Within the corridors of the Asgard Fairy Palace, a petite figure holding a hammer dashed along, her silky skirt blowing in the wind, her long black hair dancing with each gust. From her stride and demeanor, it was clear she was considerably upset.
Once she passed through the hallway like a gust of wind, several heads peered from the end of the corridor, starting with Thor, followed by Sif and the Warriors Three.
Watching Loki's retreating figure, Thor asked, "What's going on? What's with Loki?"
"Doesn't she look like she's seeking revenge? And she's carrying your hammer? She's not planning to fight, is she?" Sif replied.
"Fight? With whom would she fight?" Thor frowned.
From the end, Fandral chimed in, "That's not right, Loki is the one who's always hated fights. She usually frowns and hides whenever we're brawling."
"Exactly." Volstagg agreed, "Even if she were to fight, it should be with her magic wand. Why is she using Thor's hammer?"
"Speaking of which..." Sif looked up at Thor, "Did you just casually hand over Mjölnir to Loki?"
He's out in the cosmos every day for business, how can he defend himself without a good weapon?" Thor defended himself boldly, then added, "Besides, I currently have no use for Mjölnir. It is a weapon of combat and shouldn't be neglected on a weapon rack."
Sif scoffed, saying, "I think Loki holding it will inevitably cause a disaster."
Afterwards, the group emerged from the corner, Thor remained in the middle of the corridor, hands on hips, looking puzzled after Loki. "This is unusual; when Loki is angry, she usually maintains a stoic face and hides in the ancient library plotting. What's going on today?"
Scratching his head, Thor failed to notice the complex emotions on Sif's face, mirroring his own.
After a moment of puzzlement, he set the matter aside. He stretched his tense shoulders and said, "I've been cooped up handling government affairs these days, it's killing me. Let's go to the training ground and have a good fight; I want to see whether your skills have improved."
"While you were away, we mastered a fantastic teamwork skill. It's just the right thing to counter your powerful strike last time!"
As they were talking and walking, Sif didn't move. Instead she turned, looking to go in another direction. Thor, noticing that Sif wasn't following them, turned around and asked, "Sif, what's wrong? Won't you come with us?"
"I... I have got something. My family also asked me to go back. As you know, last time you dismissed many people, and now we're understaffed. I have got to work." Having said that, Sif hurried away.
Thor and the Warriors Three were left scratching their heads. Volstagg said, "Thor, why don't you catch up to her and comfort her?"
"Stop joking, I'll definitely get beaten up," Thor said. Even in front of his closest friends, he held no authority. "I was always as a kid. Every time you asked me to pacify her, I ended up being punched twice."
Hogun laughed and patted Thor's shoulder, "Have you forgotten the time when you were mighty and dominant? To tell you the truth, you did a great job because I was sick of those people as well..."
"Enough about it," Fandral said, "Let's think about what's bothering Sif."
"What could possibly have happened to her?" As the most familiar among the Warriors Three, Hogun remarked, "Sif is a goddess after all; it's hard for others to get into her head. Maybe she'll be fine once she cools down. Let's head to the training ground and try some new maneuvers."
Hogun pulled Thor forward. Thor looked back at Sif's departing figure. Sif was walking quickly, her leave was determined. It didn't seem like she needed Thor's comforting, so Thor left with the Warriors Three.
They were heading to the training ground, but unexpectedly ran into a riled-up Loki on the way. She was marching briskly, mumbling something, apparently cursing someone.
Thor, bringing his hand up, signaled for the others to halt. The four of them quickly hid in a nearby grove.
"Something's off, very off!" Thor squinted as he watched Loki, and then signaled the three behind him. "Let's follow her and see what's going on."
Meanwhile, Sif was headed in the opposite direction, gradually slowing down. She settled by a fountain, touching the armor on her leg, and sat on the bank of the fountain's pool. Breathing a deep sigh, she cast a worried look.
Just as she sighed, a shadow cast over the ground in front of her. She looked up, and saw Queen Frigga.
Sif quickly stood up to bow, but was gently stopped by Frigga. Instead, Frigga took her hand and sat down beside the fountain. Sif averted her eyes, seemingly reluctant to look directly at Frigga, who smiled and asked, "What's wrong? Why are you here again?"
Frigga glanced around the environment. They were in a small grove next to the Fairy Palace with a small fountain at its center, and said, "You used to come here all the time when you felt down as a child. I can see this small grove from my bedroom window. I would always bring you back and make you a fresh flower cake...."