14 Chapter 14 - Genosha
Loki explained that we were traversing the fissures that connect the worlds. If someone could see these fissures, they could travel between them. The problem was that the fissures are random, so we had to keep jumping from realm to realm to reach our destination.
I was surprised that Loki managed to find us in Jotunheim. When we arrived on land, the challenge was to find the right island. With hundreds of islands on Earth, we jumped from one to another, taking two hours until we reached a familiar place. I could see the small village in the distance, near where I fought the ice titan.
"We've arrived," I said.
Loki sighed in relief. "Finally. I never expected Midgard to have so many islands."
Looking back at Loki, who was a bit behind me, I knew it was time to say goodbye.
"It's time to go back, brother."
He looked down sadly. "I know."
He gave me a tight hug and then turned away, disappearing. No more words were needed. I knew I would see Loki again, but it would be many years.
Amora remained silent by my side. She had been this way since we left Jotunheim, feeling guilty for my banishment from home.
"Amora..."
"Let's go to the village. Maybe the villagers have returned."
She interrupted me and walked towards the village. I knew when it was best to stay silent.
The village seemed to be in good condition. When the attack occurred, all the villagers were heading towards the cave, and the ice giants followed suit, avoiding damage to the houses. I couldn't see anyone. Since I left the island and went straight to Asgard after my fight, perhaps they followed my advice and fled to Africa.
"Can you find out if they're still on the island?"
She closed her eyes for a moment. "They're on the other side of the island."
Then she fell silent again. It seemed it would be difficult for her to understand that it wasn't her fault.
We made our way to the cave that led to the other side of the island. The cave resembled a network of tunnels, taking a few minutes to emerge on the other side, on a beach. In the distance, near the Viking-style boats, all the islanders were gathered, some sitting on the sand, others standing around or keeping watch.
As we approached, I saw little Freyja swinging on a tree branch. When she spotted us, she ran towards us with an adorable smile on her face.
"You're back!" she exclaimed, hugging my leg.
"I told you I'd come back, didn't I?" I replied, gently stroking her hair. As the other villagers noticed our arrival, they all knelt in respect.
"Please rise," I said, gesturing for them to stand. Sieg emerged from the crowd.
"Sir, has the battle ended?" he inquired.
It had been a few hours since the island was attacked, and since everyone didn't know I had left, they thought I was still fighting on the island.
"Yes, it's over. And they'll never return," I assured them. The villagers erupted into cheers upon hearing that the battle was over and the threat had been eliminated. I could understand their joy, having lived in fear of monster attacks every day in their own homes.
"But before we talk further, let's all return to the village," I suggested. Sieg bowed politely and began gathering everyone to head back home.
We returned to my modest house in the middle of the village. Amora mentioned she was very tired and went to sleep in her room. Now, I was with Sieg and little Freyja.
"What's the situation?" I asked.
"We haven't lost a single person, thanks to you, sir," Sieg reported.
"Excellent."
The evacuation plan had truly worked. The idea stemmed from all the knowledge I had gained from movies and comics. I grew tired of reading about cities being destroyed by attacks without the people having any escape plan, especially living in a world where tragedy was so common.
"Sir?" Freyja's sad face caught my attention.
"Yes, little one?"
With a sad expression, she asked, "Are you going back to the sky now?"
Sieg also seemed anxious about my response. Due to everything that had happened, the villagers saw me as their leader now.
"No, child, I'm going to stay with you for a long time," I assured her.
She seemed thrilled, jumping with joy, and Sieg was smiling too.
"That's great news, sir. I'll tell all the villagers, and we'll have a celebration tonight."
We had a grand celebration that evening. I didn't join them, much like my father doesn't join the banquets in Asgard. I didn't want to make everyone uncomfortable – it's one of the downsides of being a leader.
Now, the problem was deciding which direction to take. I could remain hidden on this small island until the events of the movies unfolded, or I could initiate some changes. I knew that my life on this island could affect the course of history, and altering too many events could jeopardize my advantage of knowing the future.
Doing some calculations based on Thor's statement about being around 1500 years old in the last Avengers movie, I figured out that I was approximately in 800 A.D. I had plenty of time on my hands without a clear goal.
That's when I thought of Wakanda – a country much more technologically advanced, hidden in Africa. Since they were isolated from the world, they had little influence on it. Considering this, altering the future on a small, isolated island wouldn't change events, as long as it remained isolated.
I began formulating a plan to evolve my small country.
Five years have passed, and things are progressing at a faster pace than I anticipated.
As I mentioned before, I'm doing everything I can to develop this small island. The first step was education. With the help of the dwarves using android teachers, I began teaching children and young people basic notions of science, mathematics, and chemistry. As payment, the dwarves received the promise that I would introduce them to two types of metals they had never seen before.
