💙16 - Across the Laughing Worlds [Runes of Wyrd - vol 2]🤍

progressive metal, theatrical metal, Viking metal

V5.5

In the picture, from left to right:
- Mikki Þríkungr
- Ash, The Ash-Walker
- Torstein Orrisson

Album : https://suno.com/playlist/d3b85d17-41e5-4f6c-bfbc-4086191ed19e

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Several days passed while the queen and her companions allowed themselves to be guided by Skörta's visions. Every morning, the ravens resumed their circles above the cliffs, as if they were drawing an invisible path that only the queen was capable of understanding. The cold never weakened. Yet no one thought of turning back.

During one halt, Mikal-Finnvard Arvast slowed his pace to walk beside Mikki and Ash.

"Mikki... did you know Ash before we met?"

The old druid immediately displayed his everlasting mischievous smile.

"Oh, my dear Mikal-Finnvard Arvast... No. I simply knew I wasn't alone. The worlds are vast... far vaster than you can imagine. So I kept a faint hope... without truly believing in it."

The jarl hesitated for a moment before adding,

"May I ask you a rather indiscreet question? How old are you really?"

Mikki burst into laughter. While absentmindedly playing with the grey braids in the jarl's beard, he replied,

"Ah... I understand. Ash looks far too young for her age, so you're wondering whether it's the same for me. Yes... I witnessed the fall of the Bifröst with my own eyes. But unlike her, I believe I am one of her descendants... a very distant one."

Torstein, who had just joined them, frowned.

"That's strange... You could almost be her grandfather."

"My poor friend..." Mikki answered with a laugh. "Your eyes see only an illusion. Ash is much older than I am. Much older."

Without even turning her head, Ash continued walking.

"Gentlemen... you're talking about me as if I weren't walking right in front of you."

Mikki burst into laughter once again.

"He he he... I like you, Ash. At least I won't be the only one to see..."

He deliberately stopped his sentence.

The jarl looked at him curiously.

"See what exactly?"

Ash answered before Mikki could open his mouth.

"Some truths do not make you stronger. They simply make you lonelier. Knowledge is often a curse. Ignorance, on the other hand, still allows you to sleep peacefully."

The jarl remained silent for a few moments before nodding.

"Your power is immense..."

Then he looked at Mikki.

"And yours as well. Behind your jokes, you hide a wisdom that probably surpasses every leader I have ever known."

This time, Mikki did not reply. He merely offered an almost affectionate smile.

After a few more steps, the jarl spoke again.

"Ash... Do you believe in the gods?"

She slowed slightly before giving him a discreet smile.

"I believe in them... yes. Worship them... certainly not. The gods are as magnificent as they are unpredictable. They shape the worlds... then destroy them just as easily."

She raised her eyes toward the mountains.

"Your ancestors understood something that many have forgotten. The Green Faith is infinitely more stable. Nature seeks neither power nor revenge. It is always reborn. Even after the harshest winters."

The jarl looked at her with surprise.

"So... you are a priestess of the Green Faith?"

Ash slowly shook her head.

"No. I preach nothing. I simply observe that trees keep their promises far more often than the gods do. Men find courage in forests, rivers, or the wind... Whether that strength is real or not does not matter. If it allows them to move forward, then it already exists."

Mikki nodded in agreement.

"Exactly. Your ancestors understood that, Mikal-Finnvard. And so did you. It is this belief that allowed Skalvheim to become a sanctuary. Walls protect bodies... but beliefs protect peoples."

The jarl lowered his eyes modestly.

"I had never seen it that way..."

Then he turned back to Ash.

"So after all this time... you truly serve no god?"

She exhaled softly.

"You're finally beginning to understand. I see your truths whenever I play. Your fears. Your regrets. Your lies. Your most beautiful memories as well. No life remains secret to my ears. You probably imagine it is a gift... I assure you it is a burden. Discovering everyone's weaknesses eventually exhausts the soul."

Torstein frowned.

"And yet... such a power could give us an immense advantage in battle."

Before Ash could answer, Mikki raised one finger.

"Put your bravery back where it belongs, my young friend. You already died once, remember? Powers are not mugs of mead that you empty whenever you feel like it. The more you consume them... the more they eventually consume you."

Torstein shrugged with a resigned smile.

"I did try..."

"And it ended very badly," Mikki replied, bursting into laughter.

Even Ash allowed herself a discreet smile.

