Marvel: Silver Hand

The dim glow of ancient torches flickered along the walls of the secret chamber, casting long shadows that danced across the golden floor.

Alexander sat cross-legged across from Odin, his eyes locked onto the one-eyed god as he awaited the truth.

The truth of Eldrborinn.

The truth of his own bloodline.

Odin let out a long breath, his gaze distant, as if he were gazing into a time long lost.

"It all began thousands of years ago, when I was still young."

A Son of Asgard

"My father, Bor, was a mighty warrior, but he was also a man of favoritism. He saw greatness in me and my brothers—Vé, Vili, and Eldrborinn.

"But while Vé and Vili were treated with some measure of respect, Eldrborinn was ignored.

"He was the youngest of us. The last son of Bor.

"And my father… barely acknowledged his existence.

"While I trained under Bor, learning the art of war, the secrets of the cosmos, and the wisdom of ruling a kingdom… Eldrborinn was left in the shadows.

"My brother grew spiteful.

Angry.

"Feeling unwanted, he did something none of us expected.

He left Asgard."

Alexander listened intently, his hands resting on his knees. "Where did he go?"

Odin's eye flickered with an emotion Alexander couldn't quite place.

"Midgard."

---

"For years, Eldrborinn walked among the mortals.

"He wandered from land to land, searching for something that would give him purpose.

"And during his travels… he reached the lands of India.

"There, he encountered the Daevas.

"They were powerful beings, much like us Asgardians—divine entities, worshiped as gods by the people of those lands."

Alexander's eyes narrowed. "I've heard of them."

"You would have," Odin said. "They disappeared thousands of years ago. But their names remain in the tongues of mortals, carried through myths and prayers. Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, Agni…"

Alexander leaned forward slightly. "What happened to them?"

Odin's voice was grave. "No one knows."

There was a moment of silence before Odin continued.

"But among the many wonders my brother saw, one weapon caught his attention more than any other—

The Sudarshana Chakra.

"The weapon of Vishnu.

"A divine discus of unstoppable power.

"Eldrborinn was awestruck.

"He envied Vishnu's weapon. He wanted one for himself.

"But instead of asking for it… he decided to forge his own."

Alexander exhaled slowly, already sensing where this was going.

---

"When Eldrborinn returned to Asgard, he became obsessed.

"He locked himself away, dedicating himself entirely to the craft of forging.

"For centuries, he worked.

"Day after day, year after year, he toiled in the Great Forges of Asgard.

"But no matter what materials he used… nothing satisfied him.

"So, he left.

"He traveled to Nidavellir, the land of the Dwarves.

"There, he trained under the greatest blacksmiths in the universe, spending another hundred years mastering their craft.

"And yet, even after forging weapons from Uru metal, the strongest Asgardian metal, he was still unsatisfied.

"So he did the unthinkable.

He left the Nine Realms.

"He wandered the universe, searching for a metal that could create the ultimate weapon.

"Hundreds of years passed.

"Until finally…

"He found himself in Muspelheim.

"The realm of fire. The land of Surtur.

"There, he discovered a fragment of metal unlike anything in existence.

"Bronze in color, yet hotter than the core of a dying star.

"This metal had been burning in Muspelheim since the beginning of time.

"And he took it.

"He brought it to the very heart of Muspelheim, where the flames were strongest, and forged his weapon.

"The moment he did—

Eldhringr was born.

"But it was not complete.

"He needed to feed it.

"So he did something even more unthinkable—

He slaughtered entire legions of fire demons.

"Hundreds. Thousands.

"The more he killed, the more Eldhringr drank their power.

"Until, at last, he was strong enough to face Surtur himself.

"And he won.

"With a single strike, he cut Surtur down.

"And then, using his weapon, he severed the very ground where he forged it from Muspelheim—

And created a new realm.

"A realm only he could enter.

A realm that now belongs to you, Alexander."

Alexander's heart stopped.

"Wait… that place I woke up in? The forge?"

Odin nodded. "That was Eldrborinn's personal realm. Created from a piece of Muspelheim itself."

Alexander was stunned.

Eldrborinn had literally created an entire dimension… by slicing a realm apart.

---

"When Eldrborinn returned to Asgard," Odin continued, "he was changed.

"Arrogant. Prideful.

"He believed himself to be the strongest being in the universe.

"In his arrogance, he forged my weapon, Gungnir, as a testament to his skill.

"But after a hundred years, he grew restless.

"And so, he did the one thing he should not have done.

"He challenged our father for the throne.

"The battle was legendary.

"My father, the great Bor, fought with all his might.

"But Eldrborinn was too strong.

"He relied too much on Eldhringr.

"And in his overconfidence, he failed.

"Even though he severed Bor's arm, even though he wounded him gravely, he was still defeated.

"My father, with the last of his strength, sealed away Eldhringr.

"And I…

"I banished Eldrborinn from Asgard."

Odin exhaled, his expression unreadable. "I stripped away most of his power. Left him to wander the realms, broken and lost."

Alexander remained silent for a long moment.

"…Why did he challenge Bor?"

Odin's eye darkened.

"Because he was ambitious."

Silence filled the chamber.

Then Odin stood. "I have told you his story. Now… I have but one request."

Alexander looked up.

"Swear an oath to Asgard. Swear that you will never betray us."

Alexander clenched his fists—then slowly nodded.

"I swear."

Odin held his gaze—then nodded. "Good."

He turned away. "Go. Train with your new weapon. But heed my warning, Alexander…"

"Do not become too reliant on Eldhringr.

"That was my brother's downfall."

Alexander exhaled and took flight.

As he soared through the golden skies of Asgard, his eyes locked onto the training grounds below.

And standing there, waiting for him—

Was Thor.