Gale's tower appeared ordinary from the outside, yet still beautiful and slightly imposing with its steep, pointed roof. It was a tall, lean, three-storied building made mostly from stone with timber framing and dark wooden beams. Each floor had tall, narrow windows at the front. The first-floor windows opened onto a balcony, while the second and third-floor windows extended outwards. Warm light spilled from the windows on the upper floor, suggesting there was someone inside. The entrance was austere, except for a small, tarnished brass knocker shaped like an open book adorning the door and two lanterns hanging on either side, casting a warm light against the stone walls.

"Hmm, I'm not sure what I imagined, but perhaps something more… befitting a wizard?" Astarion remarked as he looked at the tower.

Talin chuckled lightly at his observation. "What did you expect? A tall, mysterious tower surrounded by a magical aura, with a conical roof spiraling upward?" She said, slightly teasing Astarion, dramatically raising her hands in the air. "Maybe throw in a few mismatched windows and crooked chimneys." She laughed again and moved closer to the door.

"Why are you laughing? It's a perfectly reasonable observation." Astarion tried to defend himself, his voice rising a little.

"More befitting a wizard…" she said under her breath, still smiling and shaking her head in amusement. Then, she grabbed the knocker and slammed it against the door several times. Her heartbeat quickened a little in anticipation. Besides the urgent matter they wanted to discuss with Gale, she was eager to see her friend. He was one of the few people she could talk to for hours without getting bored, and she missed that.

They were expecting Gale to show up any second now, but nothing. There was no response from the other side of the door, only silence. She looked at Astarion, a bit worried, then grabbed the knocker and slammed it again, but this time with all her strength.

"No need to break the door, darling," Astarion said, catching her hand mid-knock.

"I just thought maybe they didn't hear the first knock. I see lights through the windows. There must be someone inside."

After a moment, more lights lit up, then they heard muffled voices followed by a rush of footsteps. They waited patiently as the door opened slightly, and Gale peered out.

"Surprise!" Talin grinned, leaning towards the door opening so Gale could see her better. She felt silly, and her cheeks flushed a little when she saw Gale's surprised face. She remembered her last visit here and how unpleasant it was, and yet here she was again, knocking on Gale's door at this late hour.

"Talin! Well, I see your timing hasn't improved in the slightest. And look, you brought Astarion along." Gale clearly wasn't expecting guests, especially not at this hour.

"Well, hello, Gale," Astarion waved from behind Talin, leaning slightly on the side.

"Gale, I apologize. I know it's late, and we would have been here earlier, except the spell landed us in a different location again," Talin explained. "We've been roaming the city looking for your tower."

While Talin apologized and explained why they were visiting so late, Gale opened the door and gestured for them to enter. "Ah, I see," he said as he closed the door behind them. I did warn you, didn't I? It takes a great deal of practice to master such magic," he reminded her, wagging a finger like a disapproving teacher.

Talin managed a wry smile. Even though Gale was right, it was hard for her to admit to him that she didn't manage to cast the spell correctly. She did not like hearing critiques about her magic abilities, and she was already frustrated enough with this spell as it was.

"Gale, what is this commotion?" Tara showed up suddenly. Her annoyance with the disturbance was obvious. She was about to ask who it was, but when her eyes landed on Talin, she didn't even try to hide her lack of amusement. "Oh, it'syouagain. I see you brought a company this time."

"Tara!" Gale exclaimed. "Don't be rude. These are our very dear friends."

"Then perhaps your friends could benefit from learning some manners. I think an etiquette lesson would be in order, Gale," Tara said, disapproving of the late-night visit. Then she disappeared the way she appeared, uninterested in exchanging pleasantries with the guests.

Gale turned to Talin. "Forgive Tara. She hasn't had her nap today." He escorted them to the living room, and while they were moving, Gale spoke again, addressing Talin. "It's wonderful to see you again, my friend, but is everything all right?"

"Always worried about me. You're such a sweetheart." She squeezed his hand and gave him a genuine smile. "It's lovely to see you too, Gale, but I'm quite all right, don't you worry." She was uncomfortable that she had to ask him for another favor, but everything happened so quickly, and she had not expected that divination magic might be the answer. She decided to wait and bring the subject once they were seated.

