Chapter 37

Asgard, the realm known to the beings of Midgard as the highest seat of the Norse Pantheon and to the denizens of the nine realms as a whole, the home of the Aesir. An enormous palace made of gold stood tall and resolute. The branches of Yggdrasil wound around and through the golden walls and palace grounds. The golden structure itself was one of the two most memorable things about this realm. From a Midgardian's point of view, it truly was a land plucked from fairytales. The palace cast a glow onto the city that lay below it, shining much like a mirror would. There was not an alleyway that was not alight from the majestic glow of Asgard's golden walls. One would even call Asgard "Heaven" despite Valhalla having that title.

Yet, this realm is far from what it appears. Asgard's roots grew in battlegrounds fertilized with ash and blood. The amount of blood nestled deep in Asgard's roots made the worst of Midgard's wars look like backyard scuffles between toddlers. The cycle of Ragnarok, a series of cataclysmic events leading to the death and rebirth of the gods, has shaped Asgard over countless eras. Each iteration begins anew, with the gods unaware of their past lives, repeating their destinies in an endless loop.

The first beings of the Aesir were Buri, the ancestor of the gods, born from the primordial ice. Buri fathered Bor, who in turn fathered Odin. Odin, the mightiest of the Aesir, is a god of wisdom, war, and death. Despite his current appearance as an old man with long white hair, a matching beard, and one striking eye (the other given in exchange for wisdom), Odin was once a ruthless deity who waged war across the nine realms to bring them under his rule. His conquests only ceased after the birth of his first child.

Odin now sat upon his throne in the golden interior of the throne room, holding Gungnir, his golden spear, in his right hand. The golden interior of the throne room, adorned with intricate carvings and tapestries depicting Asgard's glorious history, gleamed under the light of enchanted flames. At one end of the room stood Heimdall, facing downward as he bowed to Odin, his king. Heimdall, known as the all-seeing and all-hearing guardian of the Bifrost, wore golden armor and a matching helm, holding a large two-handed broadsword with the tip touching the ground.

"You've come, Heimdall," Odin said, his voice echoing through the hall. "I was about to make my way to the Bifrost."

Odin slammed his spear into the ground, and the entire hall dissolved away. They found themselves back at Heimdall's station, overlooking the Bifrost. Heimdall stood up to face the bridge, watching the universe with his keen eyes.

"Did you locate the source of power that was released on Midgard, or the realm that descended where Thor was doing battle with the mortal that controls gravity?" Odin asked.

Turning his gaze from the black expanse to Odin, Heimdall spoke, "No, my lord. I cannot see who or what caused the descent of that realm. Whenever I try to look deeper, all I see is a blot that spans infinitely. But through Thor's senses, I noticed he allied himself with someone powerful. His power is similar to that of their mutants but feels... different altogether. I could tell he was able to control psionic powers from what I felt through Thor."

Odin's gaze pierced through the cascade of light racing across the universe. "I felt the power surge across the cosmos when the realm descended on Midgard. It felt foreign, yet natural, as if it was and always will be an existence meant to be."

Heimdall nodded, his eyes reflecting the same thought. Odin continued, "Tell me what you felt through my son."

Heimdall hesitated before speaking. "I felt a force that I do not recognize from this person. I felt power that seemed to grow as they fought, and I felt an encompassing darkness that enveloped your son, my lord. One moment I could clearly feel what Thor felt, and the next I... froze, unable to see anything and unable to retreat. I was stuck."

Odin's expression darkened. "How is that possible? Only a god or the sorcerers of Midgard should be able to do such a thing."

Heimdall shook his head. "No, it wasn't them."

Odin's thoughts wandered. 'What are you doing... Yao?' he wondered silently.

"Is he a threat?" Odin asked.

"Anyone can become a threat if given sufficient reason to, my king," Heimdall responded smoothly.

Silence stretched in the chamber for a few seconds before Odin slammed Gungnir on the floor. Runic magical circles flared golden all across the chamber. The observatory's telescopic structure spun for a moment as the Bifrost lit up with all the shades imaginable, and a beam of dimensional energy reached out deep into the cosmos. Within seconds, it retracted back to Asgard and fell dark once again.

From the white portal emerged the prince of Asgard, Thor. His muscular frame and flowing blonde hair, combined with his red cape and the enchanted hammer Mjolnir in his hand, made him a formidable figure.

"Thor, my son, I have been waiting for you to return," Odin said, his green eyes alight with authority. "Tell me, boy, is there a reason you decided to keep me waiting?"

Thor went down on one knee in respect. "I was in the middle of helping the Midgardians after the recent tragedy that occurred, and my duty with the Avengers could be—"

Odin cut him off with a voice full of power. "Your duty, boy, is to be the prince of Asgard. Now that your brother cannot be found anywhere in the nine realms..."

A chill spread across the atmosphere due to Odin's supreme power. "Even though the stability of the nine realms is secured, that notion can change at any time. Thor, you are needed here."

Odin slammed Gungnir on the floor, making him and Thor disappear back into the throne room.

Thor looked around and thought, 'Am I in trouble again, aren't I?'

Odin sat on his throne and said, "I want to know everything you know and gleaned about that new ally that fought with you against the mortal wielding one of the fundamental forces of the universe."