The Morning Star

The morning sun, peeking over the rooftops of Daring Heights, shines brightly into the Portal Plaza. Vendors set to work opening their stalls for the day: the smell of hot pastries and fresh produce fills the air. Mages begin to open portals to worlds unseen: the hum of magic fills the air, too.

Through all the flurry of a town waking, a man steps out from under the shadows of the Academy housing buildings. Gerhard's clothes are disheveled, his shirt creased in the middle where he had fallen asleep in it the night before. His hair, messily tied back, hangs limp, the locks brushing up against the silver longbow he wears wrapped around his torso. With each step he takes towards the opening market, the bow smacks against the bag he carries at his waist. His hand holds both tight to him, afraid that they will not be ready when the call comes.

Focused as he is on reaching the market, on keeping ready, he does not notice when he nearly runs into a familiar blue dragonborn.

"Well, if it isn't everyone's favourite moonwalker" comes the voice of Derthaad. "Was just looking for you, skips me the time searching." He pauses for a bit, looking the man up and down, taking in his current state.

"You look like shit."

Gerhard frowns, his eyes blinking in the sun. "Thanks? You're looking... well, Derthaad." He adjusts his bow and his pack on his shoulders with a shrug. "You were looking for me? What for?"

"Two reasons: one obvious and one less obvious" the dragonborn responds nonchalantly. "The obvious one is that we got a job to prepare for; the less obvious is that I brought you breakfast" he says, raising his hands, one holding a package made out of folded parchment, the sweet smell of butter, cinnamon and vanilla escaping from it and the other holding a metal tankard with a lid.

Gerhard reaches a tentative hand out, accepting the pastry and tankard, the smell of hot tea filling his nose as he takes a deep breath and a long sip. He inclines his head to a nearby wall, low enough to sit on, and the two make their way over as Gerhard's hunger takes over, large bites already missing from his breakfast. "Fank youf," he mumbles out in between bites, flakes spilling from his lips.

"You're welcome." Derthaad gives him a concerned frown "Have you even been eating? Man, you're in a sorry state." As the two sit on top of the low wall, he sighs and continues "Well... I assume you know the other reason as to why I am here."

Gerhard nods, setting the now empty parchment sleeve on the wall beside him and picking up the tea. He takes a sip, his eyes fixed on the cobbled street before him. "I haven't heard anything. Maybe today, though, hmm?"

Derthaad gives a disappointed sigh "I know she hasn't contacted you, otherwise you would have already searched for me and we would have already been wherever we're supposed to be going." After a brief pause, he continues, "Try again, why am I here? I'll give you a hint, I stated it earlier."

"Prep, for... for a job." Gerhard shakes his head. "And what would you prepare, Derthaad? Or are you here to help me write my last testament?" He takes a sip, drawing out the space between his words. "I've been prepared for tendays."

"Sweet" Derthaad responds, clapping his hands together. "So, we have a plan of action?"

Gerhard casts a sideways glance at Derthaad's exclamation, but shakes it off. "I have a plan, yes. Library, Shackle, Find, Destroy." With each word, he raises a finger, the four digits hanging in midair.

Derthaad gives a sharp nod "So, what do we know of each? Or better put it" he then glances over to Gerhard "what do you know of each?"

Gerhard exhales, his fingers drumming on the tankard. "Very little," he mutters into his cup. "You were there, you know what Andromeda told me. The secrets to shackling Gentleman lie within the Library of All Knowledge. But she also said that one of their... responsibilities, is to wipe all record of the Staircase." His fingers rest, their grip tightening on the cold iron. "I can get to the Library. I can learn to shackle Gentleman. Andromeda, Copernicus, and Lamel will do the finding. And that just leaves..."

"... for us to get there" Derthaad responds, eyes on the plaza in front of them, taking in all the information they know, all the little information, but more importantly all that they don't know. "And what does he know of all of this?" he then turns towards Gerhard "Gentleman."

Gerhard's breath hitches as his comrade finishes his sentence, but he does not offer a correction. Instead, he pats the bag that hangs at his waist, the leather and cloth bulging under the strain of its contents. "Gentleman will know in time. I haven't spoken to him since..." His voice trails off. "He wanted the same thing as Mister. I'm not sure I can trust him."

Derthaad sat, cross-armed, waiting, assessing his friend's words and his body language, eyeing the bag at the mention of 'Gentleman'. "I understand your concern, Gerhard, but sadly he is the only individual in the entire Dawnlands... no, scratch that, the entire world, that has any sort of insight as to what exactly Mister may be up to." After a brief pause he continues "Have you talked to him since Andromeda gave him to us?"

