A golden flash of light streaked through the darkness, and a bright orange portal materialized in the dreary city alley. Three figures stepped out, an interesting trio that sowhat resembled a small family.
However, the family atmosphere seed tense. Loki, holding Helen in his arms, swept his gaze from side to side, before finally breaking the silence. "This doesn't look like one of the Nine Major Kingdoms... Where exactly did you open the portal?"
Sylvie replied with a defiant huff, "In one of the Nine Major Kingdoms? Do you want Odin to find you that easily?"
With that, she walked out of the alley ahead of Loki, speaking up again as they moved along. "Even though I've been away for so many years, nothing drastic has happened in Asgard. Odin still holds her power supre. No one can gain an advantage on her turf..."
Catching Sylvie's use of pronouns, Loki shot her a curious look. "In your world, Odin and Thor... are both won?"
Sylvie waved her hand dismissively, clearly tired of this line of questioning. More than one Loki had asked her the sa thing. She replied dismissively, "This universe is matriarchal. Tuck away your stupid prejudices, or I won't be able to save you..."
Unexpectedly, Loki greeted this with a radiant smile. Then, Sylvie noticed a bright glow originating from behind her.
Turned around, she saw a soft white light encompassing Loki's form. When the light faded, a young black-haired girl stood in his place. She seed much younger than Sylvie, no more than 20 by human standards.
The girl, Loki, was strikingly beautiful, a mix of innocence and aloofness. Sylvie exuded resilience and rugged life experience, like a tree sprouting from arid earth. On the other hand, Loki seed like a sapling nurtured carefully in a castle garden, delicate with a streak of vulnerability.
Sylvie's eyes grew wide. As Loki approached, she tentatively reached out a hand, unbeleiving, wondering if this was Loki's illusion magic in play.
However, her magic talent confird that this was not a simple illusion. The transformation of Loki was divine and mysterious, devoid of any power fluctuations.
Loki looked up at Sylvie, stating, "Maybe the Ti Managent Bureau told you that you're the only female Loki across all universes. But clearly, that's not the case."
"You..." Sylvie was noticeably taken aback. But Loki simply smiled, flicked her shimring black hair, and moved on with Helen, leaving the alley behind.
Looking up at the starry sky, Loki analyzed the celestial pattern, soon making an educated guess. "So, you're planning to use the free transportation station here to get near the territories of the Nine Major Kingdoms?"
Sylvie, having composed herself, waved Loki over. "Do you have a better idea? I once served as a civil officer in the Shi'ar Empire from another universe. So I'm quite familiar with this place. Let's manage our identities first, then we'll find a broker."
Suppressing her complicated emotions, Sylvie led Loki to a nearby agency.
The Shi'ar Empire is a multi-racial Comrcial Empire bustling with diversity. There are many foreign populations, hence, centers for alien registration are plentiful.
Having once worked here, Sylvie knew the procedures. They chose an anthropomorphic race for their temporary identities, procured temporary ID proofs, and located a teleportation brokerage firm.
"Hello, I'm Sylvie. This is our temporary ID. We would like to teleport to the outskirts of the Nine Major Kingdoms." Sylvie handed over the ID proofs to the receptionist.
Soon a cheerful Shi'ar Empire employee wearing a uniform escorted them to an office, offered tea to Sylvie, and asked amicably, "You're new here, right?"
Sylvie, feeling right at ho, responded, "Correct. As newly registered foreigners, we should be able to use free point-based teleportation once, right? A friend of mine used to work here... I know the rules already, so there's no need to explain."
The broker nodded, "It seems like it. Arno! Arno! Get them a couple of transit passes. Children are free."
A four-legged Centaurus soon brought the transit passes. When Sylvie took them, she looked surprised. "The Shi'ar Empire's teleport station near the Nine Major Kingdoms was in the Kuiper Belt, right? What's this about the Centaurus constellation? And this dinsion doesn't look right... When did this place end up near the Nine Major Kingdoms?"
The broker looked genuinely surprised and scrutinized Sylvie. "Good lord! You must be one of those Immortal Species that hibernates for thousands of years."
Loki and Sylvie exchanged a glance, sensing that sothing was amiss. The broker held his forehead and sighed, "Alright, it seems you guys really are..."
"Are you guys unaware? Asgard launched the greatest millennial war, erging victorious. The Kree Empire is now rged into Asgard. The present cosmic triad consists of the Shi'ar Empire, the Skrull Empire, and the Asgard Empire..."
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