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*****
"I can only promise you this: if the matter falls within the scope of my power, I will come to help!"
Fenyx did not offer a grand, sworn guarantee to play the role of the world's savior. Instead, he issued a clear disclaimer in advance, stating he would simply do his best. If Njord found those terms unacceptable, then Fenyx was perfectly willing to walk away from the bead.
"Deal!"
Njord didn't hesitate. He nodded immediately in agreement and handed the bead directly to Fenyx.
Seeing Njord act with such blunt decisiveness, Fenyx was slightly taken replace. As he took the bead into his hand, he couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you afraid I'm lying to you? What if I go back on my word?"
"I trust you," Njord replied, looking Fenyx in the eye. "You came to Asgard to help quell the fires of war despite having no kin here and seeking no reward. I believe you are a person of good character."
Fenyx suddenly felt a twinge of shame. It wasn't exactly that he didn't seek a reward; it was just that the things he gained were invisible to everyone else.
"Thank you."
Fenyx chose not to explain further. If Njord wanted to maintain such a misunderstanding, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Besides, if the opportunity arose, he fully intended to 'help' the other realms settle their conflicts as well.
As he watched Fenyx examining the 'Pearl of the Ocean' in his palm, Njord hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "You would be wise to be cautious around that old fellow, Odin."
Fenyx looked up, his expression one of sudden surprise.
"Asgard has long lived under the prophecy of Ragnarok," Njord explained. "And according to the speculations of many, Ragnarok may be fast approaching."
"What does that have to do with me?"
Fenyx blinked, stunned. Then, reflecting on Njord's recent behavior, the realization hit him. His eyes widened as he asked, "He doesn't actually think I can break the prophecy of Ragnarok, does he?"
Njord didn't provide a direct answer. He simply gave Fenyx a long, searching look and remarked, "You truly are a unique individual."
Fenyx was left speechless. Suddenly, it made sense why Odin had been so exceptionally friendly—the grand banquets, the meticulous hospitality, the warm reception.
There really is no such thing as a free lunch, Fenyx thought, his brow furrowing.
Regarding Ragnarok, Fenyx knew a fair amount based on the original plot. After Hela broke free from her seal, Thor, unable to defeat his elder sister, was forced to summon the enemy Surtur for help. In doing so, he allowed Asgard itself to be destroyed.
If Surtur hadn't been summoned and Hela had been allowed to rule Asgard instead, would Ragnarok have been prevented?
Fenyx felt the question was a difficult one to answer. Just as Njord had said, prophecies could be interpreted in many ways. Perhaps Hela's reign was the true Ragnarok. Given her personality, she would undoubtedly provoke countless enemies, leading the realm down a path of inevitable ruin regardless.
Then there was Thanos and his snap, which wiped out half of the already dwindling Asgardian population. Couldn't that also be considered a form of Ragnarok?
Fenyx sighed inwardly. If Odin truly intended for him to help dismantle the prophecy of Ragnarok, it was going to be a massive headache.
"Let us head back and continue the banquet," Njord said, watching Fenyx. "By my estimation, the disaster foretold in the prophecy is at least three years away from manifesting. I hope that after those three years pass, you will return to Vanaheim once more."
"Very well. Barring any unforeseen accidents, I will certainly come," Fenyx agreed readily. He still had three years; even if he did nothing but practice his skills every day, it would be enough time for him to draw another skill from the system.
The two returned to the banquet hall to find Thor already surrounded by a swarm of elegant young women. Thor was regaling them with loud stories, his boisterous energy single-handedly dragging the refined atmosphere of the room toward the rowdy style of Asgard.
When Njord saw this, his face darkened slightly. As a sorcerer, he had always preferred elegance and grace; in his heart, he looked down on the perceived "barbaric" manners of the Asgardians.
Fenyx also noticed how Thor's presence clashed with his surroundings. While he found it amusing, he also admired Thor's ability to remain so unapologetically himself.
Because Thor was an honored guest, Njord refrained from making a scene. After bidding Fenyx farewell, he left the banquet early to avoid the annoyance.
Fenyx's return didn't change the social dynamic much. As the sole remaining Prince of Asgard and its future King, Thor was naturally more popular. Although Fenyx was arguably more handsome and certainly more powerful, he couldn't compete with the fact that Thor was incredibly wealthy.
One only had to compare the shimmering Golden Palace of Asgard to the rumors of Midgard—a place whispered to be backward, impoverished, and filled with people who barely had enough to eat or wear.
Although the Midgard Thor described seemed a bit different, most of the young ladies decided to play it safe. They cast regretful glances at Fenyx but continued to crowd around Thor.
Fenyx was happy to have the peace. While sampling the delicacies of Vanaheim, he took the time to educate the few ladies near him about life on Earth.
He explained that people on Earth didn't rely on horses for travel; they had buses, cars, electric scooters, bicycles, trains, subways, and airplanes. To illustrate, he used a projection spell from Kamar-Taj. The visual magic instantly drew a crowd, including several girls who had been pestering Thor.
Thor watched Fenyx showing off with his magic and felt a surge of indignation. Though Thor knew a bit of magic himself, it was mostly simple illusions used to change the appearance of his hammer or his clothes. He wasn't capable of the effortless, casual display Fenyx was putting on. He could hardly pull out Mjolnir and perform a lightning show for everyone.
When the banquet finally concluded, Thor's disciplined upbringing ensured that no scandalous "group activities" took place. As for Fenyx, he was even less inclined; though the ladies looked young, calling them "grandma" would likely be an understatement of their true ages.
Back in his room, Fenyx pulled out the 'Pearl of the Ocean' once more to examine it closely.
The bead was small—a couple of sizes smaller than a ping-pong ball—and exquisitely beautiful. It emitted a soft, pale blue glow. When he held it to his ear, he could faintly hear the sound of running water from within.
As Fenyx gripped it, he felt a wave of warm energy seep through his skin and flow slowly into his body.
Turning his attention to a glass of water on the table, he felt as if he had gained a pair of invisible hands. He 'lifted' the water out of the glass, shaping it into various forms in mid-air.
After testing its effects, Fenyx sat in deep thought. While one should not harbor intentions to harm others, one must always be on guard against being harmed. He suspected that Njord hadn't told him everything about the bead's functions.
Njord was known as the God of the Sea, and this was the 'Pearl of the Ocean.' Fenyx found it hard to believe its powers were limited to simple water manipulation.
He wasn't overly worried about whether Njord could remotely detonate it, but he couldn't be sure if it contained hidden features like monitoring, recording, or tracking. Fenyx decided that the first thing he would do upon his return was have the Ancient One inspect it. As a magical artifact, he was confident that she would be able to spot any hidden "surprises."
(End of Chapter)