Gerhard nods. "Briefly. He told me what they all are. The Infinite, they call themselves." He shakes his head. "Gentleman knows as much about Mister's plans as I. Their.. connection, can't penetrate Gentleman's prison. All I know is that Gentleman wanted to open the Staircase to all, fully and permanently. And Mister wanted Gentleman so badly that he... he..." Gerhard's jaw tightens, the muscle bulging at the side of his cheek.

"And thus the ball is in your court." Derthaad ponders the options for a moment, then continues "As far as I remember, the initial trade-off would have been Gentleman for Henri. Now, Mister has forced your hand, offering to trade her for him. If he is that desperate, it means that he still needs Gentleman to go through with his plan of fully opening the Staircase." He takes in a deep breath "The Staircase is a doorway to the Universe and Gentleman holds the Master key. And we need that fucking key." His eyes then shoot towards Gerhard, expectantly "So you're gonna have to talk to him and, hopefully, have him give you that fucking key."

"Or I just take it." Gerhard meets the dragonborn's gaze, briefly. "You're right. Gentleman holds the key. Or is the key. It won't much matter once his will is mine."

The ranger disappears inwards, slightly. "That's why step four is not a trade, Derthaad."

"Then what is it?"

Gerhard smiles at the irony. "I'll give you a hint, I stated it earlier. Destroy Mister. Gentleman too, if I need to. Or seal them in their prison. Apparently an Infinite cannot die while the Staircase remains. Maybe I'll use Gentleman to tear it down step by step, first."

"Library, Shackle, Find, Destroy" he repeats Gerhard's words from earlier. "Go to the Library, Shackle Gentleman, Find Orianna & Henri and Destroy Mister. Hmh... Interesting choice on that last one. Why not Imprison, as you said? Mostly because you may also be hell bent on destroying the Staircase? Good luck getting passed Andromeda on that one." A brief pause of contemplation, he glances at Gerhard, taking in his dishevelled look. "And you're going to do all of that by... bending Gentleman's will to your own? Hate to break this to you, but you like anything but prepared for such a task."

Gerhard raises the tankard to the heavens, draining the last few drops. "I'm fine."

Derthaad rubs his face, partly in frustration "My ass you're fine... Gerhard, we're about to have a face off against fucking Infinity. A half-hearted fine ain't gonna cut it. I'll ask you again, are you prepared for the upcoming challenge?" he asks, this time with a slightly more demanding tone in his voice.

"I'm about to face off against fucking Infinity, Derthaad." Gerhard's tone rises to meet the challenge that has been placed before him. "I'm going to save them. I'm going to bring her home." His eyes fix Derthaad's, his irises dull in the morning light.

Derthaad stares at Gerhard, unflinching, looking into his eyes, measuring him. "Is that what you really, truly want?" hi voice calm, but stern "To bring them home?"

Gerhard's wave of frustration breaks effortlessly on the rocks of Derthaad's steady demeanour, and he deflates once more. "I have to. I made a promise." The words drift on the breeze in a low murmur.

"Destroy Mister" the former being said with a bit of distain. "I needed to make sure what your true intentions are." Derthaad's voice is softer, but still retaining some of it's steadiness. "I saw the way you snapped at Andromeda, I know the meaning of this last step, I know that anger... I have seen revenge. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but the way you worded your previous intentions regarding it made me think otherwise. I will warn you though, that last step... while it may seem within reach, you may lose grip on what you really and truly want to hold on to."

He takes in a deep breath, for a second enjoying the cool morning air while it still lasted. "We" he continues before Gerhard could respond. "We will be going through the Staircase. We will stand beside you when you will get to the library. We will be there when you will be putting the shackles on Gentleman. We will be lending our aid when you will find Orianna and Henri." He pauses before saying the last step, but when he continues, it is not what Gerhard expected. "And we will make sure that you will bring them home."

Derthaad raises his hand, extending a finger for each of the steps. "Library. Shackle. Find. Home. That is the plan."

Gerhard nods, twisting his head from side to side as he listens to Derthaad explain to him what must happen. What he knew would happen but finds difficult to accept: that he will not be alone this time, when he sets off to find the one that calls to his heart.

"Library. Shackle. Find. Home." Gerhard repeats the four simple words, a powerfully short refrain.

He hands the tankard back to Derthaad, brushing the condensation off his hands with a quick swipe on his simple pants.

"Derthaad." Gerhard's eyes fall back to his hands, free now to fuss with his nails, with the ink stains that dot his knuckles. "You know I... that- that I can't come back. That.. that last step..."

