320

Assignment of Divine Titles

After everyone else had left, only Forseti and Odin remained in the Golden Palace hall, with Forseti seated on the throne.

Odin studied Forseti for a moment, then hesitated before speaking, "Forseti, about you and Hela..."

It was exactly what Forseti had expected. Given the recent attention on his relationship with Hela, Odin was bound to inquire.

Naturally, any parent would want to understand their child's emotional state.

However, since return, especially after Mangog's remarks, the relationship between father and daughter had grown distant and strained. Despite this, Odin found it difficult to approach Hela directly to discuss the matter. Therefore, he turned to Forseti first.

Forseti replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. It is an honor for me to have earned the favor of Princess Hela."

Odin nodded thoughtfully, initially saying nothing. After a moment, he continued, "Forseti, you are an exceptional warrior. Despite your youth, your abilities and demeanor have impressed me greatly. I am reassured to see you and Hela together. I believe that in time, you will become a worthy husband and father."

This statement made Forseti slightly uneasy.

At just a century old, it felt premature to be discussing fatherhood.

Yet, he couldn't deny that the scene held a certain appeal. After all, Forseti had never been a father in his previous life.

"...Forseti, your remarkable rate of growth continues to astonish me. At only one hundred years of age, you are already one of Asgard's finest warriors. One can only imagine the heights you will reach in the future."

After a pause, Odin added, "Although Hela is much older than you, I must admit my own shortcomings as a father. In many ways, she still behaves like a child."

"In contrast, Forseti, I expect you to exhibit greater maturity. Therefore... as Asgard's god and Hela's partner, should she engage in any... impulsive behavior, I trust you will handle it appropriately."

Odin's meaning was clear. Essentially, he wanted Forseti to help stabilize Hela and prevent her from acting rashly.

Forseti understood Odin's concerns. He, too, didn't want Hela to become estranged from Odin and Asgard. However, he also harbored his own reservations about Odin's actions.

Odin had promised Hela that he would not seek a stepmother for her, only to eventually break that promise. Moreover, Odin was now reconsidering his solemnly pledged inheritance rights.

Despite Mangog's threat, if not for Hela, Odin would have faced countless resentments. Yet, this hadn't swayed Odin's resolve to pass the throne to his son.

Asgard had no rule barring the passing of titles to females; indeed, Duke Norn had passed his title to his daughter Karnilla. Odin's biases and fixations were evident.

Odin hoped that Forseti would stabilize Hela and dissuade her from rash actions. Yet, had he not reneged on his promise, Hela would not be inclined toward "childish" behavior.

After some consideration, Forseti replied, "Of course, Your Majesty. As an Asgardian, I do not wish harm upon any of my kin. I will ensure that no unfortunate incidents befall Asgard."

Pausing, he spoke emphatically, "Even at the risk of my own life, I will uphold this promise. For maintaining one's word is the greatest honor and dignity a person can possess."

Hearing these words, Odin's expression froze.

Silence hung heavy in the air for a moment.

Finally, Odin spoke, "Everyone desires the safety of their kin. You are right."

"...You may go now, Forseti."

Once Forseti had departed, Odin found himself alone in the vast hall.

After a while, he rose silently from his throne, leaving the hall, and entered an exquisite chamber.

"Wah, wah..."

"Wah..."

In the chamber, Little Thor and Little Loki cried one after another, as if competing for attention.

"Whoa, whoa-"

After a while, Thor's cries gained the upper hand, his wails continuous from start to finish.

Yet, after a brief pause, the cries ceased momentarily. Thor kicked his legs for a moment before resuming his lament. Meanwhile, an unpleasant odor permeated the room.

Upon entering, Odin recognized the familiar scent and couldn't help but ask, "Is it Thor again?"

"Yes, this child eats quite a bit..." Frigga remarked, as she tidied up.

Odin settled beside the crib, reaching out to gently squeeze Thor's chubby cheeks, a smile spreading across his face.

"Odin, what are your plans for the Casket of Ancient Winters and the Tesseract?" Friggainquired.

Odin responded, "The Casket of Ancient Winters should be secured in the treasury. As for the Tesseract, this ominous artifact should be hidden in Midgard. I intend to dispatch Tyr, given that remnants of the Frost Giants still linger there."

Three days later.

Asgard finally settled into a semblance of peace, yet attention swiftly turned to Odin's impending priesthood appointments.

Golden Palace Hall.

This hall served as a final resting place for fallen warriors and hosted significant events related to warfare.

On this day, most of Asgard's warriors gathered in Valhalla Hall, with Odin standing at its center, spear of eternity in hand.

Frigga, Hela, Tyr, Skurge, and others stood to his left and right, with Forseti among them.

Standing beside Forseti was Hermond. Despite his advanced age, he remained Asgard's swiftest runner, appearing as youthful as ever, defying the passage of centuries.

As Odin addressed the assembly, Hermond leaned over to Forseti.

"Any guesses on who's getting a new titles this time?" Hermond inquired with a smile.

"Me?" Forseti was taken aback. "That seems unlikely, given the competition for these titles."

"Why unlikely? I believe you have a strong chance. What sort of priesthood are you hoping for?" Hermond asked, his smile widening.

"The God of Fire?" Forseti ventured optimistically.

Asgard typically boasted no more than a dozen individuals holding priesthoods, each possessing outstanding qualifications, remarkable achievements over millennias, and formidable strength .

Though Forseti stood out among ordinary Asgardians, he had not yet achieved the top ten due to young age.

"...Old gods have passed, and new gods shall rise," Odin spoke slowly. "As the Allfather, I shall confer three new priesthoods, beginning with the God of Hunting."

With those words, Odin's gaze turned toward Forseti.

Realizing his mistake, Odin quickly redirected his gaze and turned to Heimdall, saying, "Heimdall."

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