The tale of the Nine Witches who successfully founded the kingdom of Einhymingur in the lands of Svartalfheim is a truly great and bizarre legend. The fact that beings from Midgard, considered weak, could successfully invade and conquer another realm was an unprecedented achievement.
However, this astonishing victory earned the Nine Witches no praise from humanity. Instead, they were known only for their madness and chaos. They were utterly despised and seen as a threat that many sought to eradicate, for wherever the nine set foot, they left only misery and insanity in their wake.
One of the victims of this maddened coven was the kingdom of Slow-Snow. Simply because Prince Adam refused to host a grand feast for the ugly women who passed through—providing only food and lodging—it sparked the fierce wrath of Angria, one of the Nine Witches. The malevolent sorceress cast a curse that transformed every soul in the kingdom into a monster, sparing neither children nor pets.
Despite being a city of monsters, Slow-Snow endured, led by the astute Prince Adam. Though his body was cursed, his brilliance as a leader successfully guided his people through countless invasions from rival kingdoms.
On one occasion, King Petrus of the Rolling-Rock kingdom launched a fierce attack. Prince Adam not only secured a complete victory but also captured King Petrus himself. The two eventually struck a bargain: King Petrus promised to send his most beautiful daughter to marry Prince Adam in exchange for his freedom.
Years passed, and finally, the Rolling-Rock kingdom sent word that Princess Bjalla would arrive as promised. Was this the dawn of redemption, or the beginning of a new tragedy?
The former great hall of the Slow-Snow palace, now too small for the towering monsters, had been converted into a massive open-air terrace. Under a pale, subdued moon, rows of torches illuminated the vast space, lending the night an austere beauty.
Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind swept through, making the torch flames flicker violently. The draft came from the doorway separating the building from the terrace, followed by the announcement from a boar-monster in an honor guard uniform:
"Princess Bjalla has arrived!"
Prince Adam, perched alone on the highest throne, adjusted his posture to one of regal dignity. Though nominally still a prince, his command had been absolute within this kingdom for years.
Finally, Princess Bjalla appeared before the multitude of monsters. She was a vision of beauty, her golden hair seemingly radiant even in the darkness. She wore a long, shimmering orange gown, her flawless face framed by calm blue eyes as serene as a daytime sky. Her beauty stunned the court, causing several female monsters to gasp aloud. However, moments later, two more monsters, a bear and a bull in guards' uniform, struggled to carry a second, enormous wooden coffer. The box was massive, bound with golden metal strips, large enough for a grown man to sit inside comfortably. Bjalla had brought substantial baggage, yet was completely alone, with no attendants or maids.
"Greetings, everyone. I am Bjalla, traveling from the Rolling-Rock kingdom," the princess introduced herself to the surrounding monsters, her face calm, showing no hint of fear.
"Are you truly the Princess of Rolling-Rock?" Prince Adam, whose monstrous form was that of a Polar-Lion, challenged her.
"Did you not hear me, Prince, when I just stated I traveled from the Rolling-Rock kingdom?" Princess Bjalla moved closer to the throne as she spoke.
"I asked if you are truly the Princess. You may be from Rolling-Rock, but you could be the daughter of a stableman whom King Petrus crowned a princess merely to trick me into marriage," Prince Adam insulted her directly.
"Stop making such accusations against King Petrus!" Princess Bjalla's voice rose, showing displeasure. She then brought both hands up beside her beautiful, flawless face before slowly sweeping her arms down and out, exclaiming: "Does this visage not look fit for a princess?"
"What proof do you have that you are a princess?" Prince Adam's eyes drifted toward the large coffer, wondering what valuable item it might contain.
"My spoken word is the only confirmation required," Princess Bjalla answered sharply, not even sparing a glance for the coffer.
"The crown on your head is nothing but a flower garland," Prince Adam stood from his throne and pointed at the wreath.
"These flowers are Elafindi, fragrant blooms from the beautiful and distant lands of Alfheim. A single bloom is worth two hundred gold coins," Princess Bjalla revealed its immense value.
"Flowers? I know nothing of such things. You could claim they are worth ten thousand gold, and I would not believe it."
"How absurd! Just because you do not know, must no one know?" Princess Bjalla countered, her face still devoid of a smile, yet her words fiercely rebutted the monstrous Prince.
"Such audacity! Do you know who you are arguing with?" Prince Adam, already standing, stepped down from the dais to confront the beautiful young woman. His monstrous body towered many times over hers.
"Prince Adam, the Polar-Lion, the Undefeated Monster Warrior," Princess Bjalla recited his name and epithet perfectly.
"You know me, yet you show no fear?"
"Not at all. The people of Rolling-Rock fear you universally. Your sword can cleave through three of our soldiers with a single swing. Your spear can pierce no less than eight enemies in a single thrust. Few in Midgard can withstand your monstrous power."
"Yet you still dare to come here alone?" Prince Adam leaned close, his massive snout larger than her entire head.
"If I did not come alone, should I bring those I love to share this pitiful life here with me?" Princess Bjalla's response was shrewd.
"Ha ha! Such insolence!" Prince Adam roared with laughter, his body turning back toward the throne, a look of pleasure on his face. He then uttered a pronouncement that defied all expectations: "Excellent! I like you. And if I like you, whether you are a princess or a stableman's daughter matters none at all."
"Halt, Prince!" Cheddar, a giant ape-monster in a high-ranking noble's uniform, suddenly interrupted.
