Chapter 107 Jealousy
Alex slept soundly in Emma's lap, his chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. The tightness that usually lingered between his brows after battle had completely faded, replaced by an almost boyish calm. A faint strand of hair fell over his closed eyes, shifting slightly each time the golden wind of Sovngarde brushed past them.
Emma looked down at him quietly. Her fingers hovered for a moment before gently brushing that loose strand away from his face. A small, nostalgic smile curved on her lips.
"Heh…" she murmured under her breath, her voice softer than usual. "It's been a long time since I've seen a man struggle so desperately just to become stronger."
Her thumb unconsciously traced the edge of his cheekbone, careful not to wake him. His expression didn't change completely defenseless, completely at peace. For someone who had clashed blades with death only moments ago, he looked almost fragile now.
Emma slowly lifted her gaze toward the towering silhouette of the Hall of Valor in the distance. The golden light reflecting off its ancient walls made it appear eternal untouchable.
"Well… that place is filled with heroes," she continued quietly, her tone thoughtful. "Warriors who've carved their names into legend. It's almost ordinary to see strength there. Power, pride, glory…"
Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if comparing memories of countless battles.
"But…"
Her gaze drifted back down to Alex. The faint smirk she usually wore softened into something warmer almost protective.
"There's something different about him."
A heavy presence lingered nearby.
Tsun, guardian of the bridge, had been watching in silence the entire time. His massive frame stood unmoving, yet his sharp eyes missed nothing. The wind tugged at his ancient armor, but he remained as steady as stone.
After a long pause, he finally spoke his voice deep and resonant, yet measured.
"That boy possesses terrifying potential."
Emma tilted her head slightly toward him, though her hand remained resting lightly against Alex's shoulder.
"Yes, I know," she replied with a faint chuckle. "He even managed to corner you for a moment. And he claims he focuses on magic in combat." She glanced down at Alex's relaxed arms. "Honestly, I didn't expect much from him physically… not with that build."
She smirked faintly. "But he adapts fast. Too fast. He's a genius."
Tsun's eyes did not soften.
He stepped a fraction closer, his shadow stretching over Alex's resting form. His gaze sharpened not with hostility, but with a warrior's instinct recognizing something unnatural.
"No…" he said slowly, his voice lowering into a near whisper that carried far more weight than a shout. "He is not merely a genius."
His eyes lingered on Alex's calm face the face of someone who could laugh, who could hesitate, who could care.
"He is a monster."
The word hung heavily in the golden air.
Emma's expression flickered surprise, then curiosity but she said nothing.
Tsun then lifted his gaze upward toward the endless, luminous skies of Sovngarde. The winds stirred around him as if responding to an unspoken prayer.
In the depths of his mind, a solemn thought echoed.
(Oh my lord Shor… what design have you woven into this child's fate? What storm will follow in his wake?)
Below him, Alex continued to sleep peacefully unaware that even the guardian of Sovngarde questioned the destiny that trailed behind him like a shadow.
Not long after, Astrid's boots touched the golden grass of Sovngarde as her sharp eyes lifted toward the towering structure of the Hall of Valor. The ancient hall stood majestic against the glowing sky, its walls gleaming like forged sunlight.
And there stretched the great dragon-shaped bridge, its massive stone spine arching proudly over the mist an imposing path that connected the realm to the honored dead.
Astrid adjusted the grip on her sword as she walked forward, her expression focused. The faint wind tugged at her hair and cloak, but her stride remained firm and purposeful.
Then she saw him.
Tsun stood at his post, immovable as ever.
And beyond him
Her eyes shifted.
They landed on Emma.
And Alex.
Her steps slowed.
Alex lay with his head resting comfortably in Emma's lap, his face peaceful, completely unaware of the world around him.
Time seemed to freeze.
Astrid's fingers tightened around her sword hilt until her knuckles whitened. A strange, burning heat began to rise from her chest to her throat. Her jaw clenched subtly, the muscles in her cheek twitching.
Tsun stepped forward, his voice booming with ceremonial authority.
"What brings you, wayfarer grim, to wander here, in Sovngarde souls-end Shor's gift to honored dead?"
But Astrid did not respond.
She didn't even blink.
