33

New York.

After Ferdinand showed off his skateboarding skills, he did not wait for Natasha after all. He had to drive back alone. Although this car was not the kind of supercar that could make a restless roar, it was still a luxury vehicle that he could never afford in his life.

"I cannot let the car break down this time," Ferdinand quietly resolved. Since John was not at home, he decided to drive the car to his own house.

When his family saw the car, they all burst into excitement. The whole neighborhood came over to see the luxury car. His former friends immediately greeted him with admiration. His younger brother Roman even pulled out his cell phone and kept taking photos, looking at Ferdinand with open admiration.

"Can I try?" Roman begged, rubbing his hands together.

Ferdinand, full of pride, waved his hand and told his brother to step aside. "Let us not play around," he said, unwilling to risk the car. Roman's hopes were dashed, and Ferdinand had just sworn to himself that he would protect this car with his life.

Their mother was extremely proud that her son could drive such a luxury car after just one week at his new job. She had always believed the Pierce children had great potential. The family spent a joyful evening together.

The next morning, Ferdinand woke up humming a tune, toothbrush in mouth, and carried his car-washing tools outside, hoping to impress his boss and maybe earn a raise. As soon as he stepped outside, he saw the car was already spotless. The ground was still wet.

Roman stood nearby, beaming, towel and car wax in hand. Ferdinand immediately understood what his brother was up to.

"No, absolutely not," Ferdinand said.

"Please, brother, I swear, I can win the race. All I need is a good car," Roman pleaded.

Roman had signed up for the Brooklyn Speed Car Race. With his skills, he was only a luxury car away from winning the championship. The prize was fifty thousand dollars—a fortune for the Pierce family. But Ferdinand was worried that if he let Roman use the car and John found out, he would be fired.

"Unless I die, Roman," Ferdinand said firmly.

Roman was left helpless. As he sulked back toward the house, he noticed Ferdinand's bedroom door was ajar. Glancing over to make sure his brother was distracted, Roman slipped upstairs. In the room, he spotted the car keys on the table. Roman grinned, his big white teeth gleaming, and fifty thousand dollars seemed to beckon him.

New Mexico.

Old Bridge Town.

"That man is following us," Sif, the Asgardian female warrior, said, glancing back at the man drinking milk behind them.

Hogun, with his stoic demeanor, replied, "Thor is here. Let us find Thor first."

Sif nodded but remained wary of the stranger.

Volstagg, the sturdy red-bearded warrior, patted his stomach. "I am a little hungry. Would it not be a shame to ignore the scenery?"

Fandral, ever the aristocrat, rolled his eyes. "You just finished eating three cows and six pigs!"

"I just have a good appetite," Volstagg replied cheerfully.

"Enough. I sense Thor is nearby," Sif said, raising her voice before the two could start bickering.

Old Bridge was not a large town. With a little effort, they could find anyone they were looking for.

John finished his milk and tossed the empty glass aside, but instead of shattering, the cup vanished into thin air before it hit the ground. After finishing the last bit of bread in his hand, he clapped his hands and continued after the group.

As they rounded a corner, a sudden flash of cold steel caught John's eye—a narrow-edged rapier, quick and silent, aimed at his throat. Instinctively, John's wand slipped from his left hand, meeting the blade like a striking serpent. The force of the collision bounced the rapier away. John caught a fist with his right hand and countered with his wand behind his back.

Fandral could not believe a mortal in Midgard could avoid his attack. The other three had already gone ahead, leaving Fandral to intercept John.

"You should be more cautious," John said, waving his wand. Fandral's cloak tightened, binding him like a bundle of cloth.

"Who are you?" Fandral gasped, shocked to see a mortal using magic.

John tapped Fandral on the head with his wand. Fandral tried to speak, but his eyes rolled back and he fell asleep.

"I quite like your cloak," John remarked, eyeing the green fabric. He closed his eyes and opened them again, using his vertical pupils to observe the dispersing chaotic particles in the air. They pointed in a clear direction.

John flicked his wand sharply. "Petralevio!"

