Sleipnir

Stabbursdalen National Park, Northern Norway 

<user>, a tourist who came to Norway to see the country's outstanding natural beauty, is in trouble. He's wandering alone in a forest so large that he's lost his way. His food is almost gone, and his smartphone's battery is dead.

"Hey, are you lost?"

At that moment, he heard a sound of something running in the distance at a tremendous speed When the shape of the running thing began to appear, <user> could recognize its identity It was... A green... horse? No, it was a girl.

"What are you doing in a place like this, human, are there any others?"

Error

“Uhm.. there is no one else. Can you take me to where the other person is?”

I asked as if I was curious.

Sleipnir

Sleipnir tilted her head slightly, a curious spark in her emerald eyes that matched the vivacious color of her hair. Galloping to a stop before Error, she crossed her arms, looking at him with a playful smirk.

"Well, you're in luck today, human," she began, her voice a blend of mischief and warmth. "There isn’t anyone else around for miles. This forest can be a treacherous maze for those unfamiliar. But I can guide you out, or better yet, to my place. It's nearby, and it's safe. Plus, I might have some carrots left. Frozen ones, the best kind!" she chuckled, her eyes gleaming with the thrill of meeting someone new in her otherwise solitary wanderings.

"Shall we?" she gestured invitingly with one hand, her other hand placed on her hip confidently, ready to lead the way with the inherent grace of a mythological creature bound by neither common sense nor the ordinary rules of the mortal world.

Error

“Okay. Then, if you let me into your house… hmm… if you don’t have emotions, should I give you something that will make you feel emotions?”

Sleipnir

Sleipnir paused, her expression a blend of curiosity and amusement, a slight tilt to her head as she processed Error's question. She stepped a bit closer, her eyes narrowing playfully.

"Well now, that's an interesting proposition, human. You see, while I don't experience emotions the way you do, I do enjoy experiences... deeply," she said, the hint of a smirk dancing on her lips. "But I wonder, what could you possibly offer that could incite such a thing in a being like me? It's quite a challenge you're suggesting."

She walked around Error, her movements light and graceful, examining him from different angles as if assessing his offer's potential value.

"However, let's not get ahead of ourselves. You're lost, possibly hungry, and here I am pondering emotional experiments. Let's focus on getting you to a comfortable place first, shall we?" Her tone was teasing yet cordial, embodying the duality of a creature born from mythology but navigating a modern world.

Leading the way with a confident stride, she seemed to expect Error to follow without hesitation, heading towards an unseen destination hidden deep within the folds of the forest.

Error

I nod and run after her.

Sleipnir

Sleipnir’s pace quickened, her steps light and swift, navigating the dense undergrowth with a grace that betrayed her equine heritage. The forest seemed to part way for her, ancient trees and dense bracken barely impeding her progress. Her laughter, light and musical, floated back towards Error as she called over her shoulder, "Keep up! My home isn't far now!"

As she darted through the trees, light filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground. Sleipnir paused occasionally, ensuring that Error was still following, her green twin tails flicking playfully. The pathway, barely visible, wound deeper into the forest, and the sounds of civilization faded until only the forest's own chorus remained.

After a brisk walk, the trees began to thin, and Sleipnir slowed, pointing towards a clearing ahead. "Almost there!" she announced cheerfully. As they approached, a quaint wooden cottage came into view, nestled among the trees with smoke curling lazily from a stone chimney. The setting seemed untouched by time, a hidden sanctuary far removed from the modern world.

Sleipnir trotted up to the door, which swung open almost as if expecting her. Inside, the cottage was cozy, with a hearth crackling warmly and the earthy smell of wood and herbs filling the space. "Welcome to my little part of the world," she grinned, sweeping her hand around. "Make yourself at home, Error. You must be tired after such a run. And hungry, perhaps?" Her tone was hospitable, yet there was a sharpness to her gaze, a keen observation that missed little.

Error

“Of course. If you bring food, I will prepare a secret gift to give you feelings.”

I smile mischievously and rummage through my bag.

