CHAPTER 123: VOID’S CORE

Hermes sat cross-legged, staring at Ymir’s chest where the faint bloom of red and orange burned under his skin.

"We need to think about how to get that ice out." Hermes said, his brows furrowed.

Ymir shook his head immediately. "No. That ice... it might be the reason I have power at all. Without it, who would I even be?"

Hermes looked at him, pity in his eyes. "You’re not just your power."

Ymir scoffed. "Easy for you to say. Without it, I’m no one. Just another person with cold blood and no use."

Magni raised a hand, grinning wide. "Ah, but my prince, you forget. You are no longer just frost. You have a spark in you now. A spark of Brother Modi himself.... Which was from me! Meaning..."

He paused dramatically, wiggling his fingers. "You can wield my fire too! Ice and flame, in one body. Imagine the poetry of it."

Ymir rolled his eyes. "That’s ridiculous."

"Try it!" Magni said, leaning forward like an eager child.

Ymir sighed. "Fine."

He lifted a hand, focusing. A flicker of light appeared, then a small ball of flame formed above his palm. It wobbled, then steadied, glowing bright against the cool blue of his usual aura.

Ymir’s eyes widened. "...I... I did it."

Magni shot to his feet. "Ha! Did I not say so? You carry both snow and flame in your veins now, your highness. This is glory itself!"

Hermes leaned in. "It’s not as strong as ours, but... it’s enough. A surprise move. Or even just a light in the dark. That’s useful."

Magni clapped Ymir on the back. "Useful? Brother Modi, this is divine. Look at him! He can roast marshmallows and freeze them again before they even hit the ground."

"Marshmallows don’t exist here." Ymir muttered, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward.

Hermes tilted his head. "Wait. I should check something." He focused, whispering to his system. "How long will my lava tears stay inside him?"

The system answered in his mind.

[Possible permanence detected. Needs monthly maintenance. Infusion of essence from a fire-adjacent wielder required.]

Hermes winced. "...Forever, maybe. But only if you take... maintenance. Monthly."

"Maintenance?" Ymir asked suspiciously.

Hermes hesitated. "You’ll need essence. From someone with fire power. That keeps the warmth alive."

Ymir’s face went bright red. "Essence? Are you—"

He glared. "No."

Magni blinked. "Essence? What’s this about? Is it like vitamins? Because I have plenty of those back in the human world. My blood runs like liquid steel. Strong stuff."

"... What kind of vitamins did you eat?" Hermes asked with concern.

Magni just shrugged.

Ymir buried his face in his hands. "I am never taking HIS essence. Ever."

Magni scratched his head. "I feel like his highness is upset with me again for some reason...."

Hermes coughed, deciding not to explain. "Either way, it means you’ll stay warm. At least with mine. Or Magni’s."

"I said no!" Ymir snapped, his ears red.

Magni just shrugged, still oblivious. "Suit yourself, my prince. But if you ever change your mind, I am most generous with sharing."

Hermes held back laughter. "Alright, alright. Let’s drop it. Ymir’s right. We should focus on the real purpose."

Ymir straightened, relief flooding his face. "Exactly. Can you still sense Eirwyn?"

Hermes closed his eyes, sniffing the air, stretching his senses. "No. Not clearly. But he has to be somewhere in the snow domain. I can feel traces. Weak, but there."

Magni’s grin faded. "Then we climb. But with care. She must not sense us before we are ready."

Before Hermes could answer, the ground rumbled. The walls shook, and the lava family scattered in alarm.

From the shadows, a massive beast emerged....

It was the wolf-dragon, white as snow, eyes glowing with cold light!

It snarled, its steps shaking the molten stone. The lava children screamed and fled behind their parents.

Hermes tensed. "Skadi’s beast."

The wolf-dragon roared and charged straight toward them!

Ymir raised his hands, ready to summon ice, but then...

The beast skidded to a halt in front of him. Its huge head lowered, pressing against his chest. A deep rumble filled the hall as it nuzzled him like a long-lost pup.

"Awoo...."

Ymir froze. "What in the Void is going on with this creature..."

Then, with a sudden lunge, the beast licked his entire face with its massive tongue, leaving him dripping with slobber.

"Stop!" Ymir shouted, shoving at its muzzle. "I’m not a snack!"

Hermes burst out laughing, doubling over. "It likes you, Ymir. Dogs lick people they care about. It’s a sign of affection."

Magni smirked. "Ha! If licking is affection, then I’d have licked you myself, my prince. But I know better. You’d freeze my tongue solid before I finished the first swipe."

Ymir glared. "You’re darn right about that. In fact, don’t even think about it or I’ll freeze your empty rock of a brain."

The beast growled low, protective, glaring at Magni as if warning him not to try.

Hermes tilted his head, an idea forming. "Wait. Magni. Can beasts understand Void language?"

Magni rubbed his chin. "Some can. Especially ones with a mind of their own. This one... yes, it is clever. But remember, Brother Modi, our Void tongue is of another domain. Not snow, but flame. Still, I can translate."

"Good. Then ask: Have you seen a man with brown hair who can do this?"

Hermes raised his mug, and with a wave of his hand, rewound the lava chocolate. The thick liquid separated, returning to clear water and raw cocoa fruit.

Magni leaned close to the beast, speaking in the tongue of snow. The guttural sounds echoed in the molten hall.

The wolf-dragon’s eyes widened. It sniffed at the mug, then nodded. Slowly...

It lifted a claw and pointed downward.

Hermes frowned. "...Down?"

Magni’s smile faded. "So it is. Our prey is hidden below our feet."

"Is there even a place below the underworld?" Ymir asked, his voice low.

Magni nodded grimly. "Yes. The Core. But believe me, it is not a core of fire like your Earth. This is the Void. Its heart is darker than any flame."

Hermes’s chest tightened. "What’s down there?"

Magni’s voice dropped to a whisper. "A black hole. A pit that swallows everything. Not fire, not earth. Only nothing. Endless darkness that devours."

Ymir shuddered. "That... exists beneath us right now?"

"Beneath, above, around," Magni said, his tone heavy. "It is the womb and the grave of the Void."

Hermes froze, his eyes wide. "...A black hole."

He remembered his own beginning. The moment of birth, when a black hole imploded on itself and spat him out into existence.

For a moment, the hall seemed colder.

The wolf-dragon huffed, lowering its head beside Ymir, as if urging them to follow.

Hermes swallowed hard. "So that’s where Eirwyn is."

Magni placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Then to the Core we go. To the place where even gods fear to tread."