Pardoned

Lorna's eyes gleamed with deep admiration as she gazed at her own image in the painting, unable to believe what she saw.

"Who is this? She's so beautiful! No, wait... that's me," Lorna thought in awe.

Carefully, she reached out to touch the masterpiece, as if afraid that even the slightest pressure might shatter the delicate beauty captured in the painting.

The chronicler, seeing everyone mesmerized by his work, wore a look of deep satisfaction. This was why he had risked everything to rush forward. Such a creation shouldn't be locked away in Asgard's historical archives, lost to the world.

It deserved to be framed and displayed under the brightest lights, for true art lovers to admire. In fact, the chronicler now felt that his 4,000 years of life had been leading up to the creation of this very masterpiece.

But he was wise enough to present the painting as a gift from Asgard to Zane and Lorna, hoping it would compensate for his earlier rash behavior and leave a better impression on Zane.

After a while, Zane was the first to break the trance. He carefully used his deathly divine power to roll the painting back up and placed it gently into the scroll case. Immediately, everyone who had been lost in the beauty of the painting, including Odin, Frigga, and even Lorna, shot Zane disapproving glares.

Zane, however, holding the scroll case, knelt down with an unprecedented seriousness and helped the elderly chronicler to his feet.

"You painted this?" Zane asked, though his tone carried no hint of doubt.

The chronicler, now standing thanks to Zane's aid, was visibly overwhelmed with emotion. He quickly pulled away from Zane, bowing deeply.

"Yes, Lord Zane, I painted it. I hope you like it," the chronicler said, bowing even deeper.

"I do. In fact, this gift is worth more to me than this entire welcome ceremony," Zane replied sincerely, without concern for how Odin, who had organized the event, might feel.

The chronicler bowed even lower in response, tears silently welling up in his aged eyes where no one could see them. To have his work appreciated by the very people he depicted in it was the highest praise he could ever hope for.

Zane then turned to Odin. "Lord Odin, I know this is a matter for Asgard, and it's not my place to intervene," Zane began, his voice carrying a righteous tone. "But I would like to ask for this artist to be properly recognized." He gestured toward the chronicler, still bowed deeply before them.

Odin's face twitched in frustration. So, Zane got to play the hero, and I end up looking like the villain? Odin had already decided not to punish the chronicler after seeing the masterpiece, and he had even planned to reward him generously. But now that Zane had spoken publicly, Odin had no choice but to go along.

Nodding, Odin declared, "Rise. By the authority of the All-Father, you are pardoned."

His voice was commanding, but a trace of irritation flickered in his eyes. The chronicler slowly straightened up, casting one final glance at the scroll case in Zane's hand before quietly returning to his place.

Zane then handed the scroll case to Lorna, who clutched it tightly, as if she had just received a priceless treasure. If they weren't in this formal setting, she would have immediately unfurled the painting again to admire it. The images captured within perfectly matched all her dreams of beauty.

Zane, meanwhile, turned his attention back to Odin, and their formal discussions finally began...

Zane smiled warmly as he embraced Odin briefly. Odin, his face creased with age, beamed brightly in return. As the two men hugged, the assembled troops around them erupted into deafening cheers, lifting the atmosphere of the welcome ceremony to its peak.

Afterward, Odin gave a formal speech, filled with customary pleasantries about the everlasting friendship between Zane and Asgard. Zane, in turn, waved politely to the enthusiastic Asgardian crowd, playing his part in the ritual.

With that, Odin dismissed the gathering and, along with Queen Frigga, led Zane and his group into the council chamber. Thor, sensing that Odin wanted to have a private conversation with Zane, wisely restrained his impulsive brother Loki and guided him back to their chambers without causing any disruptions.

Inside the council chamber, Odin shed his elaborate armor and dropped heavily into his throne. Relaxing into the seat, he let out a deep sigh.

"Alright, kid. What brings you here this time? I doubt you're just here to give an old man like me a hard time," Odin said casually, leaning back in his chair. Gone was the regal, imposing figure from earlier—now, he looked like any other elderly man enjoying a moment of rest.

Frigga, seeing the shift in mood, smiled knowingly. She took Lorna's hand and gently led her, along with the others, out of the chamber. She understood that the two leaders needed some privacy and was eager to hear all about Lorna's experiences over the past five years.

As a former warrior herself, Frigga admired Lorna's free-spirited life. Though she had settled into her role as Asgard's queen and mother, part of her still longed for the adventurous freedom Lorna embodied.

With everyone else gone, the vast council chamber now held only Zane and Odin. Zane, having also removed his armor, casually pulled out a chair and sat down heavily, throwing his legs up onto the table without a care for decorum.

"You old schemer, why are you always so suspicious? I just wanted to drop by Asgard for a visit. What, do you think I'm here to swindle you?" Zane smirked mischievously at Odin.

Odin rolled his eyes dramatically at Zane's words. "As if you haven't swindled me enough times already. Come on, out with it—what's the real reason you're here?" Odin said, half amused, half exasperated.

Their relationship was a strange one. As the king of Asgard, Odin was always careful to maintain good relations with Zane, knowing it was his duty to safeguard his realm.

But in private, the two of them shared a bond that went beyond their roles as rulers. Despite the difference in their ages, they were like old friends who could speak to each other openly, without reservation.

In a universe as vast as theirs, beings who had reached their level of power were incredibly rare. To find another with whom they could truly connect—especially one who bore no ill will—was almost impossible.

They both understood this and cherished their unique friendship. After all, for beings like them, loneliness was often an inescapable part of existence.

"Alright, alright. I came for the Aether. Let's be honest, it's not doing Asgard much good anyway," Zane admitted casually. "And the other reason..." Zane paused, looking at the frail, aging Odin, but hesitated to continue.

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