Kang gazed into the timeline, his consciousness extending through the temporal streams. He'd done this countless times before—observing, analyzing, understanding the flow of events across infinite realities.
Out of sight of any observer, Kang began attempting to view Aegir's past and future. A simple matter, really. Every being left temporal traces, echoes in the river of time that could be examined and studied.
However, the moment he focused on that specific timeline, reaching to extract a fragment for closer examination, something unexpected happened.
The temporal river where time converged suddenly became turbulent, chaotic. A fog materialized before his perception.
Kang recoiled slightly, shock rippling through him. He could no longer observe this timeline. Something was blocking his perception entirely.
And whatever it was, its mastery over time surpassed his own. That should be impossible. Yet here it was.
Was it the Vanir king himself causing this interference? Or was there something else, something protecting him from temporal observation?
Kang realized with growing unease that the individual he wanted to spy on existed beyond his control. This wasn't just a powerful variant—this was something different.
He sat in silence for a long while, weighing options, assessing risks.
Finally, after extensive consideration, he sent new orders to the TVA.
----------------------------------
Judge Ravonna Renslayer stood before the Time Keepers, waiting for their response to her earlier report. The silence had stretched for what felt like hours, though time was strange in the TVA.
When they finally spoke, their voices synchronized together.
"Abandon this timeline."
"What?!" Ravonna's composure shattered completely. She stared up at them in disbelief. "You can't be serious!"
This was the answer she'd waited for? After everything, after the direct challenge to TVA authority—they were just giving up?
"Repeat directive," the Time Keepers intoned. "After deliberation, abandon monitoring of Timeline Branch VNH-2977. Allow this branch to develop independently without interference."
"But why?" Ravonna asked, unable to stop herself despite protocol. "Don't you have a way to handle this time criminal? We can assemble more forces, develop new strategies—"
"This individual can no longer be managed by the Time Variation Authority," the Time Keepers stated. "His existence alone creates a protective barrier around the entire timeline. Further attempts at intervention are deemed inefficient and counterproductive."
"We will not expend additional resources on futile endeavors," they continued. "Should encounters with this individual occur in future operations, all personnel are ordered to avoid engagement and retreat immediately."
"But—" Ravonna started.
"This is an order." The finality in their synchronized voices left no room for argument.
Ravonna's jaw clenched. She wanted to protest further, to argue that this set a dangerous precedent, that variants couldn't be allowed to simply operate outside their control. But orders were orders.
"Understood, honored Time Keepers," she said through gritted teeth, bowing stiffly before turning to leave.
As the elevator descended back to the main operations level, doubt gnawed at her. Does the Time Variation Authority truly represent the fundamental laws of reality?
The questions were dangerous. She pushed them aside.
When the elevator doors opened, Mobius and B-15 were waiting, concern evident on their faces.
"Well?" Mobius asked immediately. "What did the Time Keepers say? Are we mounting a larger operation?"
Ravonna shook her head, still processing the orders herself.
B-15 stepped forward. "Ravonna, what's wrong? What were their instructions?"
"They said..." Ravonna paused, the words feeling wrong even as she spoke them. "They said to abandon monitoring this timeline entirely. And we're forbidden from engaging in any conflict with the Vanir king. Complete avoidance protocol."
Mobius and B-15 exchanged shocked glances, neither quite believing what they'd heard.
"They're just... letting him go?" Mobius asked carefully. "A variant who stole our equipment, who can manipulate time, who knows everything about us—and we're just walking away?"
"Those are our orders," Ravonna said flatly. Her entire posture seemed diminished, deflated. Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving her colleagues to process the implications.
Mobius let out a low whistle. "That Vanir king must be something truly extraordinary if the Time Keepers themselves won't touch him."
B-15 felt a chill run down her spine, remembering her confrontation with Aegir. She'd put down some pretty harsh words during their encounter, threatened him with TVA justice, promised he'd face consequences.
Had she just danced on the edge of a knife without realizing it? What was it called—oh right, wildly tempting death itself?
"We should probably hope we never run into him again," B-15 said quietly.
"Agreed," Mobius replied, equally subdued.
---------------------------------
Aegir had no idea what had transpired at the TVA. He didn't know about Kang's failed attempt to observe his timeline, or the orders to leave him alone, or the shock rippling through the organization that had come to capture him.
At the moment, he was preparing for his journey north to deal with the Rock Troll opposition. The internal unification of Vanaheim took priority over external concerns—he could only strengthen his realm by first securing internal stability.
To resist foreign threats, one must first secure the homeland. It was basic strategy.
As the newly crowned Sea Lord, he had responsibilities that couldn't be ignored. The first and most important was unifying all of Vanaheim under one banner. Only through unity could they form a cohesive power structure.
And once Vanaheim was unified and strong? Well, then he could consider larger ambitions. Perhaps even unifying the Nine Realms themselves, though that was thinking several steps ahead.
Just as Aegir was about to depart for the northern territories, a soldier hurried into the throne room and bowed.
"Your Highness! A guest from Asgard has arrived and requests an audience."
Aegir raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
"Goddess Frigga, Your Highness."
Now that was unexpected. Aegir was quite familiar with Frigga—she'd first visited him when he was ten years old. He'd been cautious of her initially, wary of Asgard's intentions. But despite his avoidance and suspicion, she'd treated him with genuine kindness, almost like a son. Over the years, that wariness had gradually transformed into respect. She was, in fact, one of the main helpers in developing his runic tattoos, sharing knowledge that few others possessed.
"Tell Goddess Frigga I'll receive her in the main hall," Aegir told the soldier. "And have refreshments prepared. Proper ones—she's an honored guest."
"At once, Your Highness!"
As the soldier hurried off, Aegir stood from his throne and straightened his clothing. This meeting could be pivotal—not just for gaining magical knowledge, but for understanding Asgard's perspective on his recent ascension and his confrontation with Thor.
Frigga wouldn't come without purpose. The question was: what did she want?
And more importantly, what could he gain from this encounter?
For general public Frigga was a goddess of war who'd been active since the original conflict between the Aesir and Vanir. Her combat prowess was considerable.
She enjoyed tremendous respect among both Aesir and Vanir alike—a rare bridge between the two peoples.
But it was her magical ability that truly set her apart. Among the Vanir of her era, few could compare. She'd mastered virtually all Vanir magic during her time in Vanaheim, and after millennia in Asgard, she'd undoubtedly absorbed Asgardian magical knowledge as well. She was essentially a walking magical library, a repository of arcane wisdom spanning two entire pantheons.
Aegir was honestly envious of Frigga's accumulated magical knowledge. Despite Vanaheim's reputation for magic, there wasn't a single mage currently in the realm who could match her expertise and power.
Now that she'd come to visit, Aegir planned to extract as much magical knowledge from her as possible. Call it fees for handling Thor.
But first, before meeting her, Aegir activated today's check-in. No point in wasting the opportunity.
[Checking in... Location confirmed: Old Palace of the Vanir. Character detected nearby: Goddess Frigga. Generating rewards...]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining: The Tower of Seiðr.]
"What even is that?"