Phanuel remained unfazed, his grip on Muriel firm yet gentle as he stood his ground. "It's not a threat, Atli. By now, you must know me well enough to surmise that I don’t make threats but rather I make promises," he replied, his voice unwaveringly calm as six wings of light appeared behind him, increasing the pressure felt by all nearby. "My subordinate had no intention of causing any conflict, but if you continue to act rashly, you will force my hand."

Muriel, still reeling from the pain, felt a surge of relief at Phanuel's arrival. She knew that with him here, there was a chance to de-escalate the situation and avoid the catastrophic battle Thor clearly seemed to dying for. She could only hope that Thor would heed Phanuel's warning and stand down.

The tension in the air was palpable, as if the very atmosphere held its breath. Thor's eyes remained locked on Phanuel, the power of the storm god clashing with the steadfast resolve of the archangel. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Thor's grip on Mjölnir tightened slightly.

“Wait, stay your hand husband. This course of action shall gain us nothing. He is not a simple opponent due to his virtue,” said Sif as she reached out and placed her hand on Thor’s shoulder.

Thor turned to look back at Sif before loosening his grip on Mjölnir. "Very well, Phanuel," Thor said, his voice low and dangerous. "But this is far from over. We will get to the bottom of this, with or without your cooperation."

Phanuel nodded, his gaze never leaving Thor's. "We will cooperate fully, but on our terms," he said. "For now, let us focus on finding the truth and resolving this matter peacefully."

Phanuel retracted his wings, the light fading as he gently set Muriel down. He straightened his robes, which transformed into a white dress shirt and jeans. He then turned to Sif, greeting her formally. "Lady Sif," he said with a respectful nod.

Sif returned the greeting, her expression calm but firm. "Archangel Phanuel," she acknowledged. "I must ask that you refrain from upsetting my husband further. His patience is not infinite."

Phanuel shrugged casually. "I'll do so if Atli leaves my subordinate alone," he said, ignoring the flash of anger in Thor's eyes.

Thor's grip tightened again on Mjölnir, his knuckles white with the effort. "Do not call me that name," he warned, his voice a low growl.

Sif shot Phanuel a glare, and he relented, his expression softening. "Very well, Thor," he said, offering a slight bow. "I apologize."

Thor grunted and looked away, the tension in his posture easing slightly as the thunderclouds dissipated. Sif took a deep breath and addressed Phanuel once more. "Heaven must produce the whereabouts of the angel Sophia, or you will answer for this incident," she demanded.

Phanuel smiled, the corners of his mouth curling upward in a display of calm confidence. "It is not proper to have this discussion outside," he suggested. "Let us head inside. Muriel, please lead the way."

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Muriel, still recovering from her ordeal, nodded and began to lead them back into the shrine. The group followed her, the atmosphere charged with the remnants of their confrontation.

Once inside, the shrine's warm, dim lighting provided a stark contrast to the tense scene outside. Phanuel gestured for everyone to take their seats at the grand table prepared by the valkyries.

Phanuel turned to Muriel, a gentle smile on his face. "Muriel, would you be so kind as to prepare some tea for our guests?" he asked.

Muriel nodded, grateful for the task that allowed her to momentarily step away from the tense conversation. She moved swiftly to the small kitchen area of the shrine, her hands trembling slightly as she prepared the tea. She took a deep breath, willing herself to calm down. As she worked, she couldn't help but think about the delicate balance they were trying to maintain between the pantheons.

Once the tea was ready, Muriel carefully carried the tray back to the table where Phanuel, Sif, and Thor sat. She placed the cups before each of them, her movements precise and respectful. Phanuel sat on one side of the table, with Sif and Thor on the other, their expressions a mix of suspicion and curiosity.

"Thank you, Muriel," Phanuel said, his voice warm as he accepted the tea. Muriel nodded and then stood behind Phanuel, her presence a silent testament to her loyalty. Behind Sif and Thor, the valkyries stood vigilantly, their eyes never leaving the archangel.

"Now, let us discuss this matter with the gravity it deserves," Phanuel began, his tone measured and diplomatic. "As I mentioned before, Sophia's disappearance is of great concern to us as well. We have been investigating the matter and have found traces of a mysterious mana that we believe is connected to her absence."

Sif's eyes narrowed as she listened. "And you expect us to believe that Heaven had no knowledge of the Asgardian artifact's presence here?" she asked, skepticism evident in her voice.

Phanuel nodded, understanding their concerns. "We are actively investigating Sophia's disappearance. Our teams investigated this world thoroughly even speaking to the natives only to find few traces of mana. Sadly the traces of mana we have found belong to this artifact you were sent to find. So all we can say for sure is that both Sophia and the artifact were here and now they’re not. However, I’m inclined to believe It is possible that a third party is involved, someone who has a vested interest in sowing discord between our realms."

Sif's eyes narrowed. "A third party? Who would dare to meddle in the affairs of both Heaven and Asgard?"

"We do not know as of yet," Phanuel admitted. "As you know we both have multitudes of enemies who gallly sow discord. A war between our sides would only serve to weaken us all. However, we also understand that we must make some form of concession to Asgard. We are willing to provide all information we’ve gathered and will secede this world to Asgard should you wish it."

Thor's grip on his cup tightened, but he remained silent, clearly contemplating Phanuel's words. The room was thick with tension, each side weighing the other's intentions.

Muriel stood quietly behind Phanuel, her mind racing. Things were moving in the direction she had hoped until Phanuel talked about seceding this world to Asgard. She needed more time to make sure that she erased any trace of the young master’s mana. While a conflict was something she preferred to avoid it was still preferable to what Phanuel had just offered.

As Sif pondered Phanuel's offer, the tension in the room was palpable. Thor's patience finally snapped, and out of nowhere, he slammed his fist against the table, causing it to shatter into splinters. The force of the blow reverberated through the room, and the valkyries tensed, ready to act.

Thor's glare was fixed on Phanuel, his voice a thunderous growl. "This deal is not good enough," he declared. "This territory would be surrounded by Heaven, and Asgard has no interest in this corner of space. It's also too easy for Heaven to doctor the information and hide any traces that lead back to you."

Sif sighed, nodding in agreement with Thor. Phanuel frowned, his integrity called into question, but he chose to leave the issue be. He straightened, his expression serious. "Then what would you like instead?" he asked, his tone measured.

Thor opened his mouth to speak, but Sif placed a hand on his arm, stopping him. She turned to Phanuel, her expression thoughtful. "If Heaven finds Sophia, she must be turned over to us immediately," she said. "Additionally, we want the ability to deploy Heaven's armies once, at any time of our discretion."

Phanuel's eyes narrowed, and he shook his head. "That is unacceptable," he replied firmly. "The first request is reasonable, but the second is not. Heaven cannot grant such a sweeping power to another pantheon."

Sif's lips curled into a slight smile. "Very well, then we shall continue negotiating until both sides are satisfied," she said, her tone diplomatic yet firm. She turned to the valkyries and gave a nod. "Replace the table."

The valkyries moved swiftly, clearing the shattered remnants of the table and bringing in a new one. The air remained tense, but the act of replacing the table provided a brief respite from the intensity of the negotiations.