In Asgard, the atmosphere was entirely different from the tension brewing in Olympus.
The golden halls shimmered with warmth and celebration. Torches burned brighter than usual, their flames dancing in harmony with laughter that echoed through the palace. Warriors gathered in clusters, raising horns of mead high into the air. The soft, resonant melodies of Bifrost harps filled the background, weaving through the marble corridors like threads of joy.
The reason for it all was simple.
Sharky had brought Astrid home.
At the center of the grand hall, Astrid sat securely in Sif's arms, animatedly recounting her "adventure" with the innocent exaggeration of a child.
"I didn't even cry!" she declared proudly. "Not even once! And I wasn't scared… not really!"
Sif held her tighter with every word, tears streaming down her face despite the smile that would not leave it.
"…my brave girl," she whispered, her voice trembling between laughter and sobs.
