The Scriptures — Again
Thor stared at the final page.
His hands trembled.
"…I'm done."
Odin approached slowly, eye sharp.
Thor straightened proudly.
"I have copied the Asgardian Scriptures one thousand five hundred times."
Odin picked up the final volume.
Read.
Paused.
"…Why," Odin asked calmly,
"does this passage say 'At Ragnarok, Thor defeated the serpent by throwing Mjolnir, then celebrated with fifteen barrels of mead and two goats named Steve and Thunderhoof'?"
Thor blinked.
"…They had names?"
Silence.
Loki collapsed against the wall laughing.
Alexander buried his face in his hands.
Frigga sighed.
"Thor…"
Odin closed the book.
"…You are banned from copying anything ever again."
Thor smiled weakly.
"…So I'm free?"
"No."
Lightning struck.
Loki's Unexpected Rise
While Thor suffered—
Loki thrived.
His daggers moved like shadows, Scáthach's brutal training sharpening every strike.
Sif corrected his stance relentlessly.
Retsu observed calmly, occasionally offering terrifyingly precise advice.
And his magic—
Morgan le Fay guided him through complex spell theory.
Ciel optimized his learning speed beyond mortal limits.
One afternoon—
Thor challenged Loki out of frustration.
They sparred.
Briefly.
Very briefly.
Thor hit the ground.
Loki stood there, daggers resting calmly at his sides.
"…Oh," Loki said softly.
"I surpassed you."
Thor stared at the sky.
"…I hate everyone."
Invitation to Ashborn Dimension
Alexander clapped his hands once.
"I want to show you something."
Space folded.
And everyone present—
Thor, Loki, Odin, Frigga
Retsu Unohana, Morgan le Fay, Scáthach
Saber Alter, Grayfia Lucifuge, Jeanne d'Arc Alter
Ciel, Amora, Lorelei, Sif
Death, Infinity, Galacta
—was transported.
A World That Breathes
They arrived beneath a living sky.
Floating land.
A radiant river cascading into mist.
Sakura petals drifting on the wind.
At the center—
A World Tree, young yet majestic.
The modern mansion blended perfectly with nature.
Silence followed.
"…Beautiful," Frigga whispered.
Infinity smiled brightly.
Death felt… calm.
Galacta's eyes sparkled.
"So this is where you disappear to."
Thor blinked.
"…You made this?"
Alexander nodded.
"I call it Ashborn Dimension."
Odin laughed quietly.
"…You've surpassed me in creation."
A King's Rest
Alexander turned to Odin.
"Once you choose the next king," he said calmly,
"you can retire here."
Odin froze.
Frigga looked at Alexander—then smiled warmly.
"…That sounds wonderful."
Odin exhaled.
"…I accept."
The World Tree's Gift
Odin then looked toward the towering tree.
"…That presence."
Alexander nodded.
"Yggdrasil gave me a seed."
Everyone turned.
Alexander continued simply.
"I walked. Ended up at the tree. Said thank you."
"…And it rewarded you," Odin murmured.
Frigga's eyes softened.
"It protected you," she said.
"From the very beginning."
Odin nodded.
"From the universe itself."
Alexander smiled faintly.
"I think it just wanted to be acknowledged."
Quiet Understanding
They stood beneath the branches.
Family.
Lovers.
Friends.
Concepts given form.
Thor finally broke the silence.
"…Can I copy scriptures here?"
Everyone shouted.
"NO."
Alexander laughed.
And beneath the World Tree—
The future felt peaceful.