The year passed gently in Asgard.
Not with wars or omens—
but with laughter.
The First Crawl
The royal hall echoed with soft voices as three small figures lay on a wide fur rug, sunlight spilling across the floor.
Thor moved first.
With an excited grunt, he pushed himself forward—clumsy, determined, unstoppable—until he promptly fell face-first onto the rug and laughed.
Loki followed more cautiously.
He studied the distance.
Judged the floor.
Then crawled with careful precision, stopping exactly where he intended.
Odin stood a short distance away, arms crossed, watching with rare fondness.
"Come," he rumbled. "To me."
Thor immediately changed direction and crawled toward him at full speed.
Loki hesitated—then followed.
Alexander's Choice
Alexander lifted his head.
He looked at Odin.
Then—
He turned.
Slowly, deliberately, he crawled the other way.
Toward Frigga.
The queen knelt instinctively, hands lifting in surprise as Alexander reached her robes and tugged gently at the fabric.
Frigga froze.
Then her face softened completely.
"Oh," she whispered, eyes shining.
She gathered Alexander into her arms, laughing quietly as he settled against her chest, perfectly content.
"My little one," she murmured, kissing his hair. "You chose me."
Alexander yawned and rested his head against her shoulder.
Thor and Loki reached Odin at the same time.
Odin nodded approvingly—
then glanced over.
And paused.
Frigga was smiling far too brightly.
Odin narrowed his eye.
"…He crawled to you?"
Frigga didn't even try to hide her amusement.
"He did," she said happily. "The youngest has excellent taste."
Odin huffed.
For just a moment—
The All-Father was jealous.
A Mother's Victory
Frigga hugged Alexander closer, openly delighted.
"Don't look so wounded," she teased. "You have two sons who rush to you. I have one who chooses me."
Alexander made a small, satisfied sound.
Odin turned away with a mutter.
"Hmph."
Sign-Ins Never Stop
Through it all, Alexander never forgot.
Each day—quietly, internally—
Sign in.
Rewards accumulated steadily:
Gold Diamonds Various Minerals Mystic Enhancement Ore Adepti Milk Uru Metal Adamantium Metal Iridium Metal Vergil's Sparda Outfit Zhongli's Attire
Some were priceless.
Some… questionable.
Alexander stored everything.
Even the junk.
Resources are resources.
Great Sage:
Adamantium and Uru confirmed.
Potential for peerless weapon construction.
Alexander approved and set them aside carefully.
Nourishment
Later, as Frigga rocked him gently, Alexander drank Adepti Milk.
Warm. Rich. Deeply satisfying.
Energy flowed through him—
not explosively,
but cleanly.
His spiritual foundation strengthened.
Elemental affinities stabilized.
His phoenix essence rested comfortably within him.
Good, he thought contentedly.
End of the Day
That night, Alexander slept peacefully.
Thor dreamed of running.
Loki dreamed of thinking.
Alexander dreamed of nothing at all.
Only quiet growth.
Only time.
Only the certainty that while gods watched him with love—
the universe still did not know his name.