The morning light filtered through the crimson church's high windows, casting lines of gold across the workshop.
Elna stood by the workbench, her brown hair tied into a neat ponytail. A simple leather vest and reinforced tunic replaced the rags she had worn a month ago—life under Luthar's employment had cleaned her up.
Luthar's mechadendrites moved with precise, mechanical grace as he examined a small, rune-etched component.
"Elna. Review your procedures for the shop."
"Lock up after closing. Shutters sealed. Don't answer the door unless they show the token." She recited smoothly, hands folded. "If the alarm chimes once, stay inside. Twice means a few intruders. Three…"
"Too many," Luthar said flatly, sliding a small amulet toward her. The silver sun pulsed faintly in the center. "Press this and wait. Survive, and this small shop will be the start of something larger."
She swallowed, nodded, and bowed slightly. "Understood, Master Luthar."
A heavy metallic knock echoed from the front doors.
"Go," Luthar said, his tone final. "Secure the shop."
Elna clutched the amulet and slipped through the side passage, her footsteps fading toward the residence.
The front doors opened with a hiss of gears.
Freya entered first, silver hair cascading over her shoulders, violet eyes bright with amusement. Her perfume cut through the scent of metal and oil as she glided inside like she owned the place.
Hephaestus followed, more practical—red hair bound back, leather coat thrown over her smithing attire, her golden eye scanning the half-finished devices scattered across the bench.
"Working as always," Freya teased, her voice smooth. "Most men don't greet their dates with half a forge on the table."
Luthar inclined his head slightly. "Work does not cease because of small dates."
One mechadendrite swung the door fully open, letting the sunlight spill in. "Preparations are complete. Once we depart, the church and shop will be secure under your families' watch. I have dismissed the clerk and left her enough safeguards."
Hephaestus nodded, satisfied. "Good. The sooner we leave, the sooner we're back before Loki starts her gossip war."
Freya only smiled. "Let her imagine whatever she likes. It will be more fun that way."
Luthar moved toward the hidden lift. Without a word, the mechadendrites unlocked the reinforced hatch, and the gate opened to take them to the basement lab.
The air grew cooler as they descended, the scent of oil and faint ozone mixing with the distant hum of dormant machinery. Faint lumen strips cast thin light over engraved prayers in machine script.
At the base, the hidden chamber unfolded—dominated by the Nexus Gate, a great ring of interlocking plates inscribed with rotating runes. Thick conduits pulsed with quiet energy.
Luthar approached the workbench first, retrieving two small, palm-sized discs that glowed faintly. He handed one to each goddess.
"Take these. If separated, press the button to teleport back, plus they would also provide two minutes of protection, enough for retreat or my response. Do not lose them."
Hephaestus turned hers in her hand, impressed despite herself. "…This is precise work."
Freya let the glow dance across her fingers. "How thoughtful. A gift from our very secretive escort."
"Function, not sentiment," Luthar corrected, already moving to the control panel.
The Gate awoke with a low hum, the floor vibrating as metal segments rotated. Sparks of light flickered, coalescing into a swirling spiral of energy.
Freya leaned toward Hephaestus, her voice a whisper. "Our own door to another world. Loki would die of envy."
Hephaestus exhaled. "...Or kill him for hiding it."
The gate stabilized, light rippling across the chamber. Luthar turned toward them, his voice calm and final.
"Step forward. Once we cross, follow instructions precisely. This world does not forgive mistakes."
Without hesitation, the goddesses followed him into the light, and the crimson church fell silent once more.
The platform beneath the Nexus Gate hummed as they stepped onto it, its concentric rings locking into place with a heavy thunk. Energy rippled up through the floor, threads of light tracing over their boots and along their bodies.
Luthar's fingers danced across the control panel. "Stabilizers engaged. You may release your restraints."
Both goddesses exhaled softly. A shimmer ran over their forms as the divine seals suppressing their auras loosened. For a heartbeat, the room itself seemed to hold its breath.
Freya's beauty hit like a tidal wave. Even the machine flickered, light strips dimming and flaring in confused reverence. Her mere presence radiated allure, the kind that could crumble mortal minds in an instant.
Luthar turned without comment, opening a side locker. He tossed a hooded cloak toward the goddess of beauty. "Cover your face. I do not need the other world setting itself on fire because you smiled at someone."
Freya caught it mid-air, lips curving. "Practical, as always." She slipped the dark hood over her silver hair, the fabric muting her radiance to a tolerable level.
Hephaestus flexed her fingers, a rare smirk tugging at her lips. "Wait a minute, let me check something." She flexed her fingers, testing the divine energy now coursing through her. For the first time since descending to the mortal world, she felt whole. No mortal limitation, no sealed power—just the pure essence of a forge goddess.
With a thought, a spark ignited in her palm. Fire coiled like molten silk, and metal formed from nothing, shaping itself under her will. In mere seconds, a sword emerged: a crimson-gold blade etched with flowing runes, its edge whispering with divine heat. The workshop's lumen lights reflected off its flawless surface, casting ripples of firelight across the walls.
"Casual work," Hephaestus said softly, handing it to Luthar. "If sold, this would bankrupt guilds. One swing could carve through Orario's city wall… or even a black dragon's skull."
Luthar weighed the weapon, his eye narrowing. For a second, he wondered if inviting two unsealed goddesses into another world had been reckless. In Marvel, with their power restored, they weren't companions—they were forces of nature.
Then he remembered his contingency plans, his hidden safeguards, and his calm returned. "Good," he said evenly. "Keep it. The new world will demand more than mortals' strength."
Freya's smile deepened. "Then you don't have to worry; even in another world, I still have confidence in my strength.
Authors note: at this point I do not know what to do there is already lots of trouble with the novel and the life keep throwing more troubles while you guys can do anything about life since none of you are secretly a God. so let's only talk about the novel if you no what I should do to improve the novel situation you can point out you can also join patreon for both paid and free based on your on situation
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