"Loki, want to know more?"
The bard's form shifted, and in a short while, he reverted to Lucas's appearance.
Loki raised an eyebrow. He had known something was off about the bard when the latter had looked at him several times, intentionally or not. He never expected it to be Lucas in disguise.
Thinking back to how the bard had just boasted about Lucas, Loki's lips twitched involuntarily.
"Alright, sorcerer Lucas. Let's find somewhere to talk."
Indeed, the one dressed as a bard, boasting about Lucas's heroic deeds in Jotunheim, was none other than Lucas himself.
And his earlier nonsensical diversion of the topic to Kamar-Taj, Agamotto, the Vishanti, and the origin of White magic, was all a setup for this moment.
After accidentally-on-purpose overhearing Loki's inner thoughts about wanting to recruit him to support his bid for King of Asgard, Lucas also set his sights on Loki.
The Sorcerer Supreme Team, of course, the more the merrier.
After waiting for one or two days, Loki still made no move, so Lucas decided to take the initiative.
Thus, their accidental meeting today.
Arriving at Loki's palace, Lucas observed along the way.
The palace's exterior, like other Asgardian buildings, had towering spires piercing the clouds. Inside, the palace was vast and cold, with rows of massive stone pillars silently supporting the heavy roof.
As an orphan, Lucas knew what this palace lacked—life.
Upon reaching the living room, Lucas followed Loki's guidance and found a step to sit on, then slowly began, "Is this your 'house' in Asgard?"
Lucas emphasized the word 'house,' implying something deeper.
"Are you here to mock me?" Loki retorted.
Lucas shook his head. "I have no such intention. It's just that this palace gives me the same feeling my old house on Earth used to give me. It lacks a human touch."
Loki raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Are you also unpopular on Earth?"
Lucas shook his head again. "No, I currently have a teacher, a girlfriend, friends, and juniors."
"Family?" Loki asked.
Although he didn't understand why Lucas sought him out, he didn't mind chatting with him. Or rather, no sorcerer would refuse to chat with a mysterious, powerful sorcerer.
Lucas smiled. "I am an orphan."
Loki was puzzled.
A powerful sorcerer like Lucas could easily trace his origins. Was there another hidden reason?
No longer dwelling on the question, Loki gave a bitter smile. "I am the exact opposite of you, Lucas. I only have family in Asgard, no friends."
But I am not their biological child.
For a moment, Loki felt only loneliness, his enthusiasm waning, losing the desire to communicate.
Loki dropped the pleasantries and got straight to the point, "Lucas, what do you want with me?"
Lucas sighed inwardly.
He had originally wanted to try to persuade Loki to come to Kamar-Taj with his silver tongue, but he didn't expect to mess it up after only a few sentences.
He lowered his initial goal, changing from directly poaching from Asgard to first building rapport.
Skipping the step of building rapport, Lucas directly invited, "Loki, are you interested in spending some time at Kamar-Taj? The sorcerers there are all good people, and they speak nicely, I think you'll like it there."
"Go to Kamar-Taj?" Loki's eyes lit up, somewhat tempted.
Befriending Lucas and the Ancient One could help Asgard gain allies and stabilize the peace and security of the Nine Realms. Compared to Thor's reckless attack on Jotunheim, which nearly caused a war, this was more befitting a King.
Furthermore, Loki hadn't forgotten a certain phrase Odin had said to Thor.
As King, one must possess power.
Although unwilling to admit it, Loki knew he could never surpass Thor in terms of strength, speed, or physique.
As for magic, the magic taught by his mother, Frigga, had made him the Nine Realms' foremost sorcerer. But clearly, this 'Nine Realms' foremost' did not include Lucas and the Ancient One of Kamar-Taj.
At this moment, Lucas's words as the bard echoed in Loki's mind.
Agamotto, the Vishanti, the origin of White magic.
Each of these three terms symbolized immense power.
Thoughts raced through his mind, and Loki nodded. "Alright."
Lucas smiled faintly. "It's a deal."
As long as he could trick Loki into Kamar-Taj, he had plenty of methods to guide Loki into becoming a qualified, responsible, and capable member of the Sorcerer Supreme Team.
Loki was fundamentally different from the other Asgardians, he was a sorcerer. In Asgard, Loki was an unwelcome sorcerer. But in Kamar-Taj, he would be a revered master of magic.
Asgard could not give Loki respect, understanding, or trust but Kamar-Taj could.
Odin would not allow a Frost Giant to sit on the throne of Asgard, Lucas dared to let Loki succeed as Sorcerer Supreme.
Compared to Asgard, this 'home' that gave Loki a strong sense of dissonance, Kamar-Taj mostly comprised displaced individuals. There, Loki could gain everything except familial affection.
...
Odin, as usual, stood in the hall, overlooking Asgard.
Frigga's voice sounded from behind Odin. "Odin, since yesterday, you've been distracted. Has something happened?"
Odin remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "Loki knows about his lineage."
"How did he find out? Did the magic fail?" Frigga was surprised, then quickly realized.
"No, was it the trip to Jotunheim that exposed him to the power of the Frost Giants?"
"Yes." Odin slowly nodded.
"Have you been troubled these past two days about how to deal with Loki? He is our son." Frigga worried, fearing that Odin might disown Loki and harm him.
Odin sighed deeply, "It is precisely because he is our son that I am troubled."
Hearing Odin's statement, Frigga breathed a sigh of relief, then asked, puzzled, "What's there to be troubled about? Loki has grown up. What does it matter if he knows his heritage? We couldn't keep it from him forever."
Odin's tone was helpless. "Loki also wants to be the King of Asgard. But the throne cannot be his. In fact, he cannot even be given a chance to compete."
Frigga asked, "Do you feel you have wronged Loki?"
Odin was silent.
For him, between King and father, he was first a King.
Frigga said slowly, "Perhaps Loki doesn't actually want to be the King of Asgard? He only wants to gain your recognition, to prove that he is no worse than Thor."
"Perhaps you should give Loki a chance, a chance to prove himself. You should trust Thor, he is the choice of the Asgardians. You should also trust Loki, his obsession with power is far less than his love for his family."
Odin looked at Frigga, his eyes narrowed slightly. He knew that his wife possessed the ability to foresee a corner of the future.