Asgard's dome was as it had always been, unchanged for ten thousand years, like a sapphire polished by giants.
Eternal daylight flowed above the clouds, golden light passing through the suspended Bifrost and casting ribbons of dazzling color across the divine realm's plaza.
In the distance, the spires of the temples pierced the heavens. Wind chimes forged from starlight hung from the eaves, and the sound they made as they swayed could soothe a warrior's fatigue.
The World Tree's enormous branches stretched across the sky. When dew gathered on its leaves fell, it transformed into meteors linking the Nine Realms. On the ground, roads paved with Asgard Palace's magical metal gleamed warmly, every brick engraved with ancient runes that slowly flowed beneath the light.
Suddenly, the air at the center of the plaza tore open, and a golden Portal surged forth like liquid sunlight, energy rippling from its edges.
Harry stepped out of it, his modern clothes utterly out of place amid the gleaming divine realm.
He raised a hand to steady the bangs ruffled by the airflow and looked ahead. Fine violet-gold sparks burst where the Bifrost intertwined with deep space.
The moment Harry stepped out of the Portal, a piercing howl sounded from the distant horizon. A white streak cut through the still blue sky and descended toward them.
Thor put away his hammer and landed beside Harry, kicking up a cloud of dust. He quickly strode over, his face anxious. "Harry, do you know where my father is now? Not long ago, I returned from battling beyond our realm and discovered that my father had vanished. Even when I asked my mother, she only smiled and refused to tell me where he was. Asgard depends entirely on Father's prestige to hold it together. Without him, the Nine