Silence gradually returned as the hours passed. The cliffs gave way to an immense plain of black ash where the snow seemed forever unable to settle.

Then, at last...

The volcano appeared.

Immense.

Ancient.

As though the mountain itself were still breathing.

Skörta stopped immediately.

She placed one hand against her chest and closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, her voice was barely more than a whisper.

"It's here... I can feel it."

The ravens were already circling above the crater.

"Helena is there... I'm certain of it."

💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍

Whohohoho! I laughed before the stars learned fear!
The gods lose crowns from year to year!
Whohohoho! Yet every road still calls my name,
Dance through the worlds... we're all the same!

I wandered laughing through forgotten skies.
Ek gekk einn um níu heima, en fann þó enga mína.
Then Ash appeared... and silence smiled at last.
Gamall harmr varð léttari, er systir fannst í skugga.
No burden grows when two old souls can carry it.
Vinir eru sterkari en spjót ok stál.
Perhaps the gods are mad... because they love too deeply.

Whohohoho! The ravens laugh before they fly!
Truth wears a fool's old bright disguise!
Whohohoho! One heart alone will always break,
Two hearts together bend, not shake.
Across the frost, across the flame,
Even the gods forget their names.
So laugh, my friends, while worlds remain...
Tomorrow's sorrow feeds today's refrain.

The Jarl stood taller than he ever knew.
Hann ber skóginn í hjarta sínu, þó hann sjái það eigi.
Torstein laughs to keep the darkness waiting.
Hláttr hans rekur skugga frá eldinum um stund.
Ash showed me I was never truly the last.
Nú veit ek... örlög syngja með tveim röddum saman.
Perhaps the maddest gods still teach us how to love.

[Ash Interlude]
I hear the roots beneath your names.
I hear the lies you learned to keep.
The cold remembers every promise...
yet every wound still learns to sing.
I do not judge... I simply listen.
Truth has always known your voice.

Fear the gods! Love the pain!
Break the chain! Walk again! 
Laugh at fate! Lift the weak! 
Climb the peak! Never sleep!

Whohohoho! Every fool can wear a crown! 
(Wear a crown!)
Whohohoho! Every king can tumble down! 
We dance where raven shadows twirl,
Across the Laughing Worlds
The gods may break what love has grown,
Still no one walks the path alone!
Whohohoho! Laugh before the heavens fall!
Across the Laughing Worlds

