Marvel x Genshin: Mavuika, The Sun Goddess Rules Asgard — Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Companionship

“Hela… has finally found her own path,” Odin’s voice connected with a quiet pride, though it was laced with the sorrow of a father’s farewell. “Although it is long and lonely, it is a great undertaking that only she can complete. On the day she returns successfully, her name will be immortalized alongside the very foundations of the Nine Realms.”

Frigga’s reaction was far more emotional. Upon learning that her second daughter was to journey to Helheim alone, a pilgrimage that would last for centuries, the Queen’s eyes instantly reddened, glistening with unshed tears.

Mavuika gently embraced her mother, enveloping her in a comforting warmth. A soft, golden-red flame, as gentle as a sunrise, flowed from Mavuika, soothing the sorrow in Frigga’s heart not with magic, but with the pure essence of her love. With Mavuika’s patient companionship and gentle guidance, it took Frigga several days to slowly come to terms with this new reality.

Once her grief subsided, her maternal instincts took over. She began preparing things that might be useful for Hela. Though she knew Helheim was a world of death and shadows, a place where earthly comforts meant little, she still hand-stitched several thick, luxurious cloaks, meticulously weaving runes of warmth and preservation into the fabric. She also prepared enchanted crystals inscribed with Asgardian poems and epic sagas, hoping these recorded stories might bring a glimmer of light and comfort to her daughter during the long, solitary vigil. These precious items were eventually sent to Helheim periodically, delivered through a specially constructed teleportation array that pierced the veil between realms.

After Hela’s departure, Asgard truly entered a long and stable era of peace. The roaring flames of war had finally faded, and the glory of conquest had settled into a lasting tranquility. The Nine Realms operated smoothly under the watchful order established by Asgard.

The government affairs handled daily within the Golden Palace shifted dramatically. The tense discussions of military deployments and intricate diplomatic maneuvering were replaced by meticulous plans for rebuilding, infrastructure projects, and cultural exchange. It was as if Asgard had shed the iron-blooded sharpness of its conquest, revealing its true, brilliant substance as the “Heavenly Palace” of cosmic legend.

The architecture grew ever more magnificent, its golden spires reaching higher into the celestial sky. The arts flourished, with music, sculpture, and poetry filling the grand halls. Magical research advanced by leaps and bounds, unlocking new wonders. Even the pastries sold in the city markets diversified, with bakers now offering dozens of new, delectable varieties from across the Nine Realms.

Mavuika’s life also fell into a new, peaceful rhythm.

Every morning, she would join Odin in the council chamber, dedicating two to three hours to managing the affairs of the kingdom. Odin began consciously transferring more core responsibilities to his eldest daughter, entrusting her with immense power: the revision of the Nine Realms Code, the allocation of vital resources across various star systems, and even establishing initial contact with newly discovered civilizations in the vast expanse of the universe.

With her astonishing capacity for learning and her unfailingly steady judgment, Mavuika mastered these duties with remarkable speed. Many of the policies she proposed not only maintained Asgard’s authority but also carefully considered the practical interests of all realms, winning her widespread acclaim and respect from kings and commoners alike.

Outside of her political responsibilities, Mavuika devoted all her remaining time to accompanying her mother and overseeing the growth of her two younger brothers. From the moment they could walk, the two little princes had stuck to Mavuika like shadows.

Thor and Loki were like two precious seedlings, absorbing the golden sunlight and nurturing rain of Asgard, growing visibly day by day.

At one and a half years old, Thor could already wobble his way around the palace with surprising speed. He had inherited Odin’s sun-gold hair and Frigga’s clear blue eyes. His little face was endearingly chubby, and he possessed a frighteningly boundless supply of energy. His favorite game was chasing the shimmering light-butterflies that flitted through the royal gardens, or attempting to scale the towering weapon racks in the training grounds, which were far too tall for him. He could already clearly call out “Sister,” “Mother,” “Father,” and, most frequently, “Loki, don’t run!” He remained endlessly curious about the flames that danced at Mavuika’s fingertips. Now, however, he was no longer satisfied with just watching; he would always try to reach out with his small, chubby hands to “grab” the fire. Each time, Mavuika would conjure a tiny, warm flame that tickled his palm without burning, making him erupt in peals of delighted giggles.

