"This is..."
Hearing Asta's words, Thor hesitated.
It wasn't that he had some scandalous secret to hide or a taboo to avoid; it was simply that he didn't know how to put the situation into words.
After a moment of internal struggle, he decided to just turn his phone screen toward Asta.
"I need to go find my girlfriend," he said, looking a bit sheepish.
It was hard to say whether this was official business or a personal matter.
On one hand, the data Jane had mentioned was truly concerning; on the other, a few confusing readings certainly shouldn't take precedence over Asta's visit.
If he were dealing with anyone else, Thor wouldn't be this conflicted.
But the woman in question was his girlfriend, and as someone who had always worn his heart on his sleeve—and had yet to shoulder the heavy crown of the regency—Thor couldn't just walk away from her.
In the end, he left the decision to Asta.
"Let's go take a look together. Besides, Arlan will protect me if we run into any trouble," Asta said, glancing at the white-haired girl standing beside her. Arlan had remained largely silent, keeping her presence low-key.
Though she wasn't particularly tall—standing nearly a full head shorter than Asta—her steady, composed demeanor gave off an aura that was profoundly reassuring.
At Asta's mention, Arlan gave a curt nod.
The two were essentially signaling that Thor and Asgard wouldn't be held liable if anything went sideways. Thor, however, didn't quite catch the subtext.
Instead, he made a solemn vow: "If there is true danger, I shall protect you both. It is my duty as a Prince of Asgard."
Earth was a complicated place for Thor. He recognized it as the domain of humanity, yet he also viewed it as a protectorate of Asgard. Because of the latter, he felt a natural responsibility to look after visitors like Asta and Arlan.
A bit too straightforward for his own good, Asta thought to herself.
Then again, I suppose that's why they call him a superhero.
Asta didn't decline his kindness or his guarantee. Thor turned his gaze toward the sky and called out to Heimdall, inquiring about Jane's location.
Suddenly, a pillar of shimmering white light descended from the heavens.
The Bifrost swept the three of them into a spatial tunnel, and as the sensation of weightlessness vanished, they found themselves standing before a derelict warehouse in London.
The area was already swarmed by police cruisers. The arrival of the Bifrost hadn't exactly been subtle, and many of the officers had witnessed the blinding white light.
Shortly after they touched down, an officer in a raincoat approached. He subtly scanned their faces before asking cautiously:
"Mr. Thor? And... Miss Asta?"
Neither was surprised to be recognized.
At this point, anyone who didn't know who they were might as well be living in the Stone Age; after all, a massive Starfaring Warship was currently parked right next to the planet.
"What happened here? Where is Jane?" Thor asked point-blank.
His questions were blunt and direct. Asgardians had never been fond of beating around the bush or complex social maneuvering, but Earth was different.
The officer looked dazed, clearly having no idea who 'Jane' was. Asta stepped in to clarify: "A lady. She should have been here recently."
Another officer walked over then, explaining the situation to both the man in the raincoat and the increasingly anxious Thor.
Apparently, the police had been called because several people had reported friends going missing at the factory. One of those names was indeed Jane Foster.
Hearing that his girlfriend had vanished sent a spike of panic through Thor. Since the Battle of New York, he and Jane had talked and met as often as possible.
The long periods of separation and the inability to stay in constant contact had only served to make their feelings grow more intense. Distance, it seemed, really did make the heart grow fonder.
It was impossible for him not to worry.
But before he could say another word, Jane's silhouette appeared within the factory. Seeing Thor from a distance, she let out a cry and came running toward him.
She seemed a bit reserved when she noticed Asta, but Asta's welcoming presence quickly put the bold scientist at ease. Jane began to explain what had happened. She had suddenly found herself in a strange place and had vanished from the face of the earth for several hours; naturally, she was still shaken.
Heartaching for her, Thor moved to pull her into a comforting embrace. But the moment his hand brushed her arm, a surge of dark, reddish-black energy erupted from within her.
The shockwave sent nearby civilians flying and forced even Thor and Asta back with its eerie, overwhelming power.
Fortunately, Arlan caught Asta just in time, sparing her from being knocked back more than a few steps.
"Thank you..." Even though Arlan was her own staff, Asta never forgot her manners. Arlan simply nodded, her lips curving into a smile that was barely a pixel wide.
Then, the three of them turned their attention to Jane, whose body was acting erratically.
The burst of energy hadn't just affected those around her; Jane herself looked dizzy and pale. She collapsed to the ground, looking as though her very strength had been siphoned away.
Something was very wrong.
Thor realized that this anomaly was likely linked to her disappearance. This wasn't some minor glitch; it was something so powerful it could repel a god.
"We need to return to Asgard," Thor said grimly, rushing to Jane's side and lifting her up.
Jane was still in a daze, too disoriented to argue. Thor cradled her in his arms and walked back toward Asta and Arlan.
"We will see to it that the damages are compensated!" Asta promised, glancing at the shattered police cars and the injured officers.
"Heimdall!" Thor barked, ignoring the surroundings. His entire focus was now on his girlfriend's safety and the mystery of that strange cave.
As the Bifrost descended once more, the four of them vanished right before the eyes of the stunned police officers.
"...Is that alien technology?" one whispered.
There was technology involved, sure, but only to an extent. The civilizations capable of leaving their home planets and traversing the cosmos were diverse.
Some relied on machines, while others crossed the stars through sheer physical might or lived within bio-ships evolved for deep-space travel.
Asgard, however, dominated the stars through a blend of magic and divine craftsmanship.
Under the pull of the Bifrost, the four travelers were ferried from Earth to Asgard in an instant.
Jane found the brief, exhilarating transit fascinating; the excitement even seemed to mask her exhaustion, making her appear far more energetic than before.
Thor, however, wasn't convinced. He wanted nothing more than to stay by his lover's side during her treatment, but Asta was still there. He couldn't just walk away from her.
Even a man as blunt as Thor knew that abandoning a high-ranking visitor from a friendly civilization to go dote on his girlfriend would be the height of folly.
Asta might not even have time to get angry before Odin would be half-dead with rage at his son's incompetence.
Luckily, Jane wasn't just a brilliant academic; she had the emotional intelligence to match. Seeing the conflicted look on Thor's face and Asta standing nearby, she quickly grasped his predicament.
"Go on and take care of your business, Thor," Jane said softly. "I'm feeling a bit better now."
Thor was moved by her thoughtfulness. He turned to look at Heimdall.
"I have already summoned the guard. They will be here momentarily," Heimdall said, having anticipated the need.
Relieved, Thor finally let out a breath. He turned back to Asta, centering himself. "Sorry for the wait. Please, follow me."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.