Her eyes were locked onto the sight before her Emma's hand resting near Alex's shoulder, the faint softness in her posture, the intimacy of the scene.
A pulse throbbed in Astrid's temple.
Without a word to Tsun, she began marching forward each step heavier than the last, boots pressing into the golden field with controlled force.
When she was close enough, her voice finally broke the silence sharp and blazing.
"You!!"
Emma looked up, startled.
"What did you do to Alex?!" Astrid demanded, her eyes burning. "And why is he lying in your lap?!"
The accusation wasn't just anger it was possessive, raw, and protective, like a lover seeing someone trespass into sacred territory.
Emma blinked, caught off guard. She quickly slid her hand away and awkwardly lowered Alex's head from her lap onto the soft ground. She stood up in haste, brushing her hands against her thighs as if trying to erase the implication of what Astrid had just seen.
"O-Okay… you must be the Dragonborn, right?" Emma asked, forcing a calm tone though her posture stiffened.
Astrid stepped closer, chin lifted defiantly, eyes narrowed.
"That's right," she answered sharply. "And the man whose head you were using as a pillow?" She pointed accusingly at Alex. "He's my partner!!"
The word carried weight claim, bond, warning.
Emma's expression shifted for a fraction of a second.
(I didn't know Alex was the Dragonborn's lover… I thought he was only her adventure partner…)
She raised both hands slightly in a placating gesture.
"Calm down, miss," she said carefully. "There's nothing going on between us. You're misunderstanding." She glanced briefly at Alex's unconscious form. "He was exhausted after fighting Tsun. He passed out. I just let him rest."
Her tone was steady but Astrid's glare didn't soften.
The air between them grew tense, charged like the moment before blades leave their sheaths.
But Astrid wasn't listening.
The explanation barely reached her ears before it was drowned out by the pounding of her own heartbeat. Her chest rose sharply with each breath, fingers trembling not with fear, but with restrained fury.
In one fluid motion, she yanked her sword from its sheath. The sharp metallic ring cut through the golden air of Sovngarde. With her other arm, she snapped her shield into position, leather straps tightening around her forearm as she locked it in place.
Her eyes burned.
"Then why," she demanded, her voice low but shaking with emotion, "were you smiling while looking at his face, huh?!"
The accusation struck harder than any blade.
Emma blinked, taken aback. "I "
But Astrid had already ignited like dry tinder tossed into flame.
Her boots dug into the ground
And she lunged.
The sword came down in a swift diagonal arc, cutting through the air with lethal precision.
Emma's instincts flared. She twisted her body to the side at the last second, feeling the wind of the blade brush past her cheek. A few strands of her hair were sliced cleanly away, drifting down in slow motion.
"Wait!" Emma stepped back quickly, raising a hand defensively. "Calm down, Miss Dragonborn I didn't mean !"
Astrid didn't let her finish.
With a sharp pivot of her heel, she swung again this time a horizontal slash aimed at Emma's ribs.
Emma bent backward just in time, the steel flashing inches from her armor. She rolled to the side to create distance, boots skidding against the glowing earth.
Astrid advanced relentlessly, shield raised, blade poised for another strike. Her movements weren't wild they were disciplined, trained, precise. But emotion fueled every step.
Emma exhaled slowly, her brows knitting.
Left with no choice, she straightened and let out a quiet sigh.
"Ma'am…" Her voice lost its softness. "You're not giving me much of an option."
Her hands moved behind her back.
With a smooth, practiced motion, she drew her twin swords. The dual blades shimmered under the golden light, their edges reflecting Astrid's furious glare.
She spun them once in her hands, adjusting her grip, her stance lowering into something far more serious.
Astrid's lips curled into a cold, almost amused smile.
"Yes…" she said, tightening her grip on her sword. "This is how we Nords speak "
Her shield slammed forward as she rushed in again.
" with our blades."
Steel met steel.
The clash rang loudly across the fields of Sovngarde, sparks bursting between them like fleeting stars. Emma parried the strike with one blade while countering with the other, forcing Astrid to pivot behind her shield.
They moved in a blur Astrid's powerful, grounded strikes against Emma's agile, flowing footwork.
Each impact echoed.
Each step carved tension into the air.
What had begun as jealousy had now transformed into a true duel Dragonborn against ancient Nord hero neither willing to yield.
