Damned Illusion

Back in Asgard, the infirmary was filled with silence most of the time, broken only by the soft murmurs of the healers and the faint crackling of healing Aethere energy. Liam lay on the bed. His face was so pale contrast to the dark, palm-like scratch that marred his neck. His breathing was shallow, each rise and fall of his chest a painful reminder of the curse that now gripped him.

By his side, Thomas, Liam's grandfather, sat with a deeply worried expression etched on his weathered face. The lines of age seemed deeper now while he looking at the sight of his grandson in such a vulnerable state. He sighed heavily, the sound filled with sorrow.

As he sat there, Freya quietly entered the room. Her steps were slow as she approached the bed where Liam lay. She could feel the guilt gnawing at her insides. Without a word, she sat down beside Thomas, fighting to maintain her composure.

After a long moment, Freya finally spoke.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. Her eyes still fixed on Liam's still form.

She tried to keep her face calm and push down the turmoil raging within her but it was a losing battle. The guilt weighed heavily on her heart.

Thomas sighed again, his gaze never leaving Liam. "It's not your fault, Lady Freya," he said. "It's the fault of the evil that did this to him."

He turned his head slightly, finally looking at Freya. The sadness and fatigue in his eyes was clear, but there was no blame there. Just worry for his grandson. "I can only hope that we will find a way to heal him quick," he added.

Freya nodded while feeling her throat tight with emotion. She wished she could believe those words with all her heart, but the fear of losing Liam gnawed at her.

"We will," she promised, more to herself than to him.

They both turned their attention back to Liam, the room's silence once again.

---

In a nearby chamber, Thor, Erik, and Mia sat together around a round table. The atmosphere was tense because of the situation they were in right now. Sif had joined them this time. She had just returned from her own battles in another realm and Thor had already explain to her her about everything that had happened till now. Now, they were gathered to discuss what could be done to save Liam.

Sif had checked on Liam's condition earlier. Everyone in the room knew more or less how bad the situation she had seen on Liam's body, and now they waited to hear her explanation.

"The curse on Liam's body is dangerous," Sif began. "It's not just a physical wound; it's something that attacks his essence. His soul is under attack right now and if we don't act soon it will be completely frozen. Right now, he's feeling every part of his body freezing."

Erik gritted his teeth tightly. The thought of Liam was enduring such torment filled him with a mix of anger and helplessness. He wanted to do something to stop it, but he felt powerless at this point. The fact that Liam seems to feel everything that happened to him right now didn't help his feeling at all.

Mia gasped at Sif's words, her hand instinctively flying to her mouth as the reality of Liam's condition hit her. She bit her lip.

"What can we do?" Mia asked while looking at Sif, searching for any glimmer of hope.

Sif shook her head slowly, her expression serious.

"I don't know yet," she admitted helplessly. "This curse is new, maybe its developed by some dark mage from Jotunheim because its have strong cold element. It's not something we can easily undo. But I promise you that I won't stop until I find a way to break it."

The room fell into a silence again. Erik and Mia exchanged a glance that full of despair at everything that happened.

It was just a few days ago that they felt like they were invincible because they had gained their new power. But it turns out that the reality of the cruelty of this war suddenly came and broke their illusions.

Now they are faced with a situation they never thought possible before. Their friend is now in bed several rooms away from them and suffering by himself. Meanwhile they don't know what they should do.

Suddenly, a shimmering light filled the room and a holographic figure began to materialize before them.

"Heimdall…" Sif murmured.

It was Heimdall, the guardian of the Bifrost and the creator of the System that Erik and Mia wielded.

His tall figure was draped in golden armor that gleamed even in its projected form. His eyes were in the color of amber and his expression now held a hint of worry. A majestic horn rested across his back.

This was the first time Erik and Mia had actually seen him. Under different circumstances, they might have been filled with admiration and curiosity about the being responsible for such an incredible invention of the System. But now, with Liam lying helpless in the infirmary their emotions were conflicted. They don't know how to feel.

Thor and Sif immediately noticed the troubled look on Heimdall's face. It set them both on edge, knowing that if Heimdall was concerned something is seriously wrong.

Heimdall offered a small smile to Erik and Mia, but it was tinged with sadness.

"I'm sorry to interrupt at a time like this," Heimdall said. "But I bring a very dire news. A problem has arisen on Midgard."

His words sinking into the brain of everyone present. Their shock was clear as they all processed what Heimdall had just said.

Midgard – their home, Earth – was in trouble. Erik and Mia exchanged a glance that filled with fear and confusion.

In an instant, the room's atmosphere shifted from tense worry over Liam's condition to a sudden focus on this new threat. They all knew that whatever was happening on Midgard, it was something that couldn't be ignored.

"What is it, Heimdall?" Thor asked.

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