Loki’s growth was of a quieter nature. He began walking a little later than his brother and spoke with more caution, always observing a situation carefully before trying something new. His hair was as black as Hela’s, and his eyes were a unique, mesmerizing ice-blue with hints of grey-green. He had little interest in strenuous exercise, preferring to sit quietly beside Frigga or Mavuika, listening intently to their stories or fiddling with intricate mechanical toys that required both patience and intellect. He was full of questions, and they were often surprisingly tricky. While Thor charged around like a miniature storm, Loki would usually stand in a safe place, watching his brother’s antics with an almost mature, analytical gaze, occasionally shaking his head with a tiny sigh. He also adored hiding behind Mavuika, secretly using the little bits of magic he had just learned to play harmless tricks on Thor, a cunning, triumphant smile spreading across his face whenever he succeeded.

Mavuika’s approach to raising her two younger brothers adhered to a simple principle: “gentle yet strict.”

She was their favorite playmate. She would take Thor “exploring” in the sprawling gardens, teaching him to identify various magical plants and their properties. She would sit with Loki for hours, patiently playing an ancient and complex Asgardian strategy game, answering every single one of his questions about the rules and tactics. On clear nights, she would bring the two toddlers to the highest terrace of the Golden Palace, where they would lie on their backs, and she would point to the star-dusted cosmos, telling them the ancient legends behind every constellation.

But she was also the strict teacher they respected, and perhaps even feared, the most.

When Thor’s boisterous play resulted in him breaking a precious antique vase, Mavuika didn’t just gently admonish him as Frigga might have. Instead, she made him carefully clean up the shards himself and, as punishment, had him recite the ancient proverb related to the vase’s history until he had memorized it. When she caught Loki trying to use a minor illusion spell to trick a palace maid, Mavuika immediately exposed his prank. She then knelt down and told him with the utmost seriousness, “Power is not for amusement or for showing off your superiority, Loki. Especially when your power might affect others. In those moments, you must be even more cautious and respectful.”

She established a regular routine for them, arranging basic physical training and knowledge lessons. Thor was active, so she guided his exercise through competitive games; Loki loved quiet contemplation, so she stimulated his brilliant mind with complex puzzles and strategic challenges. She taught them the history of Asgard, the common knowledge of the Nine Realms, the etiquette expected of warriors, and—most —the responsibilities they would one day bear as members of the royal family.

She would sit with them under the shade of an Iðunn apple tree and tell them stories. She spoke of the glowing Moonlight Forests of Vanaheim, the masterful dwarven forging techniques of Nidavellir, and recounted the tales of when she and Hela fought side-by-side, two sisters against a hostile universe.

Whenever Hela was mentioned, Thor would always widen his big blue eyes and ask with excitement, “When will Sister Hela come back? I want to spar with her!”

Loki would simply listen quietly, but a faint glimmer of longing would flash in his eyes.

The days flowed by in this fulfilling and warm rhythm.

By the time Thor turned three, he could already wield a specially made small wooden hammer, “fighting” with convincing passion on the training ground. The core tenets of his character—straightforwardness, bravery, and a burning desire to “become a warrior as strong as Father and Sister”—were becoming increasingly distinct.

When Loki turned three, he could already read simple Asgardian runes and was showing an extraordinary interest and talent in the mystic arts. Mavuika began to teach him some basic flame control. Loki learned with astonishing speed, even beginning to draw his own inferences from her lessons and creating some interesting, clever little tricks of his own.

As they grew older, the two young princes gradually developed their own complex thoughts.

Loki started to truly realize the differences between himself and his brother. He didn’t possess Thor’s innate, overwhelming divine strength, nor the sun-gold hair and sky-blue eyes so common among the Aesir. And sometimes, when his emotions flared and he lost control, a trace of faint, unnatural frost energy would flash from his fingertips.

This made him feel deeply confused and isolated. Unable to find the reason for his differences, Loki began to withdraw, becoming less willing to communicate with others.

It was in this same year that Mavuika, who had seen all of this with her wise and knowing eyes, requested a serious, long talk with Odin and Frigga.

“Thor and Loki have begun to form their own perceptions of the world,” Mavuika said, her gaze both gentle and unyielding as she looked at her parents.

“Regarding Loki’s background… I believe the time has come to tell them. Most , to tell Loki himself. He has the right to know his origins.”