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Chapter Text

The boat ride to Týr's Temple was anything but quiet, as Mimir was telling Atreus more stories from his 'glory' days as Odin's advisor. Kratos had learned to tune both of them out, as he thought of everything that had happened in the past few months. Since "The Battle of Baldur", as Mimir like to call it, real progress had been made to their home. Atreus had wanted to build a small shack for Mimir, right next to their house. Kratos, who had far too much experience carrying around severed heads, was more than happy to oblige and soon a small but sturdy hut had been built for the 'smartest man alive'. Kratos had continued to train Atreus, and Mimir had been reading any spare archives Kratos could find, to learn what had happened in the time he was imprisoned. Brok and Sindri had expanded their services, and with a little help from Kratos, had upgraded their stores across the realms. Despite the happy little life that Kratos was living on the surface, on the inside he was not as cheerful. He knew that his actions of killing Baldur would not go unnoticed by the Norse Gods, nor would it be forgotten by Freya. He knew it was only a matter of time before one of the two parties would strike. Atreus' training had gotten more intense, and a large supply of arrows, health crystals, and extra talismans had been stored under the house in place of the Blades of Chaos, which were now kept on Kratos at all times. Kratos feared a war coming, and he wanted to be prepared when it arrived.

"You feeling ok, brother?" Mimir questioned. "You seem pretty out of it. Surely the story of 'The Blood Magic Revenant' isn't too much for you?"

"No, it is not." Kratos replied. "My mind is elsewhere."

"Elsewhere? That's not good!" Mimir laughed. "Perhaps we should find it for you then!"

"Amusing." Kratos said sarcastically. He began to slow the boat as it approached the temple. "Perhaps you should save your jokes for later, head."

"Ah, yes. Perhaps I should." Mimir agreed. "I should save my amazing comedy for a rainy day."

"Ok, let's go!" Atreus said excitedly, as he stepped from the boat to the temple ground. "I can't wait to see Brok and Sindri again."

"We indeed have much to discuss." Kratos bitterly spoke. Recently, he and Atreus had encountered a small group of bandit's who had attempted to rob their home. Kratos quickly dealt with them, but was troubled to find the forked brand of Brok and Sindri on the bandit leader's sword. Kratos was unhappy that Brok and Sindri had sold to bandits, and was determined to know if the dwarves pointed the bandits in Kratos' direction.

Atreus struggled with opening the door to Týr's temple, but managed it with a little assistance from his father. He than ran into the temple to see his two dwarven friends. "Brok! Sindri!" he called out.

"Hey! Hi! Hello! Hi!" Sindri quickly replied. "You know, this really isn't the best time, do you think you could come back lat-"

"Where is your brother, dwarf?" Kratos interrupted. "I must speak with the both of you."

"Yeah, yeah. I'm right here. Give me a fat second, would'ya?" Brok grumbled, as he appeared suddenly from behind Kratos.

"Nothing?" Sindri nervously asked, to which Brok quickly shook his head. "Damn."

"Everything ok?" Atreus inquired. "Can we help with anything?"

"Oh, no, everything is fine!" Sindri replied, wiping his brow with a white handkerchief. "We are just running a little low on resources, that's all."

"Perhaps I can assist you in locating some metal." Kratos spoke, as he threw a small scimitar on Brok's wooden table. 

"Wha-, oh god is that blood?" Sindri gagged.

"Yes. My blood. I was attacked by a scavenger who wielded this." Kratos stated. "Perhaps this is where your metal has gone."

"It's bad for business if you kill our clients, Candy Cane." Brok scoffed. 

"And it is bad for me if I have people alerting scavengers the location of my residence." Kratos shot back.

"Are you accusing me of selling my top customers out to some nobodies?" Brok grumbled, stepping towards Kratos. 

"I find it odd that six bandits, all new to these lands, all stumble upon my home shortly after making purchases to you two." Kratos replied.

"Gentlemen, please! This is not the time to argue!" Sindri interrupted. "Is there anything we can serve you, oh-so-kind friend of ours?"

"I require my weapons to be sharpened, and my armour must be repaired after our encounter with that bandit squadron." Kratos replied, turning his attention away from Brok. "And more arrows for my son."

Sindri opened and closed his mouth a couple times, making no noise, before saying "The best I can do for you is a slight sharpening on the axe, and perhaps, like, five or six arrows."

"Why are trying to provide service we can't provide, you pebble brain." Brok shook his head.

"Wait, why don't you guys have materials?" Atreus asked.

"They sold most of their stock to those bandits, boy." Kratos grumbled.

"We did not!" Sindri defended. "Sure, we made a couple sets of armour and weapons for them, but you've been the one that's been buying most of our stock!"

"I do not have time for these lies." Kratos muttered under his breath, before turning to leave. "Come, boy. We are leaving."

