Shadow of the Beautiful World

I'll be back soon.

In New Asgard's Golden Palace Square, Thor leads the reins of his goat Teeter, dressed like a ranger.

He carried his battle-axe on his back, and under the goat's saddle he carried Gungnir, the spear of eternity.

He is saying goodbye to his wife.

Not far away, fully armed Sif and Heimdall are making final preparations for the journey.

Thor held Jane Foster's hand, and he said softly:

You are waiting for me in Asgard. Father and mother have promised to help you solve the problem of the reality gem.

After Icarus ended the mechanical disaster, the situation on Earth has improved a lot. I won't worry too much if you stay here.

Thor had a lot to say, and this unexpected journey made him full of worries, but those words that he wanted to say finally converged into a sentence of blessings and exhortations.

Anyway, you have to take care of yourself and we'll all be fine.

Odin says there will be dangers that cannot be avoided on this journey.

Jane, who was wearing traditional Asgardian clothing, couldn't hide her haggardness. The Reality Gem used her as a container, and the dark red liquid energy increased the load on her body.

For an ordinary person who is already seriously ill, Jane is like a burning torch, and the rest of her time is being burned at an accelerated rate.

But even so, at this moment, she still didn't care too much about herself, as if her future was not important.

She took Thor's hand tightly with both her own, and said:

You are no longer the invincible Thor of the past, Thor, you must think carefully when encountering things, and don't put yourself in danger.

I will.

Thor smiled.

Although there was a hint of bewilderment in that smile that was forced to go on the road.

It was different from all his life plans, and he never imagined that after losing his divine power, he would one day be given the power of a king.

But a request from Odin, even a plea, was something Thor, the Son of Man, could not refuse.

After seeing his father also defeated by the big snake, it became Thor's inescapable responsibility to face the evil uncle who lingered.

You can't let the 8-year-old Hela, or Loki, face the fearful snake that always appears in New Asgard, right?

And that prophecy.

Before Thor was born, the prophecy about him and the big snake that had been circulated in the Nine Realms may be a warning and omen of fate, a doomed battle that took thousands of years to come to an end.

Thor touched his head to Jane's forehead.

At this parting time, people who love each other express their hearts to each other in this quiet way.

But time will always pass, and parting will always come.

Thor, we should go.

Heimdall, who was carrying a battle sword and wearing armor, became a light bulb.

This brave general interrupted Thor and Jane's tender moment. Farther away, Sif, who was leading Pegasus, watched Thor and Jane's farewell with a complicated expression.

The Asgardian female warrior who was destined to become Thor's queen once again felt the special bond between Jane and Thor.

That was the unborn love between her and Thor.

She shouldn't be jealous.

But at this moment, she was really jealous of that dying earth woman, but she couldn't hate her, not even a trace of anger.

Ask yourself, if you are in Jane's current situation, it will be difficult for you to put all your energy on Thor. After all, death...

Death is a terrible problem for all people.

Their relationship was so pure, so pure that Sif couldn't get angry at all.

Every time she saw the haggard Jane, she even felt a kind of pity that she shouldn't have.

I'm leaving, take care of yourself.

Thor turned over and rode on the goat. He waved to Jane. Under the watchful eyes of his lover, under the guard of Sif and Heimdall, they flew into the sky on the mount.

They will go from the earth to the nearest Nine Realms Kingdom Yalfheim, and from there to the snow-covered Jotunheim, walk along the branches of the world tree, looking for the spring of wisdom.

This is the journey that every king of Asgard goes through after all.

Take care of him for me! Sif...

Jane watched the group of people fly into the sky, she put her hands to her mouth, and shouted towards the sky, Sif waved her hand in response, and Jane made herself cough again in pain because of the shout.

When the fingers were released, there was a shocking red spot in the palm of the hand.

Her physical condition is deteriorating.

Go back and rest, Jane.

Frigga walked behind Jane, and she said to Jane:

When Odin recovers, we will start stripping the Reality Gem for you. You can no longer carry it. It is like a parasitic demon, devouring your vitality.

Thank you, Mrs. Frigg.

Jane turned her head, hid her trembling hands behind her back, and thanked Tian Hou softly.

