The story, while lacking credibility, revealed significant details. The current "trembling road to the heavens," the Bifröst, was not created by the Aesir. Rather, Asgard served as a conduit for this immense magical construct. Heimdall's Himinbjörg integrated the necessary runic controls for the magic, but in essence, anyone granted certain Asgardian privileges could summon the Bifröst.
Odin could. Thor, wielding Stormbreaker, could as well. These permissions had been woven into the very bloodline of the Aesir by Odin himself.
When Queen Frigga invited Solomon to lunch, he was greeted at the table by none other than Thor, freshly returned from Vanaheim. Thor initially attempted to pull Solomon into a sweat-soaked hug, only to be halted by a sharp look from Frigga, who disapproved of such uncouth behavior. Odin was notably absent from the meal, but Thor seemed in no rush to seek him out, and Frigga herself seemed accustomed to the All-Father's absences.
"How's Jane doing?" Thor asked awkwardly, rubbing his nose. "Did she know you were coming here… Did she say anything?"
Solomon immediately suspected that Thor had no idea Jane Foster was his physics tutor. Heimdall, limited by the magic of the Sacred Shroud, couldn't identify the person beneath it. To Thor, all Earthlings knew each other. In his mind, they communicated through that "electronic whatever" and kept tabs on one another. So, Thor naturally assumed Solomon was acquainted with Jane Foster—just as Tony Stark surely was, and maybe even the entirety of Earth.
Not bothering to correct Thor's straightforward worldview, Solomon responded with a few vague, noncommittal remarks, effectively dodging the question. When Thor learned that Solomon would be staying in Asgard for a time, he enthusiastically welcomed him, extending his muscular arm and vowing to turn Solomon into a hulking warrior on the training grounds.
However, as lunch progressed, Thor began to sense something was off.
Frigga, overseeing the meal, had prohibited alcohol, but she wasn't overly strict with etiquette. She even encouraged Solomon to pick up the mysterious meat with his hands rather than bothering with utensils. Thor was quick to comply, tearing into his meal with gusto. After a moment's hesitation, Solomon decided to follow suit, opting to adapt to Asgardian customs.
Initially, Thor had intended to gauge Solomon's appetite. But as Thor polished off one rib, Solomon calmly reached for another. Thor's eyes widened as he accelerated his pace, grabbing the next piece of meat. A serving maid brought a pitcher of sweet, refreshing fruit juice to cut through the heaviness of the meat. Thor tilted his head back and drained his goblet in one go, glancing sideways at Solomon, who, though eating methodically, was devouring his food with surprising speed.
By Odin's beard, how is this mortal eating so much?
And how was he eating so cleanly, without smearing grease all over his face?
Feeling the heat of competition, Thor quickened his own pace. Frigga ate slowly and gracefully, her expression one of quiet amusement. Like any mother, she took joy in seeing her children—or guests, in this case—enjoy their meals. Watching the small rivalry unfold across the table brought a smile to her lips.
She had no intention of stopping the informal contest.
Years ago, Thor and Loki would engage in similar matches during mealtime, firmly believing that the one who could eat the most would make the best king. That notion, of course, had faded for Loki once he began his magical studies.
Thinking of Loki brought a trace of sadness to Frigga's face.
The Loki imprisoned in Asgard's dungeons refused to admit any wrongdoing. She couldn't undermine Odin's authority by secretly freeing him, yet she also couldn't shake the memory of the damage his actions had caused. Following Loki's attack on Earth, Asgard had paid a hefty compensation to Kamar-Taj. Solomon knew of this arrangement—Kamar-Taj had converted the payment into gold on an alien planet and distributed it to the families of those affected on Earth.
Now, Loki had become her most troublesome child. This brought to mind her discussions with the Ancient One about the rebellious phase of adolescent boys. The Ancient One had expressed concern over Solomon potentially entering his own rebellious phase, but, to her satisfaction, Solomon had shown no such signs—his behavior had been the very model of discipline.
This had become a point of pride for the Ancient One, often flaunted when discussing Solomon with the Aesir.
Frigga decided that if the opportunity arose, she would study some Earthly books on education and perhaps even discuss parenting techniques with the Ancient One. She was curious about how Earthlings managed such challenges.
"You'll make a fine warrior," Thor declared, using his forearm to wipe his mouth—a move that immediately earned him a disapproving glare from Frigga. Sheepishly, he accepted a damp towel from a maid to clean his face more properly. Frigga shook her head in exasperation as Thor, grinning foolishly, wiped his face a second time.
In Thor's mind, Solomon's ability to eat so much was proof of his warrior potential.
If he can eat this well, he can fight well. If he can fight well, he must be a good person. If he's a good person, we can be friends.
Thor's simple logic made him dismiss any prior hostilities or misunderstandings. To him, it was all water under the bridge, a matter of differing perspectives.
When Solomon gave a small belch, Thor burst into laughter, slapping him on the back with such force that Solomon nearly lost his meal. He shot Thor a glare, but Thor seemed oblivious, inviting Solomon to join him and the Warriors Three for some sword training after lunch.
Frigga, however, promptly swatted Thor on the head and shooed him out of the room. Humans couldn't exercise immediately after eating—they had appendices, after all.
Still, although Solomon couldn't join them right away, Thor learned he had come to Asgard without a weapon. Determined to fix this, Thor headed to the palace armory and returned with a precision-crafted enchanted longsword made of uru.
The sword bore Asgard's distinctive artistic style: intricate engravings along the blade that shimmered faintly with magic. The sword's power field wasn't just for show—it could discharge energy blasts and slice through the armored hulls of starships.
Asgard's preference for melee weapons wasn't just a matter of tradition; it was a practical choice. Asgardian warriors often engaged in boarding actions during interstellar conflicts. Their small, fast ships would swarm enemy vessels, allowing Asgardian warriors to leap onto enemy decks. Once aboard, they would use their weapons to carve open hulls and launch surprise attacks inside.
Thanks to these fearless, physically dominant warriors, Asgard had maintained its preference for close combat weapons even in the age of spacefaring technology.
The sword Thor gifted Solomon was a centurion's blade, a weapon reserved for Asgardian officers commanding a hundred men. In Thor's estimation, Solomon's skill warranted such a weapon.
Grateful, Solomon accepted the sword and promised to join Thor for training later that evening.
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