Guided by Thor and awaited by Odin, the two soon arrived before the throne of Asgard.
As the seat of power for the Nine Realms—the very hall where their fates were decided—even someone completely ignorant of Asgardian history would feel a sudden, heavy wave of majesty wash over them.
Despite the lavish, gold-trimmed décor, the air carried a silent, stifling pressure.
"It is an honor to meet you, King of Asgard, His Majesty Odin," Asta said, offering a polite bow.
Between her flawless etiquette and impeccable attitude, Odin naturally found nothing to take issue with regarding Asta's visit—not that he had intended to be difficult in the first place.
"Rise," he spoke. His tone was flat, yet a keen ear could detect a hint of weary resignation. "Herta sent you here for the Aether, didn't she?"
"Yes."
Asta wasn't at all surprised by Odin's sharp intuition.
After all, there were only so many things in this universe that could catch Herta's interest.
Coupled with the fact that Odin had likely sensed the Aether's sudden stirrings, it was only natural he'd realize Herta's goal immediately.
How should I put this... Odin felt a twinge of exasperation. Herta really was singling him out to pluck clean, wasn't she? First it was the Space Stone, and now the Reality Stone.
Deep down, Odin was actually quite impressed.
The mere emergence of Herta had shocked a man who had lived for millennia; her subsequent string of universe-shaking technological breakthroughs had left him feeling like he hadn't quite woken up from his Odinsleep.
Reality felt more surreal than his dreams.
"That is correct," Asta nodded. "Madam Herta wishes to acquire ownership of the Aether. In exchange, she is willing to offer Asgard a promise made in her own name."
Oh?
Not in the name of The Blue, but in the name of Herta herself?
Odin's lone eye narrowed slightly.
Everyone knew that Herta rarely concerned herself with worldly affairs; almost all her diplomatic dealings were handled by The Blue on her behalf.
Her giving a promise in her own name meant she was taking personal responsibility for the matter.
It was no longer a case of The Blue using Madam Herta's past inventions to find a suitable trade; it meant she would personally provide a more "bespoke" and comprehensive solution.
This truly moved Odin.
To Asgard, the Aether was both vital and a complete nuisance.
Odin had already seen the future of Asgard with painful clarity—it wouldn't be long before the realm was gone entirely. What use were Infinity Stones then?
"Asgard cannot control the power of the Aether," Odin stated. "Its origins date back to the birth of the universe. Malekith, King of the Dark Elves, forged that darkness into the Aether to shroud the worlds in eternal night."
"Back then, we gave our all to seal it away, and the realms finally saw thousands of years of peace."
"I believe that if anyone is truly capable of taming such a power, Herta is the most fitting candidate."
As expected, Odin didn't dwell on the decision.
To be honest, trading something that brought Asgard no benefit for a promise from Herta—while deepening the ties between Asgard and The Blue—was a deal far too good to pass up.
With a consensus reached and a partnership formed, the smiles on both their faces became much more genuine. Thor, seeing his part was done, decided it was time to check on his girlfriend.
His visible haste annoyed Odin. Although Thor hadn't explicitly said where he was going, the All-Father knew exactly what Heimdall had instructed the guards to do.
Must you embarrass me while I am hosting such a distinguished guest?
Odin remained silent, but his sour mood was written all over his face. Thor realized a beat too late that his actions were likely pushing Odin's disapproval of Jane to a boiling point.
"Speaking of which, Ms. Jane's current condition hasn't been fully diagnosed. I suspect her abnormality is related to the item Madam Herta is seeking."
Seeing Thor glance her way, Asta thought for a moment and kindly stepped in to bridge the subject.
"Right! Jane mentioned her equipment picked up something... uh... energy! Something related to Asgard!" Thor added quickly, grabbing the lifeline she threw him.
Their synchronized defense caught Odin by surprise, though he quickly let it go, remembering Thor's knack for hitting it off with just about anyone.
This unexpected pleasantry softened Odin's mood significantly, though he was still startled by what they were saying.
Thor's mortal girlfriend was in trouble, and that trouble was linked to the Aether?
Even knowing the universe was full of strange coincidences, this one felt like a personal insult from Fate itself.
"I see... then Thor, you shall serve as the guide for our guest."
As he spoke, Odin gave Thor a warning look: Don't go making a fool of Asgard again.
Unfortunately, the look was lost on Thor. He simply nodded and led Asta out of the Great Hall.
Thor and Asta soon arrived at the research quarters of the Asgardian mages. Jane was currently lying on a smooth, flat stone slab, watching the people around her wave their hands and instruments back and forth.
When Thor asked for an update, however, he didn't get any satisfying answers.
"May I have a look?"
Asta volunteered.
The mages looked at her, then at Arlan standing behind her. These two faces were entirely foreign to them.
"They are my friends, from The Blue," Thor explained, his expression grim from the news of Jane's poor condition.
He was frustrated by the mages' helplessness, though he didn't blame them. He'd heard from his father that this thing was a dangerous ancient relic that even the All-Father struggled to control.
Thus, he could only look to Asta with hope, praying she might see something they didn't.
In the universe, one's "citizenship" mattered. Asgardians were the clear-cut elite; announcing oneself as Asgardian naturally made one stand a head taller than the rest.
The nickname "the Golden Realm" wasn't something they'd just made up for themselves.
In that regard, The Blue—though a rising star of the last century—also carried elite status.
After all, who didn't know Herta?
Upon hearing that Asta and Arlan were from The Blue and were friends of Thor, the mages' attitudes shifted to profound respect.
"What assistance do you require?" they asked.
"Could you find me an open space? I'd like to perform a preliminary observation." Asta was well-prepared; she already had her experimental equipment tucked away in a spatial expansion button.
"I know just the place. Follow me!"
Thor trusted Asta implicitly. She was, after all, the Lead of Herta Space Station, a hub for the greatest geniuses in the stars.
Besides, even if Asta couldn't solve it, he could use her connection to ask Herta for help.
It was a perfect fit—what was inside Jane happened to be exactly what Herta wanted.
--+--
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.