"Alice, look at Solomon! He's about to go to Oxford! Hurry up and start studying after dinner!" Wu Guiyue scolded her daughter while giving Solomon a warm smile, ladling another serving of soup into his bowl. Alice sighed quietly and threw Solomon a helpless look, which he returned with a shrug, signaling there was nothing he could do about the situation.
Meanwhile, Mr. Gulliver, who had been hiding behind his newspaper, peeked out discreetly. He shook his head at his daughter, then gave her a quick wink. Though he didn't speak, Alice instantly understood her father's message.
"Just bear with it. I'll take you to play baseball later. Ask Solomon if he wants to join us."
Alice turned to Solomon, who nodded in agreement, and her spirits lifted instantly.
The entire exchange happened in complete silence. When Wu Guiyue placed the steaming bowl of soup in front of Solomon, everyone at the table returned to sitting upright, as if nothing had happened. Alice, in particular, put on a well-behaved facade, but her feet under the table were swinging excitedly.
Wu Guiyue's suspicious gaze swept over the three of them.
"Drink up! You won't get food like this in Asgard. I hear it's all roasted meat—so unhealthy!" Wu Guiyue finally dropped her suspicion and turned her attention back to Solomon. As someone who had cared for him during his formative years, her words carried weight, and Solomon obediently buried his face in the oversized soup bowl, spooning chunks of pork ribs into his mouth.
The familiar taste reminded him of his childhood—though, as always, the soup was slightly over-salted.
Still, it was delicious.
"Kaecilius and Mordo don't know what you need to eat. You're still growing! Foreign food has no nutrition… And your girlfriends don't even know how to cook! Seriously, why don't you have them come to me and learn? Are you going to be the one cooking after you get married?"
Even as everyone else quietly ate their dinner, Wu Guiyue's nagging continued unabated. Being the protector of the Hong Kong Sanctum didn't exempt her from the mundane worries of daily life. She often found herself comparing Alice to Solomon, whom she had cared for as if he were her own child. Unfortunately for Alice, Solomon's academic achievements were far beyond her grasp, a fact Wu Guiyue couldn't help but lament.
But Alice was far from average—she had a natural talent for magic, one that would be considered exceptional even at Kamar-Taj. Wu Guiyue's family possessed a unique magical legacy passed down through their bloodline, marked by the distinctive pink hair that appeared only in the eldest child. One day, Alice would inherit both the family's magic and the ancestral staff known as the Wan Tai Staff.
However, Wu Guiyue was determined to protect her daughter from the sacrifices often demanded by magic. She had seen too much—the corruption of the body, the decay of the soul—and she vowed never to let Alice pay such a price.
Thankfully, Alice herself showed little interest in magic. She had no complaints about her mother's decision, even though she had grown up in a home filled with magical tools and rituals. Wu Guiyue figured she still had plenty of time—after all, the elderly sorcerers at Kamar-Taj, who mostly spent their days sunbathing and letting out the occasional fart, were all pushing 200 years old. She could take her time training Alice.
After submitting his predicted grades, personal statement, and acing both the standardized tests and university entrance exams, Solomon received an invitation to interview at Oxford University. He was now poised to become the most academically accomplished young sorcerer in Kamar-Taj's history. For his first-choice college, Solomon selected St. Edmund Hall for its quiet atmosphere. His second choice was Magdalen College, known for its breathtaking scenery and Oxford's only deer park.
For his third choice, he selected Merton College. His priorities were clear: tranquility, aesthetic beauty, and academic rigor. All these decisions were made under the guidance of Jane Foster, who acted as his advisor. Athena, being unfamiliar with Earth's educational institutions, had little input, while Bayonetta and Jeanne didn't even have high school diplomas.
Perhaps Jeanne might have a certificate from the Lagna Cult on the Isle of the Sun, but its academic value was… questionable.
Once he completed his studies under Queen Frigga in Asgard, Solomon would also possess credentials from the Asgardian royal court. Combining this with his magical education as the Ancient One's direct disciple and his future Oxford degree, Solomon was set to fulfill Athena's ambitious expectations.
Athena's goal had always been to groom Solomon for greatness. As she envisioned it, he was destined to walk the path of an ancient hero—and she hoped his journey would end with a happy ending.
"Drink your soup," Wu Guiyue urged. Solomon sniffled slightly as he took a sip. Pork rib soup was one of his eternal favorites. Wu Guiyue always added tea tree mushrooms, a familiar flavor that brought back memories of his childhood. Even after moving to New York, he often found himself reminiscing about this taste.
Bayonetta also loved his homemade soup, calling it a taste of home.
After Heimdall transported Solomon and Kaecilius to Asgard, they were greeted by Snortra, the Goddess of Wisdom. She was Queen Frigga's handmaiden and had been sent to oversee Solomon and Kaecilius's accommodations. It was customary for lower-ranked visitors to be greeted by servants rather than royalty; only those of significant importance could meet Queen Frigga directly.
Unlike previous visits, Solomon and Kaecilius were to stay in the palace for an extended period. Most Kamar-Taj sorcerers who visited Asgard did so only briefly, usually to deliver documents or exchange information. Kaecilius planned to stay just one day—long enough to ensure Solomon's introduction to Queen Frigga—before returning to Earth to resume his duties.
But the atmosphere in Asgard was far from celebratory. The reason was simple: the aftermath of the Rainbow Bridge's destruction was still causing chaos, and Asgard's old rival, Vanaheim, had once again risen in rebellion. Now that the bridge was repaired and supplies were flowing again, Thor had been sent to lead an army to quell the unrest, taking a significant portion of Asgard's palace guards with him.
Kaecilius noticed the tension immediately and exchanged a knowing look with Solomon.
Kamar-Taj had long been aware of the rebellion in Vanaheim. Although the Asgardians had tried to downplay it to preserve their image, a large-scale military deployment couldn't escape the Ancient One's watchful eye. Ever since Thor and Loki's public squabbles, Asgard's reputation had been in steady decline. Among the Nine Realms, many—especially Alfheim and Midgard—were eagerly awaiting Asgard's fall from grace.
Of course, Odin was still alive, so no one dared openly mock Asgard, save perhaps the Ancient One. She had little fear of reprisal.
"This is your room," Snortra said curtly, pushing open the heavy door. "Inside, you'll find Asgardian attire prepared for you. Tonight, there will be a banquet in your honor. Please attend promptly."
"She's… quite frosty," Kaecilius remarked after Snortra left. "Before I go, the Ancient One asked me to remind you: don't fall for the Asgardians' tricks. And that means no drinking—none at all—during your time here."
"I'm not an alcoholic, Kaecilius. But what about you? Don't let them drink you under the table."
"Then hand over that universal elixir of yours. I know how potent your alchemy is. Last time, I used it to outdrink Count Korts at the No-Door Tavern!"
Solomon rolled his eyes and held up a parchment for Kaecilius to see. It was the library pass given to him by Snortra, stamped with Queen Frigga's seal—a pair of crane wings.
"I'm headed to the library. This pass lets me borrow books." He handed the potion to Kaecilius. "I'll bring the books back here."
"And the banquet? You're not going?"
"That banquet is for idle nobles. Study is far more important."
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