There was once a sick child in a time not far from now, he and his companion had fallen deathly ill.
A night came when he had given up all hope in despair and prayed that his death would be an easy one, but he heard a voice, a gentle voice, this voice said unto the boy
    "Yee needn't fear death child, I come with the promise of life."
    "Who are you?"  Said the child in a voice filled with pain and weakness, the voice said
    "I am the All Father, I have heard your plea and I am loath to watch such potential wasted, I have staved deaths chill hand for a moment.
Just time enough to bestow upon thee a second chance.  Yee must venture forth into the land of Advan and seek yee the eight guardians of Valhalla, willst thou do this child?"
    "Anything to get well."  Before he could stand a dark shape appeared before him and pressed its left thumb upon the center of the boys chest, once lifted the boy could see what resembled an empty square, the edges glowed slightly.
    Feeling a little better the boy wordlessly let the All Father lead him from his room, opening the door he did not see the hall leading to the living room in his house, but a moonlight path that seemed to stretch on for eternity.

    Looking back he only spied more of this strange lunar road.  Boldly setting off on his journey it was not long before he saw a humongous statue in the distance, when he roamed closer he could see every beautifully carved detail, right down to the runes upon the great hammer.  "What a glorious statue. . ."  The child exclaimed in awe, but awe soon turned to fright as the stone eyes turned to him and words fell from the marble lips in a booming voice that shook that land with thunder.
    " I AM NO STATUE BOY!"  It proclaimed in a voice that rivaled the thunder.
    The child fell to his knees as the ground shook with the displeasure of the giant.  "Well then what. . .who are you?!"
    "I AM THOR!  GUARDIAN OF THE GATEWAY!"  Roared the god of thunder, "AND WHO MIGHT YOU BE LITTLE ONE?  YOU WHO SO DARES TO TREAD THE LUMINOUS PATH OF ADVAN!"
    "I am merely a sickly boy, upon a journey of healing.  The All Father told me I could find a cure for my sickness here. . ."  He said somewhat hopefully.
"LIAR!" Boomed Thor,  "I SHALL TEACH YOU NOT TO TAKE THE ALL FATHERS NAME IN VAIN!!"  And with a bone chilling roar his great hammer came down upon the child, the boy did not feel fear, he anticipated death, for it would bring him final peace.
    But it was not to be, the hammer was stopped inches before it struck him, and Thor, for all his might, could not push it one inch further.
    "WHAT FOUL SORCERY IS THIS?!  I DEMAND TO KNOW WHELP!"
The child's mind became a blank as the all fathers gift filled his soul with a great roar, he spoke, but the words and voice were not his own.  "THOR!  I command yee to cease at once!"
This child is under my protection, do not dare strike him, or I shall string thee up by thy loins from Yggdrasil, and my ears shall be deaf to thine cries for all eternity!"
    Thor looked upon this child with fear and wonderment in his eyes, slowly he shrunk to human size.
He gazed at the boy intensely, his eyes fell upon the child's chest and froze, he stared at the rune in the center of the child's chest and shame filled his eyes and reddened his face.
    "I. . .I apologize for my impertinence, I will see you on your way through the gate."
Wordlessly Thor touched his thumb to the child chest, just above the All Fathers gift.

    Thor's rune shone with power, and he gestured toward the now visible gate of Thurisaz, and so the sickly child's journey continued.
    And as he quested forward a feeling of great strength filled the boy who strove forward never looking back.
After many miles he soon tired and decided that this was as good a place as any to rest, "Only a small nap."  He mumbled to himself.  His sleep was fitful, filled with dark and demonic shapes that lurked in the darkness.  He ran and ran, but they were always behind him, never stopping never faltering.
He stumbled and fell, soon they would be upon him, but he had come so far, how could he give up?
A glint of silver caught his eye, slowly it fell into his outstretched hand.  "A. . .a leaf?"  And he awoke.

    Slowly he stretched, yawned, and opened his sleep gummed eyes, silver light revitalized him and he felt refreshed and new.
    ". . .Are you well child. . .?"  Asked the silver light with a gentle ringing voice.
    "I. . .I feel better, thank you.  But where are you?"
    ". . .I am right here child. . .in front of you. . ."  Abruptly the light dimmed, and the young boy could see a beautiful tree, a silver birch.
    "You. . .your a tree."  He spoke in a soft, awed voice, "The most beautiful tree I have ever seen!"
    ". . .Child, I know that you have suffered much, and your journey stretches out long before you. . .but before you are truly healed you must clear your mind and soul. . .brush your hand gainst my trunk and together we shall cleanse your spirit of all doubt and darkness. . .are you ready. . .?"
    Pausing to consider this, the child looked up at the great birch and felt such a sense of peace and well being that he trustingly reached out with his left hand and gentelly laid it on the tree.  His mind was filled with the ringing song of Berkana, the great birch tree washed away all the fear, the doubt, the sadness and hate, and left him a blank slate waiting to written upon.
Slowly, with regret, he pulled his hand away from Berkana and gazed down at his chest.
Just next to Thor's gift was Berkana's rune, its soft silver glow gave him an inner warmth that washed away all doubt.

