The Nine Realms
In an attempt to extricate myself from the awkward moment that follows Atlanta’s blunt, candid proclamation, I expound about the whole Nine Realms of Yggdrasil without being asked. About the “realms” sometimes referring to not only the nine planets or asteroids that bear the respective names but also the whole galaxies which are centred on those planets or asteroids; about the invisible-to-naked-mundane-eye big and small paths which connect the Nine with each other, shaped like a tree; and about the placement of each of the Nine on the Tree, with Midgard right on the middle and Asgard on top.
She attends the tale, as if spellbound, and I find myself terrifically pleased about it.
Then again, in Asgard, people her age would rather learn their parents’ crafts than studying scholarly matters or listening to tales unrelated to gossip, fights, battles and warriorly exploits. So, usually, my audience are only young children with short attention span and limited diction. But, with Atlanta, I need not simplify my words, and she is even asking intelligent questions about the Nine, presently.
I only wish that I did not have to conceal so much from her, in an effort to keep my identity secret.