CHAPTER 318: ODIN: THRÚD, FROM NOW ON, YOU KEEP AN EYE ON HIM FOR ME!

However, a few seconds later it became quite apparent that sometimes playing dumb isn’t as useful as one might imagine.

After Jörmungandr left, the thunder continued to flicker.

Thor, holding the hammer Mjölnir, finally snapped out of his daze and realized that Jörmungandr had left.

However, looking at the empty scene, instead of feeling relieved, he looked quite displeased, feeling that he hadn’t had enough of a fight.

Thus, upon seeing Loki and recalling what he had done recently, Thor’s anger surged instantly, and without a second thought, the god of thunder chased after Loki.

Loki originally had a lot of things he wanted to say to Promise and many questions to ask, but when he saw Thor coming towards him with an unfriendly look on his face, he had no choice but to run away first.

And so, they ran off, leaving behind a Valkyrie, a person, and a bird at the scene.

At this moment, Thrúd finally fully regained her composure.

Her golden hair, scattered and swaying gently in the sea breeze, as the Valkyrie slightly narrowed her red eyes, looking at Promise, who was trying to ’cute his way out of trouble.’

She didn’t respond, just quietly watched.

Well...the Valkyrie daughter of Thor was clearly quite smart, and not as single-minded as her father.

Thus, a strange atmosphere descended, causing both Promise and the little bird Shini on his shoulder to instinctively shrink their heads.

But soon, Shini sensed something was wrong.

’Wait, I didn’t do anything wrong, and this time I was even the meritorious servant this time!’

So the next second, she immediately returned to Thrúd, lifting her little bird head high, looking down at the young man with pride.

Seeing this, as Promise’s eyes darted around, thinking about how to justify his actions.

"If sister knew... she would be worried."

Thrúd suddenly spoke these words.

Hearing this, Promise couldn’t help but glance at her in slight confusion, then realized that the person Thrúd was referring to was actually the chief Valkyrie, Brynhildr.

And in that instant, through the Valkyrie’s gaze, he also understood a lot of things.

He realized why, from the first meeting, he always felt her gaze was very gentle, and why she had been so caring towards him all along the way.

"Ah, I understand."

Thus, the enlightened Promise finally smiled and said, "I’ll be more careful next time."

"There’s still a next time?!" As soon as the words fell, Shini, with wide eyes, raised her voice loudly, "You haven’t learned your lesson at all, you almost scared the bird to death!"

Hearing this, Promise couldn’t help but laugh at the little birdie’s flustered appearance, beckoning her over, watching as she hesitated briefly before fluttering her wings and landing in his hand.

As she came, he couldn’t help but gently tap her forehead, softly saying, "Sorry for causing you so much trouble this time."

"You finally realize it!" Shini glared at Promise, "I told you not to go, and you even tied me up... No, I must tell Goddess Skuld about this, have her punish you severely!"

Saying this, feeling still not vented, Nier couldn’t help but peck Promise twice in anger, only to be caught in his hand as he found it a bit ticklish.

Seeing this scene, a faint smile couldn’t help but appear on Thrud’s face.

And at this moment, as Jörmungandr and Thor left, the dark clouds and thunder disappeared together, and the gentle afternoon sun shone down, signifying the end of the entire incident.

Thrúd first rode the white horse that galloped across the sky, sending Nier and Promise back to the dwarf Mime’s cave, then stepped onto the Rainbow Bridge, returning to the realm of Asgard at the top of the World Tree.

Regarding the commotion Promise had caused this time, she wasn’t particularly concerned, as she naturally couldn’t have imagined that this incident nearly triggered Ragnarok!

All the way back, what she kept thinking about was that painting by Promise.

The painting of Jörmungandr she had seen.

After all, only by witnessing it firsthand could one truly understand the weight of Promise’s paintings.

"Just being painted by him is an honor... I wonder if I could be so lucky."

When these words came out of her mouth, even Thrúd herself was stunned.

