[Bailey]
I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing, trying to calm the nerves that were buzzing beneath my skin. A powerful energy surged through me as Hel clasped my hands, feeling as if she was drawing something out of the depths of my soul.
A low hum filled the silent room, becoming increasingly audible with every passing moment. A strange, almost electric feeling vibrated through the air, leaving me breathless and filled with a sense of awe. Hel’s composure helped me to endure the unnerving energy.
“Do you know the history of the gods in this world? The truth of it, not the mythology?” she asked gently, breaking the deafening silence.
“N-no. I’m not familiar with anything except what I was taught.”
She smiled tightly, as if she fully expected me to be so unprepared. I didn’t ge
