80 Vol 2. pt. 17 Patch 3.0: Opening Ceremony (2/2)

Fenrir turns around and sees Ull standing above him.

”Oh, I figured you would try something the moment I saw you. Hunters and wolves just don't tend to get along very well,” Ull says, staring down into Fenrir's eyes.

”What sort of hunter goes after innocent girls?” Fenrir asks and then spits out blood onto the pier.

Ull snaps his fingers. ”You, heal him,” he orders a guard.

The guard immediately heals Fenrir.

Fenrir's vision returns to normal, and he can't feel any more pain, but the binds around his wrists and ankles are still impossible for him to break.

”They used Gleipnir on you? How fitting. You're already a wolf. Now you just need the name Fenrir,” Ull teases.

”I hope you believe in crazy coincidences then,” Fenrir answers.

A huge grin spreads across Ull's lips. ”No, don't tell me – don't tell me you actually go by Fenrir. Do you?”

”I've never been good at coming up with original names,” Fenrir answers. He knows that he can't fight his way out of this, and nobody is going to be able to come and save him, so his only option right now is discourse.

”Perfect!” Ull breaks out laughing. ”Just perfect! Fenrir has once again been bound by Gleipnir. This couldn't be a more perfect use of it. For your sake, I hope that Ragnarök happens soon lest you wish to stay bound.”

”Why don't you try sticking a hand in my mouth?” Fenrir asks.

Ull laughs even more. ”You – I like you, Fenrir. You are far more amusing than most whom have tried causing me trouble in this world. How does being one of my guard dogs sound? Fenrisúlfr back home could use a brother.”

”Sorry, but I'll have to turn that down. I've still got some business with Odin before I consider retiring. Plus, I've got a fishing tournament still.”

”Like hell ya do,” Blackstache says, now standing next to Ull. ”Ya think some mangy mutt causin' trouble for my city and a foreign guest is goin' ta be allowed in tha tourney? Ya see here, wolfy boy, we may be pirates but we follow tha rules. Ya break the rules, yer ship gets scuttled and yer crew gets strung up.”

Fenrir previously just thought Blackstache was like a fun uncle, but now that he's being serious, Fenrir can tell why everybody follows his rules. Any air of lightheartedness from before is gone now as the mustached pirate lord scolds him.

”My dear friend, don't worry about his transgressions. This is my fault. You see, my toy here,” Ull beckons one of the guards forward to bring Nell up to them, ”has a habit of escaping and causing trouble. Surely you have heard of the Western Serpent's ability to seduce weaker minds, and this monster,” he looks at Nell, ”is a girl whom has been blessed with such ability. Apparently, I needed to assign a guard with higher Fortitude to her. I keep on assigning guards with higher and higher Fortitude, yet she continues seducing each and every one.”

”So yer tellin' me that this mutt wasn't actin' o' his own will?” Blackstache asks.

”Indeed. Beasts are not known for being very intelligent creatures, after all. It is no surprise that she was able to seduce him.”

Nell refuses to make eye contact with any of them.

Fenrir grits his teeth. He doesn't know if Nell truly has an ability to seduce weaker minds or anything like that, but he has faith in her that she didn't use such a thing on him even if she could have.

Even if she did, it doesn't matter.

He promised her that he wouldn't let her get taken away again.

”If him an' his crew were just bein' controlled by her, then I'll let 'em – oi!” Blackstache stops talking when he sees Fenrir desperately biting at the silk-thin binding.

Fenrir's teeth feel like they are going to break before the binding does.

”Let him try if he so wishes. He will not be able to break through Gleipnir,” Ull reassures Blackstache.

Fenrir only stops biting at it when he hears Nell speak to him.

”My hero, I told you that freedom is impossible for me. I know you made a promise, but please, do not worry about it. I knew this would happen no matter how much I wished for it to not,” Nell says.

She sounds calm and relaxed, but when Fenrir looks up at her, he sees eyes holding back tears.

”I'm sorry,” Fenrir says. ”I'm sorry for not being able to keep my promise.”

Nell is allowed to walk up to Fenrir and drop to her knees so that she can wrap her arms around his head, cradling him against her chest. ”You tried your hardest, and that is all that matters.”

She leans her head down to place a kiss on the top of his head but is interrupted when Ull grabs her by her hair and lifts her up off the ground.

”Don't get ahead of yourself, Nehalennia,” Ull orders.

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Fenrir glares up at Ull.

The condescending, taunting look in Ull's eyes makes it apparent that he doesn't truly believe Fenrir was being controlled.

Ull is covering for Fenrir, but why?

”I look forward to seeing you participate in the tournament, Fenrir,” Ull says, dropping Nell down to instead lead her by her new metallic leash as he walks away.

”Yer lucky he wants ta see ya in the tourney,” Blackstache says before following after Ull. His words make Fenrir think that he knew it was just a cover story.

The guards are the last to leave. After they are a good distance away, the bindings around Fenrir and the four tied up near the front of the pier disappear. He would have thought marks would have been left from how tight and powerful the bindings were, but there is no evidence that the bindings were ever there.

Cassiel and Serra are running up to check on Fenrir now.

Fenrir struggles standing up at first, but once he's up, he goes to look for Rock.