Eclipse of Eternities

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The Awakening

Orion's consciousness drifted between light and shadow, silence and whispers. He had died. He had felt it—the cold creeping into his limbs, the last breath leaving his lips, the cries of Alec and Isabelle fading into nothingness until the feelings started to return.

But now, he was somewhere else.

Slowly, he became aware of soft carpets of furs beneath him, the scent of pine and firewood filling his nostrils. There was a faint humming sound—no, chanting—and the distant clang of metal against metal.

He forced his eyes open.

Above him was a massive wooden ceiling, engraved with intricate Norse runes. Chandeliers made of bones and steel hung from the rafters, their golden flames flickering across the hall's immense pillars.

He then knew wasn't at the Institute anymore.

A gruff voice broke through his thoughts.

"Well, meeting a demigod nephilim is not what I expected for today."

Orion turned his head. A broad-shouldered man with a thick brown beard stood beside him, arms crossed over his armored chest. His eyes—dark as polished iron—were scanning Orion like he was an absolute rarity in the neighborhood.

"You're awoke faster than most," the man said, raising an eyebrow. "Interesting but understandable."

Orion's voice came out hoarse. "Where… am I?"

The man smirked. "Welcome to Hotel Valhalla, kid. My Name's Helgi. I'm the manager of this fine establishment under the name of the great Odin."

Hotel what?

Orion sat up too fast, and a rush of dizziness hit him. He clenched his fists, steadying himself. His body felt… lighter. Stronger. Like something inside him had changed.

"Valhalla?" Orion repeated, the name sparking something familiar in his mind, and then it came to him but he didn't get the hotel part.

Helgi chuckled. "You're a quick one. Most new einherjar wake up screaming or throwing punches traumatized by their experiences in wars or battles to have curiosity in them for a long time. But you? You're just confused, well it seems we won't have to give you psychological therapy unlike the others."

Einherjar. The warriors of Odin. The dead who fought and feasted in preparation for Ragnarok or feasting and hotels make sense but not completely I guess.

So… he was really dead.

His hands curled into fists. He had died, but he wasn't gone. And if he was in Valhalla, then that meant—

Something was off.

Helgi seemed to read his thoughts. "Yeah, I figured something was weird about you." He took a step forward, leaning in slightly and sniffing the air.

Orion pulled back, raising an eyebrow. "Did you just—?"

Helgi's face twisted in disbelief. "You smell like the Olympians and we are under strained relation with them after thor defeated ares a few years back."

Orion froze.

"What?"

Helgi straightened, expression darkening. "This is… unusual especially since you could have been sent to either Elysium or Haven due to your blood." He turned on his heel. "Come with me. Odin will want to see you."

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A Meeting with the All-Father

Helgi led Orion deeper into the halls of Valhalla, past warriors laughing, sparring, and drinking as if death was just another step in life. Orion saw figures that looked like Vikings, medieval knights, and even warriors from more modern times.

But something told him his situation was different than the usual.

Helgi brought him to a set of towering doors, flanked by two massive wolves whose yellow eyes followed Orion's every step. The doors swung open on their own, revealing a circular chamber of endless night sky, constellations swirling like galaxies trapped in a bottle.

At the center, a single throne made of swords, bones, and golden metal sat atop a raised platform.

And on it, Odin watched him.

His presence was unlike anything Orion had ever felt—not just power, but wisdom, calculation, and an overwhelming sense of control. His single eye burned like a supernova, and the two massive ravens perched on either side of him ruffled their feathers in curiosity.

Helgi bowed. "All-Father, we have a… peculiar case."

Odin's gaze didn't waver from Orion. "So it seems." His voice was deep, but not unkind. "Step forward, boy."

Orion did.

The moment he did, the runes in the air around Odin flared to life, whispering in a language Orion didn't understand. Odin's good eye narrowed slightly.

"You are not connected to the fates and destiny."

Orion tensed. "I—"

Odin raised a hand. "Not by birth. But you are free from it nonetheless."

The ravens cawed sharply, and Odin turned to them, as if listening to something only he could hear.

Then, he exhaled, his expression shifting from curiosity to understanding.

"You are a descendant of Siegfried, the slayer of Fafnir. Your blood carries the legacy of a warrior who defied the will of the gods."

Orion stiffened. Siegfried? As in the Siegfried?

Helgi nearby also looked surprised but remained silent.

Odin continued. "And yet, that is not all. You are Nephilim—born of angels, the blood of Heaven woven into your essence which hides the weaker bloodline." His eye darkened. "But even that is eclipsed by something greater."

The runes flashed again, and Odin's voice was quiet when he spoke next.

"You are the son of Uranus the primordial god of sky whose death I was certain of before today."

A shockwave of energy rippled through the room, making the torches flicker. Even Helgi looked unnerved.

Orion's breath hitched.

He knew he had power. He knew he wasn't normal. But hearing Odin confirm it? That was something else entirely.

Odin studied him for a long moment. Then, something shifted in his gaze.

"You are unbound."

Orion frowned. "Unbound?"

"You are free from the strings of fate," Odin said. "You do not walk a path that has been written. You exist outside the weave of destiny itself."

Orion's mind raced. He had suspected that something about him was different, but to be beyond fate itself?

That was dangerous.

And powerful.

Odin leaned forward. "For that, I grant you something rare."

He gestured to the runes swirling around them, and Orion felt something settle inside him.

"You will have free passage through the Nine Realms," Odin decreed. "No quest, no mission required—so long as you abide by the laws of Valhalla."

Orion blinked. "That's it?"

Odin smirked. "I have a feeling you will find trouble regardless but who am I to say that in consideration to my own story."

That… wasn't exactly reassuring.

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The Feast & Freya the Valkyrie

Later, Orion found himself seated in the grand feasting hall, surrounded by warriors celebrating their victories in death.

The Valkyrie who had brought him here—Freya—was sitting next to him, grinning.

"So, you're famous now," she teased, taking a sip from her drinking horn. "That didn't take long."

Orion snorted. "Not exactly how I planned my afterlife."

Freya leaned in. "You'll get used to it. I did."

Orion raised an eyebrow. "And you are…?"

She smirked. "A demigod child of Loki well and the fastest Valkyrie in the nine realms and also a blessed of goddess freya the fair."

Orion nearly choked on his drink.

Freya laughed. "Relax. I take after my mother."

Orion exhaled. "That does make me feel slightly better than before."

She grinned. "You'll survive. Well—maybe. You're in Valhalla, after all."

Orion chuckled despite himself. He had lost everything, died fighting for a world he barely understood.

But maybe… just maybe…

His story wasn't over yet.

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Conclusion – A New Path Begins

Orion lay in his room in Valhalla, staring at the ceiling. He was in a world far bigger than he ever imagined.

From what he understood about the surrounding he could now guess a few things

Marvel. Riordanverse. Cassandraverse.

His knowledge of them was limited. He had seen the movies, read PJO MI and HOO, but he barely knew about the Kane Chronicles or Magnus Chase or other books in the series.

And the Mortal Instruments?

He knew almost nothing.

He would need to learn fast.

Because if Odin was right, and he was truly unbound from fate…

Then there was no telling what came next.

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