Suddenly, a woman's voice coming from the upper floor caught their attention. "Gale," the voice called out. "Is everything all right?"

"Yes, my love. It's Talin. Come down to say hello," Gale replied a little louder.

"Talin!" Thalia exclaimed excitedly and rushed down the stairs to greet the guests. She swung her arms open as she approached Talin, pulling her into a warm, friendly embrace. "Sweet, sweet Talin." She squeezed her tightly. "It's such a delight to see you again," she said as she pulled back slightly to face Talin, still holding her at arm's reach. "Look at you, as lovely as ever!" Then she turned to Astarion. "And you must be Astarion, the charming delight that captured our lovely Talin's heart. I've heard so much about you, but we haven't met. I'm Thalia."

Thalia's charm and smile had such a positive effect on people, so whenever she entered a room, the place lit up. Her presence simply filled your heart with warmth. She seemed to have amused Astarion, too. He gently took her hand as she approached. "A pleasure," he said softly, kissing her knuckles.

Talin didn't seem bothered by Astraion's flirting this time. Even though she had only met Thalia once, she adored her, so she deemed Astraion's behavior justified. "Isn't she delightful, Astarion?" She beamed at him, waiting for his reaction as if daring him to disagree.

"Well, she certainly knows how to make an entrance," he drawled, looking at Thalia for a bit longer before turning back to Talin. "But then again, so do you, my love." His hand curled quickly around her waist, tugging her next to him, and kissed her cheek.

Talin smiled and made a dismissive gesture with her hand. "Oh, stop it. You're embarrassing me," she said politely. She feigned humility but secretly appreciated his remark.

Gale cleared his throat, showing a bit of irritation from Astarion's attempt to charm Thalia and his intense gaping. "Now that we've all been properly introduced, please have a seat," he gestured towards the chairs and the sofas in the living room.

As they moved toward the sitting area, Talin tugged at Astarion's arm, pulling him slightly toward her so she could reach his ear. "You're making Gale uncomfortable, so stop it. We don't want him upset," she whispered. Before he could respond, she let go of his arm and quickly followed Gale to the living room as if nothing happened. She chose the chair closest to the fireplace, and just as she sat down, Gale cleared his throat again and chuckled nervously. Talin looked at him and then around the room, confused. "Is there a problem, Gale?"

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry about this, Talin, but I'm afraid I must ask you to sit somewhere else. You see, that particular chair is sort of my chair. It is where I usually read and contemplate, sort of like a thinking chair. So would you be a dear?"

Nothing that Gale said made sense to her. He wasn't going to do any reading or contemplating. However, she graciously agreed to move to another chair while Astarion rolled his eyes theatrically. "But, of course, Gale," she replied sweetly and sat on a nearby chair, which, to her confusion, appeared just as comfortable and inviting as the first.

"Good, we don't want to usurp the wizard's thinking throne," Astraion said sarcastically, and Talin shot him with a warning look. They were guests in Gale's house, and they needed his help. While Astarion cared little for social graces, Talin had impeccable manners, so respecting Gale's wishes was not an issue. She's been taught proper decorum since childhood, so whether she was annoyed by the request or not, she did not show.

"Thank you. Again, I apologize for this inconvenience. Now, would you care for some wine?"

"Wine sounds lovely, thank you," Talin replied.

Gale pulled a bottle of a fine domestic selection from the nearby wine rack. Then, he took four delicate glasses and poured the wine into each one with elegant precision. After he filled the glasses, he carefully pushed the cork back into the bottle's opening. "So, is there anything I can do for you, my friend?" he said, offering a glass to Talin.

Talin accepted the glass offered to her and brought it to her lips, pausing to take in the aroma of the wine before taking a sip. "I'm afraid I'll have another favor to ask of you, Gale. I need your practiced tongue," she blurted, then quickly corrected herself with a cough, "I mean, your skill in the verbal part of magic."

Astarion lowered his head, pressing his lips together in a futile attempt to stifle a smirk.

"Let me clarify," Talin tried to explain, setting the glass of wine aside. "You're the only one I trust to help with this delicate matter who is studied and well-versed in magic."

"You know I can never refuse a discussion about arcane matters," Gale sighed longingly. "What is it that you need from me?"

"Your knowledge in Divination magic. More precisely, to perform Legend Lore."