"Wait! Ok, ok." Brok rose his hands in defeat. "I'll tell you what this shortage is about. But don't tell nobody. Got it?"

"I doubt this information is of any use to anyone." Kratos said. "Explain your shortage."

"We have a supplier a little ways south-east." Brok began. "We've known him for around twelve years. About once a month, he brings us a couple big crates of iron, gold, silver, and extra shit like that, and we pay him for it."

"Aren't you dwarves though?" Atreus questioned. "Can't you just mine the resources yourself?"

"Well, excuse me! Apparently this little turd here knows everything there is to know about dwarves!" Brok scoffed.

"Do you know un filthy the mines here are?" Sindri asked, as he quickly shivered. "They are disgusting."

"Besides," Brok scowled. "Even if we were like our ass-kissing ancestors who loved digging through rocks to find precious gems, the stupid Aesir have practically robbed all the ores that were once in those mountains."

"This is irrelevant." Kratos spoke. "Tell me more about this 'supplier' of yours."

"Yeah, yeah, ok." Brok sighed. "Anyway, it's not uncommon for him to mess up on his deliveries. Sometimes he comes too early, too late, and sometimes brings less than what is promised. Despite his bad management, I like the guy. Reminds me of a young me. He grew on me like the bread on my chin. Kind of like you two." Brok motioned to Atreus and Kratos, and chuckled, before his expression turned sour. "Then three months ago, he just didn't show up. We didn't think anything of it. He's usually late. But then we didn't hear from him for a whole week after, and that's when we started getting worried."

"We, uh, tried sending a letter." Sindri added. "But he never responded." 

"Yeah." Brok nodded. "Fast forward an extra week or so, and we finally see him. He's bruised as hell, and missing an ear. He informed us that things are really bad in his area. Got caught trying to smuggle resources out of his village, and was punished accordingly by one of the village lords."

"That's awful." Atreus said. "They cut off his ear just for trying to leave his village?"

"Not just leave the village, boy." Kratos corrected. "He attempted to smuggle resources he earned out of his village." He then turned to Brok. "Am I correct to assume all resources harvested by villagers must be handed into these lords?"

"You hit the target." Brok nodded. "The most important of the ores he has is this specific type of rare crystal. It's practically flowing with healing magic, and is extremly common in the areas around that village."

Kratos removed a small health crystal from his pocket. "These are scattered all throughout the nine realms. I would hardly call these rare." 

Brok chuckled. "My friend, what you are holding has but a fraction of the magical capabilities of the crystals in that village. The one in your hand is like a cousin to the type we use in our crafting and upgrading, and like a brother to the light crystals from Alfheim."

"What kind of abilities does the crystal have?" Atreus asked. 

"Like the light crystals, they are useless on their own." Sindri explained. "But when combined with magical spells and enchantments, they can be used for so much more."

"Yeah." Brok agreed. "This bitch known as Miranda, who is like the head of the snake with these lords, uses magic to combine skeletons with those crystal, to create these terrible beastly monsters."

"Miranda?" Mimir exclaimed. "Surely you aren't referring to Miranda, the Mother of Miracles?"

"Shut yer hole, head." Brok growled. "That bitch brings no miracles to nobody."

"Who is this Miranda, head?" Kratos asked. 

"A story for later, perhaps." Mimir suggested. "These dwarves don't seem particularly fond of her."

"...Fine." Kratos agreed. "Finish your story, dwarf."

"Let's get back to the supplier." Brok continued. "He informed us about the living situation back at the village. We tried to get him to stay, said it wasn't worth going back to that hellhole, be he insisted that he needed more time to collect crystals, and his things back at the village. We haven't seen him since."

"He had this huge plan." Sindri explained. "He just needed to build one of the stone door frames, and add the crystal magic to it, and then he would be able to travel from the mines right to here. That way he wouldn't need to live in the village."

"I've tried to find him using my own paths between realms, but he isn't in his house anymore." Brok shook his head sadly. "We think that one of the lords got to him, but we don't know for sure."

"So, let me see if I understand this correctly." Kratos crossed his arms. "In order to continue assisting me and Atreus, you require materials from this man. And the lords of this village have prevented this man from bringing these materials to you, and even might have possibly killed him. Is that right?"

"Well, it's not lords, plural, it's just one of the lords who oversees the village." Sindri corrected. "But yes, everything else pretty much sums it up." 

Kratos nodded, and pondered this scenario in his head. 

"So if that gate way the man was trying to built was finished, you could have unlimited access to the resources you need to continue helping us?" Atreus clarified. 

"Bingo." Brok nodded.

"Father, we need to help them." Atreus pleaded. "Please, can we go and find their friend? It's the only way you can get the upgrades we need."

Kratos sighed. "Fine. We shall go try and find this friend of yours. Does he have a name?"

