Morning light, like molten gold, spilled through the high windows into the corridors of the Golden Palace.
Mavuika woke earlier than usual. She sat quietly by the bed, feeling the flow of two powers within her.
Asgardian god-force surged through her veins like a golden river, while that cluster of flames from her past life hung quietly deep within her soul like a tiny yet eternally Burning Sun.
"Sister, are you awake?" Hela's voice came from the adjacent bed, raspy with sleep.
Mavuika turned her head to see her younger sister already sitting up. There was no trace of sleepiness in her dark green eyes; instead, they sparkled with eager light.
"I dreamed of the ceremony." Hela jumped off the bed and walked barefoot to the window. "I dreamed my power covered the entire temple. Everyone was watching us—Father, Mother, and those envoys..."
"That was a dream," Mavuika reminded her gently, standing up to put on a simple training outfit. "We start extra lessons today, remember?"
Hela's eyes grew even brighter. "Of course I remember! Mother said she would teach me to control that... green light."
At breakfast, Odin and Frigga were already seated at the head of the long table. A star chart was spread out before the God-King as he discussed something in low tones with the Queen.
They stopped talking when they saw their two daughters enter.
"Sit," Odin's voice was as steady as ever.
Handmaidens served a breakfast unique to the God-realm: golden bread, honeyed milk, and shimmering fruit. Mavuika ate quietly, but Hela was distracted, her eyes constantly darting toward her parents.
"Father," Hela finally couldn't help but speak. "When do we start training today?"
Odin set down his silver cup and looked at his younger daughter. "After you finish your morning foundation lessons. Hela, Frigga will wait for you at the North Tower. Mavuika, follow me to the Star-Gazing Platform."
At noon, after the foundation training ended, Mavuika followed Odin to the Star-Gazing Platform at the highest point of the Golden Palace.
It was a circular platform suspended in mid-air, built of ancient stone. There were no railings at the edges, only stone pillars inscribed with runes standing in eight directions.
Standing here, one could overlook all of Asgard: the Golden Palace complexes, the flowing waterfalls, the distant mountains, and the Bifrost Bridge spanning the sky.
The wind was strong, whipping Mavuika's long, pale-gold hair.
She steadied her breath, feeling the exceptionally dense flow of energy on the platform. The air here seemed to have weight, as if every breath was like swallowing light.
Odin was silent for a moment before looking at Mavuika. "From today on, come here every day at noon."
"Yes, Father," Mavuika replied respectfully.
"Furthermore..." Odin turned to gaze at the distant Bifrost Bridge. "Next month, I will arrange a formal sparring match between you and Hela. Not play, but a true combat exercise."
Mavuika was stunned for a moment.
"She needs to learn to face setbacks, and you need to learn how to guide the flow of battle without harming her."
Odin's voice was devoid of emotion. "You are sisters and the future pillars of Asgard. Understanding each other's strengths and weaknesses is more important than blind protection or competition."
Mavuika clenched her fist, the residual warmth in her palm yet to dissipate.
"I understand."
Meanwhile, in the Magic Study Room of the North Tower, Hela was facing her own challenge.
Frigga stood in the center of the room, holding a clear crystal ball.
No candles were lit in the room. All the light came from the self-illuminating runes on the walls and the shimmering glow circulating within the crystal ball.
"Magic is an extension of will, Hela," Frigga taught gently. "The power you showed at the ceremony is responding to your emotions, especially your fighting spirit and competitiveness. But this is dangerous."
"Why is it dangerous?" Hela asked, her eyes fixed on the flickering green light. "I think it's very powerful."
"If powerful strength is uncontrolled, it will first harm you." Frigga approached and gently took her daughter's wrist.
Hela frowned and closed her eyes...
A dark green light suddenly erupted, turning into dozens of small spikes that surged from her palm and shot out in all directions!
Frigga immediately waved her arm, and a golden barrier instantly expanded, blocking all the spikes.
They dissipated into black smoke the moment they touched the barrier.
Hela opened her eyes and saw the scene she had caused. Surprise crossed her face first, followed by an excited smile. "Mother! Did you see that? It can attack!"
"I saw it," Frigga said, her expression serious as she withdrew the barrier. "I also saw that you have absolutely no control over its direction or intensity. If I hadn't set up the barrier just now, these spikes would have destroyed half the room and even injured passing servants."
Hela's smile froze.
"Power is not a toy, Hela." Frigga knelt down to look her daughter in the eye. "It is a responsibility. Your sister understands this, which is why she withdrew her flames immediately at the ceremony. You need to learn the same restraint."
"Sister..." Hela murmured, the excitement in her eyes gradually fading, replaced by contemplation. "She always knows what to do."
"Because she thinks before she acts." Frigga stroked her daughter's cheek. "You can do it too, my dear. You have potential no less than anyone else, but you need to learn to master it, rather than be mastered by it."
Hela looked down at her hands. The dark green light had completely vanished, leaving only a faint residual warmth in her palm.
"Then what should I do?"
Frigga smiled. "Start with the simplest thing. Today, we will only practice letting the light appear steadily in your palm—no Swirl, no changing, just existing."
...
In the evening, the two sisters reunited in the garden on the east side of the Golden Palace.
Hela looked a bit tired, but her eyes were still bright. Mavuika appeared calm, though her fingertips occasionally rubbed together unconsciously, as if reminiscing about the sensation of the flames.
"Mother had me practice letting that power 'just exist'." Hela sat on a stone bench under an Apple tree, resting her chin on her hand. "It's so hard. It always wants to turn into something else, wants to move, wants to fly out."
"Father was the same with me," Mavuika sat beside her.
The two were silent for a moment, watching the sunset dye the garden a warm orange.
"Sister," Hela said suddenly. "Father told me we're going to have a formal sparring match next month."
Mavuika nodded. "Mm."
"I will give it my all." Hela turned her head, her dark green eyes Burning with a familiar fighting spirit. "So you must give it your all too, otherwise it would be disrespectful to me."
Mavuika looked at her sister and suddenly laughed.
That smile was warm and genuine, leaving Hela stunned for a moment.