Once I shared my plans, Amora fully embraced the idea. Still trying to make up for my banishment, we haven't resolved that issue between us yet. She chose five children with some talent for magic and took them to a mountain to teach them. With a little help from the dwarves, I obtained the equipment and materials to resume my research on modified runes. I'm close to adapting another rune.
The most significant discovery I made, aside from the runes, was pinpointing the island's location. After much thought and recalling everything I'd read about the Marvel universe, I remembered a very prominent island in the X-Men stories.
Genosha. An island off the east coast of Africa, it was once one of the richest countries in the world, with an estimated population of 16 million. Its wealth was built on mutant slavery, with children being tested, and those with the mutant gene enslaved. Much later, Magneto liberated the island, creating a safe haven for all mutants until it was destroyed by Sentinels.
The island's population has almost tripled in these few years. Another Nordic shipwreck occurred on the island, and we allowed them to join us. It took them a while to adapt; they were skeptical upon learning who I was and didn't believe me at first. Only after they witnessed Amora enhancing some island constructions using magic did they believe who I was.
Funny enough, it seems I'm known in Norse mythology now. Stories began to emerge a few years ago about me, the youngest son of Odin, who single-handedly destroyed half of the giant realm with his powerful spear, Sigel, to save his wife, Amora, the goddess of magic and seduction. It seems my spear already has a name. Sigel, in mythology, was considered the personification of the sun. I didn't mind the name; I'm terrible at naming things.
It's likely one of my brothers came to have some fun in Midgard and told the story. With the plethora of Norse god stories that Midgard has, the idea makes sense.
Now, to the Norse, I'm known as Baldur Odinson. The god of the sun and light, wielder of the powerful spear Sigel, which can destroy entire realms.
"Sir, we're ready," interrupts the former general of Asgard, Nordur. After a year on the island, he came to us, swearing loyalty to me, as he was tired of the unchanging Asgard.
"And Amora?" I inquire.
"She chose to stay in her mountain, sir," Nordur replies.
"I see. Then let's go."
We're leaving the construction site of my new home, right in the center of the island. Despite a large number of people working, it will take hundreds of years to be fully constructed.
The project is a grand castle with a 60-meter tower. The tower will emit an energy force field that will cover and camouflage the entire inhabited part of the island. The challenge is to have a power source powerful enough for such a force field.
I have some ideas where to obtain so much energy, so I'll just wait until the castle is almost ready. I'm also considering the idea of creating solar panels. The island is still sparsely populated, and with my knowledge from my past life, solar energy is viable.
Leaving the under-construction castle, I see the city taking shape. The old wooden and thatched houses are now being rebuilt with golden brick in the Asgardian architectural style. The bricks aren't made of gold, of course; they're made using an Asgardian technique, three times more resistant than concrete.
The men working pause and greet me politely, while the women tend to the fields since I taught them advanced notions of agriculture. The children must be in school.
"How's the training going, General?"
A small group of the younger men are being trained by the general with the duty of protecting the island. Until the force field is constructed, the island could be vulnerable to attacks from other countries. Genosha was discovered by Europeans in the 16th century and used as a trade and piracy route. Later, the English colonized it until its independence.
"Very well, sir. Some show a lot of talent," the general replies with a smile. He's pleased to be training the youths.
"Sir!"
As we're about to leave the city, Freyja comes running towards me. I still personally teach her.
"How was school, young one?" I ask, noticing her astonished expression.
"Sir, that strange thing you call an android taught us that the universe is endless, that there are many other planets like this one."
It's amusing to see the wonder in the children's eyes at the end of the lessons.
"Yes, that's true," I confirm.
"So, did you call for me?"
I take a golden tube from my belt and hand it to her.
"What's this?" She asks, curious, turning it over in her hands.
"You'll find out in the future," I tell her, and she loses interest, tucking the golden tube away.
"I'm going on a trip with the general. While I'm away, please look after Amora for me," I instruct her.
"Yes, sir," she nods.
After bidding farewell to Freyja, we reach the beach where a large golden Viking-style ship awaits us. It's an Asgardian flying ship that was "recovered" by Amora, with Sieg standing beside it.
"Preparations have been made, sir," Sieg informs me.
Sieg's role on the island has increased; he's now like a mayor, managing everything.
"Thank you, Sieg. I leave the island in your capable hands," I reassure him.
"You can go with peace of mind, sir. Everything will be fine," he assures me.
As we board the ship, Nordur heads to the controls, and moments later, the ship begins to float and move in the indicated direction, crossing the ocean at over 200 kilometers per hour.
"If you don't mind me asking, sir, where are we headed?" Nordur inquires.
With a broad smile, I reply, "To a small country called Wakanda."
