Welcome to Gaia! ::

Hugin shook his head. "It is not an island that changes fates..."

This was getting worse and worse by the second, and he hadn't even been halfway through dinner yet. Not to mention that he could read Grace's mood without even looking in her direction when Barton was mentioned, meaning that Evan's assessment of the situation was turning out to be much more drastic.

"...But a man."

Hugin shook his head and continued with, "A place that is so far outside of time that one cannot sense it via reading the currents of history does not bind the fates of men to it. Someone is manipulating the ancient workings of the place, and whoever is doing so does not have a humane purpose in mind for it.

"Eden needs to be found and destroyed, along with the one moving it. Seeing as any sort of seer and oracle cannot do so, there is only one way to track it... the Elemental Leylines."

Hugin shook his head. "I already know, though why the birdbrain went there is anyone's guess. I will have to make preparations for the journey- it will not do to go there by myself, either. For the moment, you will look after her- both of you."

The Raven of Thought was already at work, the wheels in his head turning even as he considered his next options. All through his musing, his facial expression did not change, and he did not make the slightest apology for giving a direct order. After all, he was one of Odin's Ravens, and that still meant something.

Hugin shrugged. "Mmm... I suppose then that I will have to wait."

To be honest, he was used to waiting. Besides, at least Verandi was being civil. Had he been dealing with one of the other Wierd Sisters, it would not have been as pleasant as it was now. In any event, he would have to attempt to tap into one of the leylines sooner or later. He would have to ask her how she managed to do it so that he could use them to his advantage when the time came.

"Mmm... an excellent meal," he said as he finished his dish and began taking sips of his wine. "Now then... do you all have a plan as to how you will put me back in order again?"

Hugin nodded. Yes, that was exactly what had happened. His other persona had taken on a life of its own, and thus the two of them were in contention and conflict instead of a peaceful co-existance. Unfortunately, the last time they had a good talk was not productive in any way, shape or form.

Besides, he had not been reincarnated yet. Just put in a three hundred year coma. Had he died that day, this entire mess would have taken care of itself... and he knew it.

"I have tried that before. If you want to talk to him, do it yourself. He is stubborn enough that he has been able to block me out, suggestions and all."

The Raven shrugged and reached a hand out to either of them. "Fine. But if he is annoyed with any of this, he will become more forceful in his reactions to me. This will not be a good thing at all, mind you, so you have one chance to set the two of us in alignment."

With that, he took their hands and, for lack of a better term, prayed for rain.

Hugin's shields were designed to lock out anyone who meant to damage the vast stores of information that Odin had charged him with safeguarding. Verandi and Eir, who were meant to aid him, were allowed through by default, and even if he had denied them access, they had enough power combined to defeat them.

It would cause some damage to his already injured psyche, but they would make it in one way or another. However, the case was that they were allowed inside, and now Hugin and Evan were alone in this field.

Except that there was something different about the Raven- he was chained. Chained to a tree in the very center of the field, his eyes open and his face clear of emotion. Even now, he was kept behind a tight restraint, as if the persona that held him there were...

"You are afraid."

Evan frowned towards his counterpart. "Hell yes, I am. You're a ticking time bomb in my head- a force of destruction. Ever since I found out that you were the one behind my vast amount of troubles; ever since I found out what you really were, I've been trying to keep you pent up in my subconscious for a good long while. So far, these chains have held. Give me a damn good reason why I should unchain you."

In that same even tone, the Raven answered. "You must not have been listening. There are forces greater than yourself that are trying to un-make the world, or at the very least, re-shape it in their own image. As you have seen in various conditions, you have little power to change things."

Evan gritted his teeth and gave his alter ego a stare that could burn a hole through him if he so wished, but couldn't deny that he was right. He could do nothing on his own, though he had brought a few things together on his own. Lament, Aekea, the defense against West Fall...

But of course, here there were no hidden thoughts, no brooding to one's self.

"...And you will be able to maintain all of these things. I do not exist to take such things away. In fact, I could most likely help you make them better. No, do not ask me how- there are far too many small nuances to deal with. Simply know that your company's future is secure."

Evan nodded, his words taken from him.

"Now then... A foreboding place known as Eden is on the move. This threat is potentially worse than the undead hordes that plague Barton, worse than the battles at St. Agrippina. In order for me to stop it, I need you."

Evan was pretty much blindsided. There was a battle at Barton? He sure as hell didn't know, or else he would have sent aid.

"...Indeed. You would know a bit more of all this had you truly been paying attention to anything but your battle against Ymir. It has probably fallen by now- there is little that can be done. Now, if you had access to the Elemental Leylines, particularly the one concerning the Wind, you would be able to access information from anywhere on this planet."

Evan raised an eyebrow. "...And we're going to do that how? Don't you already have a somewhat firm control of the wind element anyway?"

Hugin shrugged- well, as much as he could while in chains.

"You don't know!?"

He smiled and said, "Someone else does. And soon, we will have access to what she knows. The only way this can work however is if you work with me from now on."

Damn him- he was being convincing.

"...Just tell me one thing before I agree to this. What are you really after?"

The Raven remained silent for a momentary pause, then said, "Nothing that you yourself would not want. After all, we both come from the same place, and it is there where we will return."

Evan shook his head and said, "Screw it then, I'm not asking you anything else." He looked up at him and said, "Let's get this over with. I'm tired of fighting with you."

"The feeling is mutual. Relax- I will not destroy anything you hold dear."

Evan sighed and smiled. "Good." He closed his eyes and dropped his head, as if in acceptance, and the chains loosened just enough for Hugin to slip from his confinement.

Upon second look, he looked ragged and torn. His black clothing, cloak, armor and everything else looked old; worn down. How long had he been here, waiting? What had happened to his repair work if he had been here all this time? Had nothing been getting done after all?

Those questions would have to be answered somewhere in the distant future as the Raven fell to the ground with a thump, the chains sliding along with him from the branches and trunk.

He was free. Weakened signifigantly... but he was free.

"Nnnn.... Verandi...?"

He was so tired as she helped him to his feet. He looked in his early to mid twenties, but was centuries old- the Aesir aged differently from most of the inhabitants of Gaia. Their bodies could die, sure enough, but they were slow to age. Their souls however, retained every piece of information that they had from past lives, whether they wanted it or not.

Not to mention the golden glow, the aura that surrounded them as a mark.

Hugin was able to stand on his own two feet as he was offered a portion of energy from the Norn, and he looked towards Evan, who was now asleep in the grass. Even his cloak and clothing, armor and everything, looked a bit better for the wear.

"He really was tired of fighting with me."

He noticed that he only had a bit of his strength back and said once again, "Damn. Now I really do need to tap into the Leyline of Wind, and as soon as possible. Unfortunately, I will have to wait until the bird brain is finished with her training."

Hugin chose not to respond, only taking a look at the changes that Grace had undergone. Indeed, she had changed into something more suitable for the occasion, but other than that there was nothing dramatic. His eyes no longer had that hard edge to them, but other than that his gaze was still focused and haunting without meaning to be.

Were he at full capacity, he would be able to reveal Grace's true form to her- it was his mind, after all. But for now, he let her be and allowed her to not realize that the voices in her head that she no doubt heard at times were the prayers of others. That the reason she was an unnaturally good doctor and field medic was that all those doctors, nurses, and soothsayers believed in her.

He knew. Somewhere within, she knew. She simply did not want to accept.

"Let's go. We're wasting time here. Unless you are not finished yet... Grace."

He would call her that for now- it was a fitting name.