The battle between the Dragonborn and the ancient Nord hero was fierce and relentless.
Astrid fought like a storm given human form each swing of her sword heavy, decisive, backed by the full weight of her body. Her shield crashed forward between strikes, forcing Emma to give ground step by step.
Emma, in contrast, moved like flowing water. She pivoted, twisted, and slid past Astrid's blows, her twin swords flashing in tight arcs. One blade parried, the other countered. Sparks burst into the golden air every time steel collided, scattering like fireflies across the fields of Sovngarde.
The sound of clashing metal echoed toward the distant Hall of Valor.
Tsun stood unmoving near the bridge, his massive arms folded across his chest. His sharp eyes tracked every movement the precision of Astrid's shield work, the speed of Emma's footwork. Though either of them could damage the other, he made no move to intervene.
This was not his concern.
A powerful strike from Astrid forced Emma to skid backward several feet, boots carving lines into the glowing grass. Emma retaliated with a spinning slash aimed at Astrid's flank. Astrid raised her shield just in time
CLANG!
The impact rang loudly enough to ripple through the air.
That very sound tore through Alex's slumber.
His brow twitched.
Another crash of steel.
His fingers stirred against the ground.
Slowly reluctantly his eyes opened.
For a brief second, his vision was blurred by golden light.
Then it focused.
He saw Astrid and Emma locked in a deadly exchange, blades inches from flesh, eyes burning with intensity.
Alex shot upright.
"HEY!! WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?!" he shouted, his voice cracking with disbelief.
But the women were too consumed by the fight. Astrid drove forward with a shield bash; Emma twisted away and countered with a low cut.
They didn't hear him.
Alex dragged a hand down his face in frustration.
"Unbelievable…"
He extended his palm toward them, fingers spreading wide.
Mana surged through his veins.
A ripple distorted the air around the two warriors
Suddenly, both of their bodies lifted off the ground.
Emma was mid-swing when her feet left the earth. Her sword halted inches from Astrid's shoulder as her entire body rose upward.
Astrid, who had been preparing another strike, felt her balance vanish. Her boots kicked instinctively against empty air as she too was suspended several feet above the ground.
Their weapons remained in their hands but their bodies hung helplessly.
"Hey what's happening?!" Emma exclaimed, eyes widening as she tried to move her legs.
"You wench! Get down here!" Astrid snapped, still struggling, her shield arm straining against invisible force.
Emma's irritation flared instantly. "Oh please, you pig! You started this!"
"STOP!!!" Alex roared, his voice booming louder than before.
The force of his shout seemed to cut through their anger.
Both women turned their heads toward him at the same time.
Alex stood below them, one arm extended, jaw clenched, eyes narrowed in exhaustion and disbelief.
"What are you two doing," he demanded, voice low but firm, "fighting like this?"
Emma was the first to recover her composure. She let out a small, amused chuckle despite floating helplessly.
"Ask your lover," she said, tilting her head toward Astrid. "She attacked me without listening to a single word."
Alex's eyes shifted to Astrid.
"Astrid," he said, more gently now, "what happened? Why did you attack Emma?"
Astrid glared at him, hurt flashing beneath her anger.
"So you're not defending me?" she shot back. Her lips trembled slightly before hardening again. "Has your heart already been stolen by that woman?"
Alex blinked, completely thrown off.
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh please!" Astrid snapped, her cheeks flushed with both rage and embarrassment. "Was her thigh that comfortable? Comfortable enough for you to fall asleep like that?!"
Emma couldn't resist.
A teasing grin spread across her face despite the situation.
"Heh… maybe your man prefers my body over yours."
"YOU !!!" Astrid fumed, twisting in midair as if she could somehow lunge at her rival.
But neither of them could move an inch beyond the invisible grip of Alex's telekinesis. Their hair swayed slightly as they struggled, weapons still clenched tightly in their hands.
Below them, Alex stared up in stunned silence.
The pieces clicked into place.
The lap. The smile. The jealousy.
"…Oh."
He closed his eyes briefly and let out a long, weary sigh, the kind that carried both relief and impending headache.
When he opened them again, he looked directly at Astrid, his expression softening despite the absurdity of the situation.
