Asgard was in a state of celebration for their crown prince's upcoming marriage. Six months passed in the blink of an eye.
For that entire time, Sigurd had been engrossed in the study of runes. Though already powerful, he knew the All-Above God had not reminded him of them without reason. He became a near-recluse, rarely seen by anyone.
He sat before Yggdrasil, yet his progress felt minimal. The runes were like an infinite onion, covered in countless layers; the deeper he delved, the more complex and profound they became.
He had learned various magical applications: manipulating mystical energy to blast targets at a distance and generating potent force fields. He could even create simple illusions, though he hadn't mastered them. But these were just surface tricks. The true, deep power of the runes remained elusive, and he had no idea what heights it could unlock.
His prime objective was now to dedicate most of his time to deciphering them. As for the coming war, he saw it as inevitable—his role was to wait and prepare.
Just as he was about to focus again, he heard footsteps approaching.
"Sigurd, aren't you planning to come out? I am to be married in a few days, and you are still hidden away here."
Odin looked at his brother with great intent, clearly seeking the reason for such intense seclusion.
"Brother, of course I will be there," Sigurd replied, knowing Odin had come to confirm if something was wrong.
He couldn't speak about the cosmic encounter; revealing secrets of such powerful beings might bring disaster. Odin, seeing the unusual seriousness on his usually smiling brother's face, pressed further. "Is there a problem? If something troubles you, you can share it with me."
Sigurd knew he had to offer some explanation after months of evasion. "There is no specific problem, but I have a strong feeling that a great war is approaching. I need to be ready. I haven't tapped my full potential, and I must focus."
Odin studied him. "Did this feeling start when my marriage was arranged?"
Sigurd thought back. Yes, on that very day, before meeting the All-Above God, he had felt he was forgetting something crucial. The encounter had overshadowed that feeling, but now it returned. "Yes. I feel someone will target us soon. After your marriage, I plan to travel the realms. A fresh environment might help me grow stronger."
Odin was surprised. His brother, who rarely liked to travel, was now speaking of journeys to Midgard and beyond. This confirmed his seriousness.
As they walked back, Sigurd suggested reinforcing Asgard's defenses. "Brother, you should focus on training new warriors. Integrate Vanir magicians and soldiers into the armies—it will strengthen our bond. Have their magicians reinforce the protective wards around our cities and the dimensional rifts connecting to other realms."
He looked toward the palace. "Most importantly, the royal palaces need their magical protections strengthened. You are to be married, and there will be children. We have many enemies; we must ensure the safety of the future generation."
Odin heard his brother's words and felt they were slightly paranoid, but he kept that thought to himself. "Very well, Sigurd. If safety is your concern, why don't you take charge of reinforcing the magical protection circles? You will have the authority to coordinate with everyone required. I will personally oversee the army recruitment."
Sigurd agreed, feeling more relieved to handle the magical defenses himself.
A few days later, the celebration began. Friends and allies from across the Nine Realms arrived, for this marriage solidly tipped the balance of power toward an already dominant Asgard.
Even the King of the Dwarves, usually consumed by his forges, attended. The Queen of the Light Elves came personally, and the sorcerer Agamotto himself was present. Seeing this gathering of powerful allies, Sigurd felt that war might indeed be closer than anyone thought. The question was, who would be the first to ignite it.
Dressed in royal attire, Sigurd observed each guest, imprinting their images in his mind. It was vital to know one's allies as well as one's enemies, for betrayal often stemmed from self-interest. His gaze then fell upon Odin and Frigga. He knew that in most universes, they shared a powerful bond. Seeing them together, they seemed destined for happiness.
He looked at his happy brother and his beaming parents, then reflected on his own paranoid behavior over the past six months. Why had he been acting this way? The All-Above God had only offered suggestions, not threats.
His eyes returned to his family, and in a moment of clarity, he understood. This paranoia wasn't driven by an external threat, but by an internal, deeply personal fear—the fear of losing the family he had come to love.
So, I have created my own problem by allowing my family to become my perceived weakness, he realized. But why would my mind sabotage me like this? They are not fragile mortals; they are powerful gods who, without any intervention from me, are destined to rule the Nine Realms. With my power nearly equal to Odin's, why am I so consumed by worry?
This moment of enlightenment was like a dam breaking. Suddenly, his mental strength surged, and he felt refreshed to the very core of his soul.
As this internal shift occurred, a wave of potent soul power fluctuated from him, washing over the wedding guests.
Agamotto was the first to sense it, his gaze snapping toward Sigurd. Odin also looked at his brother, but for the first time, he could not gauge Sigurd's strength. The eyes of every powerful guest turned toward the young prince, their instincts urging them to probe this sudden energy.
But before they could, a mystical barrier shimmered into existence around Sigurd, blocking all external scrutiny.
Seeing the situation, Odin immediately stepped in to divert attention. "Friends, please! My brother has been in deep training these past months. This is merely a sign of his progress. Let us focus on the celebration, and allow him his focus."
While Sigurd remained immersed in his inner world, Odin's marriage ceremony was completed, and the guests were led to the banquet hall to celebrate, leaving the prince to his quiet, powerful transformation.