Hela sat in her sealed dimension, the oppressive shadows and ghastly green lights faded into silence as she sunk into deep contemplation. In her hand, the Astral Transmission Orb rested, her mind replaying Maxim's words.
Although Hela didn't want to fully believe everything he said, as she couldn't fully assess his motives at the current moment, the points he brought up were very valid.
She knew better than anyone that Odin would destroy Asgard before he let her conquer it forcefully, and if she truly wanted to be Asgard's Queen, she needed to be more diplomatic.
Yet she didn't exactly know how. From the moment she was born, as Maxim had said, she was made for war, made for death. Trained to be the most efficient in combat, the greatest killer of all time, the Goddess of Death, there was no need for her to be diplomatic.
As all these thoughts swirled in her head, she finally made her decision. Her grip on the orb tightened as it pulsed faintly and activated. The shadows consumed her physical form and weaved it into an ethereal Astral Shadow.
Her silhouette shimmered with a unique elegance of Astral energy, and in the blink of an eye, she vanished from the desolate wasteland of a dimension, transported across realms.
Soon, Hela's form materialized above Asgard, the Golden City sprawling beneath her. For a moment, she was motionless, her Astral Shadow hovering amist the sea of clouds as the brilliance of Asgard reminder her of the past.
Compared to her days, Asgard had changed quite a-lot. It was much much bigger, much more extravagant. Massive luxurious buildings could be spotted everywhere, and she could spot Asgardians walking around everywhere, happily enjoying their lives.
However, she could still spot every important monuments that made Asgard what it is today. The Asgard museum, holding intricate carvings and paintings displaying past battles.
In the distance, she could see the massive Bifrost Bridge that spread across the cosmic void, a massive array of light and power stretching beyond most perspectives.
Above it all loomed the Royal Palace, its spires reaching toward the stars with regal defiance. The palace radiated authority, its golden façade reflecting the light of a thousand suns. Greenery bloomed in structured gardens below.
Hela descended gracefully, her shadowy form blending seamlessly into the vibrant splendor of Asgard. Her destination was clear. Asgard's private royal library, a sanctuary of knowledge where Frigga often stayed.
The library was hidden within the palace, accessible only through a winding corridor that seemed to shimmer with enchantments. As Hela passed, she noticed that most couldn't notice her, the shadows protecting her from their sights.
Soon, she slipped through the library doors and entered. The library was massive and magnificent, shelves carved from golden oak rising to the ceiling, which held countless tomes of immense knowledge and power bound in leather & silk.
The air was rich with the scent of ancient flowers, and sunlight continuously poured through the enchanted skylights created by Frigga to replicate a suitable environment for reading and gaining knowledge.
This was a library Frigga often retreated to, spending a vast amount of time here and she also taught Hela when she was young about the cosmos, magic and anything in between.
In the center of the room stood a single, elegantly carved table, adorned with scrolls and a delicate tea set. Hela stepped throughout the room silently as she advanced, her gaze sweeping the place as memories of the past flashed through her mind.
Memories of her spending time with Frigga, although short, they were memorable, reading, magic training, they were the only portions of warmth she experienced in her childhood. Just as she opened her mouth to call out, a voice rang through the stillness,
"I've missed you, my daughter."
The voice was soft, tinged with both sorrow and love. Hela froze. The words pierced through her like a blade, her hardened composure cracking slightly. Her emerald eyes scanned the room until they found Frigga, seated gracefully near the table.
The Queen of Asgard looked as regal as ever, her presence commanding and gentle all at once. Her golden hair framed her face, and her eyes shone with an otherworldly wisdom.
"How did you," Hela began, her voice cold and blunt, but without the hostility she had towards others, "know I was here?"
Frigga simply had a gentle smile on her face, not noting Hela's indifference. She knew her daughter better than anyone in existence, and she knew the cold tone in Hela's voice wasn't born out of hate whatsoever.