"We don't know what it is. He preferred to stay incognito." Brok shrugged. "But I can draw a picture of him, if you need."

"Very well." Kratos sighed, feeling a headache coming. "Also give me a map to this village."

"No problem." Brok replied. "Let me go see if I have one in the back. Quick warning though, it might be soaked in mead."

Kratos had a feeling that the task ahead would not be an easy one.

Chapter Text

After gathering some supplies for the journey, Kratos, Atreus, and Mimir had begun the venture to the village. It had been roughly half an hour since they departed from the Shores of Nine, and while Atreus and Mimir happily chatted, Kratos was deep in thought wondering about the dangers ahead.

"Head." Kratos interrupted Mimir, who had just finished his sixth story. "Back in Týr's Temple, you mentioned a 'Miranda'. Tell me about her."

"Ah, yes." Mimir nodded, which just looked like him wobbling on the wooden seat. "Miranda. Don't know much about her, but she came to Odin's attention just a couple months before my imprisonment. A crazy witch who had gained power almost overnight. Odin sent some of his crows to spy on her shortly after her rise. He then had me study the magic she was preforming, to learn if it was possible to harness it. I couldn't, of course, since both me and Odin were unaware she had an amplifier to her magic."

"Those crystals that Brok mentioned?" Atreus asked.

"Aye, little brother." Mimir confirmed. "But even if I had gained knowledge of those crystals, I could never inform Odin about them. I can just see is half-blind ass attempting all sort of bat shit with them."

"The title you called her." Kratos continued, not caring much for what Odin would do with more power. "Mother of Miracles. How did she gain a title like that?"

"Well, Miranda has a pretty interesting relationship with the people of this village." Mimir explained. "She arrived during one of the worst droughts the village had ever seen. But the second she stepped foot in the village, all the wells erupted with water. She provided food, resources, and medications for the sick. She saved the village. She was their God."

"A God?" Kratos muttered, gripping the oar more tightly.

Mimir realized his mistake, and corrected himself. "I only mean that they began worshipping her, praising her, and praying to her. However, the month of good luck he village had was followed by something much darker. All of the villagers who had used Miranda's healing products of any kind began to change. Grow more vicious, and violent. Clearly Miranda was behind it. But no, the villagers thought! "Surely the one who saved us could have been the one who cursed us!" they all chanted. They were convinced that it was the devils work, and continued to praise Miranda."

"So she is a mortal who plays God." Kratos frowned. 

"But why would Miranda curse the people who she had saved?" Atreus asked.

"Can't say for certain laddy." Mimir sighed. "I speculated she was using black magic, and that her spells had failed. But learning of these crystals, I think it is more likely she was experimenting on the villages. I don't have any evidence to back this up, but it's just a theory."

"Let's hope not to encounter her on our journey." Kratos stated. "It sounds that she is not the one we must be wary of."

"Aye, brother." Mimir agreed. "I don't know much about this village, but before the village was run by Miranda, it was under the rule of a lord named Dragomir Dimitrescu. He was a winemaker, and built an empire off of his fantastic wine. I had the pleasure of having some during my time with Odin. Odin liked him because Dragomir was a wise and greedy man. He refused to share his wealth with the village. One of Miranda's acts she was praised was killing Dragomir and his wife, and handing over the empire to their twelve year old daughter. This was the act that brought Odin's attention to Miranda, as she had ended his favourite wine brand."

"That is what Odin was mad about?" Atreus asked in disbelief. "Not the fact that she was cursing Midgard?"

"Odin has gotten way worked up about far less." Mimir replied. "Don't think Odin ever did anything about it though. I think he just lost interest."

"Do you have any more information about this Dimitrescu family." Kratos asked.

"I'm afraid not, brother." Mimir replied. "I doubt the Dimitrescu family is even still in power over the village."

"We shall soon see." Kratos announced, spotting an upcoming cliffside. "According to the map, this is the edge of the village."

"Alright then, brothers." Mimir exclaimed excitedly. "Let the exploration begin!"

Chapter Text

It hadn't taken long after Kratos had tied the boat to a nearby post, for him to find the village where the supplier had lived. After a short walk from the pier, Kratos, Atreus, and Mimir now faced the village that was surrounded by various different structures. Taking another look at the map Brok gave him, Kratos noted the sketched landmarks of a castle, a giant windmill, a rustic mansion, an unidentifiable scribbled sketch labeled 'The Stronghold', and a massive factory, which all surrounded the village located the centre. Looking at the real village below him, Kratos could see all the landmarks from the short cliff ledge he was on, with the exception of the mansion labeled 'House Beneviento', and the Stronghold. Apart from those two structures, the landscape was a perfect match.

"We are here, boy." Kratos nodded, gazing across the vast land that stood in front of him.

