Chapter 155: We All Have Our Youthful Recklessness
After reclaiming his hammer, Tony initially thought about ushering Thor out. However, upon hearing Thor's discussion with Jane, he found himself intrigued. While he had heard of the Nine Realms from Harvey and recognized Odin as a significant figure in the universe, he only understood the surface level. Gaining deeper insight into Asgard and its powers could be invaluable, as it would help him elevate Earth's civilization to a status akin to Asgard's, ensuring a place for Earth in the cosmos.
Meanwhile, in Asgard, Loki, with the support of his mother Frigga, had successfully ascended to the throne following Thor's banishment. However, Loki's rise wasn't enough; he longed for his parents' true recognition of his abilities, not just as a substitute for Thor.
In secret, Loki departed from Asgard through a hidden passage, setting his plans into motion. Meanwhile, Thor's allies began to conspire to bring him back. They believed that while Thor had erred, he didn't deserve such a severe punishment—losing his divine powers and being cast down to Earth. This kind of punishment was far too cruel for the god of Asgard.
The group stealthily approached the Bifrost, hoping to convince Heimdall.
"You all are here?" Heimdall greeted them, already anticipating their arrival.
"Heimdall, how is Thor? Where is he?" Sif asked, her heart racing despite her brave facade.
Heimdall, one of the most formidable beings among the Asgardian gods, spoke with unwavering confidence. If they weren't feeling guilty, there was little reason to fear his presence. Yet, knowing they were here to retrieve Thor put them in direct opposition to Odin's wishes.
"Thor is doing well. If he can return to Asgard, he will," Heimdall stated. "If he cannot, your defiance will only lead to your punishment."
"Thor is well?" someone scoffed, a burly man with a bushy beard. "Don't kid yourself. A god without power on Earth can't possibly be fine."
"Return to Asgard. I won't let you go down there," Heimdall insisted, dismissing their pleas.
"Won't you at least consider what Thor would want?" Sif murmured, pondering Heimdall's demeanor.
Heimdall shook his head without replying. If Thor hadn't regained the hammer's approval, he would certainly have ignored his call. But now that Thor had understood his responsibilities, aided by Tony Stark, Heimdall had no reason to prevent him from returning.
"Let's go back," Sif decided, sensing from Heimdall's expression that Thor might not be in as dire straits as they had feared. Such a powerful being would hardly lie.
"But…" the burly man began, confused about Sif's decision to abandon their mission.
Sif silenced him with a shake of her head. They turned to leave, but just as they were about to depart, Heimdall called after them.
"I think Thor would be pleased to know you're willing to defy orders for him."
"Knowing Thor is okay puts my mind at ease," Sif replied, a smile breaking through her worry.
Meanwhile, at Stark Manor in New York, Thor continued sharing knowledge with Jane, from daylight into the night. He had opened her eyes to the wonders of astronomy, revealing the existence of other intelligent life in the universe.
"So if most don't dare come, that means some do?" Jane noted, jotting down Thor's words.
"The Frost Giants from Jotunheim, the ones I provoked into war, are among those daring enough," Thor explained. "In ancient times, they wreaked havoc across the Nine Realms until my grandfather and father restored order. The Nine Realms have known peace for many years since then."
"Though there have been skirmishes, they were internal conflicts, not invasions from external forces. My youthful arrogance led me to break the treaty that kept the Frost Giants at bay. Without it, they could return at any moment."
Thor's face fell, a flicker of shame crossing it.
"Youthful recklessness is something we all experience, so don't dwell on it too much," Tony interjected, seeing Thor's discomfort. "As Odin's son, it's natural to be confident in your powers."
Thor resembled a privileged heir, believing himself infallible before encountering real danger or hardship. It was typical for someone who had never faced true peril to feel invincible and assume their decisions were always right.
Such a mindset rarely shifts, even in the face of genuine concern from loved ones. It takes a true crisis for one to recognize their past arrogance.
Thor's banishment and loss of power forced him to confront his mistakes, and without Tony's guidance—returning the hammer and explaining the conditions—he might have taken far longer to realize his folly.
Thanks to Jane's insights, Thor quickly understood what he needed to learn.