"What is this?" Thor asked, grabbing one of the measuring instruments with his large hands and shaking it roughly. The device let out a high-pitched beep, and the lights flickered erratically.
Jane rushed over, eyes wide with a mix of horror and exasperation.
"Excuse me? Excuse me!" she said, snatching the device from him with more force than she expected to need. "These aren't toys."
Thor didn't seem offended. He simply released the device without resistance and walked away, striding firmly toward the door of the makeshift lab.
"This mortal form has become weak," he muttered, rubbing his stomach. "I need food."
Nathael, watching from a corner with Celestia on his shoulder, smiled faintly. He approached Thor and said calmly:
"I saw a restaurant nearby. I'd like to try something from this place."
Thor looked at him, and his face lit up with a genuine smile.
"Good idea, sorcerer. Let's go."
Without a second thought, Thor began walking toward the exit, as if he knew exactly where the restaurant was. Nathael followed, but not before noticing Darcy watching him with a mix of curiosity and amusement.
"Sorcerer?" Darcy said, crossing her arms. "Is that because of your cosplay?"
Nathael stopped short. He raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
"Cosplay?"
"Yeah," Darcy said, gesturing to his clothes. "Your old-fashioned, ancient-looking outfit. It looks like you stepped out of a fantasy convention."
Nathael looked down at himself. To him, he was dressed elegantly: dark leather boots, durable trousers, white linen shirt open at the chest, light vest, sapphire-blue cloak, and fingerless gloves. It was his usual attire, refined by years of travel and combat. He had never considered it "old-fashioned."
Celestia, perched on his shoulder, struggled not to laugh. She had always told him he should dress better, that his style was too casual for someone of his lineage. But this time, she held back. She didn't want to draw attention.
Nathael, for the first time in a long while, felt a faint blush on his cheeks. No one—except Celestia—had ever commented on his appearance like that. And though Darcy didn't mean it maliciously, just as a casual observation, it felt unusual.
"Ah… yes," he said, smiling awkwardly. "I'm cosplaying a sorcerer. I'm a fan of wizard novels."
To change the subject, he quickly added:
"I'll treat you all to lunch. It's the least I can do to thank you for helping us last night."
Darcy accepted instantly.
"Sure! I love free food."
Jane hesitated for a moment and glanced at Erik, who gave a subtle nod. Finally, she nodded too.
"Okay. Thanks."
They left the lab and followed Thor, who was already several meters ahead, walking with the confidence of someone who believed he knew the way—though in reality, he had no idea where he was going.
The restaurant was small, with worn wooden tables and uncomfortable chairs, but the smell of home-cooked food was irresistible. They sat at a large table, and within minutes, plates began arriving.
Thor didn't waste time. He devoured everything placed in front of him: burgers, fries, ribs, bread, even dessert. Every time he finished a drink, he slammed the glass on the floor with a loud thud and demanded another in an authoritative voice.
"Another!" he shouted, as if he were in a banquet hall in Asgard.
The other diners stared in surprise, but no one dared say anything. Perhaps because of his size, perhaps because of the intensity of his presence.
Meanwhile, Nathael kept up a calm conversation with Jane, Erik, and Darcy.
"I'm a teacher in England," he said, choosing his words carefully. "At a private school. I specialize in history and ancient treasures."
He didn't mention Hogwarts. He didn't mention magic. He knew that, for now, they had to be cautious. In this world, magic didn't exist—or at least wasn't acknowledged. So he presented himself as an ordinary human, an academic, an expert in relics.
"Treasures?" Darcy asked, intrigued. "Like Indiana Jones?"
Nathael laughed softly.
"Something like that, but without so many deadly traps."
Darcy smiled.
"I study political science," she said. "And I'm Jane's assistant for some college credits."
"She was the only one who applied," Jane added with an affectionate smile. "So I didn't have a choice."
Erik just nodded, saying little. He seemed reserved, analytical, as if evaluating every word spoken.
The meal passed in a mix of laughter, brief stories, and Thor's constant voracity. When they finished, Nathael stood and went to the counter to pay with the bills he had exchanged for his gold.
Meanwhile, Thor was already outside, staring at the horizon with a determined expression.
"I need to find my Mjölnir," he said aloud, more to himself than to anyone else.
Jane caught up to him and placed a hand on his arm.
"You can't," she said, concerned. "It's surrounded by government people. It's a restricted area."
Thor looked at her, and in his blue eyes was a determination that brooked no argument.