"Lift me up, brother." Mimir urged, twisting his head on Kratos' belt. "Let me get a look."

Kratos detached Mimir from his side, and held him up. 

"Yep, this is definitely Dragomir's Valley." Mimir confirmed. "Although, it's definitely been modified since I've last seen it. It used to be just the castle, village, and reservoir."

"Reservoir?" Atreus questioned.

"He means the windmill." Kratos corrected. "Which building is the lord's home?"

"Brok said lords." Atreus noted. "That means there could be many."

"Aye, little brother." Mimir agreed, as Kratos reattached him to his belt. "Our best bet would be the castle to start. That was Dragomir's castle when he was alive. Miranda hated the castle, and didn't occupy it after claiming it."

"Where did Miranda reside, then?" Atreus asked. 

"Don't know, laddy." Mimir replied. "Odin could never find her, and believe me he tried. But without knowing the full extent of her magic, she could have hidden her residence, and we never be able to find it."

"Then we must be on guard." Kratos stated, grabbing his Leviathan Axe. "Follow me, boy."

Kratos and Atreus navigated a safe path down the short cliff, slowly sliding down.  As they reached the bottom, they stood in front of a small orchard.

"Keep your wits about you, boy." Kratos warned. "And touch nothing. This property is not ours."

"I mean, neither was the stuff in Týr's vault." Mimir joked.

"Quiet, head." Kratos shushed.

As the trio quietly strolled through the orchard, they soon came to the orchard's end and found themselves on a village path.

"So this is the village of Dragomir." Mimir observed from behind Kratos. "Or, what's left of it, anyway."

"These houses don't look like people live in them." Atreus noted.

"Mhm." Kratos muttered in agreement. Majority of the houses that surrounded them appear to have barely survived a fight, a fire, or both.

"Would this be Miranda's doing?" Atreus asked Mimir, who shook his head.

"No, I'd wager this is the act of a group of vandals, rather than just one." Mimir answered. "Besides, Miranda wouldn't have all the followers she did if she was publicly defacing property."

Kratos did a quick count of the houses he saw, and noted that there were around eleven ruined houses, and twenty-four still standing that he could see.

"Head." Kratos said, getting Mimir's attention. "When Dragomir ruled over this village, how many people would you lived here?"

"Ooh, let me think." Mimir scrunched his nose, trying to remember the details of this village from when Odin first introduced it to him. "Just under five hundred, I believe."

"Five hundred?" Atreus asked in disbelief. "There's no way that many people lived in this small village."

"Oh, I doubt that many people still live here now." Mimir corrected. "Majority of people worked a servants in Dragomir's castle, and that was before Miranda cursed the ill villagers. Sadly, I'd say less than fifty people live here now."

"Quiet, both of you." Kratos hushed. He looked ahead to see a building shaped differently than the rest of the houses. The lights were on in this house, and Kratos could hear people talking from inside. "There. We can ask for information there." 

"Good thinking, brother." Mimir agreed, before pausing. "But people not react too friendly to a talking head and a child inside a bar. Perhaps me and the boy should wait outside?"

Kratos shook his head. "I am not letting either of you leave my sight." 

"Yeah, besides I want to go see some new people." Atreus added.

Kratos pondered this for a second. "Perhaps it is best if you remain outside."

"Father!" Atreus protested.

"I'm being serious, brother." Mimir said sternly. "These people have had enough encounters with magic before. A talking head would freak them out. And it would be easier for you to gather information without the boy with you."

Kratos considered his options. He didn't want to leave Atreus alone in this village, but he also couldn't argue with Mimir's points on not causing a scene.

"Very well." Kratos sighed, removing Mimir from his side and passing it to Atreus, who did his best not to gag. "But stay out of sight." Kratos pointed to a tree that stood next to the bar. "Climb that, and remain silent and hidden as if we were hunting deer. Do not move until I return." 

Atreus sighed. "Yes, father." Atreus then walked over to the tree, and quickly scaled it. Kratos wait for a few seconds, as Atreus got into a safe position where he was hidden from sight.

"Very good, now remain silent." Kratos spoke, before heading over to the bar. He pushed open the doors, and stepped inside. The bar was a small but rustic building. Men were scattered across the room, in various mismatched seats. A branded radio, which was perched behind the bar, played classical music. In short, the bar seemed like just a bar. The arrival of a new guest made the bar go silent, as they took in the man that towered over all of them. Kratos observed everyone in the bar carefully, looking for threats. After identifying the biggest threat as a scarred man with a dirty red bandana sitting in the back, Kratos felt good that no true danger was located here, and took a seat at the bar. He continued to carefully observe the people in the room, as the conversation slowly returned to normal. His train of thought was interrupted by the bartender.

"Ya lost, mister?" The greasy man running the bar asked him. Kratos took a look at this man, and saw that there was not a single thought going on behind the bartender's eyes. 