    ". . .Let the shadow of doubt be banished forever from your soul. . .now go forth with my blessing child. . .you journey awaits. . ."
    Moving with peaceful grace he walked with neither thought nor effort until he reached an end to the Luminous path of Advan.  Wordlessly and without fear or doubt he took a leap of faith, right off the edge.  He fell and fell, it seemed like an eternity of falling in a maelstrom of darkness, but with him he carried his own light to ward of the darkness.
Suddenly the fall was stopped and a chill wind blew him into a hard surface, knocking the air from him.  There was no light, save his own, and the air frozen solid, nothing moved.

    A voice, biting and chill like the air, spoke into his mind.  "Who are you to disturb the eternal slumber of ISA?"  A silibant whisper demanded.
    "Merely a sick child who desires a cure to his malady sir."  Was the calm reply that fell from the child's lips, Thor's strength and Berkana's determination gave him the courage, to face down this cold adversary.
    "So you think to face me with sheer willpower?" A cold heartless laugh filled the boys mind.
"Know that you shall fail, and your journey shall end here!"
    "NO!"  Screamed the boy,  " I have not come this far to be stopped by you!  My pride is strong and my will is great, you don't frighten me!!"
Attempting to move forward he found that he was frozen in place, her could not move an inch, his light was extinguished.  For the first time since he had departed the presence of Berkana he felt self doubt, fear, and finally despair.  He had failed, slowly he submitted to the will of Isa, sacrificing his pride and willpower, his last thoughts were of his friend who had also fallen ill.
    "I accept your sacrifice young one, and give you my blessing."  Said Isa the eternal.

    Opening his eyes to the harsh blue glow emanating from his chest, he gazed at the rune of Isa glowing proudly.  He felt a great sense of modesty overwhelm him.  Only when the glowing rune's light dissipated did he realize he was floating in the middle of an endless sea of clear water, looking into the depths below he saw endless water leading nowhere, all he could see was his reflection.
    His reflection gazed back at him intently, slowly it rose out of the water to confront him, clear blue eyes, blue as the water around them, gazed into questioning brown ones.
    "You. . .you look like me. . ."  Said the boy.
    "Yes, I am Mannaz, the self, I am you."  Replied the blue eyed boy.  "Your merit is great, and your modesty bespeaks your kind soul.  I am the endless possibilities of life, together you and I can go places, but first you must place your trust in me, or rather in yourself, for I am you." 
    "I. . .I don't understand."  Hesitantly he reached out his hands to grasp those of himself.
    The blue eyed child firmly took hold of the sick boy and said with a kind voice, "Keep an open mind, do not narrow or limit your thinking.  Do not seek praise for your accomplishments, do your task willingly and with out complaint.  Live an ordinary life that is not ordinary, be not of this world, for this is the key to the true present.  And my final lesson myself is, take nothing in excess and most important of all. . .know thyself."  The last was said with a good-natured half smile as a comforting light took him far from this place of peace within himself.

    When his vision cleared he found himself in a strange corridor with thousands of doors, in sudden realization he discovered that each door represented a possibility, one that he might very well follow.
Remembering Mannazes advice about possibility he ran gleefully to the sixth door on the left, but to his disappointment he found is locked tight.  Still not discouraged he tried door six on the right, it was also inaccessible.  Frantically he ran about with cause to each door, and each time found it closed to him.
Sitting down he refused to let self doubt overtake him, Berkana, Isa, and Mannaz began to shine with a soft light as he cleared his mind.  After a moment of thought he realized that the mistake was his own, not all possibilities were open to him.  Standing, with his decision firm in mind, he closed his eyes and reach out his left hand, feeling a doorknob where one was not before he ignored the peculiarity of the situation and turned the knob.
    "You may open your eyes now little one." Came a deep voice with a slight chuckle.
    Chagrined he opened his eyes, to find a white stallion gazing at him with laughter in its eyes, the boy wasn't shocked, this was nothing compared to the myriad of encounters he had been party to before.
What supprised him was that the horse was upside down walking on the ceiling.
        "Y-your. . .your walking on the ceiling!?" He shrieked.
    "No I'm not"  Stated the horse placidly, "Infact, it is you who are the wrong side up little one."  With another chuckle Ehwaz stamped his front left hoof into the young adventurers chest and said,  "Have no fear, what is yours will come to you."
With another snicker of glee Ehwaz the horse of progress and movement galloped away.

