Problems

Freya was not one to dwell on problems that seemed unsolvable or issues that dragged on without a clear solution. She had always been the type to cut through complications and seeking the fastest and most direct path forward.

The thought of discussing about the three human children any further seemed to her like an unnecessary delay. She cared for them as well. And she wouldn't risk thrusting them into battle before they were truly prepared—it was not in her nature to gamble with lives that could still be protected. And right now, her focus needed to be elsewhere.

Her expression remained stern as she look at Thor. She wasn't going to force the conversation to linger on the trio's readiness. There were more pressing matters at hand.

"So, what happened in Vanaheim?" Thor asked.

Freya's eyes darkened, the memory of her recent ordeal flickering across her face.

"The ritual was nearly complete," she began, her voice steady but laced with anger. "But the mysterious attacker come again at me. I had no choice but to abandon the ritual or risk being overwhelmed by them."

Freya's gaze grew distant as she recounted the events, her mind flashing back to that moment earlier...

---

Earlier, at Vanaheim…

Breathing heavily, Freya wiped the blood from her cheek and turned her gaze back to the ritual site. Her relief replaced by horror as she realized what had happened.

The glade was in ruins. The once-glowing runes had been scorched into the earth and the trees surrounding the circle had been toppled and shattered. The very air felt tainted, as if the darkness of the creatures had seeped into the land itself.

And the artifact—the one she had been guarding, was gone.

Someone had taken it.

Freya's heart pounded in her chest as she searched the destroyed glade for any sign of the thief but the trail was cold. She had been so focused on the battle that she hadn't noticed when the artifact was stolen. It was only a few minutes but the ritual was ruined, and the artifact was now in the hands of their enemies.

---

Freya's jaw clenched in anger when she finished her story to Thor, her hands balling into fists at her sides.

Thor's face darkened. "This is worse than we feared," he muttered, his mind already racing with possible outcome of this disaster. "Without that artifact…"

Freya nodded, cutting him off. "If they managed to use it to get the Eye…. Damn it. We need to find it, Thor. And quickly."

They stood in silence for a moment.

Thor's brow furrowed as the weight of their situation settled in. Because the matter of the stolen artifact wasn't the only problem they are facing right now. His thoughts turned to the growing force in Jotunheim that threatened to tip the balance of power in favor of their enemies. He couldn't ignore it any longer.

"And we still have our problem in Jotunheim," Thor said.

Freya sighed loudly in frustration, rubbing her temples as if to ward off the looming headache. The very mention of Jotunheim was enough to remind her of just how dire their circumstances had become. They were being pulled in too many directions, with threats cropping up faster than they could be dealt with.

For a moment the two gods stood in silence. Freya's mind raced, trying to prioritize the chaos. They couldn't afford to ignore any of these threats but neither could they divide their forces too thinly.

Thor broke the silence first.

"I'll take care of Jotunheim with Father." He looked at Freya. "That way, you can focus on finding the artifac."

"Very well, then," Freya agreed, and let out a sigh. "I'll hunt down the artifact and those who stole it."

Thor nodded, his face set in a grim line. "Be careful. We don't know what we're dealing with yet."

Freya gave a small smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "You be careful too."

With a final nod of understanding, Thor and Freya turned away from each other, their minds already focused on the tasks ahead. Freya's holographic form dissolved into particles then gone.

---

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the expansive training grounds of Asgard. The sky transformed into a tapestry of deep purples and blues, dotted with the first twinkling stars of the evening.

Erik, Mia, and Liam lay sprawled on the soft grass, their bodies aching and drenched in sweat. They had intended their training to be more intense than any before. Their chests heaved as they gulped down air, trying to steady their racing hearts. Muscles they didn't even know they had screamed in protest, and every bruise and scrape throbbed with a dull ache.

As they lay catching their breaths the sound of approaching footsteps drew their attention. The Asgardian warriors who had been training them were now gathering around.

One of the warriors, a towering man with a braided beard and piercing green eyes named Bjorn, stepped forward. He carried a large flagon, and as he knelt beside the trio, he offered it to them.

"Drink it, kid. It will help ease your pain and restore some strength."

Erik pushed himself up onto his elbows, accepting the flagon with a grateful nod. He took a cautious sip because it maybe another alcohol. Bu he surprised by the sweet, refreshing taste. He passed it to Mia, who did the same before handing it to Liam.

As they drank, another warrior, a lithe woman with raven hair and a scar running across her left cheek named Astrid, spoke up. "You all did well today. Better than we expected."

"It certainly didn't feel like it. I thought you were trying to kill us," Mia said with a glare to the female warrior.

A ripple of laughter spread through the group of warriors. Astrid's lips curved into a small smile.

"If we wanted to kill you, you would be dead, little one."

"And what exactly are we capable of? Because right now, I can barely move," Liam said.

Bjorn's expression grew serious, his gaze sweeping over the trio.

"You are capable of much more than you realize. You carry within you the potential to change the fate of the Nine Realms."

Erik exchanged a glance with Mia and Liam, a sense of unease creeping into his gut.

Astrid stepped closer. She said. "Dark times are upon us, as you know already. And Thor believes that you are our hope."

Erik could feel the pressure building in his chest He looked at Mia and Liam, seeing his own apprehension mirrored in their eyes.

Right. They now have this responsibility.

---