"What about it?" he says sharply. "What about that last step makes you think you won't be coming back?"

"I know I won't be," comes Gerhard's sharp retort. "You heard Andromeda. I can't rescue Henri without taking his place. And Or- Orianna? Andromeda said she's not walking the Stairs yet, but what if that changes? What if I have to..." As Gerhard speaks, tears begin to well in his bloodshot eyes. "Derthaad, I need you to see that they make it home. Promise you will do this for me."

Derthaad pinches the bridge of his nose, part in frustration, part in thought. "Gerhard... didn't Andromeda say that if you go through with this, you'll lose The Call, you'll lose the protection it offered you? If so, you would only be affected by the Staircase's influence, not completely lost to it. That's why we're going together, so we can bring you back!" the last sentence being said with sheer certainty, as if fate has already decided its course. "Plus, didn't she also mentioned that you can use Gentleman for it was well? Use Gentleman's energy to free Henri? Or am I misremembering that bit?"

"I've walked the Staircase many times, Derthaad." He sighs, the finality of what he has committed himself to weighing heavy on his shoulders. "I can only free Henri with great willpower. Gentleman could provide that, but regardless... no matter how it is done, focusing all of that power through The Call, pointing it at the Staircase itself... I'll lose it no matter what."

"Did you walk the staircase more than us? Have there been times in which you went through it without us, without me or Kavel there? We're doing just fine as is, currently. And if the only thing you get hit by is the desire that has built up from all the times we walked the Staircase, then I'm sure you can be brought back. With or without The Call." As he said talked about the Staircase's influence, realisation struck him, followed by frustration. His subconscious mind has been telling him that travelling the Staircase wasn't such a bad idea after all, but he always attributed it as being the result of his exhaustion from the recent war. But now, his conscious self realized that the desire may be stronger than he had thought. 'Fuck Mister and his bullshit mingling.' he thought to himself.

"And if you indeed lose yourself to the Staircase, if we bring you back, then I'm pretty sure that we can also bring ALL of you back. There are means of fixing the mind." Derthaad releases his frustration with a loud sigh, his voice becoming lower and somewhat softer "There's always a way, Gerhard. We just have to look for it."

Gerhard nods, a forced smile spreading across his lips. "You're right, Derthaad. You're right. Maybe the pull won't be that bad. Maybe there'll be another option. Maybe we can all come home together." He reaches a thumb up to his eye, wiping at the tears that had gathered there.

Derthaad glances over at his comrade, seeing the forced expression on his face, and releases a sigh, pity more than anything. He places his hand on Gerhard nearest shoulder, for comfort at first, but then a refreshing wave of magic suddenly flows around Gerhard, fully enveloping him, his hair standing on ends, a prickly sensation, the smell of fresh air after a heavy rain. Upon looking down, Gerhard sees that the crease in his shirt has disappeared and his clothes no longer look dishevelled, but as if they have been just cleaned and dried. "The stench was starting to annoy me."

"Look... the only promise I can make you is that I will do everything in my power to make sure you bring them back, to make sure that ALL three of you come back from this." Derthaad's steady expression is then being washed over by a wave of concern "There is no other alternative for her, Gerhard. Because if she comes back and you don't.... whatever it is you're feeling now... it will be way worse for her. Not only that, but it will last her for the rest of her life."

Gerhard nods once more, a slow shake of his head as he listens to the promise of his comrade. "I know. Gods, I know. But.. Derthaad, if the choice must be made..." He turns his head to meet the dragonborn's eye. "Sh- she didn't deserve this. And if I must leave so that she can have a life... you must let me go."

Derthaad closes his eyes, his head tilted "Is a moment of pure bliss worth a life of misery?" he says in an almost poetic tone. He then shakes his head, somewhat annoyed "It's not me, it's her." He then open his eyes, meeting Gerhard's "She won't let you go. And I'm pretty damn sure, she will do everything in her power to bring your sorry ass back. And thus the cycle repeats."

"That is why you have to come back, for her sake!"

Gerhard avoids the declaration, the truth he knows. "Is a single star worth the inky void of the Cosmos?" he asks, taking a similar poetic tone. "Always. And a star with no planets... is still a star. The only thing that matters is that she still shines."

"Then how would the cosmos know of its beauty if there is no one there to witness it?"

Gerhard has no answers, provides no response. His head lowers, his face drawn, until it rests in his hands, his fingers running through his now clean hair. "You make it sound easy, Derthaad. Do you think it would be my first choice? I want a life, too."

