Asgard, the divine realm of the Norse pantheon, was also the most prosperous place in all the Nine Realms.
The architecture here reached toward the clouds, often exceeding heights of a hundred meters. However, the lower sections were almost entirely solid load-bearing columns, with the functional parts of the buildings clustered at the top. It looked as though someone had specifically constructed a forest of massive marble pillars just to raise a city of the sky from the ground.
Every white marble pillar, without exception, supported golden structures and soaring domes. Peter found his neck aching after gazing upward for only a moment. Feeling a bit perplexed, he turned to Thor and asked, "Can Asgardians build floating cities?"
"Of course we can, my friend. What are you thinking? The All-Father is waiting for us."
"I was thinking, if you can just build a floating city, why do you need so many pillars here?"
Thor fell into deep thought upon hearing the question. He realized he didn't have an answer either because he had never considered it. At that moment, Heimdall, who had been standing guard at the head of the Bifrost watching the two daze off, offered an answer: "It is for aesthetics."
"Indeed, my friend, it is for aesthet—huh?"
Thor turned back toward Heimdall with a look of disbelief, finding the answer difficult to accept. "My brother, surely you are mistaken."
"I am not, my brother. Our father indeed built Asgard this way for the sake of 'aesthetics.' Compared to a simple city in the sky, an Asgard propped up by countless pillars provides a greater visual impact, possessing more majesty and deterrent force. That is precisely why our father chose to construct Asgard in this manner."
Thor grew pensive; it did seem to make sense. However, he soon decided to lead Peter to Odin. He knew Peter's Iron Spider suit could fly, but it was too slow, so he grabbed Peter and carried him across half of Asgard to the front of Odin's palace.
Thor set Peter down respectfully before the palace. After nodding to the Asgardian soldiers on guard, he led Peter inside. Peter followed behind, looking at the massive palace with a sense of bewilderment.
Truth be told, strictly from an architectural standpoint, Asgard felt more like a kingdom of giants where the giants had simply vanished. Yet, Asgard was constructed after Odin had conquered the Nine Realms and countless civilizations.
Could it be that during the construction, giants were responsible for moving the bricks, and then the Asgardians just made do with the living arrangements?
As Peter pondered this, he spotted the throne in the distance. Seated upon the golden throne was a one-eyed old man. He rested his chin on one hand while holding a golden spear in the other. Behind him stood a colossal tree that reached toward the heavens, though strangely, only a portion of the trunk was visible; Peter was certain he hadn't seen the canopy from outside the temple.
That was likely Yggdrasil, the World Tree.
Thor approached Odin with due reverence, set down his hammer, and knelt on one knee. "Father."
Peter stood behind Thor, remaining upright. Fortunately, Odin didn't seem to mind. He began to speak directly, conversing with Thor from across the vast distance of the hall.
"You have returned, my son. Heimdall says the Bifrost was beset by the power of the Wild Hunt. It appears Malekith indeed intends to launch an invasion of Asgard."
"It is so, Father. Loki had Amora and Skurge contact Surtur on Malekith's behalf and has allied with the wicked of Midgard. They have decided to invade." At this point, Thor called out, "I pray that you take action! We must stop Malekith's conspiracy!"
"War is not a conspiracy. Asgard's armies are not yet ready. Tyr is training the joint forces of the Aesir and the Vanir. Once their training is complete, they will reinforce Alfheim."
Peter was starting to understand why the hall was designed in such a bizarre way. One purpose was to ensure that even over such a distance, the acoustics would allow both parties to hear one another clearly.
Thor was naturally dissatisfied with Odin's reasoning. He knew Asgard was perpetually in a state of semi-readiness. To combat Ragnarok, Odin had gathered a vast number of souls of heroes from the Nine Realms in Valhalla, and the armies were constantly training.
Thus, Odin's statement was a mere excuse. He didn't intend to rush to the aid of the Light Elves; instead, he planned to wait until the war between the Light Elves and Dark Elves reached its conclusion.
Consequently, Thor decided to ask about a different matter.
"Loki went to Midgard to find Laufey's remains, Father, but you have hidden that body away." Thor didn't ask where the body was, instead choosing a more subtle approach. "Are you certain Loki cannot find it?"
"Loki has the blood of Laufey flowing through his veins. For a sorcerer, nothing is simpler than locating the remains of his own kin. So, why do you not go and ask your brother why he has yet to find it?"
Thor froze, a surge of irritation rising from deep within him.
When he had questioned Loki previously, Loki's claim was that if Odin hadn't willed it, there was no way he would have allowed Amora to steal the Casket of Ancient Winters—therefore, everything must be Odin's conspiracy. Now, Odin was saying that Loki could find Laufey's remains whenever he wished, yet he hadn't done so—therefore, this must be Loki's conspiracy.
So both of you have conspiracies, but what about me? What am I in your schemes? A messenger boy?
Fuming with rage, Thor almost forgot Peter was standing behind him. He intended to take his leave and find his mother, Frigga, to confide in her, but at that moment, Odin spoke.
"Peter Parker, Chosen of Neith. Your arrival in Asgard is perhaps more than just a battle fought alongside my son; it may be an enlightenment."
Odin's words reminded Thor that his young companion was still with him. Peter, who hadn't spoken the entire time, had been boredly counting the leaves on the small twigs of the World Tree's trunk. Hearing Odin call his name, he snapped back to attention. "Oh, uh, is there something I can help with?"
"To be precise, it is not I who seeks you, but the Norns. The Goddesses of Destiny of Asgard have a matter that requires your assistance."
Odin remained seated on his throne as if he were fixed to it. He scanned Peter with his single eye and then summoned a raven from the branches of the World Tree. "Thor will take you to Nornheim, and then this raven will guide you to meet the three Goddesses of Destiny, child."
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