CHAPTER 123 - RUMORS OR TRUTH II

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The table we all sat around fell silent at Thor's words. I felt the urge to massage my head while Wanda and Pietro were visibly frowning. Times like these are when I really wished this universe was one I was knowledgeable about.

"I might have only the basic knowledge when it comes to the Infinity Stones but even I can tell that someone having a relic of time itself is bad news for everyone." Pietro said and the others beside him nodded.

"Can't the Stones be destroyed? I think it's better if things like these didn't exist in the first place." Wanda asked.

I sighed and replied. "It's hard, very hard."

"I'd say it's rather impossible. It's an Infinity Stone after all. These things have been around since the very dawn of creation." Thor interjected and though I knew otherwise, I didn't bother explaining how.

Wanda being able to destroy the Mind Stone is because of their shared similarities in this universe. I doubt the current her could do the same to the other Infinity Stones like her Infinity War counterpart did to the Mind Stone.

Seeing the mood brought down with his words, Thor banged the table and said in a loud voice. "Come on now, it's just a rumor. Even if there's truth to it, I doubt an ancient pebble can do anything to us. We are strong."

We all nodded in agreement at his words, somehow falling into his pace without noticing. "Arrogant as his words might feel to hear, I however think he is right."

Well, hopefully it doesn't fall in the hands of Thanos. If it does, and the Time Stone at that, then I'd only agree with Thor but with a 40% chance of winning.

As stupid as the movies made it look, the Time Stone doesn't work like a spell with magic circles and whatnot.

Not to mention that nobody here has a skillset that counters time manipulation. Pietro maybe, but he isn't yet fast enough.

I didn't ask anything else concerning the Stones or Surtur during the banquet and left it for when the festivities were over.

'No need to bring the mood further down.'

I looked at Wanda and Pietro behind me and I could tell that they were enjoying every moment here. Pietro might just be enjoying the novelty of everything so far and I could tell that Ms. Little Connoisseur of Magic would be visiting the Vanir sorcerers after this.

Me? Well there is no way I'm getting into Asgard's treasury or will be granted entrance to study the Space Stone so I might just relax. And maybe look into the rumor concerning the Time Stone while I'm at it.

The banquet went on for a while and I had to stop my high thought processes just to enjoy a little bit of it. I was challenged to a few arm wrestling when everyone got heated up and won all my rounds, except the draw with Thor. Not that I was putting my all to it.

And yes, I do know about giving face to the prince of a kingdom even if the latter might seem to care less of it.

The banquet ended and were led to the guest quarters by the palace maids who were laughing as Wanda gave Pietro a stink eye after his endless flirting with them.

"Do try and keep it in your pants until we leave." I told him but he only snorted at my words.

"As if you'd understand the thrill of getting with real non-human palace maids." He said.

I didn't bother replying to that, chucking it up to some men's fetish with maids or Pietro just being horny for sex with people he considers aliens.

'Do humans ever think that they also are aliens to other species outside of earth? If they want to meet an alien so bad then why don't they just meet their neighbor?'

I don't bother telling Wanda when he sneakily sped off to catch up with the girls after we were shown to our rooms.

A few minutes later, Thor came to our room in 'casual' robes, changing out of the armor I've grown used to seeing him wear all the time. As for the robes, anyone with an eye for luxury could tell at first glance how expensive that thing would cost and anyone with eyes like mine would see the faint strings of energy that flowed through every thread that stitched up the room.

"I see you aren't that surprised by my presence." He said after we sat down in the living room of the house they called a guest room.

"Even without trying to, I could feel your static from down the halls." I replied to which he just nodded as if it was normal. "So what brings you here?"

"As you very well know, my father has me cleaning up every sighting of Surtur's spawns and-"

"And it'll be hard to find time to help us verify the news concerning the Time Stone." Wanda completed and he nodded again.

"And both are of great concerns, not only to Asgard but also to all the realms under it's protection." He sounded tired as he said that. With the way he was slumped on the chair facing the ceiling, anyone would sympathize with him in his situation.

"I can tell it's being rough on you." I said.

He laughed, looked at me, and thumped his chest. "I am Thor. This is nothing to me. I've handled harder. Killed worst even."

"We can see that. But I don't think having to liberate planet after planet is a new ball game altogether. Way harder than waging wars and winning fights, I presume."

He looked at the two of us in surprise before a grateful smile crept into his face. "And you would be right, Wanda. You two really do make a nice pair."

He then sat upright while looking at us and started. "I also find it a bit too strange with Xandar's direct confrontation with the Mad Titan's army. They usually, never even, cross paths."

"You think this rumor might really be true?" Even with the sparse knowledge I had of those two galactic forces, I knew that Thanos clashing with Xandar was over nothing minor.

To my question he nodded. "The Reality Stone is safely stored away from Asgard. The Space Stone lies dormant in my father's treasury, under his ever-watching eyes. You have the Mind Stone and my father also vouches for the safety of the Soul, which leaves us with only two unaccounted Infinity Stones." He said, holding up his fingers in show.

"The Time and Power Stone."

"Correct. How four of the six appeared in such short time without anyone noticing is a little bit alarming."

These things are just like trouble magnets. The moment one of them makes an appearance, the gears of the universe starts spinning, making the others Stones being attracted towards it and show their own appearance.

It's only a matter of time before someone lands on earth for the Mind Stone. With the number of alien spies on the planet and the fact that any advanced race can sift through our satellites unnoticed makes us stark-naked exposed.

"Can't Heimdall find the location of the Stones. His sight can reach anywhere in the universe, right?" I asked and was not surprised to see the slightly awkward look on Thor's face.

"It can." He said. "But there are things in this universe that even his eyes can't see and places his sight cannot reach."

"And let me guess, Infinity Stones just happens to be one of them." Wanda stated plainly that it caused me and Thor to chuckle.

"So? What do you want us to do?" I asked, bringing us back to the reason why he came to meet us.

He scratched his head, causing his long hair to fall over one side of his face.

"Just out with it, Thor."

He laughed a little awkwardly and spoke after a bit. "I would have preferred it more to have the whole team but I understand that you can't leave Midgard completely unguarded at any time."

"Regardless, with you guys here I was hoping to have you check it out instead. You guys are more… technical, than I am. I will provide a guide for you that knows their way across the nearby galaxies. And with Heimdall keeping an eye on you, I'll be able to plead my father to send his best Einherjars as reinforcements… if they are ever needed."

At first glance, and even after running it through different thought processes, the pros far outweighs whatever cons it might have, but I had one question.

"Hopefully we won't need the reinforcement but on the low probability that we do, won't it drag Asgard into whatever problem we might find ourselves in? Apart from the realms under it, I understand that Asgard doesn't involve itself with the wider universe and its problems."

"How I rule my subjects and the laws I impose on my realm are not matters you should concern yourself with, stonekeeper."

[Odin Borson just entered the chat]