people.
15:04Do you recognize them?
15:06I looked up instinctively.
15:08My parents.
15:09My family.
15:10All of them.
15:11Surrounded by something that looked like the inside of a furnace.
15:15Because of you, Sigrid and I were torn apart.
15:21And your family.
15:23They deserved what they got.
15:25Sigrid kept them around all this time so I could my anger.
15:30They're screaming.
15:32Isn't it lovely?
15:33Don't you want to hear it?
15:34Her smile was radiant.
15:35Her eyes were full of cruelty.
15:37My vision flooded red.
15:38I couldn't stop myself.
15:39My hands closed around her throat.
15:41God, you deserve to die.
15:46But she laughed and then her face crumpled into fear.
15:50Sigrid!
15:51One word.
15:52Sigrid came at once, pulling her free, and the rage that blazed in his eyes when he turned on me
15:57was absolute.
15:58Since hatred is all you have, I'll send you to the Hall of Anguish and strip it out of you.
16:05I won't have you thinking about hurting Sorin ever again.
16:12In an instant, I was thrown before the gates of the Hall of Anguish.
16:15Sigrid expected me to beg.
16:17I didn't look back.
16:18I walked straight through the doors, into the blazing Hall of Hatred, without hesitating for a single step.
16:23Sigrid watched.
16:24Something lodged in his chest.
16:25But he turned and left anyway.
16:29In the days that followed, Sigrid went through the motions of preparing the wedding, distracted and hollow.
16:34And I, inside the Hall of Anguish, walked through every trial there was.
16:38On the day of their wedding, I finally stepped onto the path of Yggdrasil's cycle.
16:43The old woman held out the mead of oblivion.
16:45I drained it in one swallow, and left no trace of it on my lips.
16:48She watched my retreating back and shook her head quietly.
16:52All things are written in fate.
16:54Before the wedding ceremony began, Sigrid turned his gaze toward the Hall of Anguish.
16:58As if drawn by something he couldn't name, Sorin concealed the malice in her eyes and spoke with a bright
17:02smile.
17:03Why don't we bring Rowan back?
17:06I'd like her here to bless us.
17:08He gave her the opening she needed.
17:10Sigrid's face shifted.
17:12I'll go.
17:12I won't be long.
17:15He went to retrieve me, but the Warden of the Hall stopped him cold.
17:19Rowan has already endured all four trials as a corrupted soul and entered the cycle of Yggdrasil.
17:26Sigrid could not believe it.
17:27But when the Warden summoned the vision from an hour prior, all the color drained from his face.
17:32Because I had truly stepped into the cycle, and I had not looked back.
17:35Not once.
17:37A sharp pain struck him in the chest.
17:39He stood there, stunned.
17:40Something nameless and bitter rising through him.
17:42Sorin, tired of waiting, came after him.
17:45She took one look at his hollowed expression and reached out to tug at his sleeve, barely masking her impatience.
17:51Sigrid, the ceremony is about to begin.
17:53Let's go back.
17:55She had no interest in where Rowan had gone.
17:57All she knew was that if she didn't hold on to what was in front of her right now, she
18:00would never have another chance.
18:02But Sigrid, who had always been so tender with her, wrenched her arm free without a word and flew toward
18:06the gate of the cycle.
18:08Sigrid!
18:08Sorin screamed after him, but he didn't turn back.
18:11Her expression darkened.
18:12She almost followed, then stopped herself.
18:15The memories she carried from Midgard were not ones she wanted to revisit.
18:18She bit her lip and sent a spirit messenger to bring him back.
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