As the years quietly passed, the loneliness that the two brothers carried within them began to show, especially in Loki, whose temper and restlessness grew worse with time.
Yet unlike before, when he would have faced such emotions alone, this time he had someone beside him—Thor, his brother, who never left his side.
Thor often tried to guide Loki, teaching him manners and small lessons of restraint, things that neither of them had ever received from any parental figure.
Even though Thor was still young himself, the memories and discipline he carried from his past life gave him the patience and understanding that Loki lacked.
However, the castle was not a kind place for them. Loki suffered the most, constantly harassed by their attendant, who happened to be Estrid's own brother.
Filled with resentment, he blamed the twins—especially Loki—for his sister's death. His cruel words and actions were something Thor could never ignore.
Thor would always stand up for his brother, and on more than one occasion, he fought back without hesitation.
One day, in a fit of anger, Thor grabbed his uncle and slammed him repeatedly onto the stone floor of the castle hall.
He did not stop until Loki, frightened, pulled at his arm and begged him to let go.
The incident left their uncle nearly dead. From that day forward, whispers spread throughout Elbaf that Thor was a destroyer born under a cursed star, destined to bring ruin to their land.
Loki, by association, was branded as the accursed prince, the brother of the terrible one.
Their uncle began to refer to Thor as the Terrible, claiming he had no compassion or mercy even for his own blood.
What made matters worse was that not even the guards, who had witnessed the confrontation, tried to defend Thor.
More than twenty castle soldiers had failed to restrain him, and their silence only fueled the growing fear surrounding the twins.
As the years continued, the twins' lineage began to reveal itself in their physical form. The ancient blood of giants flowing through both parents made them grow at an astounding rate.
By the time they reached the age of nine, Thor had already grown to the height of a smaller adult giant—over ten meters tall.
Loki, while not as massive as his brother, stood at nearly five meters, half of Thor's height yet still towering over any child of his age.
Realizing that they were unwanted within the castle, Thor and Loki decided to leave on their own.
It was Thor who suggested they live in the underworld, the deep region beneath Elbaf's great trees, where ferocious beasts roamed freely.
He reasoned that the underworld offered both food and freedom, and few giants would dare venture there.
Loki hesitated at first, but when Thor explained that he could easily tame or defeat any creature they encountered, Loki agreed.
Together, they climbed down the colossal roots and branches that led toward the shadowed depths, where the air was thick and the ground was alive with danger.
Whenever their father, King Harald, returned to the castle and discovered their absence, he would search for them, only to find the twins living among the roots and cliffs of the underworld.
He would drag them back to the castle each time, but before long, they would escape again.
For Thor, who once lived as an ordinary man surrounded by technology, the world of Elbaf was both primitive and fascinating.
Instead of growing bored, he found the simplicity of this medieval world refreshing.
Thanks to the Essence of Sound Mind and Soul, his thoughts remained clear and free from boredom or anxiety.
There was always something interesting to explore—the forest of colossal trees, the deep sea, and the endless hunt for food.
Thor would often dive into the ocean, capturing enormous sea beasts with ease. On one occasion, he caught two massive sea kings, each large enough to rival a small island in size.
He brought them to shore and handed one to Loki, keeping the other for himself. The two of them feasted until their hunger was gone, sharing the victory as brothers.
Thor also noticed changes in Loki that did not align with the version he remembered from the tales of his past life. This Loki smiled more often and carried himself with growing confidence.
The constant companionship and encouragement from Thor seemed to mend the loneliness that once defined him.
The two would spar regularly, testing their strength and learning through combat, as was the custom among the giants.
Though their growth was three times slower than that of humans, they were already strong enough to train as proper warriors.
Thor took it upon himself to make sure Loki learned to fight, not just relying on talent but also discipline.
Meanwhile, Thor followed his own routine of training by striking the roots of the Elbaf Tree itself, using them as his personal training ground.
The tree, made from Adam wood, was strong enough to withstand his blows, and each strike echoed across the forest, a reminder that the two brothers—once abandoned at birth—were now growing stronger every day.
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A full year had passed since Thor and Loki began living in the underworld instead of staying in the castle.
The days flowed quietly, marked by the changing light that filtered through the enormous roots of the Elbaf Tree.
Now, the twins were celebrating their tenth birthday. Loki sat beside a large campfire that Thor had built with great care.
Above the flames, a massive sea king was being roasted, its scent spreading through the clearing and drawing the attention of several other giant children who had gathered around.
Among them was Hajrudin, whom the twins had met during one of their explorations. They had stumbled upon a small tavern built by a woman named Ida, who lived there with Hajrudin, her son, and, by extension, the twins' half-brother.
Other young giants of similar age also lived nearby, creating a small but lively community beneath the shadow of the great roots.
Despite their surroundings, it was not chaos that filled their days. Thor and Loki often shared the leftovers from their hunts with the starving children of the underworld.
Thor, in particular, made sure no child went hungry. He believed it was something worth doing, even if others did not understand.
Loki, however, could not help but feel a quiet sting of jealousy whenever Thor handed out food to others. To him, his brother's attention should have been his alone.
"Brother, why are we giving them the food we worked so hard for?" Loki asked, frustration in his tone. "Shouldn't we eat it ourselves? They treat us like monsters even when we haven't done anything wrong."
Thor, tending to the fire, looked at his brother calmly before replying. "No child should know the feeling of starvation," he said slowly.
"Not us, not anyone else. I know you don't like some of them, especially because their parents speak badly about us, but they are not their parents. They are their own people, and they deserve a chance to be better. Always remember that."
His words carried softly through the camp, and nearby, Ida overheard him as she handed out bread to the other children.
Standing beside her were Hajrudin and another boy named Mato, both helping her with cheerful energy.
"Oh, you two are just so sweet," Ida said, smiling warmly as she approached. Her voice carried genuine affection, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the twins.
Thor, already tall for his age, was nearly at her height, and she couldn't help but be reminded of Harald, the twins' father.
Thor had inherited Harald's gentle confidence, while Loki's sharp pride and stubborn nature reminded her of Harald's younger days.
As the evening went on, the group gathered together, celebrating under the glow of the campfire. When the roasted sea king was finally ready, everyone cheered.
Plates were passed around, laughter echoed beneath the roots, and for a moment, the underworld felt alive with warmth instead of gloom.
When the noise began to quiet, Loki turned toward Thor with something in his hands.
"Brother, this is my gift for you," he said with a small smile. "I made it myself." He handed Thor a large shovel, its handle carved from sturdy wood.
Loki had noticed how often Thor dug holes with his bare hands—whether for fire pits, traps, or storage—and decided that a proper tool would help him.
Thor looked at the gift, his eyes softening. "Thank you, Loki. Then here's my gift for you," he replied, handing over something wrapped in cloth.
When Loki opened it, he found a wooden sword made from the trunk of the Adam Tree itself. The blade shimmered faintly in the firelight, its surface smooth yet sharp.
Shaping Adam wood was nearly impossible, but Thor's immense strength and patience had turned it into a perfectly balanced weapon.
Loki's eyes lit up as he held the sword, testing its weight in his hands. A genuine smile spread across his face, one that carried no pride or envy—only joy.
The night carried on with laughter and song. Ida and the children joined in, clapping their hands to the rhythm of old Elbaf tunes, while Thor and Loki sat side by side near the fire.
The flames reflected in their eyes like twin stars—one calm, one bright—both burning with the quiet promise of the years to come.