Thor's voice was far too loud—loud enough to jolt Clara awake.
The moment she opened her eyes, she saw three people dressed in distinctly foreign, almost mythic attire standing in the room. For a split second, she honestly thought she'd been thrown into yet another world.
"W-what is going on…?"
Clara instinctively shrank deeper into the blankets, completely at a loss.
"I feel like I've seen you somewhere before," Thor said, pointing at her, frowning slightly as he searched his memory.
"The Battle of New York," Clara replied softly. "I was at Stark Tower."
Thor's eyes lit up.
"That's right! You're that Stark kid—Iron Man's little fan! The one who worships him!" He laughed, then suddenly paused. "Wait—then you should be on Earth. Why are you in Asgard?"
The question finally hit him.
Thor immediately turned to Heimdall. After all, the Rainbow Bridge was always under Heimdall's watch.
"I did not open the Bifrost," Heimdall said calmly. "She arrived through a spatial wormhole—on her own."
"Oh! Then you're really lucky!" Thor said cheerfully. "If that wormhole had led anywhere else in the universe, you'd never make it back to Earth!"
Clara pursed her lips but said nothing.
If he only knew what she'd already been through…
"Where's your home?" Thor continued. "Heimdall can send you back directly—though your entrance might be a little flashy. People may think you're an alien."
He was clearly trying to lighten the mood, but the stern expression on his father's face made Thor awkwardly drop his grin.
"She is going nowhere," Odin said coldly. "She will remain in Asgard."
With that, the All-Father turned and left the guest chamber.
"Father? What's wrong?" Thor frowned. "We should send her home."
"The Convergence is approaching," Heimdall explained. "Earth is currently riddled with unstable wormholes. If we send her back now, she may fall into another one."
"Oh… right." Thor scratched his head. "Then you'll have to wait a few days. Uh—what's your name?"
Only then did he realize he hadn't even asked.
"My name is Clara Johnson," she said politely. "You can just call me Clara."
"All right, Clara," Thor nodded. "You'll stay in Asgard for now. Once the Convergence ends, we'll send you home. And… uh—what exactly is the Convergence again?"
Thor was clearly not following very well.
"It is the Celestial Alignment," Heimdall replied. "The Nine Realms align once every tens of thousands of years. The last time it happened, I was not yet the guardian of the Bifrost."
"Right… right…" Thor nodded solemnly, pretending he understood.
Then he looked back at Clara. "Do you still need rest?"
"I don't think I can sleep anymore," Clara said honestly.
This was Asgard, the realm of gods—the very heart of ancient Earth legends. There was no way she was going to waste time lying in bed.
Heimdall gave a few instructions and left with Thor. Palace attendants brought Clara a set of clothes—elegant, classical garments that made her feel as though she'd stepped into an ancient European royal court.
Asgardian food tasted surprisingly similar to Earth's, nothing like the strange fruit Peter had given her. Thinking of Peter Quill, Clara grew momentarily dazed. She wondered how he'd reacted when she vanished so suddenly. She really liked that funny, reckless big brother type.
"Miss… may I hold your hand?"
As they prepared to leave, Clara reached out to an attendant, looking up with quiet pleading in her eyes.
How could the attendant possibly refuse? Seeing the injuries still lingering on Clara's small face made her heart ache.
"Of course."
It wasn't that Clara was being dramatic—she was genuinely scared. After everything she'd experienced, even walking felt like stepping into danger. She half wished she had a cane to test the ground ahead.
-----
Inside the grand hall, only Odin and Heimdall remained. Even Thor had been sent away.
"Heimdall," Odin asked gravely, "how much do you know about that child?"
"I have observed the Earth warriors who fought alongside Thor," Heimdall replied. "They are all connected to her. Among them, Tony Stark has the most complicated relationship with her. The child believes him to be her father."
"Believes?" Odin echoed.
"Yes. A misunderstanding. Those who know the truth are deliberately keeping it from her."
"They do not wish her to know who her biological father truly is?"
"I believe they share your reasoning, Your Majesty. That man's character… is hardly admirable."
Odin understood. Just as he had concealed Loki's true origins, the humans sought to protect a child from resentment and hatred.
But Odin had not summoned Heimdall for reflection.
"Heimdall," Odin said slowly, "for the next few days, you are to watch that child closely. If you detect any abnormality—eliminate her immediately."
Heimdall stiffened.
"Your Majesty! The child has committed no crime. Why—?"
"She has committed no wrong," Odin interrupted, "but within her lies a power that cannot be destroyed. If it awakens, the Nine Realms will once again fall into chaos—greater even than the calamity brought by Lorelei."
"You mean… she possesses a power of temptation like Lorelei's?"
Lorelei—the woman no man of the Nine Realms wished to remember. Born with the power to enslave hearts, any man she touched would obey her without question. Entire wars had erupted because of her, until she was finally subdued by women alone.
"That power predates the birth of the universe itself," Odin said heavily.
"Lorelei controlled hearts. This child commands souls. A power from which there is no escape—not even in death."
He looked directly at Heimdall.
"If you do not wish for me to imprison an innocent child, then watch her for me."
Odin was deeply troubled.
Long ago, his father King Bor had chosen to seal an ancient force deep underground—where no one could ever reach it.
Now, that same power existed within a living child.
And Odin could not make the same choice.
Heimdall had never expected that the child he rescued out of kindness would become such a terrifying variable. But if this was his burden to bear, he would bear it without hesitation.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
For the time being, another general took over the Rainbow Bridge. Heimdall now carried the responsibility of guarding an ancient power.
Yet a new problem arose almost immediately.
How exactly does one "guard" a child?
Lock her in a room? That would make Asgard seem petty and cruel.
And how was one supposed to interact with children anyway? Heimdall had zero experience with that.
-----
By the time Clara arrived outside the great hall, Heimdall still had no plan.
"Thank you for saving me," Clara said sincerely. "I don't even know your name yet."
She knew very well that if not for the man in golden armor with blazing orange eyes, she'd probably be lost somewhere in the universe—or inside a monster's stomach.
"I am Heimdall, guardian of the Bifrost," he said. "For now, I will be responsible for watching—no. For showing you around Asgard."
"Really?" Clara's eyes sparkled. "Asgardians are so nice! I've never really seen anything beyond Earth before!"
She was excited—like any Earthling finally stepping beyond their world.
"Come," Heimdall said. "I will show you an Asgard unlike Earth."
He started toward the palace gates—but after a few steps, he noticed Clara hadn't followed.
The attendant who'd escorted her stopped at the entrance and withdrew. Clara hesitated, clearly unwilling to ask a grown man for help.
She gave an awkward smile and cautiously lifted her foot, testing the ground.
Heimdall understood immediately.
She was afraid—deeply afraid—of space itself now.
"This place is safe," he said gently. "No wormholes will appear here."
Then he extended his hand.
"Hold onto me. I'll take you."
"Okay!"
Clara hopped forward and grabbed his hand, her fear instantly pushed aside.
"Let's go!"
Together, they stepped into Asgard—one guarding an ancient force, the other completely unaware of what she truly carried.
--------------
T/N:
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