"I'm going for what belongs to me," he said. "And if you take me there, I'll tell you everything you want to know."
Jane looked at him, hesitating. Her eyes sparkled with scientific curiosity, with the need for answers.
"Really?" she asked.
"Yes," Thor replied. "You'll have all the answers."
At that moment, Erik approached and took Jane by the arm, pulling her a little farther away.
"Please, don't do this," he said quietly but firmly. "He's delusional. Talking about Mjölnir, the Bifrost… it's fairy tales. Don't risk everything you've built for madness."
Jane looked at him, frustrated.
"But you saw what happened last night!" she said. "That energy, that streak… it wasn't a coincidence. I need to know what's in that crater."
Erik shook his head.
"Listen to me. This isn't science. It's mythology. And you're a scientist."
In the end, Jane relented. She returned to Thor and, with a mix of disappointment and resignation, said:
"I'm sorry. I can't."
Thor nodded, showing no anger. He gently took Jane's hand and kissed it with unexpected elegance.
"Then we part ways," he said with a charming smile.
Jane laughed, blushing.
At that moment, Nathael and Celestia came out of the restaurant. They saw the scene and instantly understood what had happened. Thor had asked for help, and they had refused.
Nathael approached and said goodbye with a polite nod, respectful and courteous.
"Thank you for the company," he said.
Then he walked away with Thor and Celestia.
Once alone, Thor turned to Nathael.
"Sorcerer," he said, "do you have any idea how to get there?"
Nathael smiled.
"Yes. About 75 kilometers west. That's where you landed, according to the maps Jane had."
"So far?" Thor asked, frowning. "If we walk, it'll take hours."
"We could use flight magic," Nathael said, "but we'd draw too much attention. Besides, my magic is still adapting to this world. Maintaining constant flight would be unreliable."
Thor nodded, understanding.
"Then let's get horses," he said. "They're fast."
Celestia meowed with a wide smile.
"I don't think they sell horses around here," she said. "But we can rent a car."
"Car?" Thor asked, confused.
"The vehicle Jane was driving," Celestia explained.
Thor nodded, as if finally understanding.
"Then let's find a car," Nathael said.
They walked through the town, asking at gas stations, stores, and even a small post office. No one rented cars. It was too small a place.
Finally, Nathael made a decision.
"Let's go back to the girls," he said. "Ask them to lend us their truck."
When they returned to the lab, the place was almost empty. The tables were cleared, the equipment gone, cables coiled and stored. Everything that had once filled the space had been removed.
Nathael went outside and looked around. He found Jane sitting on a rock, arms crossed and brow furrowed.
"What happened?" Thor asked, approaching.
"Some people called S.H.I.E.L.D. came," Jane said, her voice tense. "They 'confiscated' all my stuff. Years of work… gone."
Thor saw his opportunity.
"Take us to the crater," he said. "If you do, I'll help you get back everything they stole."
Jane looked at him, and in her eyes was a spark of hope.
"Really?"
"Yes," Thor said. "What's mine is there. And I will reclaim it. But I need you to take me."
Nathael smiled. It was a good proposition. Now the mission wasn't just Thor's. It had become personal for Jane.
"Thank you," Nathael said, stepping closer. "It'll be a great help."
"Where are Erik and Darcy?" he asked.
"Erik went to call a friend, see if he can do something," Jane replied. "Darcy went with him."
Nathael nodded.
"Then let's go."
They climbed into the truck. Jane drove, Thor sat beside her, and Nathael and Celestia settled in the back.
As the vehicle moved through the desert, Nathael closed his eyes. He began channeling his magic, trying to sense the magical fabric of this world. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but it was there. Like a whisper beneath the earth, like a dormant heartbeat.
Celestia, in his lap, did the same. Her ears were slightly raised, her eyes narrowed, focused.
Up front, Thor and Jane talked.
"I've never done anything like this," Jane said, a mix of nerves and excitement. "Going against the government… it's crazy. And you?"
"Millions of times," Thor said with a smile. "In Asgard, battles are daily. But this… this is different. Here, everything is more fragile."
"Fragile?"
"Yes," Thor said, looking at her. "You have no power. Only ingenuity. And that… that is brave."
Jane looked at him, and for a moment, the silence between them was more eloquent than any words.
Nathael and Celestia, from the back, decided to ignore the conversation. Better to focus on their own magic, on the world around them, on the mission ahead.