I will be posting on Sundays and Wednesdays. I am currently still in High school, so please forgive me if I am late with a post. As readers increase. chances are, so will chapter length.

I was mystified by the view of the pulsating bridge we walked on as I kept my head down. when I looked up, I nearly stopped in n my tracks as I spied the golden city.

"Don't dawdle. You must keep up as I shan't wait for you. I'd rather not deal with Odin any longer than I must, and it would only anger him for us to be late. Ask only your most pressing questions on the way and do not be surprised if I don't answer them." I took in his words and took advantage of his offer.

"Okay, first off, why does Odin need to see you about me? Also, why do I have to be with you?"

"Humans aren't allowed to be in Asgard for reasons I may explain later. As for why you have to be here, I intend to train you, and therefore, you shall be at my side unless I order you away."

"Okay, last one, why are you out of prison? I would think that killing a couple hundred people and trying the take over a planet seems like something you should be locked up over." I was genuinely confused about that. On Earth, if you kill a half a dozen people, you're either getting locked up or killed. I was confused even further when I saw Loki had a smirk plastered on his face.

"Odin cares not for Midgard. It is only because I am legally a prince that I received any punishment for my actions.". I didn't fail to notice his emphasis on the word 'legally'. However, I decided that it wasn't the best time for me to ask. We walked in silence to the palace and then the throne room. A rather large man that vaguely resembled an older, more hairy Hannibal Lector with only his left eye was waiting for us. I guessed that he was Odin and I made to kneel before being caught by Loki. He shot me a glare before speaking.

"You wished to see me, Alfather?"

"Yes, Loki. I requested you to come here because not a year after your release and the official decree that you were not to go to Midgard, you did just that, and proceeded to bring a Midgardian with you, which in itself is a forbidden act."

"I cannot help being bored, and after all, I saved this girl. She was being heavily mistreated by her fellow mortals. As a result, I intended to teach her to simply stand up for herself in a more effective way. I ask only for you to grant her sanctuary for a month so that I may teach her properly." Odin was silent for what seemed like forever, but eventually spoke.

"I will come to a decision further in the week. Until then, she will be confined to the quarters beside Loki's. The human will have no contact with others until I have reached a verdict." Two burly guards seized an arm each and yanked me painfully back words, causing me to stumble. I sent a pleading look to Loki who rolled his eyes.

"Is this really necessary? She's just a simple Midgardian. She can't even do magic." Loki sounded exasperated when he spoke. I was honestly a bit miffed at the implication that I was weak. It was a cinch decision that I didn't scowl or object. I'd rather they think I was harmless so maybe they would treat me better.

After a bit of walking, I was thrown unceremoniously through a door. I stood, taking in my surroundings. I was in a sitting room with a fireplace and a few couches. There was a rug of a fur I didn't recognize. There was an archway that led to a luxurious bedroom. I sauntered in and saw that there was a desk and some mostly empty bookshelves.

There was another room connected to the bedroom, and upon my investigation, I found it was a bathroom. In the center of the room was a steep stone tub inlaid into the floor. It was about the size of a large hot tub. With little deliberation, I walked over with the intention of taking a hot bath. I was unsuccessful though, as I could not manage to turn on the water.

Feeling defeated, I trudged my way back to the bed and fell upon the covers in an ugly flop. After a while, I realized that I could not sleep. I blamed it on the colors the room was decorated in. Everything was gold. Even the drapes seemed to be made out of golden thread.

When I was such of it, I wandered through the glass doors onto the balcony and was nearly brought to tears the sight. The most beautiful gardens lay below, the shining city beyond them. I could see a small stream near the flowerbeds and a gazebo along the stone pathway. The sprawling city shined in the low light of lamps and torches.

There was music wafting upward from the parties and taverns below. A group of men who were clearly heavily intoxicated were singing in a language I could not understand. It sounded vaguely European but aside from that, it was difficult to place. I decided that I was never going to sleep inside, so I layed down on the stone balcony, comforted by the cool surface. It wasn't long before I drifted off to sleep.

...

The morning sun warmed my skin, forcing me to wake.

'You do know you have a bed right?' As odd as it was to have a voice in my head that wasn't mine, it felt oddly natural. Like it was a normal way to communicate.

'Couldn't sleep. Too much gold.' There was something akin to a chuckle in my head but no real reply. After a little while longer, I got up and walked back from not the bedroom. It honestly took me a moment to register the changes.

Rather than the monochromatic color scheme of gold, gold, and even more gold, there was an array of greens and black, with a subtle design of snakes and vines on the baseboard. The bookshelves were filled, and there was a small old on the desk, along with a note.

Study. And I hope you like the room

-Loki

I smirked and sat down at the desk, grabbing a quill and paper to take notes. If he wanted me to study, the by gods, I'd study.