At the sight of this bizarre scene...
Odin's earlier demeanor changed as well, shock flickering in his eyes.
He recognized what it was.
So he led them to a room.
"Some substances remain from before the universe formed."
"What is inside her seems to be one of them."
"The Nine Realms are not unchanging. Where there is dawn, there is also dusk."
A book documenting the Dark Elves was opened.
"Before the dawn, the Dark Forces-the Dark Elves-ruled supreme."
John listened carefully to Odin.
Substances left over from before the universe formed?
So that was it. No wonder it looked so familiar.
It was an Infinity Stone.
His gaze slipped discreetly toward Jane. John remembered the Purple Potato collecting the stones one by one. How could one take this form?
Looking at the book, John said softly, "The Dark Elves, born of boundless darkness, sought to steal the light."
Thor picked up the thread. "I remember that story. Mom told it to me when I was little."
Odin, however, glanced at John, seemingly surprised that he could read Asgardian Script.
"Their leader, Malekith, used darkness to create a weapon called the Aether," Odin said. "The other remnants resemble stones, but the Aether is liquid and constantly changes."
"It transforms various substances into dark matter. It seeks a host to inhabit and draws energy from the host's life force."
John's eyes narrowed slightly at that.
It could transform things. No wonder it could alter magic.
It sounded very much like transfiguration. Advanced transfiguration could turn living things into inanimate objects, and inanimate objects into lifelike animals.
There were differences, but not many.
John stopped listening to what Odin said next.
It was simply a tale of the Dark Elves trying to use the Aether to plunge the universe into darkness, only