Bittersweet Release

Doctor Strange, sensing the gravity of the situation, decided it was time for a private conversation with Thor. With a subtle wave of his hand, he dismissed the other heroes, leaving only Thor and himself in the meeting hall.

The room, once bustling with activity, now fell into an eerie silence as the last of the heroes exited, leaving Thor and Doctor Strange alone amidst the dimly lit chamber. The air crackled with tension, a palpable energy that mirrored the seriousness of their discussion.Doctor Strange approached Thor, his expression solemn. "Thor, the situation we face is dire. As I delved deeper into the nature of the wormhole, I uncovered troubling discoveries," he began, his voice carrying the weight of his findings.Thor's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on the Sorcerer Supreme. "What did you find, magician?" he asked, his voice low and tinged with concern.Doctor Strange hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "I detected remnants of Asgardian magic emanating from the core of the wormhole, but that's not all. There were two distinct magical signatures present," he explained, his tone grave.Thor's brow furrowed in confusion. "Two magical signatures? What does that mean?" he inquired, his expression growing increasingly troubled.Doctor Strange sighed, knowing the impact of his revelation. "One signature bore the unmistakable scent of death, Hela's magic," he revealed, bracing himself for Thor's reaction. "But the other... it was almost new, yet strangely familiar. It reminded me of your own magic, but twisted, corrupted."Thor's features darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. "And what of this other signature, magician?" he demanded, his voice betraying a mix of anger and apprehension.Doctor Strange met Thor's gaze with unwavering resolve. "It was the power I sensed from your son," he confessed, his tone solemn.Thor's shock was palpable, his expression a mixture of disbelief and rage. He rose from his seat with such force that the table cracked under the impact of his hand. "Do not yell at me, Asgardian," Doctor Strange cautioned, his tone icy. "But it was the power I sensed from your son."Meanwhile, in the realm of Hel, Raiden slowly stirred from his unconscious state. His eyes fluttered open, and he found himself in a dimly lit chamber surrounded by shadows. The air was heavy with the scent of decay, and a chill settled over him as he realized where he was.As Raiden attempted to sit up, he noticed Hela standing vigil by his side, her expression a mask of unreadable emotions. "You're awake," she remarked, her voice tinged with surprise.Raiden nodded weakly, his mind still foggy from his ordeal. "Hela... what happened? Did it work?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.Hela regarded him with a mixture of concern and apprehension. "Yes, it worked," she replied cryptically, her eyes betraying a hint of uncertainty.Raiden furrowed his brow, sensing there was more to the story than Hela was letting on. "Where are we?" he inquired, his gaze sweeping the dimly lit chamber.Hela hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "We are in Hel, the realm of the dead," she explained, her tone somber. "As for why you feel different... that is a question that only time will answer."As Raiden settled back against the cold stone floor, his thoughts turned to the events that had led him here. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Hela's words than met the eye, but for now, he would have to wait for answers.As Raiden's strength gradually returned, he sat up, the coolness of the stone floor seeping into his weary bones. He cast a searching gaze at Hela, his mind swirling with questions and uncertainties."Hela, what happened? Why are we here in Hel?" he pressed, his voice tinged with urgency.Hela regarded him with a solemn expression, her eyes betraying a hint of sadness. "The journey through the wormhole was successful, but it came with consequences," she explained, her voice carrying the weight of their predicament.Raiden's brow furrowed in concern. "Consequences? What do you mean?" he asked, his heart pounding with apprehension.Hela hesitated, her gaze drifting to the shadows that danced along the chamber walls. "Your powers have changed, Raiden. The magic of Asgard and the tempest you once wielded... it's different now," she revealed, her voice tinged with regret.Raiden's eyes widened in disbelief, the implications of Hela's words sinking in. "Different how?" he inquired, his voice barely above a whisper.Hela sighed, her features etched with sorrow. "Your connection to the storm, to Tempest... it's been altered and I am not sure if its negative or even positive but right now your very being is adjusting to this new environment and the partial full release of your powers. The journey through the wormhole