“It is the same with your own trials.” Skrymir told Thor. “When you took such deep draughts from the cup of penance you had no idea about what a wonderful feat you had performed. The other end of the horn - the cup of penance - is the ocean. Now when you go to the sea, you will see how far the waters have fallen away from the shores.” The giant smiled at Thor. “After today when people go out of the tide they will call it the ebb or draught of Thor.”
Thor was speechless as Skrymir continued. “In your second feat you lifted the paw of the cat. That was no cat. It was the Midgard serpent that encircles the world. When you moved the paw, the very earth shook by your strength.” The giant smiled. “Do not be ashamed of your third feat. Elli looks old, but she has never been defeated before and she never will be defeated either.”
Thor did not know what to say when the giant nodded at him. “This is where we part. Do not come back here, because I will always defend my city from everyone who tries to harm it.”
Thor was about to raise his hammer to challenge the giant to a round of strength, but the giant vanished.
The city vanished too and Thor found himself in an empty plain.
“I was fooled by a mountain giant.” Thor cried out aloud.
A voice from the skies smiled at Thor. “I told you that you would learn lots of things about yourself during this travel. I think you did.”
Thor realized that this was Skrymir, but he could not find the giant anywhere, but he saw a cloud capped mountain in the horizon.
Realizing that he would not find the giant, Thor returned to his place a wiser man.
Adapted from Norse Mythology
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