Frigga rose from her chair, her movements fluid and unhurried as she stepped closer to Hela, "Do not underestimate my magic, child," she replied, her tone soft yet firm, "A mother knows when her child returns, no matter the form they take."
Hela's expression faltered as she faced Frigga. To this day, this was probably the only Asgardian she still truly cared about after all this time, the woman who raised her and provided her the fragile warmth in her childhood.
"And why would you miss me after everything? After the bloodshed and the exile?" Hela asked, her voice still cold as she stared at her mother.
Frigga approached her, stopping just short of touching the shimmering Astral Shadow. Her gaze was steady, her eyes reflecting an endless depth of understanding, "Because you are still my daughter," she said simply, "No matter what has happened, no matter what you have become, you are the pride of my existence."
Hela's Astral form flickered as the words washed over her. For the first time in centuries, she found herself at a loss for words. The oppressive silence of her banishment was gone, replaced by the warmth of her mother's presence, a warmth she had not felt since she was cast away.
Frigga gestured toward the table, where the tea seemed to steam invitingly despite Hela's incorporeal form, "Come, sit with me. Let us talk."
Hela just nodded, and slowly moved towards the table, her Astral form shimmering faintly as she took a seat opposite Frigga.
Frigga regarded Hela's shimmering form with an air of calm admiration, a soft smile gracing her lips,"This magic is impressive," she remarked, her tone light but sincere "Magic involving the Astral Plane has never been my specialty, it is quiet interesting to see a form crafted from Astral energy, so finely crafted it nearly fools even these old eyes. The creativity in magic these days never ceases to amaze me. To slip past Asgard's defenses so elegantly... remarkable."
Hela just smiled, "It serves its purpose," she replied, her voice more measured than usual.
Frigga chuckled softly. "You've always been so nonchalant," she teased, though her eyes held a profound warmth. She leaned forward slightly, folding her hands on the table, "But tell me, my daughter, what brings you here after so long?"
Hela's emerald gaze flickered, her expression turning somber. For a moment, she hesitated, the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her. Finally, she spoke, her voice quieter than before as she explained her meeting with Maxim.
Frigga listened intently, her gaze unwavering. When Hela finished, she nodded thoughtfully, "This man named Maxim. He sounds quite wise," she said.
"And I must admit, his words echo thoughts I have long held. You, my daughter, could be a Queen unlike any other, a ruler of strength and grace, beloved by her people. But for that to happen, the bloodlust and war-mongering must end."
Hela's composure cracked, and her eyes darkened with simmering rage, "It was Odin who made me this way," she hissed, her voice edged with venom, "He shaped me into a weapon, a monster. Every drop of blood spilled was for his conquests. And when I had outlived my usefulness, he cast me aside like I was nothing."
Frigga's expression softened, though her gaze did not falter. "I do not deny Odin's hand in your making," she said gently, "He molded you to serve his vision of Asgard, a vision built on power and expansion. But that vision no longer binds you. You are free, Hela. Free to decide who you will be, unshackled by Odin's desires."
Hela's Astral form shimmered faintly, her rage giving way to a flicker of uncertainty. "And what if I no longer know who I am without it? Without the death, the conquest, the war?"
Frigga leaned forward, her voice tender but firm, "Then discover it," she urged. "You have the strength to redefine yourself, to become something greater than Odin ever allowed you to be." Frigga's powerful voice boomed in Hela's ears.
"You could be the Queen of Asgard, not out of fear, but out of love and respect, a Queen worthy of the people and the throne. Even if that means shedding the mantle of the Goddess of Death, or redefining what that mantle means to yourself."
Hela's gaze dropped to the table, her thoughts a storm of conflicting emotions. Frigga reached out, her hand hovering close to Hela's spectral one, "No matter the path you choose, Hela," she said softly, her voice filled with unwavering love, "you will always be my daughter. I will always love you."
For a moment, silence filled the library. Then, slowly, Hela raised her eyes to meet Frigga's. In her emerald eyes, a spark of something new began to flicker.