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[Heimdall and Ullr]

"Who... who is back?" Odin asked, his brow furrowing in concern.

"Your daughter, Princess Hela," the guard replied.

Hearing this, Odin immediately raised his hand to his forehead and began pacing the room. Beside him, Frigga also frowned, and the joyful atmosphere dissipated into tension.

Naturally, Odin was concerned about his daughter. But over time, emotions tend to fade. Initially, Odin was anxious, angry, and furious over Hela's disappearance. As decades passed, he often thought of her. After centuries, his memories of her became sporadic. Now, after more than a thousand years, his feelings had diminished considerably.

Especially now that he had a new wife and an unborn son.

Hela's sudden return caught him off guard.

He had promised Hela that he wouldn't remarry and had arranged for her to be the heir to the throne. But now, with Frigga in his life and a new son on the way, he found himself in a difficult position.

Odin sighed heavily and, after a moment of contemplation, said, "Tell her I'm unwell and will see her in three days."

"Is that appropriate... she's your daughter," the guard hesitated.

Realizing the absurdity of his excuse, Odin resumed his pacing, feeling even more anxious.

Frigga broke the silence, "Odin, you can't avoid facing your daughter forever. I believe Hela is reasonable. Let's talk to her."

Odin sighed again and nodded, "Let Hela come in."

The guard departed to fetch Hela.

"Odin, would you like me to leave?" Frigga suggested, considering that Hela might not take well to meeting her stepmother.

"Let's both talk to her," Frigga decided.

Odin opened his mouth to object but then thought better of it and nodded.

Soon, Hela entered, accompanied by Forseti.

Seeing Forseti, Odin's expression relaxed somewhat, thinking that his presence might help ease the tension.

"Hela," Odin greeted with an awkward smile, trying to rekindle the fatherly feelings he once had for her but finding it difficult after thirteen centuries of separation.

"Father..." Hela said, sensing the estrangement, which was hard for her to accept, given that only three years had passed for her.

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, and even the guards looked uneasy.

Odin, desperate to break the tension, turned to Forseti and patted him on the shoulder, "You've grown stronger over these thousand years, haha."

"Your Majesty, we were on a strange planet called Sakaar, where time flows differently. For us, only a few months have passed," Forseti explained.

"Oh... I see..." Odin retracted his hands, rubbing them awkwardly.

Meanwhile, outside the Golden Palace, Heimdall lingered after delivering Forseti and Hela, gazing at the palace thoughtfully. Finally, he sighed and turned to leave.

"Heimdall," a voice echoed in his mind.

"Father," Hermond responded.

"Come see me," Ullr said.

Heimdall nodded, arranged for someone to cover his duties at the Rainbow Bridge, and then departed in a golden flying boat.

The boat flew over the icy landscape behind Asgard, eventually arriving at the foot of the Crystal Crown Mountain, where several heavy stone buildings stood, guarded by Asgardian warriors.

The Crystal Crown, connected to Asgard's energy core, was heavily fortified. Hermond disembarked and headed to the central building, where he found Ullr.

"Father," Hermond greeted.

Ullr beckoned him to sit, "Hela has returned?"

Hermond nodded, "She's in the Golden Palace now."

Ullr sighed deeply, "Son, I have a feeling that I may not have long to live."

Hermond was taken aback, "What's wrong?"

"Do you remember Udo?" Ullr asked.

"The god of Badong who was executed thirteen hundred years ago?" Hermond replied.

"Yes. Udo was executed by Hela on Odin's orders. I remember his final words clearly," Ullr began. "He said, 'When Odin's hands are stained with his children's blood, all his sins will gather.'"

Hermond was troubled, "Do you think Odin will turn against Hela?"

"I don't know. But I have a terrible premonition that a great catastrophe is approaching Asgard," Ullr said, his voice heavy with concern.

"Ragnarok?" Hermond asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Perhaps," Ullr replied, "It's a disaster that will bring great evil. Many will not survive."

Hermond's fists clenched, "Is there no way to change this fate?"

"The more powerful we are, the more we are bound by fate. A speck of dust is free, but we gods live under the universal law," Ullr said. "Prepare yourself, my son, for both Asgard and yourself. If Ragnarok comes, I hope you are the last survivor."

"And you, father?" Hermond asked.

Ullr sighed, "I cannot escape my fate. The cosmic gears are turning, and I can feel them crushing me."

Hermond's heart ached at his father's words, "Is fate truly unchangeable?"

"The more powerful the being, the more bound they are by fate," Ullr reiterated. "Go now, my son. Everyone must face the loss of a father someday."

...

In the Golden Palace, everyone sat tensely. Odin made small talk, but it was clear they needed to address the main issue.

Finally, Odin coughed and looked at Frigga, "Hela, Forseti, this is my wife, Frigga."