After all, she couldn’t remember how long it had been since she last felt such emotions.

And at that moment, the white horse accompanying Thrúd back to Asgard suddenly let out two soft neighs, stopping in its tracks and bowing its head in respect to the person waiting ahead.

The Valkyrie instinctively looked up, and upon seeing who the person waiting was, her eyes couldn’t help but widen slightly.

"Thrúd..."

A deep, aged voice rang out. Odin, the All-Father, with his one eye that he had traded for wisdom, stared intently at the golden-haired Valkyrie in front of him.

His face, unusually, showed a faint smile as he said, "You’ve met that child, haven’t you? And... I also know that you’ve always longed to save Brynhildr."

Hearing these words, Thrúd’s face showed a hint of panic, and she was about to say something when—

"Then go and stay by that child’s side."

Odin interrupted her thoughts and words as he continued speaking,

"That was a fate already set in stone. The hero wielding the holy sword would cross the fiery mountains and awaken her from her slumber in the crystal coffin.

And that hero would place upon her finger the ring symbolizing wealth, honor, and power—the Rhinegold—and thus be cursed.

As a result, she would never be able to obtain what she desired most, forever toyed with by fate, living in the torment of regret and pain for the rest of her life."

Odin’s words were soft and slow, as if he were telling a story, or perhaps making a prophecy.

Thrúd stared blankly at the king of gods in front of her, her mind gradually going numb as she listened to his words.

Then, when she finally snapped out of it and anxiously tried to ask.

"That is the arrangement of fate and it is also the curse of the Rhinegold. You should understand that even I can only watch as it unfolds."

Knowing what she wanted to ask, Odin spoke again.

Then, seeing the growing distress on her face, he suddenly smiled.

"However, this preordained fate is no longer absolute... Thrúd, go to that child’s side. Protect him, and wait.

For one day, he will take you to the fiery mountains to awaken the slumbering Brynhildr."

"And rewrite... the fate that even the gods cannot change!"

"All-Father, are you saying... Nor?" Thrúd’s eyes filled with disbelief as she looked at Odin, who spoke these words.

"The Norn of the future, Skuld, cast her gaze upon him and sent her divine messenger to follow him precisely because he is a miracle born of fate."

Odin spoke again, "Fate is elusive. To interfere or alter it recklessly often leads to a more chaotic future. But... he is different.

The fate he changes will not only become reality but will also bring a smile to the face of the goddess of fate as she beholds it."

"So, Thrúd, go and protect him. And... his name is not Signór. It is... Promise!"

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And so, Thrud was gone.

As she left, her mind remained in a daze due to the words of the All-Father Odin. After all, the sheer volume of information was really to much for the Valkyrie.

But what she didn’t expect was that shortly after she began her journey, she once again saw the All-Father Odin catching up to her ahead.

With her head tilted and her eyes filled with confusion, Thrúd looked at him.

This time, Odin remained silent for a long, long time.

Eventually, he couldn’t help but sigh and said, "There’s one more thing, Thrúd. This time, when you go, remember... you must keep a close eye on him!"

Thrud was stunned for a moment, then her expression turned extremely serious as she nodded and said,

"Don’t worry, All-Father Odin, I will protect him with my life, even if it costs me everything!"

"That’s not what I meant..."

Odin hesitated for a moment, looking at Thrúd, the daughter of Thor, before deciding to speak plainly. "Do you know what his painting almost caused this time? It nearly brought about Ragnarok... prematurely."

"Huh... what?!"

Thrúd’s eyes widened in shock once again.

"That child is a miracle of fate, blessed by destiny, but at the same time, he is dearly beloved by wisdom... or, to put it simply, he is dearly beloved by Loki."

At this point, Odin even stepped forward and patted the bewildered Thrúd on the shoulder.

"So, the true divine decree I give you is not to protect him, for that child is not fragile. On the contrary, he is stronger and more resilient than you can imagine.

The real reason I’m sending you is for you to... keep an eye on him!"

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