"Pardon?" Kratos asked.

"I asked ya if ya were lost, mister" The bartender grinned, showing his mouth that was missing quite a bit of teeth. "Ya dressed like a pirate with whats ya wearin'. Just a shoulder pad and a skirt."

"I am not lost." Kratos grumbled, realizing he would get no information from this man. 

"Then what the hell are you doing here?" a voice from behind Kratos asked. Kratos turned to see a clearly tipsy man stroll up to him, taking a swig from a bottle as he did so. "No one comes here with reason."

"I cam here looking for a friend of mine." Kratos lied.

"A friend, eh?" the man hiccuped. "Then tell me, partner. What's your friend's name?"

"Deimos." Kratos answered, his glare remaining unwavering. While Kratos didn't have the name for the supplier he was after, he wouldn't let himself be put at a disadvantage. Deimos was the first name he thought of that wouldn't give away any information about himself, while also having an answer that would satisfy the bar members.

"Deimos, eh?" the man chuckled, taking another swig from his bottle. "Well good news! You found him. I'm Deimos, your long lost friend. So how about you take me to the boat you must have used to get here, and we can go home!" 

"You are not Deimos." Kratos grumbled.

"Sure I am!" the fake Deimos laughed. "Now let's go home!"

"Roy, just let the man be." the scarred bandana man in the back said, rising to his feet. 

"Who's Roy?" Roy danced, flailing his arms around. "I'm Deimos! You got the wrong man, Andy."

"Listen to your friend." Kratos warned, rising to his feet. Kratos knew he couldn't follow through with any threats, so he just attempted to scare the man. This attempt failed.

"But I am!" Roy continued to laughed. "I'm listening to you, buddy! You're my friend! You said you were looking for a friend! And you found him! So let's leave this wasteland and go home!"

"I will not repeat myself. Leave me be." Kratos warned again, giving the drunk man another chance.

The man grabbed Kratos by the shoulder and got up in his face, his laughs turning to pleas and tears. "Just take me, man." he cried. "Take me with you out of here!"

Kratos pushed the man's arm off of his shoulder. "Leave."

Roy went into a frenzy, and smashed his bottle into the side of Kratos' head, which didn't faze him in the slightest. Before Kratos could act however, the bartender leapt up from behind Kratos and jumped onto Roy.

"Are ya crazy?!" the bartender shouted. "Whatchu doin'? Ya fool! He be bleedin' now!"

Kratos put his hand to his ear, and felt liquid. After moving his hand back in front of him, his hand was stained red with blood, but also stank of the beer the man had been drinking.

The bartender got off of Roy, who had passed out, and ran too Kratos' side with napkins. 

"It is very kind of you to treat me, but I can tend to myself." Kratos brushed the man away with his hand, but the bartender continued to try and tend to Kratos.

"It ain't kindness, mister!" the bartender breathed heavily. "Ya wouldn't understand! They can smell it! We gotta clean it up before they smell it!"

"They?" Kratos questioned. 

"Ah, it's too late." The bartender gave up, running to a room in the back of his bar, then locking the door behind him. Several other bar members left the bar, with the exception of Roy who was out cold, and the scarred bandana man, apparently named Andy, who simply continued to sip his ale.

"Better run, sir." Andy sighed. "They'll be coming for you soon when they smell your blood."

"You don't seem worried." Kratos noted, observing the man's relaxed posture.

"Don't worry about me." Andy chuckled. "I've dealt with them before. They hate the taste of my blood."

Kratos didn't see the need to push the matter anymore, and left the bar. 

"Boy, stay in your tree!" Kratos called, as he saw Atreus begin to climb down upon seeing his father leave the bar. After hearing his father's tone, Atreus quickly got back in his spot. Kratos grabbed his axe again, and scouted the village roads. The words of the scarred man in the bar rung in his ears. 'They hate the taste of my blood.' Kratos knew from experience that any creature that craved blood was not one you could reason with. 

Kratos stood firmly with his feet planted in the ground, as he saw three swarms of black flies emerge and land in front of him. From the flies emerged three vampiric figures. 

"Well, well, well, what have we here?" The third figure spoke with excitement. "A poor little man-thing, bleeding by the ear. What's wrong little man, got into a fight after drinking too much?"

"Calm down, Dani." The first figure smirked. "No need to play with your food."

Atreus saw the three figures emerge from the fly swarm from his spot on the tree. He didn't know who these women were, but knew that if they tried to fight his father, it would not end well for them.

"I do not seek a fight." Kratos warned. "Please remove yourself from this path, and return to your home."

"That's no way to speak to a lady!" The third figure teased. "Sending us away, with no food in our stomach."

Kratos began to wipe the blood away from his ear, to the displeasure of the three figures. 