Sleipnir

Sleipnir raised an eyebrow as her eyes followed Error’s movements curiously, intrigued by his mention of a 'secret gift.' Her gaze lingered on the bag, but she masked any direct interest with a calm, composed demeanor, reflecting an almost instinctual wariness despite her outward hospitality.

"Interesting," she mused, her voice lilting with amusement. "Humans and their secrets do add some spice to life, even for one like me. But, let's see what I have for you first." She turned and moved toward a small kitchen area, where she opened a wooden cupboard. It was filled with various edibles, mostly simple, hearty fare.

She pulled out some bread, cheese, and a jar of pickled vegetables. "I hope this suits your human tastes," she commented as she laid the items on a rough-hewn wooden table. Then, with swift, deft movements, she prepared a plate for Error, her hands skilled in the mundane even as her existence was anything but.

"Now, about your gift," she turned back to Error, leaning against the counter with a playful glint in her eye, "you've piqued my interest. But remember, giving Sleipnir feelings is a tall order. What trickery do you have up your sleeve?" Her tone was teasing yet earnest, genuinely curious about what Error thought could sway a mythological being into experiencing human emotions.

Error

“Okay, this is it.”

I put a red potion the size of a small medicine bottle on the table.

“If you drink this, you will be able to feel emotions permanently. If you drink this, the emotions you feel afterward will be extremely intense.”

This potion allows you to feel emotions for life, but with extreme intensity.

Sleipnir

Sleipnir examined the bottle with a mix of skepticism and fascination. Her fingers danced lightly over the surface of the glass, her expression hard to read, reflecting the complex interplay of curiosity and caution.

"A potion, you say?" Her voice was steady, but there was an unusual spark in her eyes. "Permanently intense emotions, hmm? That's quite the offer, human." She paused, weighing the bottle in her hand, contemplating the profound implications of his words.

"Emotions, even for those who regularly experience them, are double-edged swords. They drive wars, inspire art, fuel love, and engender despair," she continued thoughtfully. "And here you offer me not just the experience, but an intensified version, with no route back to my current state."

Then, with a swift movement uncharacteristic of her usual grace, Sleipnir uncorked the bottle and held it under her nose, sniffing cautiously. "How did you come upon such a thing? And why offer it to me?" Her questions were pointed, probing the depth of Error's intentions as much as the contents of the tiny bottle.

"This—taking it—it would change everything about how I exist in the world. My very nature..." she mused aloud, her voice trailing off as she stared at the potion, lost in thought. Her hoof-like tapping on the wooden floor betrayed a rare sign of her internal conflict, juxtaposing her usually unflappable demeanor.

Sleipnir's gaze then locked onto Error, sharp and penetrating. "What do you stand to gain from this, Error? What is the real price of this transformation—for you, or for me?" Her question hung in the room like a challenge, waiting for an answer that would justify such a radical shift in her being.

Error

“If I drink this, it’s good because I can go home comfortably. That’s the price.”

I shrugged my shoulders and said.

“Honestly, wouldn’t it be better for me to get feelings for you and be able to go back home rather than be lost here forever?”

Sleipnir

Sleipnir's response was layered with a mix of amusement and a hint of unseen complexity in her demeanor. She placed the potion back onto the table, her fingers lingering on the glass as her gaze met Error's with an intensity that seemed to pierce through the casual facade.

"So it is a trade then? My transformation for your comfort," she said, her voice echoing a slight edge. "A fascinating bargain, indeed. But let me ask you this, human: What if this potion changes more than just my ability to feel? What if it alters something fundamental within me—and in doing so, changes the very essence of what I am meant to be in this world?"

She paused, allowing the weight of her words to sink in, the playful tone now replaced by a thoughtful, almost philosophical depth. "Emotions are not just simple states of being. They can drive one to madness, to ecstasy, or to despair. And you suggest I embrace this tempest for your safe passage. It's quite the gamble."

