https://youtu.be/QIxRDU_l8Bc

As I am sure you are aware, heroes are not born - they are forged through the fires of life. And the hero you see before you today is no exception. Once upon a time, I was nothing more than the child of blacksmiths, living in the peaceful village of Lyftedor with his parents, alongside a sole friend - a fellow named Anwin.

Life was...lovely. Looking back, I never fully appreciated how well I had it. I did a good job of learning how to forge weaponry and armour, but I would prefer to goof off at the local theatre. And whenever the circus was in town - well, that was truly the bees knees.

But everything changed when the dragons attacked. It was all so sudden - so much blood, and so much death. That was my first encounter with the terrors of this world and...I couldn't bear it. I was only fourteen. I ran, like the coward I was, and Anwin, determined to keep me safe, ran after me. Some may say it was a good thing that we did, for when we returned the next day, nothing was left. No one was left.

That whole time, I couldn't help but feel like I ought to have done something. What was I? A lowly son of a blacksmith, living in the place of many men far greater than myself. But Anwin, he was far stronger than I. He recognised my pain, and told me that we ought to become stronger to make up for this day.

----

"If it's that sad...let's get stronger. Let's become the kind of people who wouldn't need to run away from these things."

----

We took what remained of my mother's forge - a sabre for myself, and a triplet of daggers for him - and we set out to become warriors. We learned how to fight and wield magic, and under the guidance of a kindly valkyrie we met on our travels, we truly became formidable.

But sadly, the Ratatosk was stronger still. A hideous, sciurine monster with giant, fleshy arms and thick, golden fur. It got us while we were out training on our own, and we had to fight for our lives. And, well, one of us made it out.

----

"I'll hold it off! You need to go get Brynhild!"

"Are you sure you'll make it?"

"I'm sure our parents wouldn't want us both dying, would they? Just trust me."

----

It was not him. When I returned with Brynhild, Anwin was...no longer with us. But I could tell that he had fought valiantly to his final breath. And yet, despite his bravery and strength, it was I who had been allowed to live. As Brynhild removed me from the scene, I made a vow to myself - never again would I run from a fight. Never again would anyone die so that I could live.

.........

As Freya listened to him, she found her arm slowly snaking around him, her face a sympathetic frown as she held him close. She hadn't expected something that heavy. As she looked up at him, she noticed his expression, though trembling somewhat, had remained outwardly calm. "...you don't have to share anymore if you don't want to." she said. "Don't force yourself."

"...if there is anything else you would like to know, then I would gladly share it." Oz shook his head, smiling softly.

"It's just...this can't be easy for you. Did you ever even tell Thor any of this?" Freya asked.

"Thor...never asked." Oz admitted, closing his eyes. "Not that we weren't close, but he always kept me focused on what was in front of me, rather than what I left behind. Now that you mention it, I find myself wondering if that was his way of keeping me happy. I certainly was..."

She remained silent as he trailed off, only to bounce back with a sigh. "Well, there's no way I'll ever know now..." he commented, letting out a small laugh with no joy behind it. "So, did you have any other questions about my mythos?"

"...well, I do find myself curious about two things." Freya said, tilting her head slightly. "...how did you die? And how did you meet Thor?"

"Well, I can actually answer those at once, so I will proceed to do so!" Oz exclaimed, clearing his throat as his tone became quieter. "So, strap on in, will you?"

.........

After leaving Brynhild, my life became that of a wanderer. My heart still carrying the wound of Anwin's sacrifice, I would go around Midgard, doing good deeds and trying to help as many people as I could. I even picked up some healing magic, so that I could save a wounded traveller I met on the road. The skills I picked up would serve me well, and I thought this would be my life, right up until the day I turned seventeen.

That, incidentally, was my first encounter with the other realms. I'd never seen a realm portal before, so when I had a chance encounter with one, curiosity overtook me. I lacked the knowledge to know what its shadowy hue meant.

.........

"Shadowy...wait, does that mean-"

.........

But of course. On the other end of that portal laid the land of the wicked, the land of repentance, the Realm of Darkness - Helheim. The portal disappeared as I stepped through it, and I was trapped. It was dark, eerie, and cold, and with little food, I had to go by on pure adrenaline. But that only lasted me so long. I could only just stave off the cold, and right as I passed out from the hunger...I awakened to a warm blanket, a table filled with delicious food, and a saviour, of sorts.

