Loki sat at the bedside, holding Thor's hand on his knee, seemingly carefully applying medicine, but in reality, his eyes were darting around wildly.
The injury is quite interesting, could it be flames that almost roasted Thor?
The evening breeze blew in through the window, stirring the silk curtains in the room styled in Northern European fashion, with large pieces of beast hide spread around, all of which made the aroma of barbecue even more pronounced.
What kind of fire can harm a Celestial God?
Thor was completely unaware of Loki's thoughts. He had removed all his armor, wearing only a pair of shorts, lying down and briefly recounting the incident to Loki.
After hearing it, Loki looked up with a strange expression on his face, his eyes towards Thor as if looking at an idiot.
Those villagers must be feeling quite desperate now, right? Thor always manages to achieve effects unintentionally that he couldn't even if he tried. It's just so amusing...
"Damn it, don't look at me like that!"
Thor smacked Loki on the head, feeling as if Loki was up to no good thoughts.
His brother was fine in every aspect except that he loved pranks far too much and was not nearly as straightforward as everyone else; he always kept things to himself.
"Don't take it out on me, I'm not the one who taught you to punch fire." Loki smoothed out his long hair, turning his gaze elsewhere: "If Odin were still here, he'd definitely know what kind of fire this is."
Thor shifted his body toward the head of the bed, using a few pillows to support his upper body, reaching out to hook Loki's shoulder.
The Thunder God's burly arm made Loki look like an underdeveloped child.
"We've never needed him. We can solve anything ourselves, just you and me."
"He's gone, haven't seen him for a long time now."
Loki broke free from Thor's arm. He strongly disliked Thor being this way because it only made him seem too small, inviting others' ridicule.
Especially that venomous woman Sif, who held a grudge against him just because he turned her golden hair black.
Every time Sif saw him being embraced by Thor, she'd always throw a strange look his way, as if silently mocking him.
Thor grabbed a nearby basin of water, plunging his hand into it and feeling much relief from the burning pain. Listening to Loki, Thor expressed disdain:
"That hateful, useless old man..."
"But he is the Almighty God, Father of Gods, almost omniscient." Loki retorted, feeling a bit of apprehension towards Odin: "Though he's disappeared now."
"Let him disappear, that old man knows when to show up to elevate himself, but that's about it."
Thor knew Loki was right, but he just wouldn't admit it out loud.
The Asgardians all said he wasn't as good as Odin, and he was indignant about it, wielding the Power of Thunder, stronger, younger, and braver than Odin.
What good is knowing so much?
However, Odin disapproved of Thor's bravery, calling it recklessness and brainlessness, leading to frequent unhappy partings.
Loki actually felt the same and thought no one in the Immortal Palace could be more foolish than Thor; he just didn't say it out loud.
A king needs to appear generous and friendly, incorporating both majesty and gentleness, so he was very good to the fool Thor, showing brotherly love.
Loki wanted to be King of Asgard, or rather, King of the Nine Realms, thus he was always mindful of his demeanor.
So when Thor bad-mouthed Odin behind his back, he merely pursed his lips, slightly curving upwards into a smile-like expression.
This was his attitude, whether he agreed or disagreed, he'd let Thor guess.
However, most of the time Thor didn't care about his opinion, often just making grand statements, finishing with a satisfying rant.
What Loki thought, what's it to him?
And this disregard was what made Loki most uncomfortable. He even went to ask the Mother of Gods, Frigga, whether he was really her biological son.
Frigga was absolutely certain as she hugged him, holding him dearly, telling him he was always her most loved youngest son.
But just as Loki was bandaging Thor's wounds, he noticed the room seemed to be getting brighter.
He glanced at the lamps on the wall and was about to look at the moon outside when he turned his head and saw the distant World Tree blazing fiercely.
The formerly lush and verdant ancient tree now resembled a giant torch, illuminating the entire kingdom brightly.
Even the meticulous Loki, in that instant, nearly exclaimed aloud.
Odin had once told Loki and Thor that their powerful kingdom was actually composed of Nine Realms, these realms grew on the World Tree.
They are Asgard of the Aesir Race (Asgard), Warnerheim of the Vanir Race (Vanaheim), Alfheim of the Light Elves (Alfheim), Nidavellir the world of Dwarves (Nithavellir), Midgard where humans reside (Midgard), and the Netherworld, realm of The Dead (Hel).
These are the worlds under actual rule of the Aesir Race.
While Jotunheim of the Frost Giants (Jotunheim), Svartalfheim of the Dark Elves (Svartalfheim), and Muspellheim of the Flame Giants (Muspellheim).
These three realms aren't managed by the Aesir Race, they were merely former conquerors.