But how could her little tricks fool the mighty Rune Witch?

Frigga shook her head, and she didn't say anything more. Under the escort of the guards of the Golden Palace, the two walked through the attacking corridor to Jane's residence. While walking, the Queen of Heaven said softly:

Thor's journey came too suddenly. My son wasn't even ready to face it. My husband had a close relationship with Raven some time ago.

To be honest, I don't like Merlin very much.

The Empress said in a worried tone:

He is indeed resourceful. Throughout his past, he can always find hidden opportunities in crises. He is very good at using all factors to win for himself.

But the more this happens, the more I worry about my son.

The more important he is in Raven's plan, the more terrifying the risk he will take. No one knows what will happen during this king's journey. If Thor...

Don't worry so much, ma'am.

Jane was quite optimistic. She said to Frigga:

I have never doubted that my lover, Thor will definitely become an excellent king, and his legendary life will not come to an end at this time. As for the relationship between Thor and Merlin, I also have some understanding.

Jane smiled slightly, and she said:

Thor once told me that during the New York War a few years ago, the intersection between him and Merlin was the one who persuaded him to give up Mjolnir. If Raven really made arrangements for Thor's life, Then it must have started at that time.

Thor's adventures did not start at this point in time, madam. During the time your son lived on Earth, he had already started his journey in a mortal body.

Jane brushed her withered and yellow hair, and she said to the Queen of Heaven:

He's been preparing for his future, and even though he doesn't realize it himself, as someone who's been with him, I've noticed.

He dubbed himself 'Lei Ren', and continued to protect justice in the human world. He was not as strong as before, but he never gave up fighting because of his weakness.

He is more real and free than when he was Thor. After losing the hammer, he chose his own life again. This time he chose it by himself without any external interference.

Jane walked to her bedroom, she looked back at the queen, she said:

In addition to being a good doctor, Thor chose to be a hero.

He chose it himself, ma'am. He has already made up his mind. And all we can do for him is to send good wishes.

Yeah?

Tianhou looked at the weak human woman in front of her, and her stupid son fell in love with Jane. Now it seems that, apart from Jane's beauty when she was healthy, it may also be because of Jane's insightful wisdom.

Aren't you worried about yourself?

Tianhou asked:

Wearing a serious illness and being possessed by a strange thing, you should be full of panic, but I didn't feel it.

Is it because you are ready to face death calmly, or is it that the people on Earth are actually a group of monsters who are not afraid of life and death?

How could it be, ma'am?

The queen's humor made Jane smile a lot.

She turned her head and looked at the scenery belonging to the Golden Palace in front of her. She was silent for a moment and said:

How could I not be afraid of death? Who wouldn't be afraid of death? I haven't entered the church with Thor, completed the wedding, I haven't been able to spend my life with him, and I haven't seen my lover become a king with my own eyes.

I still have so much to do.

My life came to an abrupt end in the most beautiful time. When I got the medical certificate, my world seemed to have collapsed. I collapsed, ma'am, and I also gave up on myself.

But that doesn't change reality, no matter what I decide to do, I'm going to go through this.

Jane closed her eyes slightly, recalling the past, she said:

After being seriously ill, I saw many, many strange things. I walked into the world of magic, the strange scenery where magic is used to treat injuries, and I lived in the robot society for a while.

Thor brought me back to Asgard again, and let me see the mythical civilization. I saw the legendary people with my own eyes, Sif, Heimdall, you, and His Majesty the God King...

I'm already much luckier than ordinary people.

At the very beginning, I supported my hope that these strange things could cure my disease, but as I learned more and more, I could get more and more hope.

Of course there are disappointments, but that doesn't matter.

Jane Foster took a deep breath, and she said:

When hope becomes a habit, it's hard for disappointment and decadence and fear to enter your heart again.

My heart is full of love for Thor, and I can also feel his love for me. My heart is now full of warm strength.

It's like a ray of light, dispelling all the haze and darkness, I will no longer be afraid, ma'am.

If you can live your whole life in this warm light, it can't be regarded as a tragedy.

Jane lowered her head, and she looked at the ring on her finger.

It was given to her by Thor.

