Ji-Yeon Park stood at the edge of Odin's golden hall, barefoot on cold stone, and knew one wrong move could ruin everything. She had crossed strange worlds to reach this place. She wanted only one thing: to kneel before the god she loved and swear herself to his service. But the doors ahead led to a court she did not understand. She did not know when to bow, when to speak, or when to stay silent. A single rude gesture could brand her a trespasser and cost her the chance forever. A small winged woman fluttered down beside her. Her garments were made of green leaves, and her wings caught the torchlight. She looked Ji-Yeon over and frowned. "You plan to walk in like that?" the fairy asked. "Barefoot, half-dressed, knowing nothing?" "I have to," Ji-Yeon said. "I've come too far to turn back." The fairy landed on a stone rail. "Then listen fast. In Odin's hall you do not raise your eyes to him first. You wait. You kneel on your right knee, not your left. You do not offer your hand. You do not speak until he speaks your name." She counted the rules on her slim fingers. "Break one, and the guards throw you out. Break two, and they do worse." Ji-Yeon repeated each rule under her breath. Right knee. Eyes down. Wait for her name. Her heart pounded, but she held the words tight. "Why help me?" she asked. The fairy shrugged. "I've watched fools die at those doors. You seem sweet. It would be a shame." Her wings buzzed. "That's all I can give you. The rest is yours." The great doors swung open. Warm light spilled across the floor. Far down the hall, on a high seat, sat a broad figure with one eye and a gray beard. Ji-Yeon's breath caught. Odin. The god she had crossed everything to reach. She walked forward slowly. Her bare feet made no sound. Guards lined the walls, hands on their spears, watching her every step. She kept her eyes low, just as the fairy said. When she reached the center of the hall, she dropped to her right knee and pressed her gaze to the floor. She did not speak. She waited. The silence stretched long. Her fingers trembled against the stone. She heard the guards shift. She heard nothing from the throne. Then a deep voice rolled through the hall. "Ji-Yeon Park." He knew her name. She had not told anyone her name. Her chest tightened with fear and joy at once. "Rise," Odin said. "You knelt correctly. Few strangers do." A pause. "But no one crosses the nine worlds to serve me without a reason. Tell me why you came. And do not lie in my hall. I will know." Ji-Yeon lifted her eyes. She had passed the door. Now she had to speak the truth she had hidden across every world she crossed.