"Don't do that!" The third figure yelled. "You'll ruin the flavour with your filthy hands."

"Enough playing." The second figure grinned. "Let's kill him."

As the three figures charged at Kratos, he swung his axe at the attackers. The girls dodged his attacks, but backed away a short distance.

"Do you really think you'll get anywhere with that toothpick of yours?" The third figure teased. 

Kratos threw his axe at the third figure, which she dodged.

"Missed me!" She called, but was knocked to the ground as Kratos called the axe back to him, and hit her with the butt of the axe.

While Kratos was distracted with the third figure, both the first and second figure attacked his back, holding him down. Kratos attempted to knock them off, but roared in pain as the first figure stabbed him in the back of the head with her sickle. Hearing his father's cry of pain, Atreus couldn't stay in the shadows anymore. Against the advice of Mimir, Atreus dropped down from the tree he was in, sending the reanimated head to the ground in the process. He cocked a lightning arrow back from his bow, and sent it at the first figure. The lightning hit both figures, stunning them, allowing Kratos to push them both off, and charge at the third figure. Kratos raised the Leviathan Axe over his head, charging it up with Frost Magic, and brought it down into the third figure's shoulder.

"AAUGGH!" The third figure screamed in pain, as ice engulfed her entire body. Kratos removed the axe from the now frozen girl and roared as he brought the axe down her head, shattering the ice figure to bits.

"Daniela!" The second figure gasped in shock, before turning to Kratos in hatred. "What have you done?" 

Kratos charged at the second figure, but stopped as he heard Atreus call for help.

"Father!"

Kratos turned to see Atreus being attacked by the first figure, as she stabbed her sickle into his hand. Atreus cried out in pain.

"Boy!" Kratos yelled as he charged at his son and his attacker, but was knocked to the ground by the second figure. 

"Take the boy!" The second figure yelled at the first figure, who nodded. Kratos raised his axe to stop the first figure, but stopped as he realized he might accidentally hit his son in the process. Instead, he pushed the second figure off of him, and tried to run at Atreus, but was too late. The first figure had turned into the swarm of flies that surrounded Atreus, and began to bring him in the direction of the castle. 

"You'll pay for what you did." The second figure laughed. "Or perhaps the boy will pay in your place!"

Kratos roared, and threw his axe at the second figure, who quickly turned into flies and flew after the first figure, her laughing still ringing in Kratos' ears.

Chapter Text

"Damn. Another falls prey to the beast."

Kratos turned to see Andy standing at the door of the bar, leaning on the door frame. "Where are they taking him?" he demanded.

"To her castle." Andy scoffed, walking back into the bar. Kratos followed the man inside.

"Miranda?"

"You think Miranda would live in a thing like that?" Andy chuckled, shaking his head. "God, you really don't know shit about this place. Miranda would never let anyone know her location. She probably has some secret workshop hidden somewhere, but none of us would know." Andy sat down back in his chair, as if the huge scuffle and confrontation had never happened. "Nah, the castle belongs to Lady Alcina Dimitrescu."

"One of the lords." Kratos said to himself in realization.

"Bingo." Andy grinned. "Those wackos you fought were her daughters. Seems like you did a number on them. Well, one of them, at least."

"I tire of jokes." Kratos said, turning to leave the bar. 

"You're crazy if you think you can just waltz into the castle and get that boy back." Andy warned. Kratos stopped at the bar's door, and turned to face the man again.

"I can handle myself against those creatures." 

"Oh, I'm sure you can." the man sneered. "But what about that boy? He didn't seem to be able to handle himself that well."

"All the more reason I should be finding him, instead of wasting my breath on you."

"You march up to the castle, roaring like a mountain lion, demanding for the boy back, they will kill him."

"They brought him back to the castle, instead of killing him here." Kratos thundered, losing his patience. He had to go save Atreus. He wasn't sure why he was trying to reason with the man. "Their actions had a reason. They will not kill him yet. The longer I linger, the less time I have to save him."

Andy shook his head. "They don't think like that; using logic and strategy. They only care about torturing their prey in every way possible before they kill them. They wish to cause as much pain, physical and mental, before they finish the job. I've experienced their brutality firsthand. You're right, they had a reason for not killing that boy. He isn't their target; you are. When you killed their sister, they wanted you to feel what they felt. The realized that the best way to hurt you is to hurt that boy. They will chuck his dead body at your feet just so they can see your expression of distraught." He rose from his seat. "That, is how they think. They see you, they kill him."

"I will not do nothing while my son's fate rests in the hands of those lunatics!" Kratos roared.

"Your son, eh?" Andy said, as Kratos realized his blunder. "Funny, the two of you don't look alike."

