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{Chapter: 60 - Arrival in Asgard}
'And isn't that always the first thing those reincarnators do in fanfictions when they end up in Asgard? I'm just following tradition,' Aiden mused, a sly smirk dancing at the corner of his lips as he donned a pitiful, wide-eyed expressionâone that screamed harmless innocenceâbefore the towering figure of Thor.
"Greetings,Thor the God of Thunder. I am Aiden," he said calmly, stepping forward with the composed grace of someone who had seen stranger things. There was no trembling voice, no frantic explanationsâjust an unusual, almost eerie level of composure for someone who had just been infused with a reality-warping Infinity Stone.
Thor furrowed his brows slightly, visibly surprised by the human's nonchalant behavior. This was not the usual display of awe or panic he expected from mortals. Still, the name rang a bell.
"I know of you," Thor replied after a beat. "Aiden. A consultant from SHIELD, yes?"
"That's me," Aiden nodded, then let out a half-hearted chuckle. "To get straight to the pointâbecause I know you're a busy godâI was investigating an anomaly in London, and somehow... I ended up here, and the Aether decided to make me its new home. I didn't ask for it, trust me. I can control it... somewhat. But I imagine most Asgardians wouldn't be too thrilled about a human walking around with one of the Infinity Stones embedded in his body."
Thor's face turned grim. "The Aether is not something to take lightly, mortal," he said, his voice deepening. "Its power is ancient and corrupting. It devours vitality, mind, and soul alike. No being has ever truly controlled itânot even Malekith, who was born of the darkness it came from."
He paused, then took a step closer. "If you are truly willing, come with me to Asgard. The All-Father may be able to extract it. Or, at the very least, help you contain it before it consumes you entirely."
Aiden feigned hesitation for dramatic effect, then gave a small, resigned shrug and smiled.
"Why not?" he said with a casual air. "I've always been curious about Asgard. And if there's anyone in the Nine Realms who could understand this situation, it'd be Odin. I know the Aether is dangerous. I know what the Aether is. And I know what danger it brings. But I'm not your enemy. I've read your stories. I don't want this kind of power. I didn't ask for it. But since I've ended up with it... I'd rather see it handed over to people who can protect itâbefore it falls into the wrong hands again."
Thor studied him for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly, as though peering into Aiden's soul. But 'trust me' be force field working just fine. The mortal's sincerityâor at least his apparent willingnessâseemed to satisfy him. With a solemn nod, Thor extended his hand.
"Then come. We will speak with the All-Father. He shall decide your fate... and that of the Aether."
Aiden took the hand without hesitation.
"Let's do it. But just a heads-upâif you have golden toilets in Asgard, I'm definitely trying one."
Thor gave him a strange look, unsure if it was a joke or some Earth custom. He raised his voice to the sky.
"Heimdall!"
In a brilliant burst of energy, a beam of golden light shot down from the heavens. The Bifrost cracked open the skies with thunder and awe, engulfing both Aiden and Thor in a spiraling torrent of light. As they were whisked through the cosmic expanse, Aiden gazed outward in breathless wonder.
The stars moved like rivers of fire, galaxies swirled in the distance, and cosmic dust shimmered like diamonds in the dark. The space between worlds wasn't cold or silentâit was humming with power, ancient and divine.
'This is insane, he thought. I'm riding the Bifrost. I'm actually traveling to Asgard. Beat that, Reddit.'
The light finally faded, depositing them atop the golden bridge that connected the realmsâThe Bifrost.
Standing at its center, dressed in gleaming golden armor, was a tall, regal man with dark skin and glowing eyes. He held a massive sword that pulsed with restrained power.
"Heimdall," Thor said, motioning to the man.
"Welcome to Asgard, Aiden," the Gatekeeper intoned. His voice was deep, calm, and reverberated like a bell through the air.
Aiden blinked. "Whoa. You're real. I mean, of course you're real. You're Heimdall."
Heimdall merely nodded. "Your path is clouded, mortal. I see many threads... and some end in fire."
Aiden swallowed but didn't reply to Asgardian who was the all-seeing and all-hearing but isn't very good at his only job. Thor stepped forward, leading him down the rainbow bridge toward the city of gold and light.
Asgard. Majestic towers pierced the clouds, crafted of shimmering metal and ancient stone. The air was crisp and invigorating, with the scent of ozone and the faint vibration of magic in every breath.
Just as they reached the inner gates, a figure approachedâtall, poised, and battle-ready. A warrior woman in red and silver armor, dark hair cascading behind her like a war banner, sword sheathed at her hip, and a circular shield strapped to her arm.
"Who is this?" she asked, eyes narrowing as she eyed Aiden suspiciously.
