96: Is That Enough?

In the heart of Asgard, within the magnificent temple of Odin, the King of the Gods stood silently before a grand floor-to-ceiling window. His single eye, brimming with wisdom, gazed at the distant light and the gleaming kingdom of the gods below.

The heavy silence of the temple was interrupted by hurried footsteps. Loki, his usually composed demeanor replaced with a slightly disheveled appearance, strode into the hall. His messy hair and faintly irritated expression spoke volumes about his recent escape from Freya and her companions.

Without turning, Odin addressed him in a calm, steady tone. "What brings you here, Loki?"

"Kevin has gone to Midgard to change the fate of your daughter, Brunhilde," Loki replied bluntly, stepping beside Odin to look out over the glorious realm of the gods. "And he's planning to claim the golden ring while he's at it. Don't tell me you didn't see this coming."

"Yes, I knew," Odin admitted without hesitation.

Of course, he knew. It had been his decision to grant Slude's request to meet Brunhilde. For a god who had drunk from the Well of Wisdom, even if he couldn't discern Kevin's fate, it was easy to anticipate his actions. The moment Odin agreed to Slude's plea, he knew Kevin would approach Loki.

"That boy has an uncanny ability to glimpse the threads of destiny," Odin remarked, his tone thoughtful.

"No, he doesn't." Loki's curt denial caught Odin off guard. He turned his gaze from the kingdom below to meet Loki's eyes.

"Kevin has a pair of remarkable magic eyes, yes, but they don't allow him to see the future," Loki clarified. "What he knows are fragments—snippets of something greater. He can't see destiny, yet he somehow knows parts of it."

Odin's face softened with intrigue. "A mortal without a destiny, yet with knowledge of it? Truly, he is a fascinating child."

Odin did not doubt Loki's words. It was impossible for a mortal to deceive a god.

"Defeat the dragon Fafnir, return the Rhinegold, and change Brunhilde's fate," Loki continued, frowning. "You call this a test? Odin, are you not being too harsh on the boy?"

Odin offered no response. His gaze returned to Asgard, his expression unreadable.

In the ensuing silence, Loki abruptly spoke. "In that case, let's make a wager."

"A wager?" Odin's interest was piqued. "What do you want to bet on?"

"I bet Kevin will bring someone back with him," Loki said, his tone unusually serious, lacking his signature mischievous grin. "He'll bring your former daughter, the leader of the Valkyries, the strongest among them—Brunhilde. He'll return her to the Aesir."

Odin's calm expression betrayed no reaction to Loki's bold claim. He remained silent for a long moment, his eye locked on Loki's.

Finally, Odin spoke. "You seem to care for him quite a bit."

Loki's lips curled into a smile, but it was not his usual smirk. It was something softer, touched with resignation. He said nothing, instead casting a spell. A shimmering projection appeared before them, displaying Kevin and his companions as they arrived in Midgard.

Kevin and Slude descended from the sky on her white horse. As the steed landed gracefully, Kevin dismounted, prompting Slude to look at him in confusion.

"Why are we stopping here?" she asked as Kevin extended a hand to help her down.

Kevin smiled but didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached into a small silver pouch and pulled out Fenrir's silver hair. Slude watched curiously as Kevin made a strange gesture before throwing the hair to the ground.

"Go ahead! It's your turn, earth-shaking wolf—Husky!"

A flash of light followed, and Fenrir appeared, his majestic silver fur shimmering under the sunlight.

The wolf stood tall, its eyes momentarily unfocused as it adjusted to its new surroundings. Then, as if reconnecting with its surroundings, Fenrir's sharp gaze scanned the area. It bared its fangs, ready for battle.

"Relax, Fenrir," Kevin said with a chuckle. "There are no enemies here."

Fenrir blinked, visibly confused. "No enemies? Then why did you summon me?"

Kevin grinned. "I brought you out to play. You've never been to the human world before, have you?"

Fenrir stared at him, stunned.

Kevin turned to Neil, who perched on his shoulder. "Neil, keep an eye on him. Make sure he doesn't cause any trouble."

"Wait," Slude interjected, her tone incredulous. "You summoned Fenrir… to play?"

"Yes," Kevin said matter-of-factly.

Before anyone could question him further, Kevin laid out three rules for Fenrir:

No killing humans unless in self-defense.No causing unnecessary trouble.No destroying nations, or Odin might kick Kevin off the continent.

Fenrir, still processing Kevin's unexpected request, glanced at Slude. She simply shrugged and said, "He's right. You might as well enjoy yourself."

After a moment of hesitation, Fenrir's instincts took over. The wolf let out a mighty howl and bolted toward the distant forest.

"Neil," Kevin said.

"I'm on it," Neil replied, taking off after Fenrir.

As the wolf disappeared into the trees, Kevin turned to Slude with a sheepish grin. "Sorry, it might take us longer to reach your sister than you expected."

"It's fine," Slude said, smiling. "Fenrir deserves a bit of freedom. He hasn't had a chance to explore like this since coming to Asgard."

Kevin nodded. "You've changed a lot, Slude. When we first met, you were like a puppet, following orders without question."

Slude's cheeks reddened slightly, but she smiled softly. Adjusting her cloak to cover her golden hair, she said, "Let's go."

The projection faded, and silence filled the temple.

Loki broke it first. "When you told me a boy from Erin wanted Fenrir's blood, do you know what my first thought was?"

Odin remained silent.

"I thought about how I could kill him," Loki admitted. "Even though you gave him Balder and Slude as allies, you know full well I could have ended him if I wanted to."

Loki turned to face Odin, his expression unreadable.

"But then I saw how he treated Fenrir," Loki continued, his voice softer. "He cared for that wolf more than any god ever has. He treated my child like he mattered, not like a threat to be contained."

He paused, his tone turning sharp. "You cast one of my children into the sea, sent another to Helheim, and confined Fenrir to a forest. You're afraid of them, Odin. And I understand why.

"But Kevin? He isn't afraid. He's just… kind. Even though he's mortal."

Loki's voice dropped to a near whisper. "So, I ask you, Odin… Is that enough?"

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