Loki stood to the side, silent the entire time. His expression was calm, but his mind was racing.
He was thinking about what Mavuika had just said— " The Celestials are a civilization, an ancient, powerful civilization. "
He recalled the ancient texts he had seen in Kamar-Taj, which occasionally mentioned the word " God, " but always in passing, with no detailed records.
So, they were not myths or legends, but actually existed.
" Elder Sister, " Loki spoke up, " The embryo of a God is inside Earth. If it is born, will Earth be destroyed? "
Mavuika looked at him, a hint of Warmth in those amber eyes.
" Yes, but I will not let that happen, " he said. " I will resolve it before it is born. "
Loki nodded, not asking any more questions.
Odin sat on the throne, watching the conversation between his four children. His gaze lingered longest on Mavuika and Hela. These two children—one was the Sun, the other was Death.
Their powers, personalities, and ambitions were completely different, but at this moment, they stood together like two puzzle pieces, fitting perfectly.
" Hela, " Odin spoke, " Do you agree with Mavuika's plan? "
Hela nodded. " I agree. "
Odin asked again: " Are you not anxious? "
Hela looked at him, a rare, almost honest light in those deep green eyes.
" Why be anxious? I have waited a thousand years; a few more years do not matter. "
Odin smiled gently: " You have truly changed. "
Mavuika looked at Hela, a wave of Warmth rising in his heart.
He remembered a thousand years ago, when Hela roared in the hall of the Golden Palace— " I want to conquer the star sea! I want to make the flag of Asgard fly in every galaxy! "
At that time, she had Fire in her eyes, and no one could stop her.
Now, the Fire in her eyes was still there, but it no longer scattered everywhere. She had learned to control it, learned to wait, and learned to remain silent when necessary.
Mavuika walked to Hela's side, reached out, and took her hand.
Hela looked down at that hand, then looked up at Mavuika.
" What are you doing? " Hela's voice was somewhat stiff.
Mavuika smiled. " Nothing, I just wanted to hold your hand. "
Hela frowned. " How old are you? "
Mavuika blinked innocently. " Hmm... I haven't really counted carefully, probably over two thousand years old. Why? "
The corner of Hela's mouth twitched, but she did not shake off his hand.
Odin sat on the throne, watching his four children, and sighed softly.
" You have all grown up, " he said, his voice filled with emotion.
" When you were young, you would chase and play here, making the hall a mess. Hela would chase Mavuika, and Thor would chase Loki. I sat on the throne, watching you, thinking that this World would never change. "
He paused.
" But the World has changed, and you have changed too. "
Mavuika let go of Hela's hand, walked to the throne, crouched down, and looked into Odin's eyes.
" Father, but there are some things that will never change. "
Odin looked at him.
" We have returned, " Mavuika said. " We are all here; this is the thing that remains for Eternity. "
Odin was silent for a moment.
Then he reached out and gently patted Mavuika's head.
The movement was light, as light as the wind blowing through leaves.
Hela stood behind, watching this scene, her lips slightly pressed together.
Thor and Loki also walked over and crouched down next to Mavuika and Hela. Four people, four princes and princesses of Asgard, crouched side by side in front of the throne, just like when they were young.
In the hall, golden sunlight spilled down from the high windows, shining on this family.
At that moment, there was no royal power, no war, no ambition, no conspiracy, only a father and his children.
The setting Sun slowly sank below the horizon, and the night of Asgard arrived. A colorful band of light appeared in the sky—it was an aurora, brighter and more magnificent than any aurora on Earth.
Emerging from the Golden Palace hall, Mavuika walked in front, his pace much faster than when he arrived.
Hela followed behind him, her steps steady, but something in those deep green eyes was slightly loosening.
Thor carried Mjolnir on his shoulder, walking with long strides down the corridor, a childlike anticipation on his face.
" Mother must have missed us terribly. "
Loki walked at the back, still holding that book in his hand.
The royal palace of Asgard was much quieter than in his memory.
It was not desolate, but a kind of stillness, like the sunlight on a late autumn afternoon.
The servants walked on tiptoe and spoke in hushed whispers. When they saw them, they only lowered their heads slightly, not daring to disturb them.
The guards stood straight, their eyes fixed forward, but their peripheral vision kept following these four Your Highnesses who had not returned for a long time.
Frigga lived in the garden palace on the east side of the royal palace.
It was built by Odin specifically for her when he was young. Outside was a huge garden, planted with exotic flowers and grasses from all over the Nine Realms.
In the center of the garden was a white palace, not tall but very exquisite. The walls were carved with patterns of vines and flowers, and the windows were round, inlaid with stained glass.
Mavuika pushed open the iron gate of the garden and walked in.
The fragrance of flowers rushed to meet them—not the rich floral scent found on Earth, but a more elegant aroma, like a forest after the rain.
He took a deep breath, feeling his lungs filled with sweetness.
Many of these flowers were ones he had planted with Frigga when he was a child.
At that time, Hela was still around, and Thor and Loki had not been born yet. He and Mother would spend an hour or two in the garden every afternoon, one watering, one reading, occasionally saying a few words, but mostly in silence.
That kind of silence was not awkward, but comfortable.
Hela walked into the garden, her steps pausing slightly.
Her gaze swept over the flowers—blue, purple, white, golden—she could name every single one.
It was not because she liked flowers, but because Frigga had taught her. At that time, she was impatient and thought planting flowers was a waste of time, but Frigga said.
" A true warrior must not only know how to kill but also how to plant flowers, because you know that the people you kill are to protect those who plant flowers. "
Hela did not understand this sentence at the time, but now she understood.
Thor walked into the garden, and seeing the flowers, his eyes lit up.
" Mother! We are back! "
His voice was loud, shaking the petals, and Loki glared at him. Thor chuckled and lowered his voice.
The door of the palace opened.
Frigga stood at the doorway, wearing a light blue dress, her golden-brown hair coiled at the back of her head, with a few stray strands hanging by her ears.
Her face was still beautiful, and time had not left many traces on it, but in those eyes, there was a light that only a Mother could have—gentle, expectant, and a hint of long-suppressed longing that was hard to detect.