Kratos said nothing. He had already given too much information to this man. This man was just as dangerous as the daughters, he realized. Kratos had seen many different kinds of people in his life, and the one that stood before him was a kind he recognized; a deceiver. One that lied for kicks and laughs. The whole tale Andy told him might have just been a lie, to get Kratos to admit that Atreus was his son. Even if the information was useless to him, this man wanted to know as much as possible about everyone he met. Kratos could tell that Andy was a man who wore many masks, and had many personalities. 

Andy on the other hand, could practically hear the cogs turning inside Kratos' head. His grin widened. "You know, I know a secret entrance into the castle, if you want to enter without being detected."

Kratos didn't trust Andy in the slightest, but knew that Andy was his only option for help. Even if he was lying about what would happen if Kratos tried using the front entrance. "Very well. What is this passage you speak of?"

"Not so fast, my new friend." Andy said, his cocky grin fading from his face. "I have a few demands."

Kratos' eyes narrowed. Now he saw Andy's angle. "Demands?"

"Kill the inhabitants of the castle." the man said. "The remaining daughters, and Alcina. If they have any maids, kill them as well."

"No." Kratos said immediately, before exiting the bar. Andy followed him, with a quick pace. 

"It's not much of a request." Andy warned, with no jokes left to tell. "They will kill your son when they see you."

"If they see me." Kratos corrected. "And my safety is not of your concern." 

"You're mad." Andy chuckled in spite of himself. Kratos however was not listening. Instead Kratos bent down to pick up Mimir's head off the ground.

"About time you came for me laddie." Mimir exclaimed. "I've been lying on my face for five minutes!"

"Quiet, head." Kratos hissed. Kratos then turned to face Andy. "Leave. You are not needed."

Andy stood still for a few moments. "Fine." he said. "Go get yourself killed."

Kratos shoved past Andy, and began his journey to Castle Dimitrescu. Andy shook his head, and re-entered the bar.

"I don't think he's gonna help us." Andy said to the the empty bar. The small radio that played behind the bar silenced, and the classical music was replaced by a static voice.

"He'll come around." the voice chuckled. "Once Miranda gets word of his arrival, that it. She'll want the boy."

"He seems determined to not kill any more people." Andy said. "He turned down my offer once he heard the condition."

"Don't sweat it." the static voice chuckled. "Whether he wants the fight or not, that supersized bitch won't take kindly to a disgrace on her family name."

"You seem confident." 

"Confidence has nothing to do with it." the voice laughed. "Even if the man doesn't have any talent himself, those weapons he carries will do all the work for him. I can sense it."

"Yeah, yeah." 

"Just keep me updated if things get more interesting. I'll be in touch." 

The static voice disappeared, and the classical music returned.

Chapter Text

"Head, how well do you know this palace?" Kratos asked, as he approached a wall of the castle.

"Eh, I've been here a once or twice, but that was decades ago, brother." Mimir said. "There might have been interior changes."

Kratos grumbled, and checked an uneven stone in the wall to see if it was stable. After making sure the stone was secure, he began to climb the wall.

"Would the front door not be easier?" Mimir questioned.

"The man from the bar said that they will know if we go in the front door." 

"He is a liar, brother. You told me yourself you didn't trust the man."

"He spoke the truth about the door, but he lied about those women." Kratos said, as one of the rocks he was standing on gave way, and fell to the grassy surface beneath them. Kratos readjusted his stance and continued climbing.

"Be careful, brother!" Mimir warned. 

"I know what I am doing." Kratos huffed, as he made an upwards leap to reach another uneven stone. "And you are safely attached to my hip. Do not worry yourself."

"Bloody hell, brother." Mimir exhaled, as Kratos reached a barred window on the wall. Kratos grabbed hold of the railing, and pulled the entire railing (and a few pieces of stone) off the wall. "Excellent job at staying quiet."

"If I need your opinion, head, I will ask for it." Kratos said. He then shattered the window with a punch, and heaved himself into the castle.

Kratos observed the castle interior. The wall's were painted green, and the support beams were made of cherry wood. Kratos took note of the many expensive vases that surrounded the hallways, and scoffed. "This interior has indeed been changed by the new owner."

"What makes you say that?"

"The outside of this castle is built like a fortress. Sturdy and secure. Yet the interior is colourful, friendly, and welcoming. This is not a castle; it is a home. One designed for comfort, rather than for showing off riches."

"It's pretty similar to what I remember." Mimir said. "Brother, I think you're overthinking this."

Kratos grunted, which Mimir knew meant that Kratos did not agree with him. 

"Anyway, we're inside now." Mimir said. "Let's find the boy." 

"Does this place have a dungeon, head?" Kratos asked.

"I've been here not many more times than you." Mimir said. "Though I assume a good place to start would be in the lower levels."

Kratos unsheathed his axe from behind him and carried it in his hand. He made his way down the stairs, both efficiently and quietly. Soon they came across a map plastered on the side of the wall. Kratos inspected the map, and to his annoyance, there was no sign of a dungeon anywhere.