----

https://youtu.be/Mah8pRo5fo4

"Hello, human. Welcome to the shadow realm."

"Who...are you?"

"Ahaha, this'll be fun. Trickster god Loki, at your service! And this, human, is my domain!"

"Trickster god? But then...why did you save me? Do you want something from me?"

"Hmm...do I? Perhaps I just felt like it. I'm a rather whimsical fellow, I'm told. It could be that your fate is tied to the destruction of the world, and I'm just chomping at the bit to see it through! Or maybe I- hey, are you okay? You haven't touched your food."

"..."

"Oh, RIGHT, trickster god. Look, between you and me, I'm more of a Riddler than a Joker. The food is perfectly safe to eat, cross my heart and hope to die."

"...if you say so."

"Good, good. Doubt is healthy, human, but don't keep it in excess. By the way, do you know how much of an asshole I feel like, calling you 'human' all the time? What's your name, kid?"

"I am Oz Abendroth."

"Oz, huh? Is that short for anything?"

"It is not. That is simply my name."

"Ah, cool name. Ever considered becoming a wizard?"

"I...can't say I have, no."

"Ah, what a shame. You still haven't touched your food, by the way."

"Oh, well...is this kosher?"

"...right, right, you're a Berserker, aren't you? The meat should be fine, but I can't say anything about the skyr or chocolates."

"...I see. Thank you."

"No prob. Now, I'm sure you have your questions. Ask away!"

"Well...how do I get out of here?"

"Through the door!"

"As in, how do I leave Helheim?"

"Ah, you want to get to Midgard, do you? Alrighty, then, listen closely!" Typical, you always do, don't you? Very well, then. Take this, and listen closely."

----

https://youtu.be/8mwWJjB749E

And then, he gave me a name - Edoyr, the Void Gate, that would lead back to Midgard, and he handed me a treasured item - a mask. I finished my meal and headed off, ready to do whatever it took to one day get back to helping people in my own realm. I was going to get home.

And let me tell you, in the five years I was there, I had all sorts of adventures! Being a kingdom in its own right, Helheim was excellent for sightseeing! I laid eyes on all sorts of icy wastes, and I narrowly defeated all sorts of monsters! And my training had reached new heights. I learned new kinds of magic - I wished to learn how to create portals, so I started with teleportation and studied the Raido rune, but I could only manage some minor self-warping -- not to mention, learning about inventory magic sent me down quite the rabbit hole...

But before I get off-track, I'll continue. It wasn't just monsters that I met. There were people, too, most of whom were just like me - travellers who had gotten lost and ended up in a wormhole leading to Helheim. There were some...complications at first, but after some riveting clashes of body and soul, I made fast friends with them.

----

"Man, you're good! Who even are you?"

"I am Oz Abendroth."

"Oz...only two letters? Is that short for something?"

"It is not. Now, what might your name be?"

"Call me Abigail! I'm honoured to have been defeated by you, Oz!"

"Likewise. You were a worthy foe. You're looking for a way out, too, correct?"

"Yeah...wait, 'too'?"

"Excellent. Why don't we join forces?"

----

Many such friendships, many such foes. Many stalwart alliances forged. There was no leadership or organisation, but I did my very best to keep my fellow prisoners alive. And I was successful - down to the last man, not a single one fell under my watchful eye. With the books I found, I did my best to keep myself informed on anything that may threaten the continued safety of the group. I became...a hero, of sorts. The ones I wasn't on regular speaking terms with even gave me a name - the Comic Mask.

That must have entertained Loki quite a lot, though I also managed to draw the attention of Loki's daughter, Narfi. That was...quite the inconvenience, I will admit. She just wouldn't leave me alone. At least it was only me she went after - had she thought to seek vengeance by proxy, she could have slaughtered masses of humans. I do wonder why she was so preoccupied with me, specifically. Perhaps if I ever visit the place again, I'll have to seek her out-

.........

"Oz, you're getting off-topic again."

.........

Right, thank you, Freya. Now, I think you can understand that I came to enjoy Helheim to an extent, but alas, all good things must come to an end. I knew I needed to save these people. I found Edoyr fairly quickly, but I delayed my own escape. The people needed their Mask, after all, and I had to get as many people there as I could. So many of them were waiting for so long, but after five years, I figured I'd done all that I could, and rejoined them.

