Disconnected, Volume I (eBook)

N. Saraven (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
244 Seiten
Books on Demand (Verlag)
978-3-7693-7081-2 (ISBN)

Infos

Neila's life is turned upside down when she meets a man, who claims to be no other than the Norse God, Loki. This then sets off a series of events, during which she is plunged into the mythologies, getting to know the reality that lies behind. Throughout Loki's doings and deeds, Neila also gets accidentally swooped up by the happenings around him, spiriting her away to other worlds. Travelling around the nine realms, she learns about their true relations with each other while finding some new friends along the way. However, nothing is for free, and Neila soon finds out the price to pay for the knowledge she seeks.

Dear Reader, this book has been written by an autistic writer, which means that it is different in ways that may seem confusing, or even 'wrong.' Autistic people (also known as people with Autism spectrum disorder - ASD) have unique brains. They think differently than neurotypicals (also known as the 'normal' people), concentrating on other aspects of things than the majority. Sensory sensitiveness helps them see, hear, and taste things deeply. They constantly collect data from their surroundings, going from the small to the big in order to try to make sense in the chaos. Autistic people also have distinct speech patterns and facial expressions compared to neurotypicals. This is why there is a noticeable difference in how an autistic individual speaks; in how they build up a story and then tell it. It can become confusing for neurotypicals to follow their trains of thought, getting lost easily. It is said that autistic people speak a different language, even though they use the same words as those around them. This, then, often leads to friction between neurotypicals and autistic people, leaving the latter confused and hurt. This book has not been moulded especially for neurotypicals. The author wants to represent their way of thinking, even if it may initially be confusing for most. However, it is the way the author operates; it is the way they see the world around them. It is impossible for them to write like a neurotypical, and they decided that being true to their nature was more important than the social pressure of fitting in. They are different; therefore, this book is different. Perhaps, it may be confusing or puzzling at the beginning. But given the chance, difference can bring joy and foster a deeper understanding of new perspectives. Enjoy the journey.

Textauszug

Chapter 3

“Sooo …” Neila entered the living room, carrying a pot of tea and a mug. Settling down at the table beside the couch, she glanced at Loki, who now opened his eyes again. “Should I ask or just roll with it?” she asked, measuring him from tip to toe.

After calming down a bit, Neila could properly examine the stranger. And she had to admit, Loki was a handsome man. Incredibly so, even if crazy to dress up like that. He must be a huge fan, Neila thought. However, this theory did not quite add up. Whenever she caught his eyes, a chill run down her spine.

Truth be told, Neila did not recognise the material of Loki’s clothes. Not that this was a surprise, given her limited knowledge of fashion and fabrics. Yet, the overalls-like something on him seemed too strange for a mere comic book or movie fan.

And that hair, she mused further. He must have spent an eternity in front of the mirror to get that anime hair!

Neila liked Japanese animation, and always admired those incredible hairs in them. No real-life hair sculpting could get close to the animes, no matter how talented the dresser was.

Nevertheless, Loki somehow managed to create a masterpiece, looking incredibly good and real. His shoulder-long, black hair seemed to have a gravity-defying mind of its own, never flattened by things like the couch. This perfection was paired with the most striking dark-blue eyes Neila had ever seen, which just emphasised his skin tone. Interestingly enough, he did not just have the ‘normal’ Caucasian complexion. Something subtle lay in the background, almost literally under his skin, making him look … different.

Could he really be …? Neila now played with the thought. When his eyes met hers, though, she dropped her gaze immediately.

“Should you ask what?” Loki asked, confused by her enquiry.

Neila raised a questioning eyebrow in response, but let it slide. If he wanted to stay in character that much, it was pointless to struggle.

“Never mind,” she fluttered a hand, then poured tea in her mug. Loki watched her, measuring, making Neila fiddle in her seat.

“I’ll be out of your way soon,” he grunted, earning a questioning look. “You can go on with your chores as you wish, no need for you to do anything further.”

“Yeah, because I could sleep with a bleeding stranger in the next room,” Neila scoffed. Seeing his confused look, she just rolled her eyes disbelievingly, then sipped her tea. Before he could say anything, she continued. “Besides, you need a fresh … erm … bandage in a few hours. So, you won’t get rid of me that easily.”

“As you wish,” he agreed, leaning back his head and closing his eyes.

Neila sipped her tea quietly, sometimes glancing at Loki. Obviously, he tried to rest, if not sleep. If he were, indeed, running from something or someone, it would be unlikely that he would actually sleep with a stranger beside him.

Her musing thoughts must have been too loud, though, since Loki looked at her when she finished her tea.

“If you have questions, just ask.”

Neila blinked in surprise, but then shrugged, deciding to take him up on the offer.

“So, how did the God of Lies end up in my living room?”

“The god of lies …?” he echoed with a spark of anger in his eyes.

“Well, that is one of your … erm … titles?” she replied.

“What titles?” he snapped, sitting up straight. “I am but a mere citizen of Ásgarðr.”

