<h4>Chapter 205: Preparing for the Trial</h4>


    The time had finallye. By the following evening, all participants for the Trial of Yggdrasil were required to report to Svalbard Airport. From there, dragons would carry them to the subterranean city of Yggdrasil... Kvernheim.


    The King of Werewolves had atst finalised the division of participants into three groups. Each of the ten great ns, with five participants apiece, split their numbers into two, two, and one. ns whose heirs were taking part were divided into two each.


    The ten participants from the lesser and independent ns, chosen through the Grand Competition, were arranged into three, three, and four. Ten of the strongest young soldiers from the army were divided into two, two, and six.


    In the end, it was decreed that each group would contain twenty-five participants, following the set order. The choice of which participant would join which group was left to each n to decide. The Arbiter n announced that the tenpetition winners would attend ording to their ranking, for the sake of simplicity. From the ten great ns, however, no hint escaped as to which participant would join which group.


    Eleanor had already prepared for her journey. She exined truthfully to Freya in detail, where she was going and what she would be doing. It would be the first time in a long while that she would be apart from her baby daughter for more than a week.


    In the past, no matter where she travelled, if the journey was long, she always brought Freya with her. Freya was an unusually well-behaved child... never troublesome like other babies. Her mental development outpaced that of any other child, including werewolves. She had not inherited Eleanor’s eidetic memory, but her mind was like Ethan’s... analytical and quick to learn.


    From a young age, Freya had taken to using artificial intelligence to learn about the world, umting knowledge without limit. Although Eleanor had set several restrictions on the AI dedicated to her daughter, Freya was still able to gather any information deemed suitable for her age.


    When Eleanor exined the workings of cultivation and the dangers she might face... of course, she was downying the risks, Freya was nheless startled by the knowledge she had never found on the inte. Eleanor told her why this information was kept secret from the ordinary poption of Earth, and what its impact on weak human mortals might be if it were to spread. Freya, already aware of the Supernatural Act, was able to understand at once.


    Mother and daughter spoke at length, conversing more like adults than parent and child. Ethan had initially been against telling Freya about the trial, but after watching her absorb the information calmly, he at least admitted to himself, that Eleanor had chosen the right approach.


    He sat quietly in a chair as they talked, thinking, "At her age, I would’ve panicked for sure. Even cried to stop my mother from going on such a dangerous mission."


    It had already been decided that Eleanor would join the first group for the trial, while Ethan would go with thest. This way, at least one parent would always be with Freya. Eleanor was confident she would return without fail.


    Not wanting to miss any time with her daughter, Eleanor had been sleeping in Freya’s room for the past few nights. She even took her out of school for a few days so they could spend as much time together as possible.


    Since sessfully creating a clone of Nora within her own mind, Eleanor had little need to attend the office in person. For the past several days, she devoted herself entirely to Freya, while Nora handled her regr work duties.


    In the beginning, Eleanor often had to edit or adjust Nora’s responses, but thanks to having ess to Eleanor’s past meetings, speeches, correspondence, and decision-making records, Nora quickly adapted to her style. Before long, she required no corrections at all. She even began suggesting courses of action whenever she noticed an inconsistency with Eleanor’s established patterns, reasoning with the rity of any other intelligent race.


    Ethan stayed with them for most of this time as well. Today, after a leisurely visit to the park, the family returned home to find Fiona waiting for them in the drawing room.


    "Great Grandma..." Freya shouted excitedly, running straight into her embrace.


    Fiona lifted her onto herp and asked warmly, "Freya, did you miss me?"


    "I missed you a lot," Freya replied, gazing at her expectantly.


    Fiona smiled knowingly, reached into her bag, and brought out a jar of cookies, cing it in Freya’s hands. Yet Freya didn’t eat immediately... she waited, knowing this was her favourite part: hearing her great-grandmother tell the history of the treat she was about to enjoy.


    As expected, Fiona began, "These cookies are from Manu’s Wee Bakery in the Scottish Hignds. They began as a small artisan venture, blending Old World baking traditions with locally sourced ingredients. The bakery is housed in a quaint, fairytale-style building that could easily pass for a Disney set... timbered walls, whimsical details, and bright ents make it look like a hidden cottage in an enchanted forest. Their handmade cookies are famous: crisp at the edges, soft at the centre, rich with buttery sweetness, often enhanced with chocte, spices, or oats. I bought these just for you yesterday, after finishing my work in Scond."


    Freya kissed her cheek and said, "Thank you, Great Grandma."


    Fiona smiled and gently set Freya down. She then turned to Eleanor and said, "I need to discuss something with you. Let’s go to your study. Ethan, take care of Freya."


    Fiona and Eleanor headed upstairs to the study.


    Freya wanted cookies immediately, but Ethan was insistent she take a bath first. Reluctantly, Freya went to her room to bathe. Isabe Thomas, who had returned from London a few days ago, apanied her to help with the bath. Meanwhile, Ethan went to the guest room to freshen up.


    Inside the study, Fiona settled into the main chair while Eleanor sat opposite her. Fiona asked, "Are you prepared for the journey?"


    Eleanor gave a dry smile. "I don’t know. The letter said we don’t have to bring anything to the academy; everything will be provided. Except for the dress the academy supplies, all other items are forbidden. I was thinking of calling you this evening, but now that you’re here, you can guide me."


    Fiona nodded. "It’s true. The clothes you wear upon entering the academy, and any other items you carry, must be surrendered. They will be returned after your trial."


    Eleanor frowned in confusion. "Why is that?"


    Fiona exined, "The Ascendance Academy of Midgard was established by the will of Yggdrasil solely to prepare the weaker races of Earth... also known as Midgard, for their ascendance trial. There is no direct connection between Vanaheim and Midgard. Mortals are so fragile that transportation magic often harms their bodies. The only way to travel there is through the body of Yggdrasil. While mortal bodies can transfer from one point to another, essories cannot."


    She paused, then said, "In the past, those who went for the trial could only go naked. Later, a special dress was invented, woven from the leaves of Yggdrasil, which can be transported. This preserved the dignity of the participants. To ustom the students to this uniform, they must wear it throughout their time at the academy, no matter the activity. Because once in Vanaheim, there is no chance to wear other clothes... everyone must wear the same attire for thirty long days. That is why, aside from your body, no other items are allowed in the academy. Food, clothing, and lodging will all be provided."


    Eleanor frowned further. "Then how will I contact Freya or the others while at the academy?"


    Fiona replied, "You’ll have one day off each week... Friday. On that day, you can contact your family using the academy’s facilities. I hear video calls are possible now; in my time, only letters were allowed.


    She added, "There will also be an outing once a month, when students may visit Kvernheim city, though these outings are unpredictable. You will learn when your turnes. Some batches never get the chance."


    Eleanor nodded. "So, there’s no need to pack anything. I can simply board the ne tomorrow."


    Fiona smiled. "Exactly. That’s why I came to speak with you. The first batch includes Ophelia nc, who was confirmed after cing third in the grandpetition. You will join this first batch too. I’ve decided to send Kiara with you... she was the only girl to ce fifth in our n’spetition.


    "If all three of you join the academy together, you can support one another. Later batches will be all boys, most likely. Of course, if you prefer a boy instead, I could send Gary; he’s the strongest delta we have."


    Eleanor considered for a moment, then said, "No, Kiara will be better. She’s shy, and she’ll fit in well with us. Besides, I have a feeling Uncle Xavier asked you to put his daughter in my group."