(Smite University) Studious Endeavors --31

----------Terra's Perspective----------

"Fighting in the middle of the campus, what is wrong with you two?!" The two boys look at me like I've said something absurd.

The black haired one approaches me, reaching for a handshake. "Allow me to apologize for my behavior. My name is Erlang Shen, and this is my close friend-"

The other boy makes a loud noise that I will call a scoff, though it was closer to a scream. "I'm Sun Wukong, and I am WAY more sorry than this three eyed troll." 

"Uhuh". I can tell they both think highly of themselves. I chose to shake neither hand, and Nox appears. "Nox, are your students always fighting like this?"

Nox sighs. "I wish I could say no, but yes. With a school like this there's going to be a lot of clashing egos, as students realize they're not the only god of death, or god of war, or sun god, or moon god. I allow students to fight one another as long as there is consent between both parties. Often times they end up becoming better friends once they've gotten their frustrations out. Many of the classes taught here are combat classes, I did tell you that right?"

"You did but... I never thought they'd be using those lessons on each other." Sun Wukong and Erlang Shen snake away. "I just hope they don't break into fights while they're in my class.

"They shouldn't you are teaching botany after all." 

"You'd be surprised how often I've seen humans argue over the smallest of plants. Though I'm hopeful these gods are above such squabbles."

"So, ready to see your class room?"

"I believe so." I sincerely hope those two buffoons don't join my class. . .

----------Mercury's Perspective----------

Sitting here in Awilix's room, it's so quiet. I know we're supposed to be studying, but I just can't get over how cute Awilix is, and how boring Professor Ullr's homework is. She doesn't seem to be having any trouble staying on task. I wonder how far ahead she is. I try to peak at her work from across the coffee table. She looks at me offended. "Mercury, that's cheating!"

"I'm sorry!"

She giggles. "I'm just kidding, are you getting this?"

"Of course I am." No I'm not.

"Liar. You haven't even picked up your pencil." So I haven't... 

"I just don't get what I could possibly write for these unwinnable scenarios. What do you have anyways?" 

"Well, actually. . ." She turns her notebook around and pushes it towards me. On the homework sheet she's written for nearly every answer blah blah blah. 

"And to think, I was about to cheat off of your homework." I act offended. 

"I just write blah till I think of an answer, it helps the process ya know?"

"Does it really?"

"Sometimes."

Athena bursts in. "I'm gone for two days and you've already replaced me with the Trickster." I hate that title. Athena knows I hate that title.

Awilix gets up and hugs Athena. "I'm glad you're okay! Mercury is just here to help me study, since you weren't around." And to help her sleep.

I chuckle at my own internal joke. They both look at me. Athena glances at our homework. "You two need help."

She's not wrong. Scratching my head. "Yeaaah..."

She takes a closer look at this. "What... What is this???"

I raise my hand with an answer. "Pure evil."

She's seems baffled. "I don't even think I could solve these, why would you ever even need this? These scenarios would be impossible to win even for the most skilled generals!"

Athena is a top tier student. If she can't find the answer then we're so screwed!

Awilix starts writing a lot.

I pick up my pencil. "Whatcha got Awilix?" 

"The answer is to accept defeat. . . and done!" She puts her pencil down and lays back.

I write that down. "What was even the point of this?"

Athena asks, "Professor Ullr?"

I nod.

"There wasn't one." Athena seems quite proud of that answer.

I feel like there was a sick burn there but I don't know the Norse pantheon well enough to understand it. I lay down next to Awilix. Now the only thing ahead of us is the exams. Then we get a nice little break.

----------Freya's Perspective----------

It's been days since I left campus. I've searched all over Midgard, Asgard, Vanaheim, Jotunheim, and Alfheim. No sign of Ood anywhere, only places left to check are Svartalfheim and dare I look into Niflheim, I pray he not be there. I'm so tired and my wings are growing frigid. I must rest now on the border of Svartalfheim. I start to fall asleep under trees surrounded by bushes. "Ood... Where are you. . ?"

I hear some leaves crunching and I spring to my feet with my sword drawn. Arachne? "Freya! I'm so glad I found you."

"How did you get here?" 

"Kukulkan." what. . .

"Okay, how did he get here?"

"We followed the roots of Yggdrasil to the Spring of Mimir" Her pronunciation is impeccable. I swing my sword for Arachne and she slides to the side. "What the Hel Freya?!"

I grab her by her shirt and put the tip of my blade to her throat. "You're not Arachne. Who are you?" 

She holds up her hands. "I don't know what you're talking about." 

"Greeks never pronounce Yggdrasil correctly, and Greeks definitely don't say 'What the Hel,' so I'll ask you again. Who are you?"

Arachne fades away and I find I'm holding on to Loki's shirt. "Hey buddy." I toss him aside. 

I rub my temples. "So many questions... Why Arachne? I don't even think she's really close with any Norse gods, why would she be here???"

"I might have guided her little rescue party here. . ."

"Rescue party?" For Ood..? How would they know about-

"Hel, and Jormungand have been captured Fafnir. . ."

"What, why?!"

"Well I did sort of kill his brother. . . and then gave him his skin"

"But Sigfried killed him, how can he be alive???" 

"My guess, since Hel has been away at school, the gates of Niflheim aren't exactly secure."

"But her servants, and the dogs still stand there don't they?" 

"They do, but I would imagine they're far less intimidating than Hel."

----------Fafnir's Perspective----------

I finish tying up the last of that little search party. "Let's see now, I got the girl, the girl with spiders, the snake, the flying snake, and the girl with the snakes. Honestly, I don't care for most of you, but I can't have any of you spoiling my plans, and I still need that damn dog." 

The flying snake is still unconscious. Shame he went down so quickly, I've never fought another dragon before. The snake girl coughs, I believe she's the only one awake. "We have names you know."

"Everyone does, I bet you don't even know mine."

"Well... I'm Medusa."

"Okay Medusa. I'm Fafnir."

----------Medusa's Perspective----------

Loki already told us all about this guy. Might as well use that info to my advantage. "I understand you Fafnir, I can see it in your eyes, your anguish. I can see your desires too. . ."

"Sorry girl, but unless you're made of gold, I'm not interested." Ew. . . he'd make great friends with Midas. 

"I meant, I can see that you want revenge."

"How could you possibly see all of that in my eyes."

"Because your eyes are just like mine."

"Nonsense."

"Don't believe me? Look into my eyes."

I open my eyes wide, and he stares directly into them. He's turned to stone with my petrification spell. "-. . ."

"Ahahahaha! That was so easy!" I try to free myself, but these binds won't move. "Hey! Kukulkan, Arachne. Wake up!" I try to kick a pebble at Arachne but it doesn't come close, and she doesn't even budge. The statue of the dwarf starts to crack.