Gale's eyes narrowed as he looked at Talin curiously. "Legend Lore? That," he nodded, raising his index finger and wagging it, "is most intriguing. What are you hoping to find?"

Talin looked at Astarion, hesitant if she should proceed or let him speak. Astraion, who silently followed the conversation, nodded and then finally spoke. "The truth," he began in a low and steady voice, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. "As you already know, I remember nothing of my past. Except for being a magistrate, a fact which my lovely sorceress here has graciously confirmed." He gestured towards Talin, and she shifted uncomfortably in her chair.

Gale and Thalia, who were well informed about Talin's actions on this specific matter, sensed the tension in Astarion's mocking remark and exchanged uncomfortable glances.

"Whether it's due to two centuries of torment," Astarion pressed on, "or Cazador did something to me, I don't know. But I need to find out. To seek out my family. Elves are long-lived. So they may still be alive."

"We had no luck with records. I only have this book on magistrates we took from the library, which mentions the names of Astarion's parents," Talin said. "And I thought we could use it for the spell."

Gale moved in his chair, re-crossing his legs and leaning slightly forward. "Talin, I must say that it is most impressive to conclude that we could use Legend Lore. It is truly remarkable." He paused, smiling warmly. "I can say I am incredibly proud."

"Thank you… I think," Talin responded politely. Though she appreciated Gale's encouragement, the praise felt slightly condescending, as if he were commending one of his bright students rather than acknowledging a fellow mage's discernment.

"I'm willing to lend a hand, of course," Gale said. "But before I do, I want you to keep your expectations to a minimum. There is always the possibility that the spell may provide minimal or no information at all. Do you understand?" he asked, looking at his friends expectantly.

Talin and Astarion both nodded in agreement.

"Now that we made that clear, how about we do some magic?" Gale proposed with his usual smugness. "If you could please hand me the book," he asked.

"Yes, of course. It's right here," Talin said, pulling out the dusty old thome from the backpack. "I also brought these," she added, rummaging through the bag and taking out an aromatic incense and some ivory strips necessary for the spell. "I hope these will suffice."

Gale's expression brightened significantly. "Splendid. I see you did your research. We have the object linked to Astarion's lineage and the necessary components for the spellcasting process. Shall we begin?"

Before answering, Talin turned to Astarion and took his hand into hers, silently asking for his confirmation.

He nodded and squeezed her hand gently. "I'm ready. Let's do this," he confirmed, but Talin sensed some reluctance in his tone.

"Let's go to my study," Gale suggested. "It is a better-suited place for spellcasting."

They moved to the study that was on the topmost floor. When they entered the dark room, Gale snapped his fingers, and every lamp and candle lit up. As Talin expected, Gale's study was filled with towering bookshelves overflowing with books and scrolls. They were so tall that they had their own small staircases with little platforms. Shelves were filled with orbs, crystals, and all sorts of magical trinkets and instruments. Maps and charts were carefully stacked below the shelves in vase-like metal containers. Tall paneled windows overlooking the sea gave the place a grand and serene look. A large ornate wooden table was placed in the center, surrounded by oil lamps that cast a warm light on even more stacks of books, research notes, a magnifying glass, and a strange quill but no ink.Is that… a magical quill? Curious. Talin thought, but then another contraption caught her eye—an ornate, oval mirror stood upon a pedestal. Its frame was made of golden metal and carved with arcane symbols that glimmered faintly in the light. Talin, however, found herself unfamiliar with these symbols.Why would Gale need a mirror in his study? He can conjure his own mirror image. Maybe it's a magic mirror?Apart from the tall windows, the room had a glass dome in the ceiling, which allowed Gale to observe the stars on clear nights. And if it was too bright during the day, he would simply use magic to dim the room.

"Now, please," he gestured towards the chairs near the fireplace, "settle in and make yourselves comfortable. The spell will take a while to cast, and I also need time to prepare. This process calls for specific somatic and verbal components besides the material ones."

Talin and Astarion sat near the fireplace while Thalia made herself comfortable in the large ornate armchair at the desk.

Gale stood before a small stand near the window and carefully arranged the incense and ivory strips. Then he opened the tome to the page where Astarion's parents' names were written. The pages were labeled, and Talin remembered the number, which saved Gale time from flipping through them in the massive book. With a deep breath, he began to chant the incantations in a low, resonant voice, his hands tracing symbols in the air. A bright blue glow flowed from the opened book and surrounded Gale as it grew in size and intensity.

