The sound of footsteps echoed through the ornate hallway as Thor, God of Thunder, strode purposefully down the corridor. He turned left, continued for a moment, then pivoted right, his face etched with curiosity though his steps remained steady and confident.
Soon, he arrived at his destination—the Golden Palace. A servant approached to guide him, and Thor acknowledged the man with a curt nod before proceeding toward the main entrance.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!" the servant announced as Thor crossed the threshold into the grand hall.
The scene before him caused Thor to freeze momentarily in surprise. His father, Odin, sat at the front of the hall, raising a goblet of wine in toast to a figure draped in yellow sorcerer's robes. Despite the change in attire, Thor recognized the Supreme Sorcerer of Kamar-Taj immediately—and beside her, the familiar young face of Lockhart.
"Master Ancient One, come, meet my son," Odin called out upon noticing Thor's arrival, seemingly unsurprised by his presence. A pleased smile warmed his face as he added, "My son is my pride and joy!"
Thor approached at his father's beckoning. Bringing his right hand to his left shoulder in formal greeting, he bowed slightly to the Supreme Sorcerer. "Greetings, honored Supreme Sorcerer," he said, his voice deep and respectful.
Seeing his son's proper salutation, Odin stepped forward to place a gentle hand on Thor's shoulder before turning back to the Ancient One with a smile.
"Supreme Sorcerer, Thor visited Earth not long ago. I trust he didn't cause any trouble?"
"Certainly not," the Ancient One replied, taking a measured sip of wine. "The Celestial Clan faces a crisis, and without Thor's assistance, my students alone might have struggled to handle the situation."
Her words seemed generous, clearly meant to honor Odin. Meanwhile, Thor silently brooded, remembering the Supreme Sorcerer's drastically different attitude during their previous encounter. The contradictory tasks she and his father had given him had nearly resulted in open conflict between them.
Yet here they were—talking and laughing like old friends, as though nothing had happened.
This is the adult world, Thor thought grimly. Not divided into black and white, only advantages and disadvantages.
"Haha, Thor mentioned this to me as well," Odin responded jovially. "Though it was primarily your students who did the heavy lifting—Thor merely provided support."
As the Ancient One had praised Thor, Odin naturally reciprocated by complimenting Lockhart. The exchange flowed naturally, seeming to strengthen the bond between the two powerful entities.
Lockhart maintained a polite smile throughout but wisely chose not to interject.
"Come now," Odin said, gesturing to the Ancient One. "Let us continue our discussion while they have their own conversation."
Understanding his father's meaning perfectly, Thor accepted a glass of wine from a waiting servant and made his way toward Lockhart, who had subtly beckoned him over.
"Lockhart, what brings you here?" Thor asked, curiosity evident in his tone.
As the crown prince of Asgard, Thor had been raised with extensive diplomatic training and understood the proper protocols. He would never directly question the Ancient One, who was of his father's generation—such an approach would be terribly discourteous. But Lockhart was different, a peer.
Upon hearing Thor's question, Lockhart reflected on recent events, and an amusing response rose to his lips.
"Hunting," he said with a hint of mischief. "I came to your realm for hunting."
Indeed, the Ancient One had taken him hunting—though their prey had been Dimensional Demons.
Thor's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Before explaining further, Lockhart casually produced two objects from thin air: a dark blue source of thunder power and a lustrous blue-tinted dimensional fragment. He pushed them forward, allowing them to hover before Thor.
"Thor, these are for you."
Thor felt a jolt of surprise as the thunder power resonated with his own innate abilities. With his trained eye, he immediately recognized their value. The origin power alone was considered a precious treasure, and one that matched his elemental affinity was rarer still.
The dimensional fragment beside it was equally valuable. Used properly, it could create a prototype dimension; even if that failed, it could strengthen Asgard's dimensional foundation.
While not the most powerful artifacts in existence, they were extraordinary gifts nonetheless.
Seeing the treasures floating before him and noting Lockhart's genuine smile, Thor's earlier resentment began to fade. After all, it was difficult to maintain anger toward someone offering such generous presents with a warm expression.
"This is... too much," Thor protested, though his desire was evident.
"Take them, Thor," Lockhart insisted. "Currently, source power and dimensional fragments are what I have to spare."
Thor stared at him, momentarily stunned.
"When I mentioned hunting earlier, I meant it quite literally—though our prey was the Dimensional Demon Gods," Lockhart explained. "News of this will spread soon enough, and you should hear it from me first. The Supreme Sorcerer has attacked more than a dozen demon gods..." He paused meaningfully before adding in a diplomatic tone, "Consider these gifts a gesture of friendly regard."
Thor couldn't help but glance back at the Ancient One upon hearing this revelation.
As if sensing his gaze, the Supreme Sorcerer nodded slightly in his direction with a knowing smile before returning to her conversation with Odin.
A chill ran down Thor's spine at that serene smile. He was no fool—he understood perfectly what caliber of beings the Dimensional Demon Gods were. The realization that the Supreme Sorcerer had already vanquished dozens of such entities, combined with the memory of his own attempt to intimidate her, sent another shudder through him.
"Is this true?" Thor asked, though he knew Lockhart wouldn't fabricate such claims.
"I witnessed it firsthand," Lockhart confirmed. "The Supreme Sorcerer took me along as she transformed nearly all the demonic entities surrounding Earth."
Inwardly, Lockhart marveled at the Ancient One's power. He had known she was formidable, but her display had been beyond mere strength—it was absolute dominance.
Thor seemed to read between the lines, his expression shifting. "Lockhart, are you...?"
Though Thor left the question unfinished, his meaning was clear. Lockhart nodded, confirming Thor's suspicion.
"Then... congratulations, Lockhart," Thor said, his voice a complex mixture of emotions—genuine happiness for his friend tinged with unmistakable discomfort.
Lockhart understood Thor's conflicted reaction perfectly. Though becoming the next Supreme Sorcerer hinged primarily on his ability to forge a new path for sorcery, he had also deliberately distanced himself from Thor to demonstrate his allegiance.
This calculated move had been necessary, but Lockhart knew how Thor would interpret it: as a betrayal, as if Lockhart had sacrificed their friendship to secure the position of Supreme Sorcerer.
Thor might not analyze it so thoroughly, but the emotional impact remained—a lingering sense of betrayal that couldn't be easily dismissed.
This was precisely why Lockhart had brought gifts. He wanted to make amends as best he could. After all, as a friend, he acknowledged he had wronged Thor, even if for necessary reasons.