Verdant Compass

Aerion parried away the approaching lightning-covered hammer with his spear, the air smelt of ozone as suddenly flames spewed from the ground leaving Thor to jump away from a particularly hot tongue of flame that tried to wrap itself around his torso. 

Dozens of streams of lightning shot themselves towards the God who at the last moment gracefully threw his body over the lightning and landed behind a wide eyed blonde God. 

Aerion thrust his spear towards his elder brother's back who turned in time and with a single swing of Mjolnir sent the spear into the floor.

In less than a second dozens of spears conjured directly above Thors and Aerions head and dropped down into the floor below causing Thor to drop back while Aerion stood still as the spears landed around him in a circle. 

Liquid fire started spewing from the holes the spears created in the ground creating a large puddle of fire that not even Thor wanted to walk through. 

Aerion pushed his advantage by dashing towards his elder brother with a small knife given to him by Loki for his 16th birthday. 

He dodged under a swing from Mjölnir and thrust his knife towards Thor's abdomen only for the man to knee the approaching knife out of Aerions hand into the air above. 

As Aerions eyes widened Thor dropped his hammer directly onto Aerions foot leaving him unable to move said foot as Thor's other hand grabbed the knife from the air and before Aerion could blink had it pressed against the younger Gods neck. 

Aerion sighed "I Yield" he tried to wriggle his foot unsuccessfully to which Thor laughed boisterously as he summoned the hammer to his hand. 

"Still not able to lift the hammer brother" Thor teased as he eyed the flame puddle appreciatively "Nice new trick" he said as he poked the puddle with his foot. 

Aerion looked at the extremely heavy hammer in slight awe at the fact Thor can quite easily swing the hammer with one hand.

Aerion sighed as he eyed the puddle of fire still burning and with a thought dissipated the spears and fire. He took a deep breath and turned to his elder brother with a conflicted feeling.

"Brother I must confess something" Aerion said as he eyed the surrounding woods, they always came to the royal hunting grounds to train. 

Thor turned with raised eyebrows and gestured with his hands "Well speak then" he said cheerfully. 

"I…Father recently mentioned how Fate was involved with everything to ever happen or will happen." He said to the older man who nodded "Well, you know how father mentioned how I was built for War and you yourself once said I was built for battle" 

Thor nodded with a frown on his face as he tried to understand the point Aerion was making. 

The 17 year old ran a hand through his silky hair and sighed "Well, I'm wondering if I was 'Built for war' because there is a war on the horizon, a big war" he explained as his eyes wandered the far woods. 

Thor eyed his youngest brother at only seventeen years of age, still no real life experience. He's been to war, fought in dozens of battles but no real friends other than himself and Loki. 

No real companions.

Thor thought to his friends, The Warriors Three and Sif. 

Loki had dozens of friends all throughout the nine realms and grew up with many of the current nobles of Asgard.

"Brother if there is War on the horizon we shall welcome it with no fear" Thor clapped his hand onto Aerions shoulder. "For we are Warriors" he said seriously as his lightning blue eyes met the burning yellow of Aerion. 

Aerion sighed, Thor didn't seem to get his point. He lived for fighting and battles, but…he feared a war of epic proportions with enemies that could bring them to their knees. 

Aerion was going to try and insist his point but dropped it at the look in Thor's eyes and just nodded. 

Thor instead took the chance to speak "Brother I do have an idea" he said as he let go off Aerions shoulder and started to walk through the thick woods towards the Palace. 

"Oh?" Aerion asked as he trudged through the thick forgery. 

"Aye, I think you should go and travel" Aerion blinked at the suggestion as his eyes slid over to Thor's back as the man effortlessly stomped through the woods. "I heard Alfheims princess is only 80 and still unwed, you can always visit" he said teasingly to the now blushing teenager. 

80 was pretty young for an elf. 

"Whatever" Aerion brushed off as the idea of travelling took root in his mind as he thought about exploring the unknown galaxy.

—-

Not even a year later Aerion was double checking his starship ready to leave Asgard, he double checked every part of the ship and made sure all his supplies were on the small personal starship. 

The design was simple black with dark red accents with plenty of supplies on board, Asgardian Gods like him could luckily go months without food. 

Thor himself once had a singular battle with thousands of frost giants go on for a whole month without sleeping, eating nor drinking. 

Whenever the story was told Aerion felt true awe as he looked at his elder brother. But enough of his elder brother's feats, he himself wanted to gain some awe inspiring stories while he was away.

He double checked to make sure he had clothes on board, his amour wasn't necessary given he could conjure it similar to Thor & Loki and he was the God of Spears so he could always summon or conjure his with ease. 

He left the ship that was just smaller than a bus and turned to his waiting family, his mother pulled him into a quick embrace while his Father gave him a stoic nod. Thor clapped a hand upon his shoulder "You shall have great stories by the time you have returned I hope" he said with a grin.

Loki handed him a small compass "It's enchanted" he said as he eyed the magical contraption he had spent the previous night making. "It will point you towards Asgard no matter where you are in the known or unknown universe" he said with a small smirk.

Aerion smirked himself as he eyed the black and green compass, it was truly a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. His eyes slid to Loki, he had felt of late that he and Loki had been talking to one another less and less. 

Aerion pulled the slightly shocked black haired brother into a quick embrace. Said God of Lies quickly backed away from the affection as soon as he could without seeming rude with a smirk as he wiped his shoulders "Growing strong Aerion". 

Aerion gave a smile and nod to his black haired brother before turning and heading onto the ship before Thor's voice stopped him. 

"Be back by your birthday!" the man boisterously shouted at the teenager who snorted.

"Of course Brother" Aerion said with a grin before he turned back and closed the ships airtight doors with a woosh.