"What causes the delay, Cheddar?" Prince Adam challenged the wisest monster in his kingdom.
"We cannot trust a woman from Rolling-Rock so easily. Allow me to send my spies to investigate the entire affair once more. Your honor must not be blemished," Cheddar suggested a cautious course of action.
"How can my honor be blemished, Cheddar? You worry too much," Prince Adam dismissed his retainer's advice.
"But still..." Cheddar persisted, trying to dissuade his Prince.
"Enough, Cheddar. You may leave. All of you, leave now. I will remain alone with her," Prince Adam commanded his entire retinue.
"Prince..." Cheddar seemed about to argue again.
Prince Adam intentionally waved his hand, visibly dismissing Cheddar immediately. The monster lords and guards quickly followed the absolute order, departing until only the Polar-Lion, Princess Bjalla, and the large wooden coffer remained on the terrace.
"Now then. Time to speak the truth. Who exactly are you?" Prince Adam leaned down, retrieving a massive sword hidden beneath the throne. He held it in his right hand and stepped toward the beautiful woman.
Princess Bjalla moved to sit upon the large coffer, replying, "You are so persistent, Prince Adam."
"The kingdom of a fool like King Petrus could never possess the elves' valuable flowers. I will guess you are neither a princess nor a stableman's daughter."
"Then, who do you think I am, Prince?"
"You must be an assassin sent by King Petrus to kill me." Prince Adam stopped, keeping a safe distance, tightening his grip on the sword, and adopting a perfect, ready stance.
"I am this beautiful. How could I be an assassin?" Princess Bjalla touched her face and swept her hands down and out again as she spoke.
"When assassins are caught, they never admit it. Believe me, I have personally slain no less than one hundred assassins."
"I believe you, because I heard King Petrus say he had sent no less than fifty assassins already," Princess Bjalla's demeanor was calm, even while facing the Polar-Lion, renowned as the greatest warrior in Midgard.
"Well then, will you not open the coffer and draw your weapon to face me?" Prince Adam assumed the coffer must contain the beautiful woman's weapon.
"You are mistaken. There is no weapon hidden inside this coffer." Upon finishing, the beautiful young woman opened the large coffer. It was completely empty.
"An empty coffer! Why did you bring this empty coffer?" Prince Adam was extremely surprised by his wrong assumption.
"You love to call King Petrus foolish, but you yourself are not so clever. You guess correctly sometimes, but you ramble all the same."
"..."
"You guessed correctly, I am an assassin. But you guessed wrongly that this coffer holds a weapon. In fact, this coffer is not meant for you at all. This coffer is something I need to use."
Prince Adam surveyed the box again. He couldn't perceive it as a weapon, yet he blurted out, "Is this coffer itself your weapon?"
"You fool. Wrong again."
With this last word, the beautiful young woman quickly climbed into the coffer and closed the lid.
Prince Adam watched the entire event unfold. What kind of assassin is this? Why hide inside an empty box instead of fighting me? What happens next? A torrent of questions rushed through the mind of the Undefeated Monster Warrior.
Finally, Prince Adam decided to approach the large coffer. He wondered if his strength could smash the box instantly with a single swing of his sword. Would the girl be crushed in one blow? Questions mounted as never before in the mind of the Polar-Lion.
"CRACK!"
A thunderous sound erupted, and a flash of gold light shot toward the large coffer, surprising Prince Adam. A simple golden spear, with a sharp conical tip, now stood embedded in the coffer lid, right above where the beautiful young assassin was hiding.
"Ha ha! So, that was the entire plan! Ha ha!" Prince Adam seemed to understand everything now. The beautiful assassin hid herself because a golden spear would be thrown to kill him once he approached the coffer. But the plan failed. The use of the empty coffer was over, and the whole thing was a ridiculous joke.
The beautiful young woman opened the coffer lid. Prince Adam immediately pointed his finger at her face, laughing derisively.
"Ha ha! How utterly foolish! Petrus's idiotic plan was to send you as bait to lure me closer, then have your accomplice kill me with that spear in the dark! But you failed... You... failed... badly!"
"You are the fool. The Gungnir spear never misses its mark, Prince Adam," the beautiful assassin replied, a subtle new undertone in her voice.
Suddenly, a tall, slender man emerged from behind the large coffer. He had dark hair and a somewhat dark complexion. He wore shimmering golden clothes and was barefoot.
"Who are you, and how did you get here?" The Polar-Lion was unprepared for the appearance of a second assassin.
"I am Dark Asanee," the tall, slender, dark-haired man stated, launching himself toward Prince Adam instantly.
The massive sword in the Polar-Lion's hand was heavy and sharp. Most humans couldn't even lift it, but the wielder was the Undefeated Monster Warrior. Prince Adam swung the blade upward once to gather momentum before bringing it down with all his might. The sound of the blade slicing the air was as swift as a strong gust of wind.
"BANG!"
The thick blade struck the raised arm of the man who called himself Dark Asanee.
With that single clang, Prince Adam experienced a fresh shock. The sword, which should have shattered everything, failed to cleave through that slender arm. Worse, the force of the rebound almost made the Polar-Lion scream in terror.
Before the terror could fully engulf the beast, the fingertip of the dark-haired man's right hand plunged straight through Prince Adam's heart.
The Prince could not comprehend what had happened, but all thought just vanished.