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Hammer God

Thor scratched his head and chuckled, clearly embarrassed.

Odin calmly stated, "You are not yet worthy to wield it, Thor."

"How can that be? It's just a hammer. Why can't I lift it?" Thor clearly disagreed.

Odin retorted, "If it's just an insignificant hammer, why do you care so much about it?"

Thor stumbled for words, briefly embarrassed. He quickly changed the topic, "Father, trust me. I can wield Mjölnir."

Odin hesitated for a moment, then relented, "Follow me to the treasure vault."

Thor's face lit up, "You finally agreed!"

Odin led the way, Thor following eagerly. They entered the vault after a brief walk through Asgard's corridors.

Unlike mortal treasuries filled with gold and jewels, Asgard's vault was different. It housed relics like the Frost Giant's Casket of Ancient Winters and the Flame Giant's Eternal Fire, alongside the scrapped Infinity Gauntlet.

Thor paid these no mind. He headed straight for a stone platform where a modest square-handled hammer lay.

"Thor, try to lift it," Odin instructed.

"Alright, father!" Thor approached confidently, grasping the handle with one hand. To his surprise, Mjölnir didn't budge.

Unfazed, he exerted more effort, but the hammer remained unmoved. Thor frowned, attempting a two-handed lift, yet still failed. It seemed rooted to Asgard itself, impossibly heavy.

Frustration creased Thor's face as he struggled in vain. Odin watched, a mixture of hesitation and fondness in his eyes. He subtly gestured with his hand, and golden light flared.

As the light intensified, Mjölnir finally trembled.

Thor nearly gave up, but the hammer's movement reignited his resolve. With a mighty roar, veins bulging, he exerted all his strength, "Ah! Ah! Ah!"

Lightning flashed, and Mjölnir, shaking violently, finally lifted from the platform.

Startled, Thor nearly lost his balance, taking a few steps back. He looked at Mjölnir in awe, then at Odin, "Father!"

Odin smiled, "Mjölnir recognizes your worth. But remember, Thor, do not let power define you. A powerful weapon is not to be flaunted."

"Understood, father!" Thor swung Mjölnir excitedly, feeling its familiar power.

The hammer's attributes, aligned with his affinity for thunder, suited him perfectly.

Thor's joy was palpable as he kissed Mjölnir. A thought flickered in his mind about a strange smell, but he dismissed it as insignificant.

Father and son exited the vault. Along the way, Thor suggested, "Father, I believe Loki also needs a powerful weapon."

"Loki is a mage; knowledge is his greatest weapon," Odin replied.

He added after a pause, "In fact, knowledge benefits everyone, Thor. Learn from your brother in this regard."

"Understood, father," Thor responded dutifully, like many do in the presence of their parents.

...

Nierdi sat alone in her study within the Second Supreme Sanctuary, surrounded by an array of magical tomes.

Her eyes were slightly darkened from long hours of study, yet they shone brightly with the joy of learning. For her, absorbing knowledge was the most fulfilling pursuit, often more rewarding than a day spent lost in contemplation. This was especially true for a genius like Nierdi.

Before joining the Supreme Sanctuary, she had only two magic books: "White Magic" and the "Darkhold." Now, surrounded by the sanctuary's vast library, she immersed herself like a thirsty sponge, absorbing the wisdom of millennia.

Interrupting her solitary reverie, Kalulu entered the room. He gazed at Nierdi, who remained engrossed in her studies, and couldn't help but sigh softly. "Darling, do you remember that I'm still your lover?"

"Of course," she replied without looking up.

"Shouldn't we do something about it? It's been several months," Kalulu hinted, leaning closer and attempting to draw her attention.

Initially lost in her thoughts, Nierdi suddenly perked up with an inspired idea. "I've been thinking about an interesting spell."

"What is it?" Kalulu asked casually.

"It's a gender-switching spell," Nierdi revealed. "I believe I could make it."

"No, no, please don't," Kalulu blurted out, visibly alarmed. He recoiled, his face draining of color as he imagined the consequences.

Nierdi couldn't suppress a laugh. "Why are you so worried? I would test it on animals first, not on myself."

Kalulu breathed a sigh of relief, though his unease lingered.

Nierdi then posed a thought-provoking question, "If either of us were to change genders, would we still be lovers?"

Kalulu hesitated briefly before evading the question, "Such hypotheticals serve no purpose."

Silence settled between them. Kalulu finally voiced his concern, "Nierdi, ever since we delved into magic, you've changed. I find myself... uncomfortable with these changes."

"Don't you feel the same?" Nierdi glanced back at her book, her focus elsewhere. "Magic has made the mundane pursuits of life—food, wealth, even physical desires—seem trivial in comparison to the vastness of its power and the promise of eternity."

Kalulu frowned, probing further, "Do you want to be a Buddhist?"

"Buddhist?"

"Why, don't you know? Buddhism, the religion of Nepal, the people of Kathmandu often call you the reincarnation of Buddha, and Buddhism was founded by Buddha," Kalulu said.

"So it is." Nierdi nodded and thought for a while, "Maybe I should learn about Buddhism."

Kalulu: "..."

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