As Astarion watched Gale perform the spell, his chest tightened. It almost felt like his undead heart was battering against it. He seemed focused on the outside, but his thoughts were spinning. What if the spell uncovers that he was a bigger monster then than now? A metaphorical monster. After all, his name was in the book, too, and he was already portrayed as someone who believed in severe punishment. Would Talin still stay with him? Though she knew how to bend the rules now and then for things she justified as necessary, her moral compass was not so twisted that she would choose to stay with a monster or intentionally harm others.

While Gale was still deep into spellcasting, Talin took Astarion's hand, but the touch made her shiver as if the room was suddenly freezing. Astarion's skin was usually cool to the touch, but now it was as frigid as ice. It almost made her fingers immediately turned her head to look at him and noticed the intense, stern stare in his eyes. She squeezed his hand but got no reaction from him, only a cold, distant gaze in Gale's direction. Having spent two hundred years entertaining intimately, faking smiles, and deceiving people, Astarion was a master when it came to masking his true emotions. So, in certain situations, it was very difficult to detect how he felt. Was he anxious, scared, excited, or even aroused? But, thanks to their elven bond, Talin had learned to discern certain patterns in his behavior. So when she noticed the stare and the icy-cold touch, she knew something was not quite right.

As Gale's chanting intensified, the light grew brighter and moved around him at an accelerated pace. A sudden rapid surge coursed through Astarion's body, making him wince, and he cried out. Then, the magic light vanished between the book's pages. Gale staggered briefly, shaking his head.

Talin gasped, jumping out of the chair. "Astarion, are you alright? What happened." She knelt before him, looking for any sign of residual pain.

"I'm fine now. I felt a sudden jolt run through my whole body." He stood up from the chair, pulling Talin up on her feet, and turned to Gale. "Gale?"

Gale turned and took a deep breath. Everyone looked at him expectantly. "I believe the spell was partially successful. I experienced a brief vision. There was a crest… a coat of arms of sorts. But not much else has been revealed to me," he admitted.

"A crest? What good is a crest…" Astraion said, displeased by the result. He started fidgeting nervously. "We needed a location, a place. What am I supposed to do with this… crest?"

"Hold on," Talin suddenly added. She paused for a moment as if trying to remember something. "The crest might be enough."

Astarion sighed in frustration. "How, Talin? A vision of some crest doesn't seem particularly helpful."

"Don't you see it? It's not just some crest. Gale might not have seen where your parents are, but he saw this object most likely tied to your lineage. This must be your family crest. I think this could be helpful, Astarion. We just need to find out more about it." She moved closer to where Gale was standing. "Gale, would you please describe this crest you saw in your vision."

"Certainly," Gale replied. "Let's document this vision, shall we?" He made a quick gesture with his fingers, and suddenly, the quill on the desk lifted and hovered in the air.

"I knew it!" Talin mumbled to herself.

As Gale recalled the vision, describing each detail of the crest, the quill moved across the empty pages of an open book, its tip leaving a trail of wet ink. "The central element was an elegant shield," Gale began, his voice echoing in the silent study. "Its color was deep, silvery blue, almost metallic. The shield's frame was silver, and the shield itself had some detailed carvings in the background with a touch of gold. They looked like flourishes or leaf patterns. In the middle was a large silver star with a bluish hue, surrounded by smaller white stars. A sword was positioned vertically behind the shield, pointing downwards."

Astarion frowned and fidgeted anxiously, almost on the verge of losing his composure. "But how does this help us?"

"Hold on," Talin interrupted, her eyes widening as she suddenly realized. "The pin!" Her heart started racing, and she hurriedly reached for her small purse, suddenly aware that she hadn't taken out the pin she had found in Cazador's palace. "It's what you described, isn't it?" she asked as she fetched it from the purse and presented it to Gale.

"Yes, that's what I saw in my vision!" Gale exclaimed, his eyes widening in astonishment. "Remarkable. And you had this with you all along."

"I didn't know what it was. We found it in Szarr's palace. And it was too pretty to just leave it there."

