With over an hour remaining before the festival begins, you suggest passing the time by reading another one of the books you borrowed. Your friends agree, and move over to the windowside dining table.

On your way there, you find yourself feeling peckish, and decide to make a quick detour by the kitchen. Not wanting to spoil your appetite before the feast, you grab the last of your apples, and offer one to each of your friends.

Moonflower: "Ooh, I'll take one!"

Apple Basket: "Me too. Thanks!"

Once sitting at the table, you settle on Chronicles of the Nine by Elegy Whitewhiskers, as the short stories contained within seem to be a perfect fit for the time you have.

With that decided, you place the book in front of you, bite into your snack, and begin to read together, sharing your thoughts at the turn of each page...

The book opens with a note from the author, explaining that the stories contained within are a compilation of various works relating to the Nine Worlds, translated from Old Ponish.

The first story originates from the Dwarves who live among the roots of Yggdrasil, and is about the isolation of Alfheim [High Earth]. According to them, Svartalfheim [Low Earth] was once their home, and one of the three Great Realms.

[Low Earth]'s ruler was none other than the Dark Lord Odin, the greatest sorcerer of all time before time. Ever would he seek new knowledge at a cost to himself, then impart it to others for the benefit of all. And so he came to be the Lord of Lords.

Eventually, Odin began his research into magics that could divine the future. Upon learning of this, the Council of [High Earth] decried the knowledge as forbidden, and ordered the Dark Lord to cease its pursuit. But it was too late, as Odin had already divined his own demise by the [High Earthians].

And so began Ragnarok [the War of Fates]. In an attempt to change the course of destiny, Odin opened a rift unto [High Earth], and began his march upon the Light Lords' hall to defeat Fenrir, his foretold nemesis.

Unbeknown to him, the [High Earthians] had predicted this, and bestowed upon the Dragons [Destroyers of Worlds] of Muspelheim [the Doomlands] an offering of crystals. As the battle began, the Light Lords bid the [Destroyers of Worlds] fly overhead, and cross the rift to [Low Earth].

The devastation that followed was inconceivable to all. The once prosperous cities of [Low Earth] laid in ruins, its verdant forests burnt, its snow-peaked mountains flattened, and its stormy seas dried. Above an ocean of flames, black smoke filled the firmament whole, and blocked out the twin suns' light.

Before meeting his fate at the fangs of Fenrir, Odin bound the souls of his people to the stars, that they may one day seek revenge against the [High Earthians] for what they had done.

Then, as the dust of battle finally settled, all that remained of [Low Earth] were ashes shrouded in eternal night. In the face of this hollow victory, the [High Earthians] built Blakkrtun [Dark Abode] around the Aevitarn [Endless Tower] as a home for the remaining wayward souls imprisoned there.

To prevent further tragedy, the [High Earthians] vowed to no longer intervene in the affairs of other realms, and as punishment, have remained isolated from the rest of the Nine Worlds ever since...

Moonflower: "Whoa! Do you think this is why the realm of Darkness looked like that?"

Apple Basket: "After meetin' Smoke, it's hard to believe dragons could be that dangerous. I'd feel better knowin' this was jus' a legend, if I'm bein' honest!"

The clock on the wall indicates half past eight.