"Great." Kratos grumbled. "This dungeon must be hidden from view."

"Wait, I remember something." Mimir said in a hushed tone. "Odin and I were invited to the wine cellar of this building, so we could test the wine we wished to purchase. As we tested the wines, we heard screams and pleas for help. Lord Dimitrescu told us it was nothing to concern ourselves with; it was simply the prisoners were being punished. If we find the wine cellar, we should be able to find the dungeon!"

"Finally, some useful information." Kratos said with a huff, as he inspected the map once more for the location of the wine cellar. 

"There are five wine cellars on this map, head." Kratos muttered. "Tell me, does your infinite source of knowledge remember which wine chamber you were in?"

"Well...It was close to the dining room." Mimir said. "Odin and I passed it when we went to the wine cellar."

Kratos nodded and traced his finger along the hallways until he found approximately where he was. With his path decided, Kratos snuck through the hallways of the castle to get to the wine cellar. As Kratos traversed through the castle, he noticed many large pictures of a tall woman with various glasses in her hand.

'So, this lord has a massive ego, it seems.' he thought to himself.

It wasn't long before Kratos arrived at the wine cellar that would be the hidden entrance to the dungeon. Confirming his suspicions that the dungeon was hidden from view, one of the vampiric daughters stood at the entrance of the wine cellar.

"Don't see how you expect to sneak past her." Mimir said.

"Then I solve this problem with force." Kratos grumbled.

Kratos stepped into view and began to walk towards the wine cellar.

"You!" the woman exclaimed, raising her sickle. 

"This is the only warning I will give." Kratos said. "Leave my path and I will grant you mercy."

"Do you expect me to want to help you?" the woman laughed.

"Leave my path, woman." Kratos grumbled. "Last chance."

"Oh, do you wanna get in here?" the daughter chuckled, pointing behind her. "Well then, you're gonna have to go through me."

Kratos entered the dungeon, a trail of icy ash trailing in his footsteps.

"This is definitely a dungeon." Mimir noted, observing the chains and shackles attached to the wall.

"Thank you for that observation, head."

Kratos heard footsteps approaching, and raised his axe in expectation. The footsteps drew closer, then a tiny figure emerged from behind the wall corner.

"Wait, father, it's me!"

"Boy?" 

Kratos lowered the axe to his side and ran to his son and embraced Atreus in a hug.

"How did you free yourself?" Kratos questioned, as he began to inspect his son. His son was in pretty good condition, considering he had been stabbed in the hand by a sickle and thrown in a dungeon. As Kratos inspected Atreus' hand, he noticed that there was no wound where the sickle teared into his flesh, only a faded scar. 

"I had some help." Atreus broke away from Kratos' embrace and turned back around the corner. "It's ok, this guy is our friend." Atreus returned moments later with a thin bearded man cowering behind him. "I think this is the person we are looking for."

"H-howdy!" the man said weakly, as he raised his hand to awkwardly wave at Kratos.

Kratos shoved Atreus behind him and glared at the ragged man standing a few feet away. The man recoiled in fear at Kratos' glare.

"Prove that you are the one we are looking for." Kratos demanded. 

"The person who sent for me is named Brok." the man said. "He has a brother named Sindri, who I also occasionally do business with."

Kratos turned to look at Atreus, who shook his head.

"I didn't tell him either of those names." Atreus said. 

"Very well." Kratos said, still glaring at the man suspiciously. "But if you are unrecognizable by either of the dwarves when we bring you to them, you shall die."

The man gulped and shook his head. "I swear, I'm the real deal!"

Kratos rolled his eyes. "I expected someone braver to be the supplier."

"I was once brave." the man shivered. "But then I learned of the things that could happen to you if you try to escape. All the bravery up and left my body!"

"I do not care for your current condition." Kratos sighed. "Brok mentioned that you were building a gateway. Where is it?"

"Just outside the village." the supplier nodded. "I finished it, and all, but I needed a power source to turn it on. Brok had dozens of them. Do you have one, by chance?"

Kratos recalled the stone Brok gave him after their second time meeting. "Yes, I do."

"Excellent!" the man broke into a toothy grin. "Then we haven't a moment to spare. Let us leave this horrid place at once! Follow me!" The man ran to the exit of the dungeon and flung himself out the door. Two seconds later, he rushed back in and slammed the door behind him. "Ok, so, I have some bad news."

Kratos exhaled in annoyance. "What? What could have possibly gone wrong now?"

As Kratos approached the door, it opened for him. A tall figure in a white dress crouched to fit through the tiny doorframe as she entered the dungeon. Once inside, the woman stood up to her full height, and slammed the door behind them.

"You must be the murderer my daughter warned me about." Lady Dimitrescu seethed.