But these places have harsh environments, unsuitable for Aesir Race survival, Odin's rule over those three places was mostly nominal.
Of course, as Loki and Thor aged, they also knew there were more planets in the universe, and the ancient legends gradually became old tales.
These Nine Realms, each is an independent planet, all conquered lands of Bor or Odin.
But they still didn't know, even the Mother of Gods, Frigga, was taken by Odin with an army.
Loki used to ponder that the theories of the cosmos seem unable to explain the existence of the World Tree.
It maintains the connection among nine different planets, and these nine different planets, separated by endless star seas, seem to form a closely-knit conglomerate.
Especially Asgard and the Netherworld, they look more like flat continents floating in the cosmos, and Loki isn't sure if they can be considered planets.
And now, the rumored great tree that houses the nine worlds is on fire, which doesn't seem good...
"Thor?"
"What's up?"
Thor answered drowsily; Loki's bed was too soft, and it had a comforting scent. Coupled with the coolness of the medicine, it was so comfortable he was about to fall asleep.
At this moment, he was entirely with his eyes closed, squeezing a few words from the corner of his mouth.
"Look outside, my brother."
Loki helped Thor up from the bed, prying his eyelids open with his fingers, making him look outside.
"Odin's Beard!"
Thor was instantly wide awake, crawling off the bed and leaning bare-chested over the balcony, peering towards the direction of the World Tree.
The World Tree was at the edge of the Kingdom, and the closest place to it was Odin's former residence, now the Valhalla Hall of Heroes where the heroic spirits reside.
"Loki, quickly ready the horses; we need to go check it out."
Thor said as he hurriedly put on his gear.
Loki again showed an expression as if looking at a fool. He raised his hand and uttered a spell, and his silk pajamas instantly transformed into a long robe of deep green and black, floating in place.
"Wouldn't flying be better?"
Thor, with his thick skin, was not embarrassed even after being despised by Loki.
Isn't it just that he hadn't thought of it?
Isn't it quite normal not to think of it?
Having a smart brother to think about it is enough!
He grabbed his hammer and flew towards the World Tree with Loki, swiftly passing through the crimson sky like two moths eager to join the flame.
But they couldn't get any closer because the nearer they got, the higher the temperature became, and the heat currents formed by the heat shook the two in the air.
The World Tree was larger than any palace Thor knew of, and the heat it produced was equally astonishing, a kind of terrifying flame; yet, for some reason, it had spread to the Immortal Palace.
Thor was fine, being strong and robust, but Loki seemed to have trouble opening his eyes in the smoke and heat waves.
The Thunder God could only take him down first, finding a suitable angle to walk closer.
"This isn't a good omen, right?"
Hiding behind Thor, using his brother to block the hot wind, Loki shouted, for the sound of burning trees almost echoed between heaven and earth, resonating in unison.
It was like countless white ants gnawing on the ancient tree, and the plants before their eyes let out wails.
"Only a madman would think this is good." Thor frowned at the scene before him, his view entirely filled with red. How was he going to extinguish this fire?
He began to think anxiously, but the environment was too hot; the more anxious he was to come up with a solution, the more apprehensive he became.
"You're not going to try punching the flames this time, are you?" Loki asked, feeling his hair starting to curl, as they couldn't resolve the situation here and needed to call for help.
Thor shook his head at first, looking at his hands, wrapped like bear paws, even wanting to hit would be impossible.
But just as Loki was feeling a bit relieved, Thor added another sentence.
"Once I pee on the tree, the flames will know who's boss!"
Loki covered his forehead, feeling as if his horned headpiece tightened a bit, wondering why his head hurt.
And he knew, Thor was serious.
Despite the intense heat, Thor moved forward, intending to unbuckle his belt with his constrained hands, not caring if the flames would scorch his hair, intending to draw his thing and start peeing.
"Watch this move! Damned flames! You afraid?! I am Thunder God Thor! I order you to extinguish!"
Loki saw no sign of the flames extinguishing, and he couldn't possibly let Thor pee into the fire. Even as the Thunder God, he couldn't extinguish a bonfire with urine.
Besides, the World Tree had a diameter of a thousand meters, and the heat would melt Thor's bird, and Odin would surely reprimand him for not taking care of Thor upon awakening.
He quickly pulled Thor back, yanking his belt, and retreated a good distance.
However, this retreat gave him a broader view.
He saw that they weren't alone, he and his brother Thor; there was a stranger on the other side of the burning tree trunk.
The person wore an ordinary Asgardian robe, holding a long metal skewer, roasting something on it, as if using the World Tree to barbecue?
When Loki saw him, the person seemed to notice them, glancing at them with one eye, revealing a peculiar smile.