That silly man knelt down on one knee at home and proposed to her. Although she had lost her beautiful appearance in the torment of illness at that time, the more she did this, the more satisfied she was.

I was born as a mortal, witnessed countless miracles, and fell in love with gods...

Jane closed her eyes, immersed in warm memories, and said:

I still have regrets, but I am no longer afraid.

The closer death is, the more beautiful the remaining life will be. It's like the last big meal sent by fate. I want to taste it with a smile.

This speech made the queen look at Jane Foster with admiration.

Even in Asgard, which calls itself God's Domain, there are very few people who can calmly face death like this girl in front of her. Her understanding of life is even more surprising.

This doesn't seem like a realm that ordinary people can reach.

No wonder my son is fascinated by you. For a while, Odin and I thought you had cast a curse on him, but now it seems that he is not only in love with your body, Jane.

He also loves your beautiful and unique soul.

Frigga patted Jane on the shoulder, and she said:

Go to rest, we will take the Reality Stone out of your body soon, and that will give you more time again...enough for you to see the scene where Thor returns to the world as a king.

I promise.

The day after she left, she was going to the Great Rune Tower to prepare for the extraction of the Stone of Reality, while Jane pushed open the door and walked into the bedroom.

As soon as she entered the bedroom, Jane smelled a bad smell.

Hella!

Jane was a little angry and yelled at Little Hela, who was sitting cross-legged on the edge of the bedroom, happily stroking the cat:

Your pet poop, can you clean it up? God, this place smells like hell!

Oh, oh, what a big deal, don't shout.

Little Hila didn't care.

She and Thor previously captured a juvenile Nine-Tails in Manhattan at the beginning of the Confluence.

That little thing looks very unique and beautiful, and now it has been put on a rope and has become little Hela's favorite thing.

But therein lies the problem with giving an 8 year old a pet.

They will not clean up the disgusting things left by the pets after they are full.

Under Jane's scolding, little Hella reluctantly let go of the precious kitten in her arms, angrily grabbed a ball of magic power, and cleaned the house.

Jane opened the window to let the wind into the bedroom, and it took several minutes for the disgusting smell to dissipate a little.

You have to give it a bath and get it vaccinated...well, well, you're not afraid of those germs and infectious diseases, but please take care of me, okay?

The frail Jane sat on the edge of the bed panting.

She looked at little Hella who was dragging a screaming nine-tailed cat around by a rope, and she said to the 8-year-old goddess of death:

Thor is going to be king, don't you have anything to say?

What do you want me to say?

Hela grabbed the pet's tail, she raised her head, shook her head, and the ball head on top of her head flicked back and forth.

she says:

Shall I express my anger?

Or do you want to see me rush into the Golden Palace with my sword in hand, hack the weak Odin to death, and usurp the throne?

Forget it, Merlin has already hurt me enough, if I don't know the times, that big devil will definitely kill me.

Thor's becoming king has long been his established plan, but I am not at a loss.

Little Hela pouted, waved her hands, and said with childlike expectation:

He promised that after becoming the king of hell, he would give me a large territory to rule... Speaking of which, Jane, I just peeked at your diary. Do you still think you are Thor's drag?

How can you read my diary casually?

Jane glared angrily at the little Hella who never changed her mind, but after a while, she breathed a sigh of relief and said:

Yeah, am I not his burden? I also want to be by his side and follow him on this dangerous journey, but I am too fragile and not as strong as Sif, so I can't help him.

I want to help him, even if it's just a little bit.

She lay down on the luxuriously decorated bed, and when sleepiness hit her, she closed her eyes and said in an inaudible voice:

I really want to be your help, not your drag, Thor, and I also want to fight with you...

I am willing to bear any price, as long as you return safely.

The dark red light danced in Jane's eyes.

She was not very aware of the strange effects of the Reality Gem in her body.

She also didn't know what the consequences would be if she spoke with strong emotions while carrying the Reality Stone.

But that doesn't really matter.

After all, in Jane's current situation, in her life that is about to burn out, there is nothing that cannot be lost.

Laughing in the face of death and indulging one's courage is like waving a wine glass full of hope to bid farewell to despair.

She has been fearless for the rest of her life, and only wishes her lover to return safely.