    Ehwazes rune was placed next to Mannazes, but the strange thing about it was that it was placed like its incarnation, topsy-turvy.  Instead of forming something resembling an M it looked more like a W.
Deciding that further thought on this subject would render him immobile and effectively put his quest to a stop he resolutely continued onward.  Soon he came across what looked like a ravaged battle field, the sky turned black and lightning struck a spot not five feet from him.
Standing before him was a dark version of himself with a strange glyph painted upon his shield, in his right hand he held a great spear.
    Looking down upon the child the Sky God Teiwaz frowned thoughtfully.
"YOU ARE A STRANGE ONE"  Said he, his great voice echoing.  "YOU ARE STRONG YET WEAK, PROUD YET MODEST. . .IN YOU I SENSE GREAT WISDOM, BUT ALSO GREAT FOOLISHNESS.  WHAT I FEEL THE MOST IS INTENSE IMPATIENCE!"
    "I. . . I suppose I am a little impatient.  But that's no reason to be angry."  He replied meekly.
    Teiwaz roared his displeasure, glaring at the child with such ire the boy thought that he would surely shrivel under that terrible gaze.
    "IF YOU DO NOT ANSWER MY QUESTION I SHALL SURELY SMITE THEE CHILD!
WHAT IS THE GREATEST REWARD OF PATIENCE?"
    Sitting down and forcing himself to ignore those horrible eyes that came from his own face, he began to pound his brain into action, desperately he tried to come up with an answer fast, looking up he could see the almost imperceptible smirk playing upon Teiwazes lips.
Suddenly all the teachings guardians of Valhalla came back to him, he calmed considerably when        Teiwaz roared his fury.  How long he sat and pondered the answer he did not know, but Teiwazes screams became louder and longer with each passing moment, smiling he stood and faced Teiwaz with such undeniable courage that for a moment he faltered.
    Smirking once more Teiwaz look at the child with contempt.  "SO LITTLE ONE?  HAVE YOU AN ANSWER?"  He lifted his spear in anticipation.  "Yes, I do Teiwaz the warrior."  He refused to give him the honor of Sky God.
    "LITTLE WHELP!  ANSWER ME NOW OR I SHALL CRUSH YOU!!"
    "Fine 'o' great impatient one. . .the answer to your query is. . ."
    The tension on Teiwazes face multiplied as he searched for a hint to what the child might say.
    Stretching out the wait as far as it would go before snapping the child looked at Teiwaz and saw that he was about to break down, now was the time to answer.  "The reward of patience. . .is patience little warrior."
The blow was like that of Thor's hammer striking a mountain with all his might, the mountain, like Teiwazes willpower, shattered at the full force of this incredible blow.
    Screaming in pain and rage Teiwaz launched the great spear at the child, the All Fathers Rune glowed with power and swift as lightning the boys left hand shot up, almost negligently, and caught the spear right before it plunged into his heart, with infuriating calmness he scratched the symbol of the Sky God above that of Ehwaz.
    Teiwaz crawled back in fear of the All Fathers wrath.
    "No Teiwaz, I shall give you a second chance, but never again will I tolerate open betrayal such as this.  NOW GO!"  Boomed the All Father.
    Teiwaz scrambled away howling in rage and fright.