Fandral stiffened mid-lunge, limbs locking, then rose helplessly into the air. John guided him forward with a twirl of his wand. "Much easier this way," he muttered.

After a night of drinking with Dr. Selvig at the bar, Thor had come to a realization. Since he had lost his divine power, he might as well live as a mortal. His father had died because of him, and his mother would not let him return. He was not worthy to go back, nor to be with Jane in Midgard. His character had changed; the once arrogant and reckless warrior was now transformed.

He made breakfast for the three of them. As a warrior, cooking was an essential skill. Selvig, still groggy, dropped an effervescent tablet into his water, a look of confusion on his face. The previous night, Thor had carried him home, and as a man, Selvig's pride was wounded. How could he ever lecture Jane's future boyfriend after that?

He glanced at Jane, who looked completely smitten. Even without asking, he could tell she was in love. It was astonishing how quickly things had changed—just three days from strangers to this.

As they sipped their hangover cures, Selvig and Jane discussed the Nine Realms Theory. The branches of the World Tree, Thor had explained, connected various civilizations. As the prince of Asgard, Thor was reckless, but not stupid. The existence of Asgard's Rainbow Bridge confirmed Jane's theories, but Selvig knew that without proper equipment, they could not convince the scientific world. For now, it was all just talk.

Their musings were interrupted by a knock at the glass door. The three outside—Sif, Volstagg, and Hogun—were all smiles.

"I found you!" Volstagg boomed.

Thor's face lit up with joy. "My friends!" he exclaimed, rushing to greet them. These were his closest companions from Asgard, friends who had stood by him through life and death. Thor laughed heartily and embraced them, oblivious to the stunned looks from his friends on Earth. Selvig's cup slipped from his hand as he realized the Norse myths he had just explained to Jane were standing in the living room.

Volstagg introduced them. "We are Lady Sif and the Three Warriors."

Daisy, Jane's intern, looked at the two men and asked, "I am sorry, are the three warriors just two people?"

Thor noticed the absence as well. "Where is Fandral?"

Sif explained, "We noticed someone following us. Fandral stayed behind to handle it."

Volstagg laughed, "He is probably giving that stalker a lesson right now."

Despite their occasional quarrels, the warriors shared a deep trust. Thor was touched to see his friends, but guilt gnawed at him. "You should not have come," he said. "I am still in exile. My father died because of me."

The three looked at each other in confusion. Sif stepped forward. "Thor, your father is still alive."

Thor was stunned. "Why is that different from what my brother told me?"

Hogun, always the steady one, said, "Loki became king during your absence. He refused to let us see your mother. We suspected something was wrong, so we came to Midgard to find you."

Thor realized he had been deceived by Loki. "Loki, that was too much," he muttered, thinking of the stranger from yesterday who had warned him.

Volstagg frowned, "Has Fandral been gone too long? He should have returned by now."

The others agreed. As a powerful Asgardian warrior, Fandral should have been able to handle any ordinary opponent easily.

"Are you looking for him?" came a voice from outside.

They turned to see Fandral floating, clearly under a spell, his feet not touching the ground.

John and Fandral stopped in front of the house. John glanced around and joked, "I thought SHIELD would have given you a better house with all that funding."

"Who are you?" the Asgardian warriors demanded, drawing their weapons in anger at seeing their friend in such a state.

"Wait!" Thor, no longer reckless, stepped forward and stopped them. He approached John. "Is it you?"

"We meet again, Thor, son of Odin," John replied, releasing Fandral from the spell. Fandral floated toward Thor, who caught him. John checked his pocket watch. "Are you not going to invite me in?"

John greeted the flustered research team inside. "Hello, Miss Foster and Miss Lewis. Do not be surprised—I saw your information in the SHIELD files."

Daisy, the intern, looked confused to hear her name from a stranger.

John smiled at Thor and waved his pocket watch. "You do not have much time."

Thor thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Come in, John."

"John?" John laughed. "Alright, Thor."

Stepping into the house and seeing Fandral still asleep, John slapped his forehead. "I forgot to cancel the spell." He tapped Fandral on the head with his wand, and the warrior woke up instantly, looking around in confusion.