"Alright, stop making that face like the World has abandoned you."
Leon pursed his lips; he couldn't stand Thor's aggrieved look.
He turned, ignoring Sif and the others, and walked directly towards the Destroyer's wreckage.
"Loki is such a prodigal son. Such good Uru metal, just wasted like that."
Leon shook his head again, casually raising his hand towards the pile of scrap metal.
To everyone's astonished gazes, the scattered metal parts seemed to respond to an invisible summons, slowly floating up, then transforming into streams of light that flew into Leon's palm, finally disappearing.
This was a type of magic from Asgard, a very unique magic that allowed him to store things easily.
This was also why he could conjure many things.
What? You ask me why Loki can't?!
What do you think (◉‿◉)
"Things from Asgard, naturally, should be handled by Asgard," he said indifferently, as if merely stating a fact.
Thor, Sif, and The Warriors Three were all stunned.
What was that? Space magic? When did Your Highness Leon even master such intricate magic?
Leon ignored their shock. He turned and walked back in front of Thor, gazing at him calmly.
"My brother, now, do you still have anything to say?"
Thor's face flushed. He looked at Leon, and finally asked the biggest confusion in his heart.
"Leon, I... just want to be a great warrior, to be a general who can fight alongside you. I just want to prove myself..."
Thor sighed. He only wanted to be the future king's most reliable arm, not a troublesome burden.
He never coveted the throne, because he knew that Leon was the born king, and he only wanted to be the sharpest sword in the king's hand.
Hearing this, Leon finally revealed a relieved smile.
How should he describe this brother? Aside from being a bit reckless, everything else was good.
He listened to advice, didn't talk back, just wasn't very bright.
Seeing Thor like this, Leon thought of Loki again. It seemed he really had to make time to go back and educate his third brother.
Other people's three brothers usually had the third brother being reckless, wanting to stab people with a thousand transparent holes.
Why was his third brother always thinking about being a traitor?!
He really couldn't do anything with them!
"A general? No, Thor, a qualified general first needs to learn not how to fight, but why to fight. If you can't even control your own power, can't even calm your own emotions, then how can you protect? How can you fight alongside?"
He lowered his hand, his tone becoming serious, just like their father's tone when lecturing the three brothers.
"Thor, my dear brother. Don't you understand yet? Father banished you to Midgard not to have you arm-wrestle and be a hero here. He wants you to learn to use this,"
Leon pointed to his own temple, continuing his earnest instruction.
"He wants you to use your brain to think about problems, not just rely on your brute strength forever."
"A boor who doesn't understand reverence, doesn't understand responsibility, and only knows how to use violence to display glory, will never become a qualified general. In fact, he won't even be a qualified warrior."
Leon's words were direct and shattered Thor's deepest pride and unwillingness.
"I..." Thor opened his mouth but found himself unable to refute.
Because he knew that everything Leon said was correct.
"Alright, lecture time is over." Leon's tone became relaxed again.
He glanced at the large crater in the distance, and the lonely hammer in its center.
"Do you see it, Thor? That is the final test Father left for you." Leon's gaze turned to Thor, becoming profound.
"That is not just a weapon, Thor. That represents responsibility, it represents protection, it represents whether you are worthy."
He patted Thor's shoulder, speaking in a deep tone.
"Tell me, do you want your hammer back?"
Thor suddenly looked up, hope rekindled in his eyes.
"Yes!"
"Then prove it to me, prove it to Father, and prove it to yourself." Leon nodded with satisfaction, continuing.
"To put it simply, you need to prove that you have understood what true Thor's power is. Only then will you be worthy to wield that hammer."
He turned his head, looking at Jane Foster and her two companions, who were carefully walking out of the diner.
"Your lesson has just begun," Leon said, pointing to the three.
"And they are your first examiners."
Thor followed Leon's gaze, his expression becoming complex.
He looked at Jane Foster's curious eyes, at Daisy's and Selvig's excited faces.
Although he really didn't want to say those words, he still wanted to complain.
If he had to say examiners? Why would it be Jane and them?
They were just mortals with short lives, who could even be killed by an ordinary dust storm?
He had thought that Leon would personally give him lessons.
A sense of absurdity welled up in Thor's heart.
He was a Prince of Asgard, a future general.
He had campaigned across countless stars, slain countless giant beasts!
Within the Nine Realms, who hadn't heard of Thunder God Thor's renown?
And now, his elder brother was telling him that his eligibility to regain Thor's power needed to be judged by a few mortals?
This was even more outrageous than Loki's pranks.
However, seeing Leon's calm eyes,
Thor knew that Leon never joked, especially about such matters.
Every word he spoke carried an undeniable weight.
Leon watched the changes in Thor's expression. His heart was unperturbed, and he even found it a little amusing.
He certainly knew what Thor was thinking, and he understood it well.
This was the arrogance stemming from divine blood, deeply ingrained even after being stripped of his divine power.
Odin's teaching method was too gentle, always trying to enlighten this son, whose muscles were more developed than his brain, with grand principles, resulting in a boor who only knew how to solve problems with a hammer.
It seemed that he, as the elder brother, still had to give him a more profound practical lesson.
"What, feeling wronged?"
Leon's voice rang out again, still in that lazy tone, yet it made Thor's body involuntarily tense.
"Do you feel that learning from mortals is an insult to your divine status?"
Thor opened his mouth but found himself unable to refute.
Because Leon had spoken his inner thoughts.
Leon chuckled softly, shaking his head.
He no longer looked at Thor, but walked slowly towards Jane Foster and her two companions.
His steps were not fast, each one appearing calm and unhurried. The golden sunlight shone on him, stretching his Shadow long, like a god walking among humans.