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In the picture, from left to right: - Mikki Þríkungr - Ash, The Ash-Walker - Torstein Orrisson Album : https://suno.com/playlist/d3b85d17-41e5-4f6c-bfbc-4086191ed19e 💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍 Several days passed while the queen and her companions allowed themselves to be guided by Skörta's visions. Every morning, the ravens resumed their circles above the cliffs, as if they were drawing an invisible path that only the queen was capable of understanding. The cold never weakened. Yet no one thought of turning back. During one halt, Mikal-Finnvard Arvast slowed his pace to walk beside Mikki and Ash. "Mikki... did you know Ash before we met?" The old druid immediately displayed his everlasting mischievous smile. "Oh, my dear Mikal-Finnvard Arvast... No. I simply knew I wasn't alone. The worlds are vast... far vaster than you can imagine. So I kept a faint hope... without truly believing in it." The jarl hesitated for a moment before adding, "May I ask you a rather indiscreet question? How old are you really?" Mikki burst into laughter. While absentmindedly playing with the grey braids in the jarl's beard, he replied, "Ah... I understand. Ash looks far too young for her age, so you're wondering whether it's the same for me. Yes... I witnessed the fall of the Bifröst with my own eyes. But unlike her, I believe I am one of her descendants... a very distant one." Torstein, who had just joined them, frowned. "That's strange... You could almost be her grandfather." "My poor friend..." Mikki answered with a laugh. "Your eyes see only an illusion. Ash is much older than I am. Much older." Without even turning her head, Ash continued walking. "Gentlemen... you're talking about me as if I weren't walking right in front of you." Mikki burst into laughter once again. "He he he... I like you, Ash. At least I won't be the only one to see..." He deliberately stopped his sentence. The jarl looked at him curiously. "See what exactly?" Ash answered before Mikki could open his mouth. "Some truths do not make you stronger. They simply make you lonelier. Knowledge is often a curse. Ignorance, on the other hand, still allows you to sleep peacefully." The jarl remained silent for a few moments before nodding. "Your power is immense..." Then he looked at Mikki. "And yours as well. Behind your jokes, you hide a wisdom that probably surpasses every leader I have ever known." This time, Mikki did not reply. He merely offered an almost affectionate smile. After a few more steps, the jarl spoke again. "Ash... Do you believe in the gods?" She slowed slightly before giving him a discreet smile. "I believe in them... yes. Worship them... certainly not. The gods are as magnificent as they are unpredictable. They shape the worlds... then destroy them just as easily." She raised her eyes toward the mountains. "Your ancestors understood something that many have forgotten. The Green Faith is infinitely more stable. Nature seeks neither power nor revenge. It is always reborn. Even after the harshest winters." The jarl looked at her with surprise. "So... you are a priestess of the Green Faith?" Ash slowly shook her head. "No. I preach nothing. I simply observe that trees keep their promises far more often than the gods do. Men find courage in forests, rivers, or the wind... Whether that strength is real or not does not matter. If it allows them to move forward, then it already exists." Mikki nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Your ancestors understood that, Mikal-Finnvard. And so did you. It is this belief that allowed Skalvheim to become a sanctuary. Walls protect bodies... but beliefs protect peoples." The jarl lowered his eyes modestly. "I had never seen it that way..." Then he turned back to Ash. "So after all this time... you truly serve no god?" She exhaled softly. "You're finally beginning to understand. I see your truths whenever I play. Your fears. Your regrets. Your lies. Your most beautiful memories as well. No life remains secret to my ears. You probably imagine it is a gift... I assure you it is a burden. Discovering everyone's weaknesses eventually exhausts the soul." Torstein frowned. "And yet... such a power could give us an immense advantage in battle." Before Ash could answer, Mikki raised one finger. "Put your bravery back where it belongs, my young friend. You already died once, remember? Powers are not mugs of mead that you empty whenever you feel like it. The more you consume them... the more they eventually consume you." Torstein shrugged with a resigned smile. "I did try..." "And it ended very badly," Mikki replied, bursting into laughter. Even Ash allowed herself a discreet smile. Silence gradually returned as the hours passed. The cliffs gave way to an immense plain of black ash where the snow seemed forever unable to settle. Then, at last... The volcano appeared. Immense. Ancient. As though the mountain itself were still breathing. Skörta stopped immediately. She placed one hand against her chest and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, her voice was barely more than a whisper. "It's here... I can feel it." The ravens were already circling above the crater. "Helena is there... I'm certain of it." 💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍 Whohohoho! I laughed before the stars learned fear! The gods lose crowns from year to year! Whohohoho! Yet every road still calls my name, Dance through the worlds... we're all the same! I wandered laughing through forgotten skies. Ek gekk einn um níu heima, en fann þó enga mína. Then Ash appeared... and silence smiled at last. Gamall harmr varð léttari, er systir fannst í skugga. No burden grows when two old souls can carry it. Vinir eru sterkari en spjót ok stál. Perhaps the gods are mad... because they love too deeply. Whohohoho! The ravens laugh before they fly! Truth wears a fool's old bright disguise! Whohohoho! One heart alone will always break, Two hearts together bend, not shake. Across the frost, across the flame, Even the gods forget their names. So laugh, my friends, while worlds remain... Tomorrow's sorrow feeds today's refrain. The Jarl stood taller than he ever knew. Hann ber skóginn í hjarta sínu, þó hann sjái það eigi. Torstein laughs to keep the darkness waiting. Hláttr hans rekur skugga frá eldinum um stund. Ash showed me I was never truly the last. Nú veit ek... örlög syngja með tveim röddum saman. Perhaps the maddest gods still teach us how to love. [Ash Interlude] I hear the roots beneath your names. I hear the lies you learned to keep. The cold remembers every promise... yet every wound still learns to sing. I do not judge... I simply listen. Truth has always known your voice. Fear the gods! Love the pain! Break the chain! Walk again! Laugh at fate! Lift the weak! Climb the peak! Never sleep! Fear the gods! Love the pain! Break the chain! Walk again! Laugh at fate! Lift the weak! Climb the peak! Never sleep! Whohohoho! Every fool can wear a crown! (Wear a crown!) Whohohoho! Every king can tumble down! We dance where raven shadows twirl, Across the Laughing Worlds The gods may break what love has grown, Still no one walks the path alone! Whohohoho! Laugh before the heavens fall! Across the Laughing Worlds

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