Adlivun was an immense cavern with towering walls, all completely covered in ice. Between those walls ran countless paths and enormous cave-like gates, all built with elaborate architecture that lent the region an unexpected sense of grandeur.

  On the ceiling, a layer of seawater could be seen, with seals, fish, and sea lions swimming above. It was difficult to observe clearly, however, as the cavern walls rose incredibly high, easily exceeding two hundred meters.

  “Wow, this place is beautiful. Another realm even more splendid than Tuatha Dé Danann,” Epona remarked sarcastically to Ana.

  “I suppose it must feel strange to you, Epona, that it does not reek of manure, nor are people copulating with horses as they do in Avalon,” Ana replied flatly.

  “Bah. What would you know about good taste?” Epona retorted irritably.

  “Why do you insist on mocking Ana about her homeland, when you know she dislikes speaking of it?” Rodrigo asked the equine goddess.

  “Well, that would be yet another reason for her to dislike her homeland,” Epona replied indifferently.

  “I am glad you like my kingdom,” Sedna said, turning her back to them as she began to fly.

  “It’s true. We can fly here,” Menrva said excitedly.

  “Yes. There are no anti-divinity barriers here,” the polar goddess replied.

  “Please, follow me.”

  She immediately flew toward the upper section of the complex.

  Everyone nodded and followed her.

  There was great activity throughout Adlivun, with numerous deities walking and flying across the immense corridors and ice bridges of the vast kingdom. It resembled an enormous labyrinth. A bluish light illuminated the entire cavern, emanating from the ocean ceiling above.

  In one of the upper sections of the realm stood a colossal gate made of frozen bricks. Sedna opened it, revealing a massive chamber within. At its center stood a throne of ice, positioned before a huge table, also carved entirely from ice.

  Inside the chamber awaited a tan-skinned man with slanted eyes, wearing a bear-fur coat, armor, and carrying a spear.

  “Welcome, Your Majesty Sedna,” the man greeted the goddess of ice.

  “Thank you for watching over the kingdom, Nanook,” the polar goddess replied as she seated herself upon her throne.

  “Please, be seated,” the armored man said to the members of Orniskem as he took a seat to Sedna’s right.

  All sat around the Queen of Adlivun, who occupied the central position at the head of the table. Sedna sat upon her throne with regal poise, though it was impossible not to notice that three fingers were missing from her hand. Anpiel initially believed this to be part of her human guise, but soon realized it was a genuine injury.

  “Several days ago, gods from Asgard entered my territories,” Sedna said. “They claimed they were searching for their father.”

  “Yes. We have come to join in that search. Do you know where they went?” Menrva asked with interest.

  “To the west. To Haida territories,” the goddess replied.

  At that moment, the ice table clearly displayed a map of Vinland.

  With her staff, Sedna pointed to the northern region.

  “This is my kingdom, Nitassinan, the land of the Innu,” she explained.

  “Innu? Aren’t they called Skr?ling?” Anpiel asked.

  “Those idiotic Asgardians,” Sedna said, covering her face with her hand. “That name is degrading to my people. They are simply Innu.”

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  “Oh… my apologies. We did not know,” Anpiel said, embarrassed.

  “It does not matter,” Sedna replied, once again indicating the Innu territory.

  Sedna and Nanook then explained to the members of Orniskem the distribution of the lands known as Vinland.

  To the north lay the Kingdom of Adlivun, ruled by Sedna. In the human world, this region was called Nitassinan.

  West of Nitassinan lived the Dene tribes, ruled by Yamozha, who resided in the kingdom of Denendeh.

  Further west lay the realm of Haida Gwaii, governed by the Raven God Y’aahl. The humans there were known as the Haida, formidable warriors.

  South of Nitassinan lay the realm of Waabanakiing, ruled by the warrior god Wenabozho. The humans there were called the Anishinaabe. These kingdoms were allies of Adlivun.

  South of Waabanakiing, in a region known as the Great Lakes, were the Iroquois realms, ruled by Sawiskera. They were powerful warriors, comparable to the Haida, and enemies of Adlivun.

  South of the Great Lakes lay a massive empire of dozens of great cities with enormous pyramid-like mounds. This was the powerful Mississippi Empire, whose capital was Cahokia, ruled by the Falcon God Heshuka. Their solar gods lived upon a tree-planet similar to Asgard, called Ckaa?rus.

  West of the Mississippi Kingdom lay several unaffiliated warrior cultures, whose gods were known to be exceptionally strong and ferocious, and who never formed diplomatic alliances. Among these were the realms of Hisatsinom, Diné, and a mysterious kingdom called Aztlán.

  South of Mississippi and the Hisatsinom realms began the land of CeAnáhuac. A vast desert separated the Mississippi Empire from the Toltec Empire. South of this desert, and west of Mississippi, lived the warrior gods known as the Chichimeca, who nonetheless served as a defensive buffer for the Kingdom of Tula.