"Alex kept his hand raised, maintaining the telekinetic hold as he looked up at Astrid. His expression softened, the earlier frustration melting into something gentler.
"Dear…" he began, his voice calmer now, steady despite the two warriors floating above him. "It's just a misunderstanding. I fainted after fighting Tsun."
As he said Tsun's name, he briefly turned his head toward the towering guardian, who remained silent and stoic near the bridge.
"I pushed myself too far," Alex continued, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. "So when I passed out from exhaustion… Emma probably just tried to help me rest."
Emma lifted her chin slightly, as if to say Exactly, though she said nothing yet.
Astrid's glare didn't fully fade. Her breathing gradually slowed, but her eyes shifted toward Emma.
She remembered it clearly the softness in Emma's gaze… the small, almost tender smile while looking at Alex's sleeping face.
A faint unease stirred in her chest.
(This woman… she's dangerous.)
Her fingers tightened subtly around the hilt of her sword.
(I need to keep an eye on her. She might steal Alex's heart if I let my guard down.)
Alex looked between the two of them, sensing the tension still hanging in the air like a drawn bowstring.
"So…" he said carefully, raising one brow, "can you two make peace? Hmm?"
Emma let out a small breath and gave a casual shrug, her body still suspended midair.
"I'm fine with it," she said lightly, one sword resting lazily against her shoulder despite floating. "I don't know about your lover, though."
Astrid narrowed her eyes again, but this time the fire in them was more controlled no longer a wildfire, but a guarded flame.
"Fine," she said at last.
There was a pause.
"But on one condition."
Alex's shoulders sagged slightly. "Here we go…"
Astrid pointed her sword not aggressively, but firmly toward him.
"You are not allowed to leave my sight for even a second while this woman is around." Her gaze flicked sharply toward Emma. "Deal?"
Emma snorted softly but didn't interrupt.
Alex let out another long sigh, tilting his head back toward the glowing skies of Sovngarde as if asking the heavens for patience.
"If I agree," he asked cautiously, "you won't go berserk again?"
Astrid answered immediately.
"Yes."
There was no hesitation.
Alex studied her face for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright then," he said, lowering his hand slowly. The invisible force loosened its grip, and both women gently descended back to the golden grass. "If that makes you happy, dear."
Their boots touched the ground almost at the same time. Astrid adjusted her grip on her shield and sword, sliding them back into place with controlled movements. Emma spun her twin blades once before sheathing them behind her back, her expression composed but her eyes still watchful.
Alex rolled his shoulders and turned toward Tsun.
"Ah, right," he said, gesturing casually toward Astrid. "Does she need to be tested by you as well, Tsun?"
Tsun, who had observed everything without a single wasted movement, uncrossed his arms slightly. His gaze shifted toward Astrid, measuring her with the eyes of a seasoned warrior.
"There is no need," Tsun replied in his deep, resonant voice. "I have witnessed Astrid's battle against Emma."
His eyes sharpened with approval.
"She is among the strongest Nord women I have seen. She may enter."
Astrid lifted her chin slightly at the acknowledgment, pride flickering across her face.
At that exact moment
A faint blue notification window materialized before Alex's eyes.
He blinked.
"Oh, right…"
Unused status points.
He scratched his cheek thoughtfully. "Better allocate this to stamina… so I don't faint again."
A soft glow pulsed around him as he confirmed the allocation.
Stamina: 220 → 240
He flexed his fingers experimentally and inhaled deeply.
"Good."
The system window faded.
Alex then turned back to Astrid and Emma.
They were standing a few steps apart still glaring at each other in complete silence. Astrid's arms were crossed tightly over her chest. Emma had one hand resting on her hip, eyebrow slightly raised.
The tension hadn't disappeared.
It had merely been restrained.
Alex exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose for a moment.
"Well…" he said at last, forcing a small smile. "Now that Astrid has arrived, let's head to the Hall of Valor and cross this bridge."
He gestured toward the massive dragon-shaped span stretching before them.
After a brief pause, Astrid stepped to Alex's side very deliberately. Emma followed a second later, matching their pace without a word.
Together, beneath the golden skies of Sovngarde, they began walking toward the Hall of Valor
the Dragonborn close to Alex's side…