The Realm of Austur Episode 1: A New Light

When Catie, heard what Silver said she began to tear up her self. (While crying Anime tears) "Sil Sil that is so beautiful," Catie said wrapping her arms around Silvers neck. "Sigh I guess you will never change, but that is one of the things I love about you," Baron said.

"So Vincent I know you asked Van what it is he lives for," Baron said. "If you don't mind what is you live for?" Baron asked. "You seem to have all the wealth and knowledge you could possibly have," Baron responded. "Is there perhaps someone you love?" Baron asked Vincent as the tree began to come into view.

Vincent resists the urge to laugh, as Silver cringes from the sudden hug. "Something I live for? The only person I love is my daughter, so I guess you could say I live for her."

Lies. All lies. Why don't you tell the truth? Why hide it? Are you afraid of how our daughter will react, when she learns you seek to end us? How pitiful... To think you're so enslaved by these pathetic fools that you would lie so easily... Oh, how the mighty have fallen. You used to not give a flying hoot about what mortals thought. Remember those days? Yeah... Good times.

"Dad? You okay?"

Vincent nods, only then realizing he had been clutching his forehead. "I'm fine, my sweet. Just a headache."

Without another word, he begins walking again, and the others fall into step behind him. The mountain path begins to steepen, right before it forks into two separate trails. One path heads farther up into the mountains, towards the summit, while the other forks left, heading into a small forest of snow covered trees. One particularly large tree stands out from the rest, a tree of beautiful green leaves, seemingly unaffected by the harsh mountain climate. If your eyes were sharp enough, you might notice the leaves glowed slightly.

"That's our destination," Vincent says suddenly, pointing to the tree. "One of the twelve seedlings of Yggdrassil, the World Tree. Mind your behavior here. You walk on sacred ground."

"I know that wasn't a headache that was his other side talking to him," Baron though to himself.

Suddenly the group was in the presence of the world tree itself and all Baron could do was stare in awe. "I have heard many stories of the world tree Yggdrassil but to see it up close words can't do it justice," Baron said in awe.

"Baron what's so special about this tree?" Catie asked Baron while realesing Silver from her grip. "Catie first off don't disrepect Yggdrassil by calling it a tree," Baron said in a trance. "Yggdrassil, is the world tree basically anything that has to do with life, magic, etc. comes from this very spot," Baron said in reverence. "I have read stories that a single leaf from Yggdrassil can bring back the dead," Baron told Catie. "In fact some believe this is the very source of magic it's self Baron said while kneeling in front of  Yggdrassil.

"Wow I had no idea," Catie said as she got close to Baron. "It's fine Catie not alot of people know Yggdrassil exists, the majority of people think it's a story, a fable of old," Baron said pulling Catie into his embrace. "We are in the presence of something not only powerful but of legends itself," Baron said. "Yggdrassil is said to be older then time itself," Baron told Catie.

"So Vincet this is where me and Van will make our Pact underneath the hollow ground of Yggdrassil?" Baron asked Vincent

"So only a sapling but it's still so powerful and so gorgeous," Baron said staring at the tree. "I am not a vampire priest that would be ridiculous," Baron told Vincent. "Yet if your were to say a Vampire Scientist then you would be correct," Baron told Vincent. " It's not that often in one's lifetime even for beings like us who lived for a long time to come across something so amazing, " Baron said deep in thought. "As much as I would love to collect samples you are right I would be in for nasty surprise," Baron said slightly disappointed.

         "Don't worry Baron I can collect you some samples as a present," Catie said while searching for an empty container. "Catie you probably shouldn't do that remember even if this is a child of the world tree its power is way beyond our control and you didn't hear a single word I said," as Baron noticed Catie making her way to Silver. "Now I know how dad feels," as Baron just facepalmed himself in disbelief. "Come Sil Sil let's go to the pretty tree," Catie said while climbing onto Silver's back attempting to use her as a horse. "Come on mush you stubborn dragon I will not rest til me and you are underneath the pretty tree," Catie called out to Silver while lightly kicking her. "Please Silly Sil Sil don't make me drag you by your tail, horns, or wings," Catie said pleading with Silver. "I don't want to have to turn into a wolf and drag you there in my teeth," Catie was saying while on the back of Silver begging her to go towards the young tree.

    "Vincent I am sorry Catie is trying to use Silver as a common horse," Baron said while apologizing to Vincent. "Yet for some strange reason that's the one thing I love about her," Baron said to Vincent. "The fact she is who she is regardless of what is going on around her," Baron said while looking at a wolf laguz attempting to use a dragon like a pony. "She is always so cheerful and free spirited, like, nothing in the world matters," Baron continued. "Most people would be scared to death at the very sight of a dragon," Baron said. "Not Catie when she first saw Silver she was determined not only to be her friend but now look at her she is comfortable around Silver she can even do something like that," Baron said pointing towards Catie. "I don't know how to put it into words, you might call it mere foolish behavior," Baron told Vincent. "Yet in a strange way I think it something more, then again I am young what do I know," Baron said to Vincent.

"If you don't need me to pry Catie off of Silver, what do we do now?" Baron asked Vincent.  All Baron could do was stare at Catie and Silver while waiting for Vincent's response.