"Lady Sif," Aiden said, bowing slightly. "From Earth. The name's Aiden Graves. You may have heard of meâunlikely, but I like to stay hopeful."
Sif looked him up and down, unimpressed. "He smells weak," she muttered.
Thor sighed. "He carries the Aether within him."
That got her attention. Her hand reflexively moved toward her sword. "Then he is a threat."
"I'm also standing right here," Aiden said, raising an eyebrow. "You know, basic Earth manners include not calling someone a threat to their face."
Thor chuckled. "I'll take him to the palace. We'll speak later, Sif."
As they passed, Aiden gave her a small wave. "Bye, warrior lady."
She didn't wave back.
They entered the palaceâa place that made cathedrals look like broom closets. Massive golden halls, towering statues of ancient gods, and the faint hum of divine energy pulsing in every corridor greeted Aiden at every step.
Eventually, they reached the royal chambers, where Asgardian scholars, healers, and scientists began analyzing his condition. The process was delicate, involving a fusion of magic and advanced science that Aiden could barely comprehend. They took samples, ran tests, tried resonance frequenciesâyet the result remained the same.
The Aether refused to be removed.
"This is⊠deeply troubling," one of the lead analysts finally spoke, turning to Thor with a grim expression. "The Aether is bonded at the cellular levelâits integration is absolute. Every attempt at separation has failed. It's evolving faster than we can adapt our methods. Worse yet, it responds aggressively to any extraction attempts, attacking both tools and handlers without hesitation."
He paused, letting the weight of the words settle before continuing.
"We cannot predict the long-term effects, but what we do know is thisâif we attempt forceful removal, we risk killing the host instantly⊠or worse. The entity could destabilize violently, potentially destroying this entire Palaceâor more. And even then, there's no guarantee it would simply vanish. It could transfer to the nearest viable organism⊠continuing the cycle."
Thor looked at Aiden, his expression more serious than before.
"You may become a beacon," he said. "A signal to those who seek the Aether. Malekith⊠or worse."
Aiden nodded slowly. "So I guess dying quietly in my sleep isn't on the table anymore."
The lead scientist sighed. "You should rest. We'll continue our research. If there is a way to extract the Aether without destroying your body, or anything around you, we will find it. For now, you must be cautious. The energy within you is volatile. You are carrying something ancient⊠and hungry."
Aiden shrugged, tilting his head slightly. "You seem to have forgotten what I said earlier, ThorâI can control it. The Aether doesn't control me."
His words carried quiet confidence, but Thor remained skeptical. The God of Thunder narrowed his eyes slightly, arms crossed over his broad chest. He didn't interrupt, but it was obvious from his expression that he still found it difficult to believe that a mortalâno matter how uniqueâcould safely contain something as chaotic and ancient as the Aether.
Thor finally shook his head with a sigh. "Control it or not, mortal... the Aether has consumed stronger beings than you. But things are what they are. The All-Father will decide what is to be done."
And with that, the formal inspection concluded. Despite the unease among the Asgardian physicians and scholars who had attempted to analyze the Aether's presence in Aiden's body, there was no known way to extract it. Not without endangering all life and the palaceâor unleashing the Aether into the cosmos once more. So for now, Thor arranged temporary living quarters for Aiden within the golden halls of Asgard.
Aiden, surprisingly, didn't mind staying.
He wasn't in a rush to return to Earth. After all, how often did someone from Earth get to live in a realm spoken of in myth? A kingdom of shimmering palaces, godly warriors, and technology that seemed like magic. He intended to make the most of it.
He flopped onto the plush bedding in his newly assigned room, then glanced down at his clothes with a grimace. They were still charred, stained, and dusty from the earlier incident in Londonâhis hoodie was torn, and his jeans were sticking to him in awkward places.
"Hey, Thor!" he called toward the open hallway. "Mind getting me something to wear? I look like I crawled out of a dumpster."
Thor, always willing to assist those under his protection, nodded and summoned a servant. In less than twenty minutes, a young attendant arrived, carrying a folded set of Asgardian garments.
Aiden's eyes lit up.
The armor wasn't ceremonial. It was realâfunctional, durable, and crafted from some unknown but beautifully sleek metal. The inner layer was soft and breathable, the outer plating shone like liquid starlight, and the design itself was sleek, tailored to his body. It shimmered with an understated elegance and carried the distinct scent of magic and craftsmanship.
Aiden turned to the full-length mirror in the room, examining himself from every angle. "Damn," he muttered, flexing his arms slightly. "Sure enough, coming to Asgard was the right move. I've only been here a few hours and I already look like a demigod." He smirked at his reflection. "Although⊠if I could do something about that smell..."
Despite the regal armor, his body still reeked faintlyâan unavoidable side effect of the Aether constantly devouring his vitality reserves. His very essence was working overtime to keep the volatile force stable inside him.
