Dahlia had always been a weird place for Odin, as he passed through the streets required to reach the Sagrada Church. By technicality of location, it didn't fall under the West of Fiore that Odin, and by extension Eternal Nightmare, had claimed under their banner. And yet it held a connection to the Lich that gave him the desire to assist it and hold it under his name. This was a city he had spent a great deal of time in, long before its industrial surge. He had been here when it had merely been a collection of houses and a broken down train station, when people lived in fear of lycans and vampires killing them at a moment's notice. The killings still happened of course, but there were more people so it was a lot less noticeable.

This was also the place where Odin had died. The only place he would ever have died since it was now impossible. He held a strange sentimentality around Dahlia, and he was glad to take a few hours today to actually explore it again before he and Erebus got started back on their mission. There was a foul magic coming from the woods he would have to investigate, but this was Dahlia. When wasn't there a foul magic in the woods?

Today though, Odin was visiting the church. For two reasons mostly. The first was because the people of Dahlia had paid him to deal with the 'vampire menace' terrorising the place. Apparently the light guilds were too busy again and it was up to Odin to actually do the dirty work. Not that he had any intentions of murdering vampires: if they were this bold perhaps they were strong, and perhaps they would be of use. It's not like Odin was acting out of any sense of altruism, he benefitted from this too.

The other reason was much more simple: Odin had received a letter from his only child. The letter was signed by Khalfani, but the content could only have come from someone who had previously gone by Bryson. An informant placed within the Rune Knights, now returning to their rightful place at Odin's table. Regardless of the information he was given, Odin was actually just excited to see how much growth his child had experienced. It had been some time since he had last seen them, and change was inevitably a part of this world.

At the altar, surrounded on all sides by the numerous dead bodies that had clearly been used for sustenance, sat Khalfani. They looked simultaneously completely different and exactly like the young child that Odin had saved in Astera. There was no denying who they were, but the amount of bodies did give Odin pause, as he spoke: his words echoing throughout the almost entirely empty church.

"Apologies, it seems I am a bit late to the party."

It was extremely refreshing, more so than Odin had initially considered, seeing the evolution from Bryson to Khalfani. The once timid child had become something so much more. Confidence radiated from the vampire: both in their strength and their being. Even though Odin hadn't directly influenced their experiences, he felt a sense of pride well up from deep inside him, having been the one to send Khalfani on their path within the Rune Knights. Their comment prompted a chuckle from the Lich. who began to make his way directly to the altar, wanting to see his child close up. His path was halted by their words however, only for a moment but long enough that anyone could have spotted it. His child's words cut deeper than even Odin had expected. There weren't many people that Odin viewed on the same level as he did his child, and all the others were his founders and generals within Eternal Nightmare. Khalfani was truly someone special to the Wizard Lord.

"If it were so simple, I would have seen you." Odin's voiced started quiet, but that feeling of pride came back as he continued, "But a Lieutenant of the Rune Knights being caught seen with the only Wizard Lord in Fiore? It was a risk too great to take. If you were revealed, if I was the reason your cover was blown, I wouldn't have forgiven myself." He hoped that his words would be enough to prove to Khalfani that he still cared deeply about his child, he had never stopped.

Reaching his vampiric child just as he heard their final words, Odin didn't even hesitate, "I know you did, and I can't wait to hear what you've uncovered. But, more importantly", Odin had been wanting to see his child for some time now, especially as he had began his own mission to defeat the Bishops. It was time for all the pieces to move around. "It's time for you to come home. I want you by my side in Eternal Nightmare. You have become strong during your tenure in the knights, stronger than even I could have foreseen, and it's time for you to use that power." As he spoke, Odin placed a hand on his child's shoulder, the mother fatherly thing he had probably ever done.

Odin laughed, harder and louder than he possibly ever had before. It came from deep within him, a primal feeling that accompanied it as his voice echoed throughout the church. The laugh was not one of hilarity, however, and the tone of the sound made that abundantly clear. Odin was not mocking his child's desires, far from it: he had never been more proud. The feeling that was welling up inside of him was unlike any he had ever felt, and the ambition Khalfani showed only sought to elevate that pride to a completely new level. Forgetting who he was for a brief moment, the Lich pulled his child close in an embrace, before letting go and regaining his composure.

"Khalfani", Odin began, his voice now serious but still full of pride, "my aim has always been to change this world. The regime change in Bosco was merely the first step: a way to prove to people that new systems could work and should not be feared." The Wizard Lord's look was intense. His child wished for something truly impressive, it was up to Odin to make sure they were ready for it. "Ruling a kingdom has never been my ambition, and our new world will need a strong leader. One who has seen both the light and the dark of Fiore and knows how to integrate themself with both the nobles and the populace. I can't think of a better candidate."

Odin hadn't actually stopped to think about who would rule Fiore until this moment. It had been one of the glaring holes in his plan to change the system. He had hoped a champion would prove themselves up to the task, and who better than his own child. A child not only by circumstance, but now in name too.

"Khalfani Morningstar, welcome home."

Odin had done many things throughout his life that felt ritualistic, most of them done in the name of evil. He had trapped someone's soul after making a deal with them, holding them forever as his prisoner; he had sacrificed and devoured the hearts of men and women alike. But nothing had ever been as pure, as simple and yet, as powerful, as that of today. Khalfani was being named Morningstar, becoming the Lich's true child in name. They kneeled to accept the honour, giving Odin their full commitment as a member of the Wizard Lord's family. Bearing the name Morningstar was not a simple task, Odin knew that well enough, but it was one he felt Khalfani was ready for. They had experienced true pain before meeting their father, then watched the light mages and Rune Knights of the world. They knew both sides of the coin, something many people could not claim. They would become the ruler of Fiore, Odin would ensure it, and the world would prosper as a result.

As they stood, willing now to accept the mark of the guild, the pride that exuded from the Lich was obvious. The seals could now be put into place, the mark could now be bestowed, and Khalfani could finally gain the powers they deserved. The powers of Eternal Nightmare. And, as Odin's group and allies grew once more, he felt himself pushing ever closer to his goal.

Soon, my love. You will be free.

-Exit-