Neila raised an eyebrow dubiously at this. Loki spoke with a heavy Nordic accent, and pronounced Norse names like she had never heard before.

“Sooo, you are not Loki, God of Mischief, the giant who may or may not be an Aesir?”

Loki blinked, getting more upset, it seemed.

“First of all, ‘Æsir’ is plural. I am an Áss, as a male, and Ásynja is the female form.”

“Ice …?” she muttered, interrupting and trying to mimic the word, earning a disapproving glance.

“And secondly, is THIS what humans say about me now?”

“There are a lot of myths about you, yes, and I believe, most of them are not very flattering.”

“As in what?” he demanded with flaring eyes, making Neila slid back with her chair, almost fearful. Seeing this, he tried to calm down. Pain distorted his features as he leant back again. Resting his left hand on the bandage towel, Loki took a few deep breaths.

After the air cooled down a little, Neila continued.

“Well, I only dabble in Norse mythology. As far as I know, you’ve killed Odin’s favourite son, Baldur. Or, at least, played a big part in his death. Which then made you an enemy of the Aesir, and they chained you up with a snake above your head. It also caused the war between the Aesir and Vanir, and so on. But even before that, you’ve caused a lot of trouble, shape-shifting all the time and all that; had a ton of strange offspring, and so on. I like Fenrir the most, though, who will kill Odin and swallow the Sun when Ragnarök comes,” said Neila, musing.

Loki seemed baffled by all of this.

“Ragnarǫk?” he echoed, utterly aghast.

Neila now flashed a questioning frown.

“Yeah, the end of Asgard and the nine realms? This is pretty common knowledge, I would say.”

Seeing Loki’s widened eyes, she now looked more suspicious than anything else.

“Where did you people get all this?” he then asked, making Neila confused.

“From the myths?” she answered dubiously. “It’s in the Norse culture and all. Even today, soldiers want to get into Valhalla, and not Heaven.”

Loki relaxed now, musing while holding his wound. Neila was just about to ask when he gave a disbelieving scoff.

“I honestly cannot believe, how little you have understood from everything we have ever told you,” he swayed his head. “What else do you say? Do you know anything else about Ásgarðr?”

“Well, yeah,” Neila said, unsure now. Suddenly, she turned rather defensive again. “To be fair, Loki … I mean, YOU are a hero in several stories as well. Before that Baldur shenanigan, that is. You, in fact, have saved the Aesir several times with your … uh… different way of thinking,” she continued with a somewhat forced smile.

“Well, that is at least something,” he muttered grumpily. “It is a shame that it is unlikely to be true.”

“But, you’ve said you are Loki, so …”

“Should that mean anything?” he asked. “As I said, I am but a mere citizen, nothing more.”

Neila raised a questioning eyebrow again.

“If that’s true, then that’s just sad,” she announced sarcastically. “Loki’s my favourite Norse god, but if you say you are nothing like that, then …” she shrugged. Seeing his confusion, she finished, “that’s just sad.”

“Well, after such a colourful introduction,” Loki grunted, insulted. “Who do YOU think I am? Or should be?”

“The God of Chaos, of course,” Neila answered immediately. “The giant, who lives in Asgard, brother of Odin, or, in some interpretation, of Thor; father of—” she started again, but was interrupted.

“I am NONE of those things, nor would want to be!” he cried out, which turned into a painful hiss. Holding his side, Loki continued. “I have NO relation to any of the Æsir, least of all Þórr! How insulting!”

“Is being the brother or uncle to the Lord of Thunder insulting?” she asked, baffled.

“The lord of thunder?” Loki echoed, bursting into laughter. “Oh, that is absolutely hilarious! He would surely laugh until he cries,” he continued, with laughter still in his voice. However, his wound reminded him of reality, prompting Loki to calm down and lean back. Still smiling, he then glanced at the stunned Neila, asking, “so, where do you think I am from?”

“Erm …” she stammered, confused. Whatever she anticipated about him, it was surely not this. “Well, you’re a giant, so a Jötsomething or other. I am not good with names. Giants have this Jöt-something name.”

“Are you referring to Jǫtnar?”

It took Neila a second to decipher his strange pronunciation again.

“Yes! Thank you. So, in their world, that erm …” she was looking for the word.

“Jǫtunheimr.”

“Yes! One of the nine realms, connected by Yggdrasil—” she wanted to continue, but was interrupted again.

“Oh, no, not that tree again!” Loki sighed, annoyed. “Now, I think I understand, what happened.”

Mumbling something inaudibly, he just slowly swayed his head.

“So, could you enlighten me, then?” Neila asked after a minute.

“I’m afraid, I lack the energy to explain everything right now, I am sorry,” he said, wearily massaging the bridge of his nose. “I am in need of rest.”

“Of course you are,” echoed Neila sarcastically, earning a disapproving...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 4.7.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Fantasy / Science Fiction ► Science Fiction
• Schlagworte: Mystery • Mythology • nine worlds • Norse • social anxiety
• ISBN-10: 3-7693-7081-3 / 3769370813
• ISBN-13: 978-3-7693-7081-2 / 9783769370812