    Smiling, he had the distinct feeling that he was one the last foot of his Journey, soon he would be cured, but what test awaited him here?  With a clear conscience he strode forward, astoundingly he realized he was on the Lunar road once more.
Feeling like the hero in some unknown fairy tale he continued down the road of glory, suddenly he stopped to think.  What if this wasn't real,  but a part of the new test?  Should he continue onward?
Or should he stop and think, "Maybe I should jump from the path like before. . ." he thought.
"No.  Maybe I should run forward?"  Suddenly the boy felt sick again, just as bad or even worse then he had in bed, did they despise him?  Why punish him after coming so far?  He had not betrayed them at all.  Soon he saw a woman, a luminous beautiful woman, the road ended at her feet, but as he drew closer she slowly stepped farther from him, extending the road each step.
He stopped, she stopped.  Finally the sickness made him weak, he could not draw strength from any of the runes he depended on.  He gave up, dropped to the ground.  Laying on his back he pleaded with her, "Please!"  A tickle in his throat told him he would cough, and he did, endless gasping and wheezing, each cough drew out a little bit of life from him.  "Please!  Why do you scorn me so?  I. . .I don't want to die. . ."
    Looking at him she smiled the most charming smile he had ever seen.  "It does not matter what you wish little one. . .all that matters is what you have strove for, on this journey you have learned trust, the power of the self, modesty and patience, but in the end you forget them all?  You have made yourself un-worthy of my lesson. young one."  Her voice was soft and sweet but concealed in it was an unspoken reprimand.
    He realized how stupid he was acting, how childish.  Slowly as he recalled his lessons strength and will returned.  "I am sorry Luna,"  Her name coming to his mind unbidden.  "Please, now do you find me worthy?"
    Stepping closer, he was fascinated how the road also receded with her milky white pale feet.
Leaning down she kissed his forehead, a burning in his chest told him that he had acquired a new rune symbol, but something else told him that one more was waiting for him at the end of the journey.
"Never forget my lesson my child, for now you have been re-born and re-raised by us all, we welcome you into our family.  I am sorry for placing this burden upon you at so young an age."
She looked at him with searching eyes, she seemed to be waiting for an answer, slowly one came to mind.
"It is no burden fair Luna, gladly will I take up your task for a while, if you are all right with that Miss."
    She smiled, and it was like the most beautiful full moon he had ever seen.
"Ah young one, I am wise to your little game, but your innocence has stolen my heart and warmed my soul, perhaps you humans aren't so bad after all. . .Ah no matter.  Now is the time for you to journey forward and meet your last parent"
    Though he had been taught faith he looked at how the road receded behind her, she smiled once more as if scolding a young one who had forgotten his lessons.
Looking at her he decided that he would trust in himself, not in anyone else.
Valiantly he strode forward, as he reached the edge he took another step of faith, all thoughts were clear from his mind and his soul was cleansed, tripping he fell, still he held his faith, and it was rewarded, with the pain of smacking his face against a hard surface.
Opening his eyes he saw that road before him, and at the end a beautiful castle, it's splendor rose before him, it seemed to made made of rainbow diamond and refracted the pale silver light back at him in millions of colors.  The sight was breathtaking.  "I. . .it's beautiful. . ."

    He took the shirt from his chest, he no longer needed it, the runic light was all the heat he needed, with great patience he walked across the newly forming road beneath his unshod feet.
His mind was clear as he pondered his fate, without realizing it he had reached the castle.
Standing before it he swore that he heard a gentle voice say enter.  Trusting himself he strode up the rampart and entered, not looking back he didn't realize the road recede all the way back to Laguz.
Not speaking he strode down endless hallways, upstairs and through towers.
Finally he came to a chamber, a great chamber, it soared overhead into unimaginable heights.
High above great dragons took to roost and gazed at him with intense but un-feigned boredom.
As he gazed around the great hall he saw all his past teachers smiling at him, they approved of him, for once the guardians of Valhalla all agreed upon one thing, their student, no, their child,
every single one of them was allowed a single emotion, pride, they were proud of him.

    Nodding to each one he passed without a word, standing upon a throne was a familiar shadow, one that had given him the chance to start this journey, the All Father stood before him and beckoned for him to come forward.

    Suddenly everything became dark, a light shined, all the runakefali etched upon his skin began to glow starting with Thurisa all the way to Laguz.  Finally the cycle ended with which it had began, the All Father, it's bright silver light was at first painful to his eyes, but they soon adjusted.
For all the brightness only a small amount lit the darkness, but for the very first time he saw his patron the All Father for who he truly was, a tall man, naked to the waste, a scar upon his gut that looked as if a great sword had penetrated him, looking to the side the child saw that the sword to commit this injury was his own.  His hair was long as was his beard, both were snowy white, his eyes were the most beautiful blue, they were clear and as blue as when the sky and the ocean meet.
    Looking at this young boy he smiled like a loving grandfather.
"Thou hast done well mine son, I do verily believe thou deserveth yon cure more then anything, thou hast won mine undying respect as well child, also that of mine elder children."
The All Father touched his left thumb to the child's chest once more, in the very center.
The cycle was complete, the circle of his being was restored, he was whole again.
    Falling to his knees he gazed up at his benefactor, and began to cry tears of joy.
    "Why dost thou weep child?" His voice was filled with concern.
    "I weep tears of happiness father, for you have made me well."  He replied.
    A soft chuckle stopped the flow of tears.
    "You make of me a jest sire?"  His face flushed.
    "Nay dear one, thou hast healed thyself.  Had thou not passed the eight trials I would have turned thee away."
    The boy smiled and laughed, "Thank you my lord, but before I return. . .I have one thing to ask of you. . .if. . .if it's not to much trouble, please, tell me your name."
    The All Father laughed uproariously, slapping his knee with a mighty palm.
"Thou hast learned much child, thine guile doth please me, I shall answer thy query though."  Pausing for effect, the All Father stood to his full height, he was modest, unlike Thor he did not tower, but he was no dwarf.  He stood fully 12 feet tall, the child reached his knees only.
"Mine name, mine title, since the very beginning of the ages has been, and always shall be. . .ODIN!"
    Under other circumstance he would have never believed it, but he had learned many a lesson, he took this calmly, Odin approved.
"Thou art truly mine son, tell me child. . .what is thine title?"
"I am. . . . . . .!"