Day after day, they scoured the city for any scrap of information about Astarion's family. They asked around, anyone who might shed some light, but their inquiries were met only with shrugs and blank stares. Hours were spent within the library's halls pouring over old tomes, to no avail. Inquiries made in the City Hall, yielded no result. There was no Ancunín family currently residing in Baldur's Gate, no records, nothing. Desperation gnawed at them. The records could have been destroyed, or they didn't even exist in the first place.
"Agh, this is leading us nowhere," Astarion snapped with an evident frustration in his voice. "We've been searching endlessly, and found nothing."
Talin looked at him, her expression soft and understanding. She hesitated to respond. There was something she wanted to suggest for quite some time, but she desperately hoped that they would find the answers they sought within the library. The thought of voicing this request filled her with dread, but they had run out of options.
"Astarion," she began. "I know this is difficult for you, but," she paused, gathering her courage, "we could search Cazador's place for any records." As soon as she spoke the words, she braced herself for his fury. She never liked seeing him angry, especially at her, but she also never backed down from a challenge if it meant gaining advantage or aiding their cause.
Exactly as she had expected, his eyes blazed with anger. "There is nothing to be found there!" he fumed, "Only pain and misery. It's a nightmare, Talin. I don't want to set foot in that place ever again."
Talin stood her ground, her resolve unwavering. "I could go," she offered, her voice calm. "I won't ask you to do anything you don't want to."
"Alone? Absolutely not!" he countered.
"We're running out of options, Astarion," she explained. "Besides, the place is empty anyway."
"We never asked within your social circle. You know the upper class." Astarion remarked.
"And we won't do it unless it is our only hope. It's too risky, asking questions among the nobility that might expose you in the process. If my father knew Cazador's secret, it's likely others did too and chose to remain silent for a reason."
Another wave of frustration washed over Astarion. How could Valyndor, a lord renowned for his honor and justice, father of a paladin, allow such evil to exist? But then he looked at Talin and realization dawned on him. Valyndor, for all his noble ideals, is still a father. And what father wouldn't do anything to protect his child? A child so young… so innocent and naive to the darkness that lurks in the world. Perhaps, I would have done the same. Then another realization dawned on him. He would do the same. He would never let any harm happen to Talin.
"Astarion?" Talin's voice broke the silence. "Are you alright? You seem leagues away."
Astarion blinked, snapping back to the present. "Yes, yes… I was just contemplating your words."
"And?" she pressed, gently.
With a heavy sigh he finally relented. "Fine, let's go."
And so they went to Cazador's palace, as a last resort to search for anything that might shed some light on Astarion's origins, but the place had been thoroughly ransacked by the Gur and opportunistic looters. At least they didn't care for books and records.
They searched and searched, left no page unturned, but again, they found nothing, save a small ornate box amongst the debris of fallen bookshelves. Talin took the box and carefully lifted the lid. Inside she found a beautiful pin–a shield adorned with silver stars and a downward-pointing sword. The craftsmanship was exquisite.
"Such a beautiful pin," she gasped, admiring the delicate design. "It wouldn't make sense to just leave it here," she declared, determined to take the pin with her.
Born in privilege, Talin had been pampered from the day she was born, her every desire fulfilled effortlessly. But their harsh adventure had taught her the value of resourcefulness, where they had to scavenge whatever they could.
"Fine," he said, his voice gruff. "Take the pin and let's go. There's nothing for us here anymore." Astarion urged.
Another futile attempt, she sighed in disappointment. Well at least we didn't leave empty handed, she thought, smiling and admiring the pin in her palm.
The journey home was filled with silence. It had already gotten late and there was nothing else to be said. Exhausted from the search and the day's events, they went to sleep.
But again as every other night, sleep evaded Talin as different possibilities swirled through her mind. Will they ever find the answer? What if they are seeking the answer in the wrong place? She tossed and turned restlessly, when suddenly a word echoed in her mind: Divination. She remembered reading about divination magic as a child, but the specifics remained clouded.
With a sudden surge of adrenaline, she threw back the covers and rushed to the family study. The candles flickered as she swiftly passed by them and reached the bookshelves. Divination, divination… She scanned the shelves hurriedly, her fingers tracing the leather-bound volumes. "Ugh, I know you're here," she said, her frustration growing.
