After the last interaction with the guests, Sigurd had returned to his palace to practice controlling his newfound power. He was determined to travel the universe, but he was acutely aware that the Marvel universe was one of the most dangerous places imaginable, where powerful beings could be attracted to you for no reason and without warning.
Although he had specific targets in mind, he didn't know their exact locations. His first goal was to explore the solar system. He was trying to recall the whereabouts of rare materials, specifically a planet called Torfa, which held Vibranium deposits different from those on Midgard. Its location was vague, but he believed it was somewhere near the solar system. His biggest obstacle was whether these materials had even been formed yet.
Odin observed Sigurd deep in thought but didn't disturb him immediately. Instead, he entered with Frigga and signaled for her to sit at a table.
Sigurd, organizing his thoughts on different materials, turned to his brother and sister-in-law. He had met Frigga before, but this was the first time speaking with her as a close relative. He knew maintaining a good relationship with her was key to a peaceful family. According to the lore he remembered, Frigga was a gentle and kind woman who shared her husband's burdens until the very end.
Sigurd smiled at Frigga and then turned to his brother. "Brother, you've come with Frigga. There must be a reason for your visit."
Odin looked at his ever-smiling brother, knowing well how hard he had been training. "You are pushing yourself, Sigurd. There is still plenty of time; why be so hard on yourself?"
Sigurd realized his brother had misunderstood. "It's not what you think. I am planning my travel route. The training is just to get familiar with my power. I should at least know my own strength before I go out."
Odin heard this and couldn't help but stand up, his eyes lighting up. "Okay, let's spar. I think I'm the best partner for you right now."
Sigurd looked at his brother, who always became animated at the mention of a fight. "Can you be at least a little mature? You brought your wife, and now you want to spar with me. Won't she be bored?"
Frigga heard this and interjected with a smile. "Oh, you two should spar! I would be entertained to see the great warriors of Asgard in action."
Hearing Frigga's words, Sigurd's face twitched. He knew he couldn't back out now.
Odin saw his brother's deflated expression and understood his concern about controlling his recently increased power to avoid causing harm. "You don't have to worry about unstable power. I can still defeat you without using my full strength."
Sigurd took the challenge, and they moved to the arena. At first, Sigurd held back, but after a few exchanges, he realized he was still underestimating Odin's prowess. As the fight intensified, Sigurd began to attack with more brute force. He rarely used his magical abilities in spars with Odin; those were for solitary practice. In Asgard, few even knew Sigurd possessed magical power, as he rarely used even simple spells. It was similar to Odin, who had deep runic knowledge but seldom displayed it.
Frigga watched her husband and Sigurd with growing surprise. She knew Odin was a mighty warrior who had slain Ymir, the Frost Giant King. But Sigurd astonished her even more. She had felt the power he released during the wedding ceremony, but she had assumed he was still far behind Odin. Now, seeing them clash, she knew her judgment had been wrong. She watched with great interest, realizing the future of Asgard under her husband's rule would be formidable. Her father's decision to marry her to Odin seemed wiser by the minute, and the strong bond between the brothers suggested no future conflict over the throne. She continued to enjoy the spectacle while sipping her drink, herself a trained fighter often overlooked in favor of her magical talents.
Sigurd and Odin fought for a long time. Sigurd looked at his brother, who was clearly enjoying himself. While Sigurd couldn't be dominated as easily as before, Odin still held the upper hand. Sigurd knew his raw power hadn't yet caught up to Odin's; he would need to accumulate cosmic energy for over a thousand years to gain an advantage. Still, he felt great about his significant progress.
After the fight, Odin walked to his wife and sat beside her. "Sigurd, come sit here. Now, tell me how you plan to start your journey. Although I don't want you to travel alone, you need experience in the outer world to become a qualified warrior."
Sigurd looked at his brother and laid out the plan he had been formulating. "Brother, I think I will start from the Midgard solar system. I won't land on Midgard itself yet, but I will explore the surrounding realms."
Odin was surprised by this choice. "Why? Wouldn't it be better to travel to a known area first?"
Sigurd shook his head. "I think my first target should be the surrounding realms. A feeling tells me to start there. I'll go to Midgard eventually."
Odin didn't press further. Wherever he started, it was still a journey, and finding metal ores would be a bonus.
Then Sigurd thought of something very important. "Brother, you don't expect me to travel through space in one of those ancient chariots, do you?"
Odin couldn't help but laugh out loud. "If Father hears you say that, he'll beat you black and blue! You know those chariots are his favorite form of transportation."
Sigurd looked at his brother as if he could devour him. "You'd better give me something good, like a proper spaceship. Otherwise, I'm not taking a single step out of Asgard on one of those chariots."
Frigga, who had been quietly enjoying the brothers' bickering, felt she was truly getting to know them for the first time.