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Thor was standing close to his father when he asked,
"Father, why did we come here? You didn't bring us to Nidavellir just for a stroll, did you?"
Odin then replied,
"You're right, Thor. I didn't bring you and your brother here for a stroll… I am a king, and a king has responsibilities. Even if I wish to spend more time with you and your brother, I still have matters to deal with across the Nine Realms," said Odin.
"Then why did you bring us?" asked Loki.
Odin looked at Thor and said,
"You think you can hide your secrets from me, Thor, but I already know them… I know them all."
"You know?" asked Thor, worried. Could it be that his father had discovered he was a reincarnated soul?
Originally, Thor didn't have a personality resembling the God of Thunder, but after arriving in this world, it seemed that his lineage as Odin's son had shaped him into it.
"You may not realize it, but I know far more than you imagine… I have seen the future itself countless times," Odin said as he rode his horse toward the dwelling of Nidavellir's king, Eitri was his name.
Thor pondered his father's words. From what Thor remembered, Odin possessed some kind of gift that granted him the ability to see the future, or perhaps a power similar to Heimdall's.
"I see a great power hidden within you… you try to control it, but you cannot. I wish to help you master it. I will ask Eitri, an old acquaintance, to forge a weapon for you that will help you control this power," Odin said.
"A weapon? Is that why you brought us here?" asked Thor.
Loki overheard their conversation and asked,
"And what about me? Do I get something too?" asked Loki anxiously. He also wanted to be spoiled by his father; sometimes Loki felt that Odin loved Thor more than him.
"Yes, you too, Loki. Your birthday is approaching, and I decided to give you both your gifts early," said Odin.
Loki and Thor exchanged glances. They were always fighting with each other, but sometimes they got along.
They moved a little away from their father, whispering so he wouldn't hear.
Loki asked,
"What kind of weapon will you ask Father to have made for you?"
"I don't know yet… I'm still thinking about what to choose. Do you have any idea what you'll ask Father for?"
"I have no idea," murmured Loki quietly.
"From what Mother told us, these dwarves are very skilled. We must thank Father properly… I don't know, but I think our gifts won't come cheap."
They whispered, but Odin's sharp perception allowed him to hear them perfectly.
He heard and laughed, then said loudly so they would hear:
"Don't worry about that… Asgard prospers, and we have plenty of resources to pay for anything, my sons."
Loki and Thor exchanged glances and smiled.
Finally, Loki, Odin, and Thor arrived at the gates of Eitri's castle.
The castle was massive on the outside, built entirely of sturdy iron, grand and imposing.
The Asgardians were small compared to the dwarves of Nidavellir, but the dwarves knew well that despite their stature, the Asgardians were mighty warriors who had conquered the Nine Realms. So, even though they were physically smaller than the dwarves, they were not underestimated—after all, Asgardians were a powerful warrior race, unlike the dwarves, whose racial gift lay in their craftsmanship.
Odin and his sons were not alone; a few guards accompanied them. And beyond Odin himself, still strong compared to what he would be in the future, Heimdall was also watching from afar. So despite the small escort, the dwarves knew they could not risk conflict.
Arriving at the entrance of the castle, a dwarf recognized Odin and allowed him and his sons to enter.
Eitri had already been informed of Odin's arrival and had instructed his guards to let them through.
Odin passed the dwarven guards and entered Eitri's castle.
As they advanced through the fortress, Thor and Loki paid close attention to its interior—it was magnificent.
Finally, Odin reached Eitri's throne room. There he was.
Eitri looked much like other dwarves: tall, with long curly hair, a beard, and wearing an iron glove on his hand—or was his hand itself made of iron? Thor could not tell.
Odin approached Eitri's throne.
Thor and Loki were unsure how to behave. It was their first time in such a situation, standing before someone of such "high status."
"Should we kneel?" murmured Loki.
"Do we just stand here? Or…" whispered Thor.
Odin overheard his sons and said,
"What are you doing, fools? Come here at once," said Odin.
Thor and Loki quickly hurried behind their father after he called them out.
"I told you we should follow Father," murmured Thor.
"Shut up, I said it first," replied Loki.
As they reached the throne, Eitri spoke:
"Odin, how long has it been since we last met… I recall the last time you came here was shortly after your victory against the Jotuns," said Eitri.
"After your battle with the Frost Giants, I see you've achieved much, Odin."
Eitri was also wise. He immediately noticed that Loki was different from Thor—he was sharp and cunning. If not, he wouldn't have made it this far.
Odin unconsciously glanced briefly at Loki before continuing.
"That's true… but I did not come here to talk with you about that," Odin replied.
"Of course not… I know exactly why you are here. In fact, there can only be one reason," said Eitri.
"So you already know what I want," said Odin.
"I do. You always come here to ask me to forge something for you. But this time you've brought these two children. May I know who they are, and why they are here?" asked Eitri.
Odin replied,
"These are my sons. This is my son Thor… and this is Loki," Odin said, pointing to them.
"I brought them so that you may forge special weapons for them," Odin explained.
Eitri then asked,
"What kind of weapons?"
Odin looked at Thor and Loki and told Eitri,
"You are an experienced smith. Forge weapons that match each of their qualities," said Odin.
Eitri thought for a moment, then replied,
"I can forge weapons for them, but what metal do you have in mind?"
Odin answered,
"Uru metal."
"That will not be cheap," Eitri replied.
"That won't be a problem—we lack neither gold nor anything else," said Odin.
After finishing their negotiation, Eitri asked Odin,
"Are you hungry? Let's have something to eat. You two… start thinking about what you want."
Eitri stepped down from his throne and approached Thor and Loki. He was large and intimidating compared to them.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, sons of Odin."
Odin stood nearby, watching Eitri interact with his sons.
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