"Welcome to Asgard, noble human! I am Heimdall, the Guardian of the Bifrost," Heimdall greeted Jane Foster warmly.
In the past, Heimdall had shown respect for Jane largely out of loyalty to Thor. But now, with Mjolnir's approval of Jane as the new Thor, his respect was genuine, rooted in the honor of her title.
In the Healing Chamber, Jane lay on a faintly glowing platform as several witches performed a thorough examination.
"There's a dangerous substance within her," one witch said, looking concerned. "It could erupt at any moment. If not for the divine energy shielding her, it would have drained her life force by now."
Thor frowned. "Is it possible to remove this substance?"
The witch hesitated, uncertain.
Thor sighed, realizing the complexity of the situation. He knew there were only two ways to extract the Aether: one involved using Malekith's own energy to draw it out, while the other would require a certain raccoon with an oversized syringe—which Thor doubted was a realistic option.
"If this really is the Aether, there may be a way to expel it," came a familiar voice.
Thor and Jane turned as Odin entered the room.
"Uh… and who are you?" Jane asked, blinking in surprise.
"I am Odin, the All-Father, ruler of Asgard and protector of the Nine Realms," Odin replied with a dignified nod.
Then he turned to Thor and Jane. "The Aether is the Reality Stone, one of the fabled Infinity Stones. We call it the Aether because, unlike the others, it manifests as a liquid, constantly shifting. Under certain conditions, it stabilizes into the Reality Stone, but in this form, it's parasitic, converting matter into dark energy and feeding off the host's life force."
Thor's expression grew more concerned. "So, how do we remove it?"
Odin glanced at Jane. "The Aether feeds on strength and life energy, using these resources to grant 'wishes' or changes in reality. If the request is simple, the toll on the host is minimal. Later, take her to Frigga. She has a deep knowledge of magic and can guide Jane on how to channel her energy to make a 'wish' to expel the Aether from her body."
Thor nodded, grateful for the direction.
Elsewhere, on the dark elf flagship drifting through the void, Malekith, the leader of the Dark Elves, held a dark red stone in his hand. His voice was grim. "The Nine Realms will soon converge, and I can sense the Aether's presence in Asgard."
Turning to his lieutenant, he held the stone up. "This is the source of our curse, Algrim. Are you ready to embrace it?"
Algrim, the fiercest of Malekith's warriors, nodded with fervor. "I am willing to give my life, just as our people have before me."
Malekith, his face solemn, produced a silver dagger, cutting Algrim's chest. He pressed the red stone into the wound, where it sank, emanating an aura of dark energy.
"You will be cursed by this world," Malekith murmured in Algrim's ear. "But in return, you will gain strength no enemy can withstand. Together, we will bring the universe back to darkness."
Algrim, now bearing the curse, looked up, his eyes blazing. "I will annihilate our enemies and create a new world for you, filled with eternal night."
A fleet of dark elf ships, sleek and ominous, launched from Malekith's vessel, speeding toward Asgard.
In the dungeons of Asgard, Loki sat on the edge of his cell, watching as a new group of prisoners was ushered in. A sardonic grin played across his lips. "Odin is ever so generous, sending me new neighbors."
Behind him, a familiar voice spoke. "Have you given my offer any thought?"
Without turning, Loki replied with a bitter chuckle, "What, to read dusty books for all eternity?"
"No," Frigga's voice was patient but firm. "I'm simply trying to make your life here more bearable."
Loki sneered. "Really? Is that what Odin told you? Or perhaps Thor? How considerate of them to be so worried about me."
"Loki," Frigga's voice took on a note of warning. "You've made your own choices, and you alone are responsible for where you stand."
Loki's eyes flashed as he met her gaze. "Oh? Didn't Odin once tell me I was born to be king? I simply did what he said."
"And in the process, you caused countless deaths on Midgard," Frigga countered. "A true king admits his mistakes. Your father—"
"He's not my father!" Loki suddenly shouted, anger darkening his expression.
Frigga paused, then quietly asked, "And what about me? Am I not your mother?"
They held each other's gaze for a few seconds, tension heavy in the air. Finally, Loki turned his head, his voice cold. "No, you're not."
The words hung between them, and Frigga's expression softened with a hint of sadness.
Just then, another voice broke the silence. "Oh, there you are, Mother. I was wondering where you'd gone."
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