"Wolf, could you please not use my daughter for a mount?" Vincent pleads incredulously, only half amused.

With a single, almost alligator-like roll, Silver gently throws her newfound rider off, before quickly shifting into human form. "Catie, it's not nice to jump on people," she says gently, though it's quite clear she's exasperated. "And Catie dear... You do remember what happened the last time a wolf challenged a dragon, right?"

Vincent sighs, as his little girl quickly seeks shelter at his side. "Also," Vincent comments suddenly. "While you may not be of the undead variety little Wolf, pulling the leaves off a Sacred Tree would not be a good idea. The result would not be very... Pleasant."

While that sinks in, Vincent turns to the young vampire. "The process in of itself is fairly simple. Any pact made beneath a World Tree is deemed sacred. Breaking one... Can cause complications, if you will. But an Unbreakable Pact can not be made so easily. First, it needs the recipients of the pact to be present, in order for the Tree to recognize it. That's where things get tricky, for beings like you and I. It isn't enough for Van to simply be a voice in your head. He must be physically present as well. So, in order for this to work, Van needs to be separated for you. Now, before you get too happy Van, my current knowledge and powers only allow this separation to be temporary. And you will only appear in the form of a shade. But that is enough for the Tree to recognize the pact. So, whenever you're ready, we shall begin."

"What in the world was that for?!" Serlen yelped, rubbing his nose.
Shalla stared at him sheepishly. "I thought he finally broke in." She whistled.
He merely glared at her.

"Yes, I'm apparently a brute who is trying to kill you. I even have the stature." He replied, stepping in.
Shalla frowned. "Don't be so a sore loser, prince." She blew a raspberry.
"Your such a child." He snorted, turning around.

"I believe we both are." The priestess shot back. Serlen frowned, she had got him there.
"Fine, I relent my sarcasm." He sighed.

"I expect an apology while we are at it!" Shalla demanded.
Serlen stared at her blankly. "You first." He smirked.

"Now who is being a child?" Shalla argued.

Serlen raised his hands in defense. "I'm just saying." He muttered.
The two stood there wondering who would apologize first.

Vincent inclines his head, and as he begins to walk forward, Silver quickly seizes his arm. He turns to her, surprised, only to soften at her concern. "Father... Are you sure about this? I mean..."

He bends down and places a gentle kiss on the top of her head. "It's fine, my sweet. Don't worry."

He then steps forward, only inches away from the Sapling, and kneels. Let's see if I can still do this... If the Knowledge hasn't abandoned me entirely...

He begins to chant in a language lost to time, a language known only to himself. His voice is barely more than a whisper, and yet, it seems to echo off the mountains. How long has it been? How long has he feared to try this? To summon the Knowledge he gained by accident, the Knowledge he was never meant to have? Slowly, everything comes into focus. With his eyes closed, he can see the auras of all things. Everything around him suddenly becomes clear. His right arm slowly moves on its own, reaching outwards. With a motion not unlike chopping wood, he separates the twin auras of the vampire next to him; one a calm blue, the other a flaming red. In his mind's eye, Vincent sees the red separate from the blue, and he hears a gasp. The red aura changes into an incorporeal shape, the shape of the vampire's other half.

Vincent speaks, and again, his voice is both a whisper and an echo of power. "Here, at the foot of one of the Twelve Saplings, here beneath the Eye of the Gods. Here we invoke the unbreakable pact. A pact between two halves, to be made whole. What shall the first offer as compensation, should the pact be broken?"He addresses this question to Baron.

I shall offer the life of the woman I love Catie," Baron told Vincent. "Catie the woman I grown so close to, the one who saved me just as much as I saved her," Baron continued. "Now if the sappling needs me to prove how strong I feel for her I would have her join my side and the child of the world tree can judge for it's self," Baron said as he motioned for Catie to join him by his side. "I know she will never be in danger from this pact because I have no plans on ever breaking a pact I make with my brother," Baron said waiting to here Vincent's response.

... Mid, finally back in his shop, cart of aeriolite in tow stops to unload his cargo.
"No time to rest, I have to smelt the aeriolite ore then anneal it with elemental steal I got last year and the silver I've been squirreling away." He says as he loads the ore into the forge. "So close now, with this alloy I'll be able to make magic catalyst drive grandpa envisioned."
He then uses his flame magic to intensify the flame in the furnace, and lowers the smelting pot into said. As the ore began to melt he went over and grabbed the ingots of silver and elemental steal in order to load them in a melting pot of their own. He then lowered that pot into the furnace next to the aeriolite pot.
"Ok now I need the molds can't let the alloy go to waste." He muses as he fetches several large molds from a closet across the room.
He then sets to tending the forge, before long the ore has melted and he uses his metal magic to separate the impurities from the ore.
"Alright one liter pure molten aeriolite in with the other metals the rest into the ingot mold for later." He hums as he pores the metal.
He then uses his magic on the mixing metals, but instead of combining the evenly he creates striations an mixes in his own mana. He then pores the alloy into the molds one by one, never releasing the magic as he does so.
"Now I wait..."