The clouds had long since scattered.
The bright, warm sunlight flooded Asgard.
It spilled across broken spears and shattered axes, over the splintered remains of the palace walls and the frozen corpses of the Giants of Jotunheim.
But instead of desolation, it created a strange, solemn beauty.
A battlefield bathed in gold —
a canvas of sacrifice, victory, and pride.
Bella stood quietly at the highest stair of Asgard's palace, her sharp eyes sweeping across the aftermath.
She couldn't help but marvel a little at the glory of this legendary realm.
Asgard was not vast.
Unlike planets floating alone in the void, Asgard itself was more like a vast continental plate —
an island adrift in the sea of stars.
Bridges of shimmering crystal and light connected Asgard's central island to its surrounding territories.
At the heart of it all, rising like a sword into the sky, was the gleaming, golden mountain —
home of the royal palace.
The architecture, drawn from Nordic myth, exuded ancient majesty and unshakable power.
No wonder Odin could dominate the Nine Realms for so long...
Bella thought silently.
It wasn't just because of him.
It was because of this.
The land.
The warriors.
The spirit of Asgard itself.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sharp rhythm of spears striking shields echoed across the battlefield.
Rank after rank of Asgardian warriors knelt proudly, battered and bloodied, but undefeated.
Their armor — dented, scorched, and stained — still gleamed beneath the sun.
Golden helms atop proud heads, spears grounded in solemn formation.
It was awe-inspiring.
Bella felt it instinctively.
The warriors of Asgard... they were different.
Their body density was far beyond that of normal humans.
Every Asgardian soldier, placed on Earth, would be a super soldier among super soldiers.
Their golden armor, forged by the legendary Dwarven kings, could resist even the fiercest blows.
They were not invincible.
But they were close.
And when led by Odin himself...
It was little wonder the Nine Realms had once bent the knee.
Strong, Bella thought, admiration stirring inside her, but even the strongest soldiers fall before a true storm.
Today, she had proven it.
Today, she had shattered the myth of Asgardian invincibility —
and earned their undying respect.
Suddenly—
A strong, calloused hand grabbed her wrist.
Bella's instincts flared —
in that split second, her body almost reacted by reflex, muscles coiling for a strike—
But she stopped herself just in time.
Because the familiar booming voice followed:
"She saved Asgard!"
"She defeated the invaders who dared stain our golden realm!"
"She preserved the honor of our people!"
"Let us cheer for the friend of Asgard!"
It was Thor.
He lifted Bella's wrist high into the air like a trophy.
Like a conqueror saluting his greatest ally.
ROOOOAR!
The battlefield erupted into thunderous cheers.
Spears hammered against shields in a deafening rhythm.
The sound crashed into the sky like waves against a cliff.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
It was a celebration —
a symphony of pride, of gratitude, of raw admiration.
The warriors' burning gazes all focused on Bella.
Not with suspicion.
Not with envy.
But with pure, unfiltered respect.
Bella blinked.
For a moment, her cool composure almost cracked.
Was this... joy?
Pride?
She wasn't sure.
All she knew was that she didn't dislike the feeling at all.
Asgardians might be arrogant, but they never held back their admiration for the truly strong.
And today, Bella had become something rare in their eyes —
a legend.
Step. Step.
The sound of footsteps.
Twenty Asgardian guards, clad in formal golden armor, parted respectfully.
Between them walked a woman.
Her presence silenced the entire battlefield.
The Queen of Asgard.
Frigga.
Graceful.
Majestic.
Her silver-white hair flowed like moonlight across her shoulders.
A gown of deep royal blue embroidered with starlight framed her regal figure.
In her, Bella could see the strength of Asgard's past —
and the wisdom that had held the kingdom together for centuries.
"Queen Frigga!"
Thousands of warriors dropped to one knee in perfect unison, their armor clashing like rolling thunder.
"Arise, brave souls," Frigga said, her voice gentle but carrying effortlessly across the battlefield.
"You have all fought with honor. Today, you have defended the heart of the Nine Realms."
The warriors rose, pride burning in their eyes.
"Mother!"
Thor called, running to her side like an eager child.
Loki followed more slowly, his expression complicated.
Frigga smiled warmly at Thor, then turned her gaze to Loki.
Her smile softened further.
She reached out, gently brushing his shoulder.
"Both of you have done well," she said softly.
"Learn from this day. Hold to each other, not as rivals, but as brothers."
Thor looked down sheepishly.
Even Loki, usually so sharp-tongued, nodded slightly.
But then —
Frigga's gaze shifted.
Her emerald eyes locked onto Bella.
For a long moment, she simply studied the girl standing before her.
Bella, in her battered leather armor, windswept golden hair, and eyes like living emeralds, seemed at once out of place — and completely at home.
"And you..."
Frigga's voice was filled with something that made Bella's chest tighten slightly —
Pride? Hope? Something deeper?
"Your name?"
Bella hesitated.
For the first time in a while, she felt oddly nervous.
"Saber," she said finally, her voice steady.
Frigga tilted her head, thoughtful.
"A blade," she murmured, understanding.
"Sharp. Unyielding. Carved from honor."
She smiled warmly.
"A fitting name."
Thor butted in eagerly:
"Mother, Saber is my friend! She came from Midgard — from Earth!"
Loki snorted behind him.
But Frigga only smiled more brightly.
"Then Asgard is in her debt," Frigga said.
"And friends of Asgard are to be honored."
She gently clasped Bella's hand between both of hers.
"Tonight, there will be a banquet in the Golden Hall. Will you join us?"
Bella's jewel-like eyes lit up.
Food?
Asgardian food?
Without hesitation, she nodded.
As Frigga smiled again —
Bella had a strange feeling.
For just a second, she thought she glimpsed a sly twinkle in the queen's eyes.
A setup?
An innocent banquet... or something more?
She wasn't sure.
But she didn't care.
Because right now —
she had earned her seat at Asgard's table.
That Evening
Night fell over Asgard.
The stars burned brightly above, glittering like jewels across the velvet sky.
The grand palace, bathed in soft golden light, welcomed all with open arms.
Bella now wore the formal robes of Asgard —
a flowing garment woven from shimmering silks and heavy cloth.
Its cut was simple but elegant, leaving her arms and collarbone exposed.
Roman-style sandals wrapped around her calves in soft leather bands.
Her loose hair cascaded down her back like liquid gold, catching every glimmer of light.
With her ethereal beauty and natural grace, she looked less like a warrior—
And more like a goddess from ancient myth.
As she followed Lady Sif through the palace corridors, more and more Asgardian soldiers turned to watch.
Their gazes were heated —
but not lewd.
There was only pure awe.
Bella, Slayer of Giants.
Saber of Midgard.
The protector of Asgard's throne.
She didn't notice it —
but behind her back, many young Asgardian warriors had already begun secretly competing to impress her at the banquet.
The hunt for Bella's favor had already begun.
And she had no idea.
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