Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 321 The Concept of Life and Death of Immortals (First Update)

Salomon lowered his head respectfully.

He was now in a room adorned with magnificent Asgardian dark gold reliefs, the wool carpet beneath his feet exquisitely luxurious. He faced Queen Frigga and a large entourage of laughing, courtly ladies and maids. This was a formal invitation after dinner. Compared to the convoluted aristocratic etiquette on Earth, Asgard had simplified these matters considerably, yet Salomon still adhered to the meticulous formalities, daring not to make the slightest mistake.

"Get up, and then sit down beside me." Queen Frigga was dressed in dark blue Asgardian court attire, which included partial armor—the Aesir gods never forgot to fight, even in their palaces, and even noblewomen wore short swords at their waists.

Don't mistake these noblewomen for weaklings with no strength. Thanks to their powerful lineage, they can even defeat fully armed Asgardian soldiers and their husbands' mistresses—a common sight in Asgard: women fighting. The Queen of Asgard smiled and said, "I've already instructed the kitchen to send over some desserts. I know the people of Midgard don't really like Asgardian food."

Desserts were extremely rare in Asgard. Athena had told Salomon that he would inevitably encounter challenges in Asgard, but these challenges weren't necessarily intentional; rather, they were clashes of habits. For example, desserts were considered children's food in Asgard, but once a boy could lift a spear, he would abandon sweets and instead pick up a horn to drink. Queen Frigg undoubtedly treated Salomon like a toddler; most humans were no different from infants in the face of long-lived beings like the Aesir.

"Karmar-Taj is a place of asceticism and purification of the soul; it dares not indulge in luxurious possessions." Salomon stood up. He did not deny that Queen Frigga had treated him like a child, for he was indeed too young, but he also refused to eat sweets, lest he be seen as weak. He now represented Kamar-Taj, and every word and action represented the will of the Sorcerer Supreme; therefore, he could not express his opinion casually, much less show weakness.

The diva was speechless; she hadn't expected Salomon to be so serious.

"Don't be so tense." In an instant, the Queen understood Salomon's reason for doing so, and after a moment of surprise, she burst into laughter. This also drew laughter from the group of noblewomen around her; they hadn't seen such a serious person in a long time. Asgard had enjoyed a long period of peace, and most noble men indulged in fine wine and banquets, not understanding the importance of seriousness. The Queen said, "I had a very pleasant conversation with the Sorcerer Supreme, and he asked me to instruct you to enjoy life here to the fullest until your mission arrives."

"Mission? What mission?" Salomon pondered the word repeatedly. Did the Venerable One want him to change something? Or did the Venerable One believe that by inserting Salomon as a variable into certain events, he could guide them toward the desired outcome? After much thought, the only thing he could influence in Asgard was the life and death of Frigga, the Queen of Asgard. He was certain that Frigga, with her exceptional magical skills, had foreseen her own death. Did the Venerable One need him to manipulate fate? What role would Frigga play in the future?

"Don't just stand there." The Queen patted the seat next to her, interrupting Salomon's thoughts. "Come sit down. Enjoying tea and refreshments, or fine wine, is perfectly normal in Asgard. You're not even twenty yet, so don't pretend to be an adult. Hurry up, child, or the cake will get cold."

The queen's words shattered his defensive mindset, and Salomon, his face flushed, sat down on the seat covered with animal fur.

"If you want to prove you're an adult, then go to the training grounds and defeat the soldiers. But before that, you still need to study hard." The Queen handed the cake to the sorcerer, looking into Salomon's eyes, and said in a voice that no one else could hear, "You're still too young. Don't worry too much. Fate cannot be changed by one person alone. Fate will eventually come, and all means only change the way fate manifests itself."

Asgard has been prophesied, or rather cursed, by Ragnarok since its inception. Therefore, the Aesir possess a strong sense of destiny, believing that fate is immutable and that the end will inevitably come, but destruction will also leave behind life; life will be reborn from the silence and darkness, and a new world will be born.

This is a unique Aesir view of life and death, a concept that does not apply to humans. Human lifespan is too short, so short that everyone must live with all their might, living with passion. This is also the concept that the Sorcerer Supreme instilled in Salomon: to dedicate one's short life to a great cause.

Salomon nodded, offering no rebuttal to the Queen's words. His birth had already defied fate; who knew what the future held?

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Kasirius was to return to Earth via the Rainbow Bridge early in the morning, and Salomon went to see him off.

He didn't know where Cassirios had gone last night, but after returning, he cut his hair short and even asked Salomon for some small magic to style his hair. "I went to the hospital," Cassirios said, looking rather pale. "I thought your potions could counteract alcohol, so I drank a lot... Luckily, the doctors here repaired my liver, otherwise I would have had to say goodbye to ice-cold beer."

Salomon sniffed and gave him a suspicious look. He could smell the perfume.

He gave Kasirius several vials of the Panacea, which shouldn't have caused his condition, unless Kasirius had done something shameful the night before—like spending the night with a noblewoman from Asgard. Salomon looked Kasirius up and down; he certainly had the charm of an older man, no wonder a noblewoman had chosen him as her lover.

"You didn't eat breakfast," Salomon said, not wanting to expose Cassirios's clumsy lie lest he be hunted down by some nobleman. "Not eating breakfast is very unhealthy."

"If you mean roasted lamb chops, then I did eat them, otherwise I'd be throwing up acid by now." Kasirius patted his stomach, casually revealing his itinerary and who he'd spent the night with. Salomon rolled his eyes, furious at Kasirius's neglect last night. Besides, they weren't in Kamar-Taj now; reckless behavior wouldn't end well.

After hearing Salomon's idea, Cassirios simply smiled and shrugged. "Life is about taking risks," he said. "Otherwise, you're not really living, just a randomly arranged mass of molecules drifting aimlessly through the universe."

"Wise Vishanti, when did you watch Rick and Morty?"

"At the Doorless Bar," Cassilios said, "everyone loves watching cartoons while drinking."

"The time has come." At the end of the Rainbow Bridge, Heimdall was waiting. He remained expressionless as he watched Kasirius bid farewell to Salomon.

"Relax," he said. "His Holiness has arranged everything; just stay here and enjoy life."

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(End of this chapter)