Chapter Text
All Loki wanted was to be a normal boy in a normal town surrounded by simple people. A boy with loving parents, amusing friends and occasionally awkward nods to people passing. Except that wasn’t the case.
Loki’s father drank more than he spoke to him. Loki’s mother whored herself out to feed his father’s addiction and spent most nights out without acknowledging her son existed Their town was the seediest and the vilest of the kingdom. Which is as much as you would expect from a town surrounded by the dead forest. The only way to travel to other towns was to pass straight through the forest or the most ridiculously long and curvy dirt path paved centuries ago. The town was populated by filthy people praying to the Gods and occasional demon to spite their enemies for their poor way of life. Loki prayed every day hoping the Gods would spare his life one more day. Loki was the loneliest, poorest, and least loved in the town. He was also the most beautiful. Though you couldn’t really tell. The grime and sweat on his body would fester and dirt would cling to the greasy mess of his face, hair, everything really. Water was a luxury and you couldn’t waste water trying to wash when there is only so little rationed to citizens.
Loki knew what his father did to make money was illegal and he knew what most of that money went toward. He knew what his mother did to make money and knew most of it went to her husband. When Loki turned thirteen years old, his father drunkenly yelled that it was time he learned to pull his weight and contribute to the family by forcing him out. He would not let him back in unless he brought money. Three days he was not allowed inside until Loki came back with a single coin. Tired, hungry and thirsty, the coin was snatched away from Loki’s hands and was used to buy a bottle of beer. In a moment of kindest or insanity, his mother was kind enough to spare a rotten apple.
That night, when his father went drinking and his mother went in search of foolish men, Loki cried himself to sleep, bundled up in a dirty rag he found. Every night before he would call upon the Gods to look down upon him and give him strength but tonight was not a night for hope. His parents still weren’t home the next morning. Barely dawn but very likely wouldn’t return until late. He remembered his father’s threat and decided to go into town to look for work. He didn’t want to risk being thrown out again. Loki rose from the floor, tore the rag into four long strips and tied them around his feet. One on each sole and heel. Some stale bread he hid under his bed would do for breakfast.
Loki traveled down a dirt path that led from his hut into town. It was a twenty-minute walk to reach the center. As he passed people they either ignored him, scowled at him, or formed a lecherous grin he didn’t want to understand. Yesterday had been lucky. While begging for food, a coin from the fruit vendor's clutch had fallen underneath the booth and he was able to snatch it up without anyone noticing. He doesn’t know whether he’ll be as lucky today. The whole town seemed busy and unapproachable. Street rats fighting over moldy cheese, kids fighting over a broken toy, vendors fighting with customers, adulterers fighting with their lovers. Loki sighed and kept walking, avoiding all the hate and glares. He continued until he noticed he was walking along the path to the dead forest. He paused for a moment and continued. This was the only path that led to the next town over, about an hour’s walk but he had the whole day ahead of him, so hopefully, he’d find work.
Loki kept on the very edge of the path, close to the trees. It was the only road to the next town, so of course, it was frequented by thieves and hooligans. Apparently, that’s what you get for trying to escape this shitty town. Fifteen minutes, he heard nothing but the drag of his feet and the crunch of dead leaves. The trees all looked the same: skinny, gray and devoid of leaves. There were thousands of them. Suddenly, he heard the sound of leaves shifting underneath the wind. Except the sound wasn’t as sharp as the crackle he was used to. Instead, it sounded soft and smooth. Something bright shone to his right and Loki turned his right and saw a bright green leaf floating a couple of feet from him. Just one. Such a little thing but shocking against the dull background of the forest. The leaf flew past into the thick of the forest and disappeared into the darkness. How is it so dark when the day just began? The thought was fleeting as he noticed a couple more leaves followed the first. He couldn’t tell where they were coming from but the way they moved seems different than the pattern the wind was blowing. Almost like they were avoiding the wind.
Loki didn’t notice he was walking closer to the origin of the leaves until he stumbled on the overgrown roots of a tree. His eyes widened as he looked at the tree in front of him. Was it growing the closer he came to or was the tree really as big as it seems? The bark was golden brown, shimmering in the morning daylight. The only tree that accepted sun unto its branch. What really stood out were the green leaves decorating the far-reaching branches. They glittered like diamonds and faded to normalcy when they fell and hit the ground. Trees in this forest were maybe a foot thick but this tree was as wide as he was tall and branches thicker than his head. A gust of wind that blew some dirt in his eye seemed to break his trance. After rubbing the sting out, something shiny reflecting sunlight into his eyes caught his attention. His eyes focused on a few stones embedded in the bark. Walking toward the tree, they also seemed to grow bigger as he came closer-practically stretching the bark over the edges. Loki had to step over and climb the roots as they became thicker and more twisted, popping in and out of the ground. Once a foot away, he reached out to lay his left hand against the tree to balance himself. The tree trunk was surprisingly soft but firm. Oddly enough, it seemed to get warmer the longer he touched it. The warmth spread throughout his entire body and a slight hum followed.
A low hanging branch lowered toward him. Loki almost stepped back until small purple berries began to grow. Am I dreaming? He hurriedly reached for the berries with his right hand and began to eat. They were mildly sweet and bursting with tart juices. Oh, my Gods, this is heaven. He thought with a small sigh. When he ate his full, one of the stones fell from the tree and Loki removed his hand from the tree to catch it. It felt like warm glass . The tree abruptly stopped humming but it continued in the stone until it faded into nothing within seconds. It resembled amber, golden in color, with a smooth glassy outside layer and a darker molten inside that slowly swirled.
“Κρατώ την αναπνοή της ζωής.” The words escaped his mouth like a whisper outside of his control. Loki was unaware the white of his eyes blackened and his green irises glowed.
“My Gods!” Loki yelled as a lightning bolt shot from the stone to his left cheek. "Shit!" That stung. He quickly dropped the stone and moved back, tripping over the tree roots and falling to the ground. His eyes returned to normal and frantically returned to his feet. He rubbed the apple of his cheek and surprisingly, it didn't seem to hurt anymore. He looked to the spot the stone had fallen and saw there was a necklace in its place. Loki slowly approached where the stone had fallen and kneeled to take a close look. The chain was thin and black and the stone was now cut to resemble a teardrop jewel. The color and movement inside remained the same. It crackled for a few seconds with tiny bolts of lightning but that soon dissipated. Hesitantly, Loki reached for the necklace and it glowed, emanating warmth. Startled, he pulled his hand away and the glow faded. Curious now, Loki reached for it again but this time stared in awe as the stone glowed brighter and brighter as he neared it until his fingers grazed the jewel. The stone dulled again but Loki welcomed the warmth his palm.
What is this? I’ve heard of stones that carry magical properties but those are all carried by mages.
Only those blessed by the gods were given the honor to wield a magic stone. However, no one has ever been chosen outside the gates of the kingdom’s capital and Loki’s town was the furthest you could get.
“For you...” Loki blinked. Was that a voice? He thought and looked behind him. He’d forgotten to be cautious in these parts and remembered thieves could easily overpower him if he was seen with something so precious. Luckily or unluckily it seemed he had gotten further into the dark forest than he’d thought. He quickly covered the jewel with dirt and spit, placed it around his neck under the tattered clothing and positioned his hair to cover it just in case.
This is probably worth a lot of money.
Loki thought. He wouldn’t need to worry about keeping his father docile anymore. This stone was his ticket to freedom. His escape. His
new life
. Finding his way back toward the path toward the next town was easy - just follow the sunlight - but the road ahead to the capital would not be.