Finally, she found what she was looking for. She pulled out an old tome from the shelf, its cover inscribed with arcane symbols. She sat at the nearby desk and started flipping through the pages until she found the words that caught her attention: Legend Lore. A potent incantation, capable of unveiling the secrets of history itself. This is it. This is what I was looking for. The details of the spell filled her mind as she absorbed every word.
She slammed the book and hurried back to their bedchambers.
"Astarion!" she exclaimed, bursting into the room. "Astarion, wake up!"
Astarion stirred slightly. "It's a gorgeous gown, Talin. It looks absolutely stunning on you," he murmured, still half asleep.
"What? N-no, Astarion wake up, I found something important." She nudged him.
Astarion stirred again, his crimson eyes blinking open in the dim light. "What is it, my dear?" He pulled himself to one elbow. "What have you found?"
"Magic!" she announced, beaming with pride.
Astarion closed his eyes and sighed deeply. "Talin," he said, rubbing the bridge of his nose, "aren't you magic?" he asked, barely holding his eyes open. "What are you talking about?"
"No, no, this is divination magic, one that unearths forgotten truths," she explained. "There's a spell called Legend Lore. It can reveal significant information about people, places, or objects." Her eyes sparkled in anticipation. "Do you know what this means?"
Astarion straightened, intrigued. He taught for a second, piecing together the possibilities. "You mean… we could-"
"Find out about your family, yes!" She finished his sentence, her voice filled with hope. "I don't know how yet, but luckily we have our own wizard at disposal. We'll need Gale for this."
Astarion's face soured slightly. "Ugh, Gale, really? Can't you just cast the spell yourself?"
Talin shook her head. "I wish that I could. But, I'm no wizard, Astarion. I can't."
"But you have magic in your blood don't you? Isn't it second nature to you?" Astarion pressed.
"True, but it's not the same. My magic is inherent. It's instinctive and raw. Casting these spells involves more than just innate power. There's also a somatic component and a verbal component to consider. There is an entire school for this. I'm sorry, but we need Gale's expertise.
Astarion reluctantly conceded, "I suppose if he can genuinely assist us with this, we should let him."
"Good. We should go to him first thing in the morning." Suddenly she hesitated, remembering what happened the last time when she went to Gale without notice and accidentally landed in his bedchamber. "On second thought, maybe I'll send an advanced notice first."
They were too excited about the new prospect to immediately return to sleep, so they settled back against the soft pillows on their bed. It was a quiet evening. Turning to face him, Talin broke the silence.
"I can't wait to see what happens next. I truly hope this works," she whispered, her eyes searching for his as if to ask if he taught the same.
He smiled softly as he looked back at her. "Me too."
Caught in the moment, he leaned in and kissed her tenderly. When they parted, Talin noticed something different in his look. There was a longing in his eyes she had never seen before. He kissed her again, more intensely this time, easing her gently onto her back.
Beside yearning, she sensed something else in him. There was a flash of doubt, a brief moment of fear. It was subtle, easily missed by anyone else, but not her.
While they kissed, his hand suddenly slipped down her panties in one smooth movement. She gasped at the sensation. She wasn't shocked by the gesture, however something about it felt off. It felt almost like a performance, too practiced, too instinctive. Despite the undeniable thrill of his touch, it felt terribly wrong. It was obvious Astarion was still struggling with his past. The thought that he still acted on instinct made her heart ache.
She placed a hand on his chest, gently pushing him back. "Astarion, wait," she whispered.
Momentarily confused, he stopped and looked at her expectantly.
"I... I don't think we should do this," she continued, her voice soft but firm.
He hesitated for a moment, then slowly withdrew his hand. There was a hint of relief in his eyes. "You're right. I can't. I'm sorry."
"Don't be," she mumbled. "Come, let's just sit together and enjoy this beautiful serene night for a while. Perhaps, we could read a book?" she suggested.
"Hmm," Astarion considered her suggestion. He enjoyed reading, and he enjoyed the warmth of her body when she snuggled against him even more. "What would you like to read?" he asked.
"How about the one you were reading the other day?" she answered, slightly intrigued.
"The Art of Necromancy?" he asked, seeking confirmation.
Talin grimaced. "On second thought, maybe not," she responded, somewhat disappointed by his choice of books. "Maybe you can find a lighter read in the study, a ballad perhaps?" she hinted.