After all, I knew the finale was approaching. I'd done my research, so I knew exactly what was waiting for us at the very end. I knew what had to be done.

----

https://youtu.be/5fSa0_Hq4Is

"Welcome back, my honoured guests! Oh, and if it isn't the esteemed Comic Mask himself!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"We meet again, Loki."

"Haha, good to see you too, Abendroth. This is quite the party you've assembled, isn't it? You're all leaving so soon?"

"We are, yes. We are at the gate, are we not?"

"Of course. I won't stop you. But there is one thing I need you all to know. Remember where you are?"

"Helheim!"

"Yes, thank you, Abigail. Now, Helheim is meant to be a place of recollection and reformation. Being sent here while you're still living is...well, it's kind of a punishment. As intended. Humans cannot leave this place without giving something up. Or at all, if you have great evil in your hearts, since this place is intended for those people. Thankfully, none of you do. But regardless, you need to sacrifice something - or else you'd better get used to living here. Maybe you'll get into another afterlife eventually..."

----

That threw them for a loop, for sure. None of them had anything they were willing to part with. But I knew this already. I'd come to terms with the fact that something they cherished would need to be given up to set them all free. Something...or someone. Like, say, a hero they had grown to love. Here is where I will confess that I acted out of line - I made a choice for them that they should have had the right to make themselves. But at the time, I was at peace with the fact that this was my last day as a human. This, I thought, was the only way to set them free.

I ignored their cries of protest, their attempts to talk me out of it, and shut out their offers to sacrifice themselves in my place. I couldn't possibly let that happen. I witnessed the flash of Loki's steel as I gazed into the jaws of death. I heard him reassuring me that he'd make absolutely certain that my tale wouldn't go to waste. In my final moments, I thought once again of Anwin, wondering - would he be proud of me if he heard about this? Would he be ashamed, or disappointed? I couldn't possibly know.

A soul, native to Midgard, once untethered to its body, returns to Ginnungagap, the yawning void between life and death. There, it will be judged, and sent to continue life anew based on who they are. Anwin had always been the passionate, determined type - it makes sense that he would make it to the Realm of Fire. As for me, I was sent to the Realm of Light - Asgard. And it was immediately upon awakening that I met a certain someone.

----

https://youtu.be/HDlGXfnK6pA

"This is the place, right? I swear, if this is just another one of his pranks...oh? Who are you?"

"...I am Oz Abendroth. Where...is this?"

"...that is the name he gave, yes. Welcome, Oz Abendroth! I am Thor, the god of thunder - among other things. I take it you're familiar with Loki, correct?"

"I...am."

"Then he was telling the truth...Oz, listen. You've made it to Asgard. Loki told me that I should be expecting you here."

"Asgard...so I still live after all? This is fantastic!"

"Of course! I was told to show you the ropes of being an einherjar. You may find it's quite different from being a human, after all. So I'm here to train you - if you'll have me, that is."

"...then I accept. Consider me clay, to be moulded in your hands."

.........

"And the rest..." Oz closed his eyes, taking a pause for dramatic effect. "...is history."

Freya, who had been listening intently, remained holding onto him, nodding slowly. It wasn't all doom and gloom, and she had in fact found it quite interesting. But to think he'd gone through all of that...it was almost jarring. "Oz...are you alright?"

"I..." Oz began, about to reassure her that he was, only to stop himself. Could he bring himself to lie to her? "...I don't know. But the past is the past, right? We should keep moving forward..."

"Sometimes, the past catches up to us." Freya shook her head, keeping a hold on him as he remained silent. "Surely, you know what I'm talking about, right?"

"...I do." he admitted. "How could I not? It stares me in the face every day."

"But there's no need to avert your eyes. It's still a part of you." Freya pointed out calmly. "And it's not one you have to face alone. If you ever need a shoulder to cry on...you can come to me."

Hearing this, Oz took a deep breath, remaining silent as though holding something back, before nodding at her words, beginning to return her embrace. "Thank you." he said, not quite ready to let himself cry just yet. The two remained like this for some time, allowing the moment to pass between them as they silently dwelled on past and future alike.