Earth-shaking cheers erupted from the crowd.
The Valkyries struck their shields with their swords, the warriors of the Death Guard let out battle cries, and even the most composed veteran generals raised their cups in salute.
At the climax of the banquet, Odin announced the final reward: "I have sent word to the Dwarven Kingdom of Nidavellir! Led by Dwarf King Eitri, they will forge divine weapons for my daughters, to manifest the prestige of Asgard's sun goddess and Goddess of Death!"
Hearing this, Hela raised an eyebrow and whispered to Mavuika beside her, "Weapons? I don't need those. My Death Divine Power can condense into any form of blade. No smith in the Universe can surpass my own power."
Mavuika, however, was lost in thought. "But the significance of a divine weapon goes beyond utility; it is a symbol, just like Father's gungnir."
"A symbol..." Hela curled her lip but still said, "Fine, since Father insists. But they had better forge something worthy of me."
After the banquet, Mavuika went alone to the Dwarven embassy and described the weapon she wanted in detail to King Eitri.
"A greatsword." She sketched the outline on parchment, every curve and every line as precise as a re-enacted memory.
Mavuika drew the complete form of the sun-blaze thousand suns and handed it to Eitri.
Actually, if possible, Mavuika would have preferred the Flamestrider that Xilonen had once made for her.
However, considering that this was, after all, a divine weapon gifted by the Dwarven Kingdom to Asgard, the formality was necessary, and the setting was indeed inappropriate.
Moreover, Mavuika had not yet seen any item similar to the Flamestrider in the Nine Realms, so asking Eitri and the others to manufacture it out of the blue would be a bit too demanding.
She would wait for a future opportunity.
Eitri scrutinized the drawing, his bushy eyebrows rising. "Such a complete and clear design. It seems Your Highness Mavuika already had a plan in mind. So, does it have a name?"
Mavuika nodded with a smile. "Yes, sun-blaze thousand suns. How is it? It shouldn't be too much trouble, right?"
"Hahaha!" The Dwarf King laughed loudly and patted his chest. "Of course not! Rest assured, Your Highness, I will personally supervise the forging using the finest uru metal. I guarantee it will be identical!"
"Then I thank Your Majesty Eitri in advance!" Mavuika thanked him with a smile.
"Your Highness Mavuika, there's no need for such politeness!" Eitri laughed heartily. "This will be the most precious gift the Dwarven Kingdom offers to its ally! As for Princess Hela's weapon..."
He scratched his beard. "She only said, 'Whatever, but it must be strong enough to crush a giant's skull in one blow!' I still need to think carefully about what kind of weapon design would best meet Her Highness Hela's requirements."
Afterward, Eitri bid farewell to Mavuika and returned to the Dwarven Kingdom to prepare for the forging.
This was a symbol of the friendly alliance between the Dwarven realm and Asgard. Eitri took it very seriously; the forging of the two divine weapons could not afford any mistakes, and he had to be personally involved throughout the process.
The days that followed were a year of rest and recuperation, which felt like an unfamiliar rhythm for Asgard.
There were no frequent expeditions, no urgent battle reports, and the Golden Palace was once again immersed in daily peace.
Craftsmen repaired warships, scholars organized the knowledge brought back from various realms, and warriors trained daily but were no longer ready to rush to the battlefield at a moment's notice.
The one who found it hardest to adapt was Hela.
"Boring." In the training grounds, she hacked a training dummy into pieces. Her black sword dissipated and then re-solidified as she continued to destroy the next one.
"It's too boring, Sister. I feel like I'm rusting."
Mavuika was nearby guiding the formation drills of the newly promoted Valkyries. Hearing this, she turned her head. "Then find something else to do. Mother said you could help design Thor's nursery."
"A nursery?" Hela's face was full of disdain. "I'd rather design prison cells for Laufey and Surtur!"
Despite her words, Hela still often slipped into Frigga's chambers.
She would sit by her mother's side, her palm carefully resting on the Queen's increasingly rounded abdomen, feeling the faint but tenacious pulse of life.
Sometimes the fetus would kick, and Hela would widen her eyes, a rare, almost childlike wonder appearing on her face.
"He is very strong," Hela remarked. "Perhaps he will be a fine warrior in the future."
Frigga smiled gently. "Perhaps. But whatever he becomes, you are both his sisters; you must protect him and teach him."
"Of course," Hela snorted. "I will train him to be the strongest warrior in the Nine Realms... second only to me and Sister, of course!"
Mavuika, on the other hand, spent more time on governance and study.
She pored over historical records from various realms, studying the cultures and needs of different races. She met with envoys who had submitted, learning about their concerns and expectations.
She even began drafting the first version of the "Nine Realms Peace Charter," envisioning a long-lasting order after the conquest.
Occasionally late at night, she would stand on the Star-Gazing Platform, gazing into the distance toward Jotunheim.
The Frost Giants had not slackened because of Asgard's rest. On the contrary, intelligence from scouts showed that Laufey was intensifying military drills, and the power fluctuations of the Casket of Ancient Winters were becoming more frequent.
"They are waiting too," Odin's voice came from behind.
The God-King walked to his daughter's side and likewise looked toward the starry sky. "Waiting for us to be distracted by new life, waiting for the moment when Asgard's defenses are at their weakest during Frigga's labor."
Mavuika gripped the railing. "I won't let that happen. The Valkyrie Legion has entered a state of high alert, and Hela's Death Guard is also on standby at all times."
"I know." Odin patted her shoulder. "You've done well, Mavuika."
"You are not just a warrior, but a natural ruler and leader. Sometimes when I look at you, I am reminded of my younger self, yet there is a difference. You... understand the balance of power better than I do."
Mavuika lowered her head. "I am still far behind Father. I still have much to learn."
Father and daughter stood in silence for a long time until the morning light began to tint the horizon.
Finally, on the eve of the Harvest Festival in the Asgardian calendar, the day of Frigga's labor arrived.
The Golden Palace's medical room was shrouded in layers of protective runes. Odin stood guard outside, showing a rare display of anxiety.
Mavuika and Hela stood on either side of their father, both of them feeling a bit nervous as well.
The three of them, who had never shown such expressions even on the battlefield, now looked like students who had received low grades and were anxiously waiting for their teacher's questioning.
"Mother will be fine," Mavuika said softly, comforting both her father and herself. "The Royal Physician said everything is going smoothly."
Just then, a loud cry came from inside the medical room.
Odin pushed the door open and rushed in, with Mavuika and Hela following closely behind.
Frigga was lying on the bed, her face pale but her smile radiant, holding an infant wrapped in golden swaddling clothes.
The infant had a patch of pale golden fuzz on his head, his eyes were tightly shut, and his small fists waved in the air, his cry as resonant as a battle cry.