"It's a boy," Queen Frigga said weakly but happily. "Odin, give him a name."
The God King carefully took his son, a rare soft light appearing in his eyes. "Thor! He shall be as powerful as thunder, and protect Asgard like thunder."
Mavuika leaned closer, her fingertips lightly touching her younger brother's soft cheek.
Thor seemed to feel it; his crying gradually stopped, and his small hand grabbed his sister's finger.
"Hello, Thor," Mavuika said softly. "I am Mavuika, your sister."
Hela also leaned in, looking at this newborn little fellow.
As if he understood, Thor opened his eyes with difficulty and slowness. They were a clear blue, like the clearest sky of Asgard.
At this warm moment, good news came from outside again. A Herald bowed outside the door and announced, "Your Majesty! News from Nidavellir! The forging is complete. Dwarf King Eitri is personally escorting two divine weapons and has arrived via the Bifrost Bridge!"
"Oh?" This double blessing made Odin very happy. He instructed, "Go to the reception hall and wait for me. Before I arrive, entertain the distinguished guests from the Dwarven Kingdom well!"
"Yes!" The Herald took the order and withdrew.
When Eitri entered the Golden Palace, twelve dwarf guards followed behind him, together carrying two huge mithril chests.
The Dwarf King himself was travel-worn, with stardust still clinging to his beard, but his eyes were full of proud light.
"God King! Congratulations to Asgard on the birth of a prince!" Eitri's voice was like a resonant bell. "And the Dwarven Kingdom has fortunately lived up to its mission!"
Clearly, while waiting, Eitri had already learned the news of Thor's successful birth.
He personally stepped forward to open the first chest. The moment the lid opened, a blazing radiance poured out, illuminating almost half the hall.
Lying on a velvet cushion was a perfect two-handed greatsword.
The blade was about five feet long, broad and elegant, and including the hilt, it was even a bit taller than Mavuika.
The entire sword was forged from uru metal, showing a flowing gold-red color, as if an inextinguishable fire was sealed inside.
Ancient runes were engraved on the spine of the blade. They weren't carved on but emerged from the metal as if grown naturally.
The end of the blade was in the shape of a Sun, the hilt was wrapped in Fire Dragon Leather, and a small Bifrost Crystal was embedded in the center of the Sun.
"sun-blaze thousand suns," Eitri announced solemnly. "Forged with a uru metal body and materials like Star Iron melted in."
He pointed to the crystal at the end of the hilt: "Furthermore, I have embedded a Bifrost Fragment. The wielder only needs to infuse divine power to open a Bifrost Bridge passage and cross the World."
Mavuika stepped forward, her fingers lightly touching the blade.
The blade vibrated, emitting a pleasant hum. Those flame runes lit up one by one, and the entire sword seemed to come alive.
She grasped the hilt and lifted it.
At that moment, all the fires in the Golden Palace—fireplaces, torches, and candlesticks—flared up simultaneously, bowing toward sun-blaze thousand suns like subjects worshipping a king.
"It recognizes you!" Eitri exclaimed in amazement. "As expected of Your Highness Mavuika!"
Praise flashed in Odin's eyes: "A fine sword! Worthy of my daughter!"
Eitri smiled and opened the second chest. Inside was a war hammer.
The hammerhead was square and heavy, also forged from uru metal, with a multi-faceted structure on the surface and complex runes carved on the sides.
The handle was made from a branch of the Irminsul. The entire hammer radiated a heavy aura, and one could vaguely see thunder flickering on the hammerhead like breathing.
"mjolnir," Eitri's voice lowered slightly. "Forged from uru metal, it contains terrifying thunder power within."
He looked at Hela: "Would Your Highness like to try?"
Hela had been eager to try for a long time.
She grabbed mjolnir, and the war hammer felt weightless in her hand.
She swung it casually, and small electric arcs appeared in the space the hammerhead passed through, emitting a thunderous roar as they jumped.
"Not bad." Hela showed a rare satisfied smile. "Better than I imagined."
Eitri breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "That's good then. The Dwarven Kingdom has fulfilled its promise. May these two divine weapons accompany the princesses of Asgard in completing the great cause of unifying the Nine Realms!"
Odin laughed and arranged a banquet: "Tonight is a double celebration! We celebrate Thor's birth and the completion of the divine weapons! King Eitri, please stay and drink with us!"
The celebration banquet was held in the main hall of the Golden Palace, its grandeur even exceeding the previous victory banquet.
Long tables extended from inside the hall to the outdoor gardens. All the prominent figures of Asgard were in attendance.
Thor was held in Queen Frigga's arms, looking curiously at the swaying lights and noisy voices around him with wide eyes.
Mavuika and Hela sat on either side of their mother, both placing their newly acquired divine weapons within reach.
sun-blaze thousand suns leaned against Mavuika's chair, the faint light of the blade flickering like breath, while mjolnir stood by Hela's feet.
King Eitri sat to Odin's right, drinking dwarf liquor heavily and telling of the various hardships during the forging process: "...Smelting uru metal requires the temperature of a star. We activated the World Forge and spent a year of history to finally, with difficulty..."
"Very impressive!" Mavuika raised her glass in praise. "The forging techniques of the Dwarven Kingdom truly live up to their reputation!"
As the banquet reached its climax, attendants brought out the main course. Odin stood up for a toast, his golden cup filled with mead: "To the future of Asgard! To the health of Prince Thor! To the upcoming unification of the Nine Realms!"
The whole crowd raised their glasses and cheered.
Hela also showed a rare, hearty smile. She raised mjolnir, and the hammerhead lightly clinked against Mavuika's sun-blaze thousand suns, producing a crisp metallic ring: "For conquest!"
Mavuika responded with a smile: "For peace."
Just then—
Rapid running sounds, the clashing of armor, and suppressed cries of alarm came from outside the hall.
All the joyful noise came to an abrupt halt.
A guard covered in frost with damaged armor rushed into the hall. He didn't even have time to bow, nearly falling as he knelt on one knee: "Your Majesty! Emergency military intelligence! The Frost Giants of Jotunheim have raided the Bifrost Bridge fortress!"
Dead silence.
The golden cup in Odin's hand was squeezed out of shape, mead dripping through his fingers: "Speak clearly."
The guard reported, panting: "A quarter of an hour ago, a large number of Frost Giant elites suddenly appeared from the direction of Jotunheim and attacked the Bifrost Bridge! My Lord Heimdall is leading the army in resistance, but the enemy came prepared. We have suffered heavy losses, and the defensive line is retreating!"
Cold fury burned in Odin's eyes: "They chose today, at my son's birth celebration and while I am entertaining allies, to launch a surprise attack. This is the most blatant provocation against Asgard."
Then the God King turned to Queen Frigga, his tone instantly softening: "Take Thor back to the inner palace and activate all protective arrays. Do not leave until I return."
Although Queen Frigga looked worried, she remained relatively calm: "Be careful, Odin."