---Fenris POV---

It was weird, remembering a Deity without actually remembering them before.

Life would've been much different if I had known during my isolation, during the torment, that there were still good gods out there.

It would've given me hope.

Then again, I could also understand exactly why Cernunnos had blocked those memories. Nothing good would come from a young boy spreading the word that a God was roaming among them.

Even if they wouldn't have believed me, there were plenty of people that would've. Plus there were creatures out there that wouldn't think twice of attacking a lone Deity that was hiding in a mortal shape.

Golden eyes that were very familiar, even in his mortal form. Eyes that had always shown compassion and kindness in equal measure. Knowing that he was capable of destroying everything he wanted, yet using that knowledge to preserve life.

One of the few gods I've encountered, whom actually cared about mortal life, no matter how fleeting it may be.

Now I understood why Cernunnos didn't fear me. He had seen me as a young, impulsive child. Yet even then, I had respect for the wildlife, for nature.

"You are deemed equal to a Deity of Destruction by your pantheon. A monstrosity created solely for the destruction and death of the Norse Pantheon and the world as we know it." Cernunnos recited, making me flinch before the man snorted.

His massive antlers barely missed the walls as he shook his head, curls dancing and bouncing with the gesture. "When I first heard of you, I was convinced Loki must've laid some form of charm on you. Hiding your presence and true nature."

"How else could a deity of destruction reside among mortals without leaving ruin and desolation in their path?" The statement was made bluntly but it was nothing but the truth.

Beings of destruction didn't just sit around and enjoy life. They excelled in what they were prophesied to do ; destroy.

Motioning to me, he mused, "So I went to the mortal realm. Followed the whispers of the supernatural energy that lingered until I encountered you."

Cernunnos made a gesture and all of a sudden, a wispy version of my younger self sat on the floor. Exactly like how I had looked like in my repressed memory.

Protecting a fragile, short life just because the thought of losing it, had been too much to bear. While there had been children of my age, human children, who didn't think twice about throwing rocks at a passing bird or a hissing cat.

Cain chuckled, eying the memory as it replayed before shaking his head. "Yeah, that looks and sounds exactly like a God of Destruction alright." He scoffed sarcastically.

Cernunnos clacked his tongue before smiling as the pup in Cain's hold squirmed to be let down. The deity put the pup down without a fuss before looking back towards us.

"You know, a Deity's domain is often up to interpretation. Just because you're deemed to be a god of Destruction, doesn't have to mean you're intended to destroy and wreak havoc on the world."

I scowled, confused as what Cernunnos meant. After all, the Norse pantheon saw me as nothing more but a symbol of unbridled savagery. A ferocity that could not be contained and would result in the end of the Gods.

Which is the sole reason why the bound me. Why they deemed me a monster and tricked me into unbreakable chains.

Because it was foretold.

Placing a hand on his chest, Cernunnos explained," I am seen as a Deity of Fertility. While there are celebrations involving human fertility, this also refers to fertility of the land. Plants, beast, the very dirt we walk on."

"And if you think about it, this intrinsically connects me to Life and Death. I gift the land and people life through sharing fertility, and I gift death by taking my blessings away." As if to demonstrate, the wooden banister beside him shimmered, sprouting soft green leaves before they withered away.

It made sense. If the land lost its fertility, no vegetation would grow. Beasts and other creatures would head elsewhere and the area would become void of life.

The duality of his powers made me understand what he meant. "As a God of Destruction...I can also be one of Creation?"

Cernunnos snorted in approval, nodding his head much like a stag would. "Indeed. Were you to use your powers to destroy Evil, you create good. By destroying falsehoods, you create Truth."

"You may not know it, but you've already been using your destroyer powers." He said with a motion towards their surroundings. "After all, do you really think that a parent would entrust you with their precious offspring, if you truly were a vile being?"

I looked down at the pup in my arms and smiled. To be fair, I had been confused about that. After learning of my prophecy, I had anticipated to be shunned and hated, much like I would be in the Norse pantheon.

But here, I was accepted with open arms, even if I was supposedly going to be the cause behind the Fall of Gods.

And then it clicked.

"I'm breaking, destroying the lies woven around me." I realized, looking up to the approving gaze of Cernunnos. "My very existence is proving that I am not what legend makes me out to be."

Understanding flooded through me, the hidden meaning of the prophecy slowly unraveling before me. Because everything was just a matter of perspective.

"They see me as a symbol of savagery and ferocity. Which is just another name for being undomesticated and out of human control. In other words...."

Cain huffed, eyes flashing as he finished my sentence for me. "Freedom. Wild and unchained freedom. It's one of the most base, powerful urges and sensations."

"Which also means," I started, turning to Cernunnos with a smile, "That we share a domain, Lord of the Wild."

A slight smirk pulled on his lips before he gave an elegant bow, features enhancing, becoming even more handsome than before. "That we do. We can never deny what we truly are, for we crave the purpose of our existence. However, we can change how we perceive ourselves."

"Do you want to be seen as a victim of abuse? As a sacrificial lamb, ready to take all of the blame of your pantheon? Or do you wish to be the man who pushed beyond his struggles and made himself stronger than he was before?"

He placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, crouching down so we were eye to eye. "Long have I resisted my purpose of fertility because I saw it in the most blatant way possible ; sex. I refused to basically be a deified prostitute."

Those amber eyes melted with softness, a surprising tender smile on his lips as he recalled, "But then I met my Lady, and she gave me perspective in life. Showed me that it isn't just black and white, but gorgeous shades of all colors alike."

"And thus, I expanded my views and saw my nature for what it was. True and unbridled love. Through my love for my Lady, my Queen, I learned what it was like to be passionate, kind and fierce all alike. I realized I didn't need to sleep with people in order to share my gift, nor did I need to live in the woods to be seen as the Lord of the Wild."

He chuckled before shaking his head once more. "With each step we take in life, we redesign and repurpose ourselves. Whoever we are today is not whoever we are tomorrow, unless we chose to be. So, you'll have to ask yourself Fenris; What is it that you want in life. You as an individua;, not your past, the pantheon you've originated from...You."

It was as if his words had been a key to unlock a long lost doorway. Even the bestial entity within me, who had always been separate, now merged as one.

Freedom.

I wanted the freedom to decide what I wanted, instead of what others thought was best for me. Wanted others to be capable of choosing their own fate as well. All those years within the darkness of my prison, I had wanted to break the shackles that bound me.

And destroy whoever thought it was allowed to force themselves upon another. Who could turn an act of love and tenderness into a gesture of hatred and repulsion.

Because in that aspect, I was indeed like a wolf. Wild and free yet wary of strangers. Fiercely protective of those I loved and trusted, to the point that I would lay down my own life in exchange for their safety.

I was a lone wolf, yet I also thrived in a pack. And I had come to learn about myself that I absolutely despised lies and people who thought they could tell me what to do.

No longer would I be a symbol and synonym of destruction, agony and betrayal. Instead, I would become a Deity of Freedom, Loyalty and the Ferocity needed to protect those who need it.

Perhaps I was indeed the cause of the Fall of Gods. Because I would commence a Ragnarök within their fake believes, shake up their false foundations and reveal the truth to all.

I will destroy the Norse pantheon as they knew it, and rebuilt it to its true glory. While it may not be in the physical meaning of the word, I knew that once the truth would be revealed, the pantheon would shake on its very foundations.

False relationships and their shackles would be broken. People would be freed of their obscured, skewed lies that had long ago clouded their senses.

And in doing so, they will be freed.