  South of the Chichimeca realms lay a great green valley called Anáhuac, where the Toltec Empire resided, with its capital in the city of Tula-Tollan. They were ruled by the god Tezcatlipoca, and their divine world was called Ilhuicatl Iohtlatoquiliz.

  South of Anáhuac lay the powerful Zapotec and Mixtec kingdoms, and to the southeast, the realms of Mayapán. Their relationship with Tula was complex and strained.

  “As I was explaining,” Nanook continued, “the Asgardians headed toward Haida Gwaii. However, that decision was made by the man called Thor, without any real intention of finding his father.”

  “What do you mean by that?” Tania asked.

  “The Haida are known as the fiercest, most powerful, and most ruthless warriors in the region,” the armored god explained.

  “When Thor heard this, he became excited and convinced his group to test their strength against them,” Sedna added.

  “I doubt their mission still has anything to do with finding their father. It sounds more like a whim of that band of savages,” she concluded.

  “Do you have any idea where their father might be?” Menrva asked.

  “No one from the Eastern Continent has come here in a long time,” Sedna replied.

  “That man, Leif Erikson, and his crew were the last, until Thor arrived with four other gods, also by ship,” she added.

  “Wait,” Ana interrupted.

  “Supposedly, a member of Orniskem should also be in these lands. What was her name? Bellanova?”

  “Bellona,” Anpiel corrected.

  “Yes, exactly. Her,” Ana continued.

  “She came to assist Thor and his group, but in Asgard they told us they have not seen her. Even so, she has not contacted Palas or anything of the sort.”

  “I am sorry. Only Leif Erikson, and later the Asgardian gods, have entered Nitassinan,” Sedna replied.

  “Could they have entered elsewhere, perhaps in one of the southern kingdoms?” Epona asked curiously.

  “Not without Lel’s permission,” Sedna answered.

  “I have a question,” Anpiel interjected. “What would happen if someone attempted to enter the continent from the sky?”

  “The anti-divinity barriers across the continent also function as a dimensional shield,” Nanook explained.

  “Any divine being attempting to enter from space would be left floating in the stratosphere.”

  “The only way to enter the continent is with Lel’s permission, or that of one of the ruling gods of this region,” Sedna added.

  “So you knew all along that we were from Orniskem?” Anpiel asked.

  “That is correct,” Sedna replied. “That is why I sent my vanguard to retrieve you. I needed to know your intentions first.”

  “If the father of the Asgardian gods or your companion entered, they must have done so with permission from one of the southern gods,” Nanook concluded.

  “Damn it. That means we will have to travel to the other kingdoms and ask about Odin and Bellona’s whereabouts,” Epona said, annoyed.

  “We will give you a copy of the map of this region, so you know where you are traveling,” Nanook said, handing them a rolled parchment made of hide.

  “We are deeply grateful,” Anpiel said as he received it.

  At that moment, as if lightning had struck, a tremendous boom echoed throughout Adlivun.

  “What was that?” Rodrigo asked in surprise as more thunderous sounds followed.

  “It seems we are under attack,” Tania said, startled.

  “It must be the Iroquois gods with another foolish demand,” Sedna replied, rising from her throne with an irritated expression.

  “Please, great Sedna, do not go,” the armored god interrupted. “Allow me to handle this.”

  “Do not worry. They only wish to draw our attention,” the polar goddess replied. “Sawiskera is not foolish enough to start a war against us.”

  “We will go,” Menrva said, standing up.

  “No. You will stay,” Sedna replied. “There is a chance that the ones they are looking for are you.”

  “But—” Menrva began, only to be interrupted by Nanook.

  “Do not worry, young warriors. Our lady is very strong,” the armored god said confidently.

  Innu are the ancestors of the modern-day Inuit.

  Haida Gwaii was the ancient capital of the Haida kingdoms. It was located on an island in what is now British Columbia.

  Waabanakiing are a group of Algonquian people who lived in western Canada.

  Hisatsinom are a culture that developed in the present-day territories of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, etc. Today they are called "Pueblo."

  Diné are the ancestors of the Navajo culture, who inhabit the southern United States and northern Mexico. They are commonly known as Apaches.

  Aztlan is a mysterious civilization. Its location is unknown. The Aztecs (Mexica) claimed to have come from this mystical land. It is only known that it was north of Tenochtitlan.

  CeAnáhuac was the name by which all the land bordering Anáhuac was known, while Anáhuac was the name of the Valley of Texcoco in central Mexico.

  Ilhuicatl Iohtlatoquiliz was the realm of the Aztec gods. It was divided into three heavens.

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  The next part will be released at 8 PM (GMT 6).