has left its mark on you, changing the very essence of your being," she explained, her words heavy with meaning."What do you mean by 'partial release' and is something wrong with Tempest" Raiden confused by her words he immediately calls out to tempest in his mind but to no avail but he can still feel their presence just not active."We are in my home, my dimension, I command this realm and while here I have some dominion over all that exist here and coupled with my magical capabilities returning to me I was able too slow your body and magic from adapting back too its rightful strength.""Wait what? I trust you Hela but you have better have a reason why"Raiden's mind raced with a flurry of emotions as he processed Hela's revelation. He had always embraced his connection to Tempest, viewing it as a source of strength and guidance. Now, faced with the prospect of that bond being altered, he couldn't help but feel a sense of loss."Had I let you re adjust as I said you would of died, you had just easily done of the largest Bifrost travel ever attempted, you literally moved a whole dimension that was magically sealed by the best and brightest sorcerers and best of science could offer." she shook her head as it baffled her."and now while forcing through all that resistance you channelled the power of a elder god that fought Odin for weeks while also unleashing a magical seal that allowed the Bifrost to flow through your being and flooded you mind with all the knowledge that the Bifrost has seen, you had to balance these forces with your own magic by being the dominant power in your body or you would be destroyed from the inside." as she spoke she got more and more heated before slapping him"What was that for?!-" Raiden was interrupted by Hela jumping in his arms and hugging him while tears unfamiliar with her face fell and didn't stop."I cant believe you would do something so stupid and not even tell me" she cried in his shoulder.Shocked and confused Raiden slowly put his arms around her and as she cried more his eyes moved around the room cloths, towels and empty plats of food were strew everywhere and it came to him that he has no idea how long she has been taking care of him, immediately a pang of guilt came over him."I am sorry Hela I never meant to worry you , I would never want that to happen but I did and I am so sorry" he whispered to herHela pushed her self up and wiped her tears with a handkerchief she summoned."Apology accepted but know let me finish, if I let you release all your power at your current state it could of killed you as your body was in bad shape, in time as you heal I will release your power more and more and we both know how fast you heal, remember when you thought it was smart to jump in a a nest full of eldritch monsters" she teased "Oh you promised to stop mentioning that!" he got flustered and pointed his finger accusatory"I kid, i kid but i am serious you have to recover even if just a few days and we can make a plan what to do.As Raiden listened to Hela's explanation, a mixture of relief and gratitude washed over him. Despite the uncertainty of their situation, he found solace in knowing that Hela had been there to protect him, to guide him through the tumultuous aftermath of their journey through the wormhole."I understand, Hela. Thank you for looking out for me," Raiden said sincerely, his voice filled with genuine appreciation.Hela offered him a small smile, her eyes softening with warmth. "It's what I do, Raiden. You may be stubborn, but you're still my responsibility," she replied, her tone gentle yet firm.Raiden nodded in understanding, a sense of determination settling over him. "So, what's our next move? How do we proceed from here?" he inquired, his mind already racing with possibilities.Hela considered his question for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "First, we need to ensure that you're fully recovered. Then, we can begin to explore our options and devise a plan to confront whatever challenges lie ahead," she explained, her voice steady with resolve.Raiden nodded in agreement, his gaze meeting Hela's with unwavering determination. "Whatever comes our way, we'll face it together," he vowed, a sense of unity strengthening the bond between them.Hela smiled softly, a glimmer of pride shining in her eyes. "Together," she echoed, her voice filled with quiet assurance.As they sat together in the dimly lit chamber, surrounded by the shadows of Hel, Raiden and Hela shared a silent understanding. Though the road ahead would be fraught with challenges and uncertainty, they would face it with courage, resilience, and the unwavering strength of their bond.For in the heart of darkness, they would find the light that would guide them through the storm. And together, they would forge a new path forward, ready to confront whatever destiny had in store for them.