Sigurd remained deep in meditation. When he finally awoke, he looked around to find the marriage hall empty. Stepping outside, he found two guards waiting for him. Upon asking, he learned he had been meditating for an entire day.
"So, I missed my brother's wedding," he murmured to himself.
He walked toward the main banquet hall, where the remaining guests were still conversing with his family. The atmosphere was lively with talk and laughter; as hosts, the Asgardians were maintaining a strong, united front for their allies.
Odin was deep in conversation with Agamotto when he noticed Sigurd entering the hall, his spirit visibly refreshed.
"Sigurd! You've finally decided to join us. Just by looking at you, I can tell your strength has increased significantly."
Sigurd heard his brother but deflected the attention. "Brother, please focus on yourself right now. At least give me a few nieces and nephews before you worry about me. Let me enjoy my free time."
Bestla overheard and couldn't help but laugh. "Sigurd is right! You should focus on the future generation. Let Sigurd handle other matters for now."
Odin felt utterly betrayed by his own family and looked to his father for support, only to see Bor shaking his head as if to say, "Don't involve me."
Bor observed his youngest son. He could sense Sigurd's heightened power, though its full extent was now unclear to him. He decided not to press the matter until after the guests had departed.
As the socializing continued, Agamotto approached Sigurd.
"Greetings. I am Agamotto, from Midgard."
Sigurd looked at the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth. This was a formal introduction, so he couldn't act overly familiar.
"Hello. I am Sigurd Borson." Since Agamotto had approached him, Sigurd felt he should show courtesy first. "I have heard of the great magician of Midgard who fought alongside my brother to defeat a formidable enemy."
Agamotto responded modestly. "While I am a magician, I cannot yet claim to be 'great.' There is much I must still achieve to earn such a title."
Their conversation turned to the present state of Earth, and Sigurd finally gleaned what era he was in. It was an early, tribal period for humanity, before standardized timekeeping. However, a few advanced kingdoms like Wakanda and Atlantis existed, though the latter had mysteriously drowned some 500 years prior—a catastrophe whose cause even Agamotto did not fully understand. Small human settlements were beginning to show signs of progress and reform.
After speaking with other guests, Sigurd made his way to King Eitri.
"Greetings, King of the Dwarves."
Eitri saw Sigurd's smiling face and knew he had an agenda. "If this is about your weapon, I have already told you it will take over 200 years. If you wish to add modifications, now is not the time. I am occupied with other tasks."
Sigurd looked at the old dwarf, whose height surpassed nearly everyone in the hall. "I wish to discuss something that could create a defensive barrier for your people, one that even a Skyfather-level being could not breach. Are you certain you do not wish to hear it?"
Hearing this, even Odin, who was speaking with the Elf Queen, turned his head.
Eitri, suddenly intensely interested, stared at Sigurd as if trying to read his mind. "A barrier impervious to a Skyfather? This would be a weapon of immense importance."
Sigurd continued, undeterred. The core concept relied on his own abilities, but even a smaller version would be valuable. After all, none of the present allies had betrayed Asgard in the future he knew.
"I envision a weapon that can serve as the core of a magical barrier. When invaders attack, the weapon would not only withstand the assault but also channel that energy to power a counter-attack by our warriors, all inscribed with specific runes."
King Eitri considered the existing barriers in the universe; few could withstand such power. Enemies of that level were rare, but the strategic value was undeniable. His mind then focused on the key component. "So, you possess knowledge of the magical runes required for this?"
"You need not worry about the runes. Focus on forging a weapon capable of channeling such powerful magic. If you succeed, I will personally inscribe the barrier for your race."
Bor watched his youngest son. For months, Sigurd had been acting paranoid, but now he seemed clear-headed and was proposing ambitious ideas to strengthen Asgard.
"Eitri," Bor interjected, "if you can create such a weapon, Asgard will reward you handsomely. I believe your people need this kind of defense more than anyone here."
The dwarves knew this could be their greatest salvation. While they possessed great strength and skill, they could not withstand a Skyfather-level threat alone.
Eitri looked at Sigurd, weighing the proposition. "We would require rare materials for testing. Uru metal is scarce; we need something of equivalent potency."
The hall fell silent. Finding a metal rivaling Uru was a near-impossible task.
Sigurd's expression remained unchanged. "I will personally procure the necessary metals. I only need your expertise to provide the solution."
He already knew of planets rich in metals like Vibranium and Uru, though they would not be discovered for millennia.
Odin listened to his brother but did not interject. This aligned with Sigurd's recent declaration that he would travel the realms, so the ambitious claim did not surprise him.