"I'll be right back," he said and quickly slipped out of the room. He returned shortly, holding two books. "All right, so I got the Fables of Faerûn and Neverwinter Nights."
"Ooh, the Neverwinter Nights first," Talin exclaimed in excitement.
They settled on the bed, making themselves comfortable. She nestled in his arms, resting her head on his chest. Astarion opened the book and started reading aloud in a soft and soothing voice that lulled Talin into a peaceful sleep, almost instantly. Shortly after, comforted by her warmth, he drifted off to sleep.
They woke up the next morning the same way they'd fallen asleep, wrapped in each other's arms. The book, barely holding on a thread at the edge of the bed, tumbled suddenly to the floor, waking them abruptly.
Talin gasped, startled by the sudden sound, her breath slightly quickening.
"Wha–what happened?" she murmured.
Astarion fluttered his eyes open, and looked around the room only to realize that the book had fallen from his hands. "It's the book. It must have fallen while we were asleep." He closed his eyes again.
Talin yawned and stretched, then turned to Astarion, who appeared to have fallen asleep once more. "Well don't go back to sleep," she urged. "We have a wizard to visit." But Astarion didn't budge. She threw back the covers and jumped on him, straddling him. She cupped his face and gently patted his cheeks. "Come on, Astarion, aren't you excited?"
Astarion's crimson eyes fluttered open again, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. "Eager to see Gale again, are we?" he teased.
Talin rolled her eyes playfully. "How long are you going to mock me for that? It's his magical talents we require, this time," she mocked back.
Astarion chuckled. "As you say, darling."
He stretched his arms and rubbed his eyes gently. As Talin turned to move away from him, he caught her suddenly with a mischievous glint in his eyes, grasping her waist. She squealed and giggled as he lifted her up and reversed their positions, looming over her.
He raised an eyebrow in a playful manner. "You didn't think there would be consequences for waking a vampire darling, did you?"
"Oh my," Talin gasped, feigning alarm while batting her eyelashes. "A vampire's wrath? Please, oh, please have mercy!" she pleaded with a mocking tone.
They both chuckled, then he leaned in and kissed her. "You cheeky, little pup." He rose from the bed and extended a hand to help her get up.
As they were getting ready to start the day, Talin suddenly realized something. "You know, perhaps it's best if we wait until nightfall to depart," she said, slightly concerned.
"Why? We're using the portal anyway, right?" Astarion asked.
"Right but, last time I did this, my calculations were a bit... off," she explained. "If it happens again, you might find yourself staring directly into the sun. And we don't want that, do we?"
"Oh… right." Astarion nodded in understanding. "Yes, perhaps we should not risk it. Not that I don't believe in your abilities, of course, but a few more hours won't hurt anyway." He paused, his eyes narrowing for a moment. "So what should we do now?"
"Well, let's go about our day, and perhaps, we could try to learn more about divination magic." Talin suggested.
With their departure delayed, they spent the day in the study immersed in research. Talin was burrowed in a particularly large tome, while Astarion leaned against a towering bookshelf, his interest caught by a dusty tome called Tribunal of Myth Drannor.
Suddenly, the study door creaked open, revealing Elara. She held a tray with a pitcher and two crystal glasses filled with wild berry juice. The sweet scent of fresh forest fruit immediately filled the room as she strolled by and put the tray down on the desk where Talin was sitting.
She looked around the room frowning. "My dear, why is it so dark in here? It's such a beautiful day outside." she said, striding towards the windows. Talin being lost in the magical tome did not pay immediate attention to Elara's intention, and Astarion, intrigued by the book he was holding did not even noticed when Elara passed him by. Before either one could react, Elara reached for the heavy velvet curtains, and pulled them back with a flourish, flooding the room with bright sunlight.
Talin's heart leaped to her throat when she realized what was happening. "Elara, no!" she shouted, leaping out of her chair, but it was too late.
Astarion instinctively recoiled, his hands moving up to shield his face, bracing for the agonizing burn.
But… nothing happened.
"Oh hush, Talin. A little sunshine will do you both good," Elara insisted. "Look how pale the boy is. He's flinching, the poor thing."
Astarion lowered his hands slowly and cautiously. Instead of the searing pain, he only felt the familiar warmth of the sun.