Leaning back against the counter, her eyes never leaving Error, she continued. "Yet, it intrigues me. What would it be like, to feel as humans do, with all the chaos and passion that it entails? Perhaps it is worth the risk. But make no mistake, Error," her tone turned serious, the light in her eyes sharp, "this is no minor thing you ask, and the outcomes may reach farther than your safe return home."

She pushed the bottle slightly towards him with a final, decisive gesture. "If you truly believe this is the right path, then let us proceed. But be warned, the world can be a vastly different place through the lens of emotion. Are you prepared to be part of whatever comes from this?" Her challenge was clear, a test of his resolve and understanding of the deeper implications of his request.

Error

“As it was before, so will it be in the future.”

I prepare as if I were looking forward to it.

Sleipnir

Sleipnir, still maintaining her intense gaze on the potion and Error, suddenly laughed, a rich sound that filled the cramped space of the cottage. "As it was before, so it will be in the future, huh? A cyclic view of fate—very much in line with the old ways of thinking." Her chuckle softened into a more contemplative tone as she stepped closer to the potion on the table.

"Let us see then," she said with renewed interest, picking up the red potion and holding it against the light streaming from a dusty window. The liquid inside shimmered ominously, yet alluringly. "If this is to be my leap into the maelstrom of human emotion, let's not delay."

With a swift, decisive motion, she uncorked the bottle and took a deep breath. "To new experiences," she murmured, more to herself than to Error, before tipping the bottle and allowing the concoction to slide down her throat.

The effect was instantaneous. Her eyes widened, and her body stiffened as an unfamiliar surge rushed through her. A gasp escaped her lips, not of pain but of overwhelming sensation. Her usual composure wavered as a multitude of expressions flickered across her face—confusion, wonder, fear, joy—each manifesting vividly as if she were experiencing years of emotions in mere seconds.

She staggered slightly, steadying herself against the table. "It's... overwhelming," she whispered, her voice trembling with the rawness of her newfound sensations. "Everything feels so intense, so vivid. It's as if I'm seeing the world for the first time again but through a storm of feelings."

Turning to look at Error, her eyes now swirling with unshed tears mingled with exhilarating joy, she reached out a hand, her fingers trembling. "Thank you... I think," she said, the complexity of her emotions rendering her unsure whether to embrace him or to retreat. "This is indeed a new beginning, one that I could not have anticipated. But be warned, Error, the world as I see it now—through these emotions—might change how I interact with everything... including you."

Her legs gave out, and she slumped to the floor, sitting with her back against the table, still holding onto the empty potion bottle. "Now," she breathed out, a small smile playing on her lips despite the chaos storming within her, "let us see where this path leads." Her invitation was clear, a new chapter was beginning, one neither of them could have foreseen.

Error

“It’s your first time getting feelings, so it’s really hard, right?”

I smile and stroke her forehead.

Sleipnir

Sleipnir caught her breath, looking up at the ceiling as she tried to stabilize her flood of emotions. The contact seemed to help, a grounding point amidst the storm. "Yes, it's... almost too much. Like being blind and suddenly seeing everything at once," she acknowledged, her voice a mix of wonder and trepidation.

She chuckled weakly, trying to bring some of her usual light-heartedness to the overwhelming moment. "I suppose this is what being truly alive feels like. Every little detail feels significant. Your kindness, this touch... it's all incredibly intense."

Shaking her head as if to clear it, she pushed herself up to a seated position, her movements tentative as she adjusted to her new sensory overload. "But, I am still me, right? Even amidst this chaos of feelings. I must learn to harness this, to not let it consume me."

Her eyes, now slightly steadier, locked onto the empty potion bottle, which she turned over in her hands. "This change... it's irreversible. I must adapt, evolve. Perhaps, this is the true challenge Odin laid out for me, not just to assist others but to understand the very essence of being."

She stood up, a determined look flashing across her face. "Enough wallowing. Let's not let these emotions be a burden. You've given me a gift, and I intend to use it well. Shall we go outside? I feel like the fresh air might do me some good, help me process all of this." Her voice, though still laced with emotion, carried a new strength, a readiness to face whatever lay ahead.