"Ahem… Alaric."
The Ancient One suddenly noticed the atmosphere around the table and Alaric's movements.
She couldn't help but cough twice, as if reminding him to pay attention to his behavior.
Now you are the representative of Kamar-Taj!
Can you, at least here, be a little more elegant!?
The Ancient One felt a little embarrassed.
She almost forgot how different this child was.
He was doing well at learning magic, but his behavior… that was another story.
"What?" Alaric looked at the Ancient One in confusion.
In his eyes, there was nothing wrong.
In Asgard, as far as he had seen, no one cared about such details.
Just look at Thor, eating and drinking without any restraint.
Moreover, he himself ate quite properly… maybe just a little too quickly.
"Is the problem that Odin is sitting there?" Alaric thought with a sigh. "What a nuisance."
Slowly, he reduced his pace.
"Sorry, we'll talk while we eat," said Frigga with a warm smile, discreetly apologizing to the Ancient One.
"Ahem, I see you smiling," the Ancient One commented, raising her eyebrows.
"It's fine," Frigga calmly replied. "It's a blessing to see a child eat with such appetite. Thor eats even more than Alaric."
In her eyes, as she looked at the young mage, there was tenderness, as if she once again saw her own son before her.
"Eat first," she said, and at her words Odin and Loki also lifted their cutlery and cups.
At that moment, the atmosphere became almost family-like.
---
After the banquet ended, Frigga stayed with the Ancient One so they could drink tea together.
"Loki, take our friends to enjoy the scenery of Asgard," Odin addressed his son.
Although he couldn't do anything against Alaric, he still knew Loki very well. It was almost impossible for Loki not to try something.
Moreover, after carefully observing Alaric, Odin felt that this boy was by no means someone who would just quietly stand aside.
If the two of them met and stayed together for some time, a spark was inevitable.
And wasn't that an opportunity? Loki had studied magic for over a thousand years, personally guided by Frigga. If anyone could test and teach this stubborn young man who had only been dealing with magic for a few days, it was him.
As for claims that Loki would fail… Odin was convinced, absolutely not!
...
"Yes, Father." Loki stood up and led Aron outside.
"Ancient One, I want to talk to you about my son, Thor."
"Oh? This is about Thor? I thought the topic—"
"Ahem!"
Odin, seeing that the Ancient One was about to say something immediately, suddenly coughed and cut him off.
"What's going on?" Frigga looked at him suspiciously.
"It's nothing important." Odin shook his head.
Then he noticed the smile on the Ancient One's face and felt his heart skip a beat.
Damn it!
This woman was pretending, teasing him on purpose!
"All right then, I'll leave you two alone." Frigga stood up, knowing that they wanted to talk.
Even though it was about Thor, she rarely interfered with Odin's decisions and plans.
"What about Thor?" The Ancient One stopped joking and became serious.
"You know my situation. You also know that you can see what comes in the future."
"Hmm."
"I want Thor to go to Earth, for that to be his trial," Odin finally said.
...
"How do you like Asgard?"
Outside, Loki led Aron on a walk, showing him the beauty of Asgard.
"It's beautiful. The air is clean and fresh." Aron sincerely nodded.
Asgard truly was magnificent.
A peaceful place, perfect even for the elderly to enjoy.
It was a pity that one day Hela would destroy it all.
"You're a mage? From Midgard?" Loki asked him.
During the banquet, through the Ancient One's conversation with Odin and Frigga, Loki learned that they came from Midgard, a weak and backward land, almost forgotten even by the exiled.
That was why he couldn't understand why Odin and Frigga showed such honor to a magician from such a place.
Odin was the king of the Nine Realms!
Why would he lower himself so much?
"Yes, I am a mage." Aron replied calmly.
"What magic do you study?" Loki raised an eyebrow, wanting to see what kind of abilities he had.
"Occult magic."
"I heard that you are the first among the sorcerers of the Nine Realms?" Aron suddenly said.
"That's right!" Loki proudly nodded.
He hadn't expected his reputation to have reached even Midgard.
Aron restrainedly shook his head.
A sly magician… a type who only stabs his brother in the back.
"It seems you don't believe that?" Loki noticed his expression.
"I really don't." Aron calmly nodded.
"Then show me what you can do! Prove the power of Midgard!" Loki said, and two sharp daggers appeared in his hands.
"All right." Aron simply replied and in the same instant teleported several meters behind him.
At the same moment, in the spot where he had stood, another Loki appeared, trying to stab him in the waist.
Aron's eyes flashed.
Sly bastard! You only know how to stab people in the kidneys!
But unfortunately for him, he knew Loki's tricks well.
Otherwise, he really would have been hit!
Loki was left stunned, his dagger piercing only air.
"How?!" Loki was shocked.
He was fast, but Aron still saw through him.
How could he have predicted his magic?
Or had he already discovered him earlier?
The truth was that Loki had already used illusion during the walk. His real body had vanished, while a phantom projection led Aron through the gardens.
It had to be admitted, Odin had judged this young man very well.
Driven by curiosity, Loki truly wanted to test him.
Unfortunately for him, Aron proved skillful enough to avoid his sly game from the very start.
–––
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