Talin stared at him, wide-eyed. Her heart was still pounding rapidly. Her initial fear was replaced by confusion. "What in the Hells…?" she mumbled.
Astarion's confusion mirrored hers. He stared at her blankly and said nothing.
"There, that's much better," Elara said. She seemed completely oblivious to what just happened in the room. "Now, drink your juices, they're good for you," she added, before turning and leaving the room, humming a cheerful tune.
There was a moment of silence in the study as Elara's tune faded.
"Talin, what is happening? How am I not a pile of ash right now?" Astarion finally broke the silence, his voice trembling slightly.
Talin shook her head. "I… don't know, Astarion. This is…" she admitted, trying to find an explanation to what they just witnessed. The tadpole is gone, Astarion remains a spawn and hasn't gained any new abilities.
Just then a sudden glint caught her eye. It was the ring on Astarion's finger, the ring she had given him almost a month ago. Then a memory flashed before her eyes.
"The ring," she muttered, "it hummed with arcane energy when the sun lit the room. I felt it!"
Astarion's gaze turned from Talin to the silver band on his finger. He slowly turned his hand, examining the ring with a newfound curiosity. The ring vibrated slightly still, barely noticeable, then stopped. "You think that… this ring is a magical ring?" he questioned.
"I don't have any other explanation. You know what happened at the docks, when the tadpoles died. It has to be the ring," she said, her voice slowly gaining confidence.
"Well, only one way to find out." He pulled back the curtains, dimming the study again, and slipped the ring off of his finger.
Talin, immediately understanding the assignment, approached the window. She slowly pulled one curtain slightly back, while Astarion stretched his hand towards the light.
"Agh!" he cried out, pulling his hand back reflexively, as the sunlight scorched his pale skin. Talin immediately pulled the curtain back, blocking the light.
His eyes widened in astonishment after the pain subsided. "Ha!" He laughed, a sound full of disbelief and exhilaration. "Talin, you wonderful creature, you never cease to amaze me!" He reached out and cupped her face, pressing his lips against hers, a bit too forceful.
"You've done it! I can walk in the sun again!" He slipped the ring back on his finger, his gaze lingering on the band as if seeing it for the first time.
Talin blinked as he pulled back, still a little shocked. Then a joyous smile spread across her face. "I can't believe it!" She reached for his hand and examined the ring. "I didn't even know the ring was magical. I wonder what other properties it possesses."
"Who cares? I can walk in the sun again." Astarion chirped, the thrill of the newfound freedom was evident. "Come, my love," he urged. "Let's surprise our wizard with an unexpected visit again."
"Wait! We need the book." Talin exclaimed.
"What book?"
"The one with the names, in the library," she explained. "And, I'll need you to, um… borrow it, shall I say. I know where it is."
Astarion smacked his lips. "I thought you were going to ask for something more complicated. Come, let's get that book."
Getting the book was easy. It slipped into Astarion's grasp with the practiced ease. It was a simple task, one he'd executed countless times before, leaving no trace of his nimble fingers.
"All right, we have the book, you have the ring on your finger. Are you ready?" Talin asked.
"Are you certain this is wise?" Astarion inquired, a hint of unease in his voice.
"Astarion, we can always use a different method of transportation, but it will be a matter of days until we reach Waterdeep," she explained, slightly frustrated.
"No, not the spell. Although, I don't relish the thought of landing in Gale's bedroom," he acknowledged. "I meant asking Gale. I'm not exactly thrilled about involving other people in this matter."
Talin signed. "Astarion, Gale is our friend," she replied with understanding. "I mean," she continued slightly teasing, "are we getting a lecture about divination magic, or course we are. It's Gale!" she exclaimed. "But, honestly, I wouldn't trust anyone better for this," she assured him.
"I suppose you're right," he conceded. Well then, let's not waste anymore time. Waterdeep awaits!"
"Indeed," Talin nodded with a quiet resolve. "All right, Talin, focus," she murmured, more to herself than to Astarion.
With a deep breath, she began to weave the spell. Astarion watched closely with a mix of fascination and apprehension.
The air crackled with energy, and a swirling vortex of amethyst light materialized before them. Talin extended her hand. Astarion hesitated for a moment, before his hand reached out to accept hers.