Rather than dwell on that, Aiden decided to go out and explore. Staying cooped up in a room while in Asgard would be a waste.
Outside, the realm was nothing short of breathtaking.
Gleaming towers touched the clouds, waterfalls cascaded from impossible heights, and the rainbow-colored Bifrost arched far across the sky in the distance. He wandered through the open city, observing children play with tiny holographic creatures, market stalls filled with shimmering fabrics and glowing fruits, and proud warriors moving with purpose through the streets.
What surprised him most was how welcoming the people were. Despite being an outsider, Aiden was greeted with polite nods and kind smiles. The Asgardians were not just warriorsâthey were a people of pride, culture, and surprising hospitality.
He was strolling through what appeared to be a training ground when a familiar face stopped him in his tracks.
"You again."
The voice was as cold as ice. He turned and saw Lady Sif.
Looking at her again Aiden could help but swallow.
He knew she was dangerous. He also knewâhe wanted nothing more.
She stood across the courtyard, every inch the warrior-goddessâher sleek, polished Asgardian silver and red armor clinging to her lithe, muscular curves, the plunging neckline of her cuirass hinting at the strength beneath, and a flowing red cape. Sunlight danced along her gilded raven-black hair, each strand of molten gold tumbling in loose waves around her shoulders, impossible to tear your eyes from. Her commanding helmetâits Valkyrie-inspired wings framing her faceâadded a fierce, seductive edge to her beauty. With her sword was strapped to her thin waist.
Her piercing blue eyes, cold and unblinking, held him captive with the promise of both danger and desire.
Every movement she made was a study in controlled power, the very air around her humming with an intoxicating blend of war-born ferocity and magnetic sensuality.
He should have recoiledâbut instead, his heart thundered, caught in the gravitas of her gaze and the sharp elegance of her form.
'Lady Sif is an Asgardian shield-maidenâtall, athletic, and strikingly beautifulâwhose appearance combines classic Norse warrior elements with Marvel's sleek, heroic aesthetic.'
"You seem to hate me," Aiden said with a calm tone, not rising to her hostility. "Did I do something wrong? We barely spoke, and yet... you act like I insulted your entire bloodline."
Sif narrowed her eyes and said nothing at first. She stepped forward slowly, hand resting on the hilt of her sword.
"You reek of instability," she finally said. "Of power stolen, not earned. That alone is enough for me to keep my distance. And if you value your life, you'll stay out of my way."
She drew her swordânot in full, just a few inchesâand pointed it at him in warning.
"I won't ask again. Disappear from my sight⊠before you find out how sharp my steel is."
Aiden raised both hands in mock surrender and took a slow step back. "Noted. Hostility: ten out of ten. Got it."
Before he could say more, another warrior nearbyâtall, red-haired, and dressed in silverâchuckled and approached.
"You've got guts, outsider," the man said, grinning. "Most people don't speak back to Lady Sif like that. Even some of us Asgardians are careful around her."
Aiden tilted his head. "Any particular reason why she's ready to skewer me for just breathing in the same air?"
The man laughed. "Sif isn't just a warrior. She's Heimdall's younger sister. And she has high expectationsâof herself and of others. She doesn't respect words. She respects action. Strength. Resolve."
"Sounds like a handful," Aiden muttered.
"You're not wrong. She's fierce, stubborn, and impossible to impress. But if you ever do manage to win her respectâŠ" The man leaned in conspiratorially. "You'll never find a stronger allyâor a deadlier enemy."
Aiden looked back in the direction Sif had gone. She had already vanished around a corner, like a shadow that moved with purpose.
"Well," he said, "seems like winning her over might take more than charm and good looks."
The warrior patted him on the shoulder. "Here in Asgard, strength earns respect. Especially from someone like her. You've got the guts. If you've also got the power... maybe she'll come around.
Just then, another seasoned warrior strode by, pausing beside him with a knowing grin.
"You don't need to overthink it," the man said, his voice casual yet firm. "Sif's always been that way. To her, only a true warrior earns her respect⊠and maybe even conquer her heart. She doesn't bother with average men, and slick talkers? That's the one thing she can't standâwhether in Asgard or Midgard."
He clapped him on the shoulder. "So don't take it personally. You might've just misunderstood her. If you want to win her favor, don't use wordsâshow your strength. Prove you've got courage. Trust meâonce she sees that, her attitude toward you will shift."
As the men walked off, Aiden looked up at the shining spires of Asgard again. This realm was filled with gods and warriors, ancient beings of legend. If he wanted to belongâeven temporarilyâhe'd have to prove he was more than just a vessel for a cosmic parasite.
He grinned to himself.
"Well, then," he muttered. "Time to show them what I can do."
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