The land was vast and empty, stretching until it met the gray horizon.
Odin stood there calmly, his hands clasped behind his back, as if waiting for something he knew would come.
Moments later, Forn appeared, slightly out of breath.
"Why do you always disappear like that?! Can't you explain first—or at least wait so we can go together?"
Odin glanced at her with faint mockery.
"I have no time for such foolishness. Show me how the spear refuses you. I do not have much time."
Anger flared in Forn's eyes as she pulled the spear from her storage artifact.
"Here! Look! It won't accept me or form a contract with me! Is it broken?!"
The moment Odin saw the spear clearly, he burst into laughter.
"And how would it form a contract with you… when it does not carry contract magic in the first place?"
Forn's eyes widened in shock.
"But… all sacred dwarven weapons carry the ancient contract enchantment!"
Odin extended his hand calmly.
"Give it to me. I will see for myself whether what you say is true."
Forn hesitated, staring at his outstretched hand.
Should she give it to him?
Or not?
He raised a brow.
"You do not expect me to steal it… do you?"
Forn snapped out of her thoughts and immediately handed him the spear.
"Of course not! I was just… thinking."
Odin sighed.
"We are not thieves, Forn. We were born for war… not for theft."
Her face flushed with embarrassment.
"I didn't mean it like that, I swear—"
He waved his hand, interrupting her with unexpected gentleness.
"I know the spear is important to you. Do not worry. As long as you are here, it will remain yours. No one will dare take it from you."
Then his gaze shifted to the spear, his voice lowering slightly.
"It is powerful… but something is wrong with it."
He gripped it firmly and gave it a slight swing—
Suddenly, a terrifying vortex of aura formed around him. The air trembled violently, and thin cracks spread across the ground beneath his feet.
Forn stepped back.
"You see?! It doesn't have contract magic! Anyone other than me can use it this easily!"
Odin looked at her calmly.
"That is why you used a sword when we first met… instead of this spear."
Her face reddened again.
"Yes. I was afraid you would take it from me easily if I were unarmed."
Odin studied the spear for a long moment.
"I will attempt to add a force similar to contract magic to it… and we will see whether that works."
Forn nodded quickly, excitement clear in her eyes.
"Yes! I agree!"
She stood watching him with shining eyes, waiting eagerly.
When Odin noticed her enthusiasm, he slowly shook his head.
Foolish… just like my children.
—
The moment the thought crossed Odin's mind, he pushed aside everything else and said calmly:
"Step back. This may be dangerous for you."
This time, she did not argue. Forn quickly moved to a safe distance without objection.
Odin watched her from the corner of his eye and muttered dryly,
"It seems she has finally learned to follow orders."
He exhaled softly and returned his gaze to the spear.
But this time, his expression had changed.
It was no longer one of examination.
It was pure greed.
If this spear were mine alone… I would become terrifyingly stronger.
His heart paused for a moment at the thought.
And why shouldn't I take it?
A cold smile curved his lips as he began pouring immense energy into the spear, shaping it into a deep and complex binding—wrapping it around the very core of the weapon.
The moment the formation was complete—
A dreadful vortex of power surged upward like an invisible pillar piercing the sky.
Yet it touched nothing around it.
The earth did not shatter.
The air did not tear.
But the force… was more than enough to rip apart a human body.
Had Forn remained as close as she had been earlier—
She would now be gravely injured… if not dead.
From afar, Forn watched anxiously.
It has to work… No, it will definitely work.
Hours passed.
Odin's energy was woven into the spear thread by thread, until the binding was finally complete.
A bond unlike the ancient contract magic—
Stronger.
Now, if anyone attempted to wield the spear without his permission, it would resist on its own.
And Odin could feel what the weapon felt… even see through it if he wished.
When he realized this, a cold smile appeared.
"If my brothers possessed weapons like this… they would become terrifyingly powerful."
Another thought slipped into his mind—
Should he steal the sacred dwarven weapons?
Grant them to his ruler brothers… and to their children who would one day rule?
He fell silent for a moment.
Then slowly shook his head.
"If that were truly possible… the other races of the continent of Mira would have done it long ago."
He was pulled from his thoughts by Forn's voice shouting from a distance:
"Hey, Odin! Are you done? Can I come closer?"
He raised a brow.
"Do you not see that the aura surrounding me has vanished? Is that not proof that I am finished? Or have you truly become foolish enough not to understand something so simple?"
His voice remained completely calm—
Yet it reached her clearly despite the distance between them.
That alone surprised her.
What angered her… were his words.
She vanished instantly, moving at blinding speed to appear beside him, fury blazing in her eyes.
I will make it clear to him that I will never allow anyone to insult me.