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Asgard
Royal Chambers
Loki, Thor, and Frigga were all together in their mother's room.
They were sitting on the floor, leaning against the side of her bed.
Books were scattered everywhere across the room.
Their mother sat in a chair nearby, teaching them.
'Midgard, or Mannheim, is the world of humans. Besides humans, many other creatures exist there. Most humans live only a short number of years compared to other races. Their planet is surrounded by water.'
Thor raised his hand and asked:
'Can we go to Midgard?'
'Perhaps one day. But there isn't much to see in Midgard. I don't think you'd find it very interesting, Thor…'
Thor, truth be told, was very curious about Earth. He missed his television and his cell phone a little, but Earth was probably still in the Middle Ages at this point. It would take a thousand years or so until it became the world he remembered.
'There is also Jotunheim, the land of the Frost Giants.' Frigga seemed a little shaken as she mentioned Jotunheim.
Thor knew why, but he didn't show it.
'Frost Giants? They're real?' Loki asked.
'Oh, my dear brother… you have no idea.'
'Yes, they are real. They live on a cold, extremely cold world. Asgard once went to war with them, but that was long ago,' Frigga explained.
'There are others too—Vanaheim, Svartalfheim, Muspelheim, Niflheim, Alfheim, Nidavellir…'
Loki and Thor spent a while listening to their mother speak about the Nine Realms, learning a little about each.
Thor, on the other hand, wanted to explore them himself. Stories in books were nice, but he longed to see everything with his own eyes.
Secretly, Thor was anxious for his godly powers to awaken.
After all, he was the God of Thunder—but no matter how many times he tried, he had never been able to summon lightning. Maybe I'll only be able to use it with Mjolnir, he thought.
If Thor could choose one realm to visit first, it would definitely be Nidavellir, so he could ask the dwarves to forge a weapon for him.
Thor wasn't exactly sure how old he was. Time seemed to pass a little too quickly in Asgard, and their physiology gave them long lifespans. It almost felt like a defense mechanism of their race: the longer they lived, the faster time seemed to move.
Still, Thor felt as though he were about eleven in human years. That's when he decided to ask his mother for something.
'Mother…?' Thor said, his face clearly showing he was about to ask for a favor.
'What is it, Thor?' Frigga asked, already guessing what it might be.
'Can we go to Nidavellir? I want to see the legendary dwarves!' Thor asked.
Loki, sitting beside him, clearly wanted to go too—but he tried not to show it.
'I'm sorry, my dear, but… I can't do much about that,' Frigga replied gently.
'I understand…' Thor muttered, disappointed.
Loki was disappointed too.
The room, which had been lively moments earlier, grew quiet. Frigga noticed and tried to change the subject—but before she could, someone entered the room.
'I think it's time I tell you both a story…'
BANG! (the door swung open)
A figure entered.
It was Odin. He strode in majestically, every bit the king.
'My dear,' Frigga murmured as she rose to greet him, kissing him softly.
'And you… you came in so suddenly. I was just telling the boys a little about the world. They want to go out and see it for themselves.'
Odin replied:
'I know. I heard your conversation. And yes, it's time. It will be good for you both to step outside these walls and see more of the world. In three days, I'll travel to Nidavellir. You'll come with me.'
Thor and Loki exchanged looks of excitement, celebrating quietly.
'But listen,' Odin warned. 'We are not going there to play. You must not make trouble or cause problems. Do you understand?'
'Yes, Father!' they answered quickly.
Odin turned to Thor.
'Do you understand, Thor?'
'Yes…'
'And you, Loki. You won't play tricks on your brother, will you?'
'No, Father. I promise,' Loki said, though not very convincingly.
'Good. I have matters to attend to,' Odin told Frigga.
'Is something wrong?' she asked.
'Yes, but don't worry—I'll handle it. Just the usual problems.'
'I see…' Frigga murmured softly.
Odin turned back to his sons.
'Keep learning. That is good—very good. But knowledge alone does not make a king. When we return from Nidavellir, your training will begin.'
'Training?' both Thor and Loki asked at once.
Thor looked delighted at the idea.
Loki, however, looked less than thrilled. He would have preferred to stay with his mother, learning magic.
'Yes. Battle training,' Odin declared firmly.
Frigga, concerned, asked:
'Aren't they too young to begin learning such things?'
'I think not. The sooner they learn to fend for themselves, the better. It's my duty as a father to teach them how to survive in the world.'
Thor smiled at the thought. Loki frowned.
'But Father…' Loki protested weakly.
'No buts. You'll do as I say,' Odin commanded, leaving the room while Loki's hand remained half-raised.
Frigga thought of protesting too, but—well, Odin was Odin.
Thor looked pleased, and he was. It was always satisfying to see his prank-loving brother lose for once.
Loki noticed Thor's grin and turned to his mother with a mischievous idea.
'Mother… Thor's hair has gotten really long. It's starting to look like a girl's. Didn't you say something about cutting it?' Loki asked with a sly smile.
That bastard… Thor thought angrily.
'You're right, Loki. Thank you for reminding me—I almost forgot,' Frigga said as she stood.
'Wait, Mother, you haven't thought this through—let's negotiate!' Thor pleaded nervously.
But before he realized it, her hands were already on his shoulders. When Thor turned, he saw Loki's devilish grin. Thor snapped.
'You… you planned all of this!' Thor shouted, tackling Loki to the ground.
'Enough, Thor,' Frigga said, separating them with magic.
'Thor, you're grounded.'
'But Mother—!' Thor protested.
'No more excuses.'
'Thor, what a shame,' Loki teased, grinning in victory.
'You too, Loki. You're grounded as well,' Frigga said.
Loki froze, his smile vanishing.
'W-what do you mean, Mother? I must've misheard you…'
'Don't think I didn't see you provoking your brother. You're both grounded,' Frigga declared firmly.
Loki couldn't believe it. His carefully calculated plan had failed—and worst of all, his brother, the one he loved teasing most of all, now had the victorious grin.
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