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