Amidst the terrified gazes of the crowd, a behemoth made of crystal emerged from the depths of the mine, emitting a deafening roar with chaotic magic energy flickering in its eyes.
"It's it! It has awakened!" Loki "happened" to appear at the scene and shouted loudly.
"This behemoth feeds on magic crystals, and its awakening will drain the entire mining area! We must join forces to stop it immediately!"
Thor instantly understood his brother's plan; he leaped up, held mjolnir high above his head, and thunder descended from the sky: "Asgard will fight alongside you!"
The ensuing battle could be described as chaotic but effective.
Thor attracted the behemoth's attention from the front, while Loki used illusions to create decoys for interference; the Vanir warriors and Light Elves mages, after their initial panic, also began to coordinate their attacks.
When Thor smashed the behemoth's core with his final hammer strike and the thunder purified the chaotic magic energy, the representatives of the two races looked at each other's disheveled yet side-by-side fighting appearance, and most of their previous hostility dissipated.
"The mining area can be jointly developed," Loki suggested at the right moment. "Asgard is willing to provide technology and security, and the profits will be split equally between Vanaheim and Alfheim."
This time, no one objected.
When the mission report was presented to Odin, the God King carefully read every detail, a flash of satisfaction in his eyes.
Queen Frigga smiled gently on the side, while Mavuika winked at her two brothers.
From then on, Thor and Loki began to frequently take on various affairs within the Nine Realms, mediating labor disputes between Dwarves and Vanaheim, hunting down Frost Giant fugitives running rampant in Midgard, and even handling land disputes among the nobles within Asgard.
Every mission caused their reputation to quietly spread throughout the Nine Realms.
"God of Thunder" Thor and "God of Mischief" Loki, two more illustrious titles began to circulate throughout the Nine Realms.
Of course, compared to the soaring prestige of Mavuika and Hela when they conquered the Nine Realms back then, the brothers' reputations still seemed immature.
But as Odin said during a family dinner: "The times are different. Mavuika and Hela were born in war, their glory forged by sword and fire, while Thor and Loki grew up in peace. Their prestige will settle within order; this may be harder, but it will also be more lasting."
Mavuika deeply agreed, looking across the dining table.
Thor was animatedly recounting how he had delivered the final blow in a recent mission, while Loki was slowly cutting his food, occasionally interjecting to correct his brother's exaggerations.
Queen Frigga listened with a smile, and there was a rare sense of ease in Odin's eyes.
When the bells for Thor and Loki's coming-of-age ceremony rang in the Starry Sky Temple, Asgard held a grand celebration.
The two brothers stood in the center of the temple, bathed in the beams of light cast by the stars.
Thor was dressed in silver armor, his red cape fluttering behind him, mjolnir standing by his side, his golden long hair shining in the magical halo, and his blue eyes filled with high-spirited confidence.
Loki was in a robe interwoven with dark green and black, his hair neatly combed back, and he was toying with that exquisite and sharp dagger in his hand.
Odin held the Eternal Spear, his voice as solemn as an ancient bell: "Today, my sons, Thor Odinson and Loki Odinson, are officially adults!"
"From now on, you are not only princes of Asgard, but also maintainers of the order of the Nine Realms and inheritors of Asgard's glory!"
On the viewing stands, envoys from the Nine Realms were all present, and the celebration lasted for a full seven days.
Thor won thirty-six consecutive matches in the martial arts tournament; in the end, it was Mavuika who had to step in personally to calm her overexcited brother down.
Loki held an illusion exhibition, turning the Starry Sky Temple into a wondrous sight of alternating deep sea, lava, and nebulae, which even the knowledgeable Vanir Elders marveled at.
However, on the last night of the celebration, Mavuika gathered the family in Queen Frigga's bedchamber.
This was a gathering with only the Odinson family participating; no maids, no guards.
The long table was set with simple food: golden bread baked by Queen Frigga, honey brought back from Midgard by Mavuika, Thor's favorite roasted beast leg, and the elf fruit tea that Loki liked.
Candlelight flickered, casting the family's shadows onto the wall, overlapping intimately.
"I have something to tell everyone," Mavuika said, her voice calm.
Everyone looked at her; Odin's expression was deep, a flash of reluctance crossed Queen Frigga's eyes, and Thor and Loki were somewhat confused.
"Over the years, the Nine Realms have stabilized under Asgard's rule," Mavuika said slowly.
"Occasional frictions and disputes are well within Thor and Loki's ability to handle; Father still presides over the Golden Palace, Mother assists with internal affairs, and Asgard's rule is as solid as a rock."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over everyone's face: "So, I think it is time."
"Sister, where are you going?" Thor asked in confusion.
"Midgard," Mavuika smiled. "Hela has been working hard in Helheim alone for so long; I should go and help her."
The bedchamber fell into a brief silence.
Odin spoke first, his voice low: "Have you decided?"
"Yes," Mavuika nodded. "I decided long ago, but Thor and Loki were still young, and the Nine Realms needed stability. Now... it is time."
Queen Frigga held her daughter's hand, her eyes slightly red: "I knew this day would come. You and Hela are the same; your hearts hold things even broader than Asgard."
"Mother..." Mavuika held her mother's hand back. "I will return often. The shards of the Bifrost Bridge on the sun-blaze thousand suns allow me to cross Worlds at any time, just as simple as coming home for a visit."
"But you are leaving after all," Loki said softly, his ice-blue eyes staring directly at his sister. "Going to a place we need the Bifrost Bridge to reach."
Mavuika walked up to Loki and ruffled his hair just like when he was little, although Loki was now taller than her...
"I will miss those pranks of yours, brother, but don't bully Thor too much, okay?"
"I don't bully him—" Loki protested, but his voice was somewhat choked up.
Thor stood up directly and gave Mavuika a tight hug: "Sister, you must come back often! Otherwise, I will... I will take mjolnir and find you in Midgard!"
Mavuika smiled and patted her brother's back: "Practice controlling your thunder well, don't blast the training ground into a mess again, and also, listen to Loki's advice more; his brain is quicker than yours."
"I know..." Thor muttered, and when he let go, his blue eyes were shining with tears.
Odin stood up and walked to Mavuika.
The God King gazed at his eldest daughter, his eyes filled with complex emotions: pride, reluctance, gratification, anticipation...
Finally, he reached out and gently pressed his hand on Mavuika's shoulder.
"You have always been my pride, Mavuika. From the moment you were born, I knew you would become an existence that rivals the stars," Odin's voice was exceptionally gentle.
"Go, go help Hela, go do what you believe is right. Asgard will always be your home."
"Thank you, Father," Mavuika bowed solemnly.
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