"I know, you idiot" replies Derthaad. "We all want a life with those we love with the deepest corners of our heart. We all wish that life will either be eternal, or will end for both, never to be separated, not even for a second." This time, his voice gains a different tone, as if layered with a heavy weight. He talks as if from his own experience.

He steels himself before continuing, reverting back, as if the weight wasn't there to begin with. "But you're not making a good case for yourself. Probably because your vision stops at the Staircase, not going beyond, as if there is no reason for you to continue." He looks at Gerhard for a moment, then gives a small smirk. "How about I give you a fucking reason to come back?" he says dropping from the wall and sitting in front of his comrade. "How about a different promise. It wouldn't go against the original one, just expand it. Instead of just getting them out of the Staircase, how about one to take Orianna to a special place? What was it she's interested in? Stars? I know of a place you could take her. The place where I got this."

Derthaad lifts the side of his robe and goes for a small satchel on his side. As it opens, Gerhard can see a faint pale blue glow coming from within it. "Hold out your hand" he says, the light from the object he's holding sheepishly slipping through the gaps between his fingers. As Gerhard holds out his hand, Derthaad drops into it something that looks like a small pale blue mote of light. It doesn't touch Gerhard's skin, not fully, feeling somewhat as if it is there, but barely. It twinkles a little, reminding him of... of a....

"A star." It's the closest he has felt to her in days; the blue light filling his palm, reflecting in the returning shine of his eyes. He sits, transfixed, watching the clear blue light as it dances on his palm. "Derthaad." He rises his head, looking at the source of this wondrous gift with curiosity. "Where did you get this?"

A wide grin spreads across Derthaad's face, smug, but somehow warm. "It's a wonderful place called The Plane of Midnight. It is somewhere above us" he looks up towards the sky "always there, always moving with... well, as the name suggests, always moving with the midnight. I went there once to stop the gith" his head then dropping and his eyes meeting Gerhard's "It's... quite pleasant. I'm not someone who stargazes a lot, but even my unexperienced self was able to see the difference in the sky from there. The stars here are nothing compared to how many you were able to see from that plane. I'm pretty sure she would appreciate visiting such a place at least once in her life."

"Oh, and..." he adds, "I wouldn't stare at it for too long, at least not this close. It has some calming and invigorating effect, but I feel like it may disappear if doing so. So, be careful with it... and make sure she gets this."

"I- I will. Thank you." With a slight effort, he closes his fist, hiding the light, before withdrawing a small pouch and dropping it inside. "Derthaad.. thank you. For.. everything."

"You're welcome" he says with the same grin on face.

"Now..." he continues, crossing his arms "There are three things you need to do before we... before you will hear from Andromeda... which could be any second." He then raises one of his hands, extending a finger for each of the three tasks. "Firstly: talk to Gentleman. I know you may not trust him, but any information we can get from him is worth something. Anything that we can get from him may help us in what is to come. Secondly: steel yourself. I know the type of person Mister is, but I do not know is his abilities. He may appear again and try to scare you, try to weaken you. He may show you... he may show you what you dread the most. Don't late him get to you. You will have to be strong... for her."

"And the third thing?"

The grin is back on Derthaad's face. "I got a gift for you as well" he says, reaching for his bag, pulling out a scroll and handing it to Gerhard. The scroll is clearly old, the wood cracked, the parchment darkened with dust and moldy around the edges. But even in this state, Gerhard can tell that it must have been important for it has seen use. "It's a map I got from the captain's quarters of an abandoned pirate ship on an island known as Proxima, which was only heard of in legend among the sailors." He pauses, his expression now a mix of blank and incredulous "Which is now called... Kaveland." Derthaad then shakes his head, only incredulous left on his face "Heh... I'll let you ask him about this island. Oh... huh... as a hilarious show of fate, the pirate captain who owned that abandoned ship was called Cpt. Midnight."

"The third thing, Gerhard, is to take your mind off of this" he ads, waving his hand around. "I found out from experience that intensely dwelling on something for too long doesn't do well. Taking a break, even a small one, helps. It freshens up the mind."

Gerhard holds out a hand to accept the scroll, slowly unwinding it to see the map that lies within before carefully closing it once more.

"This, this is... I'll try, Derthaad. I have Maurice, after all, and it seems he eats enough for ten cats his size."

The flap of Gerhard's bag is opened, and the scroll safely stashed away amongst the other parchment, next to a small box wrapped in cloth. He closes it once more, a strip of leather tying it shut, before he turns back to the dragonborn ahead of him.

"I'll try to do it all. I'm alright. I'll be ready."