With the pin still in her palm, she turned to Astarion and extended it towards him. "You must've had this in your possession on your final night. And Cazador sealed it away," she whispered, her eyes glistening, searching for his. But Astarion's eyes were locked on the pin in her hand.

He picked it up hesitantly and examined it briefly, but the pin held no significance. He let out a humorless chuckle, yet his eyes betrayed a brief flash of longing and pain. But it vanished quickly, replaced by a deep frown and contempt. "Another thing he took from me," he said quietly and returned the pin to Talin, leaving her puzzled. Cazador's cruelty left more scars than the ones on his back, and these scars ran far deeper, shattering his soul. Much more was going through his head than he cared to admit.

Talin looked at him with concern, gently touching his arm. She could feel the tension in his muscles under her palm and the restlessness in his eyes. "Astarion, we'll find the answer," she said, trying to comfort him.

"How? Just because you think you can fix everything?" He lashed out at her. "When have youeverfixed anything, Talin? This isn't something your father or brother could smooth over. This isreal."

"Hey, hold on," Thalia stood up from her chair, ready to defend Talin against Astraion's harsh words, but Gale stopped her, gently putting his hand on her arm. He gave her a look that clearly meant it was not their place to interfere.

Inhaling a sharp breath, Talin recoiled and jerked her hand away as though it had been seared by a flame. He wasn't entirely wrong. She did have a carefree life, but hearing the words coming out of his mouth pierced her heart like a cold, sharp dagger. All she wanted was to offer comfort to help him overcome his fears and fight for their rightful place in this world, but he refused to let her in. She could not break the facade he had built around himself. The old Talin would not have tolerated this. Normally, she would have walked away, but this Talin swallowed her hurt and stood her ground. She had grown and learned a lot since their shared peril brought them together, but it seemed that Astarion couldn't see that. Even though she wanted to scream back at him, she steadied her voice with several deep breaths before she responded. "Why are you yelling at me? I'm only trying to help you," she said softly.

He lunged forward, even angrier than before. "No, Talin. You're trying to fit me into your perfect little snobbish world, looking at me with those sweet, innocent eyes, expecting me to be something I'm not," he blurted out while pointing at himself in frustration.

Talin lifted her chin, taking up a defensive stance. "That is not true, Astarion! I've never asked you to be anyone but yourself." Her voice trembled as she desperately tried to calm him down, her hands tightening into little fists to restrain her irritation.

Gale and Thalia watched the argument unfold with unease.

Astarion let out an ironic laugh. "Isn't it? What if what we find doesn't please the noble ideals of your righteous father? What then?"

Mentioning her father, whom she loved and respected so much, was a low blow. She was taught to uphold those ideals and strongly believed in those values. But, she also believed in Astarion. Yet, his mocking remark made her question for a moment whether her father's views were indeed as righteous as she believed or whether she truly knew what she was doing. Despite that, she maintained her composure, not wanting to show any sign of weakness to Astarion.

"This isn't fair!" Talin's voice broke, tears welling up in her eyes. "I can't please everyone…" She exhaled deeply. "And I want to be with you."

"It's suffocating, Talin. I'm suffocating under the weight of your expectations," he said through gritted teeth, desperately trying to convey the anguish in his heart.

A lash from a whip would have stung less. She swallowed, but the lump in her throat remained. Her expression softened as she gazed at him for a while. Taking in a deep breath, she spoke. "Then what are we doing, Astarion?"

He shrugged. "I don't know." His voice was much softer now, almost a whisper.

After that, the room fell silent.

Talin's chest felt heavy. She never realized Astarion was under so much pressure, and she did not want to cause him any more pain. "Let's just go." She moved away from him and turned to Gale and Thalia, who stood aside quietly. "I'm sorry you had to witness that, and thank you for your trouble, Gale. I appreciate it more than you know. Would you mind doing me one more favor by opening a portal? I'm in no mood for more failures."

"Of course, Talin, but perhaps take a moment to breathe? I'm sure Astarion didn't mean what he said. Right, Astarion?" Gale turned to Astarion, giving him an encouraging look. It seemed like the weight of anticipation, the fear of the unknown, and the expectations had finally caught up with Astarion, intensifying his internal rage and causing him to lash out. Gale knew his struggles, and with his brilliant intellect, he quickly pieced the parts together.

Thalia smiled and gently brushed Gale's arm, pleased that he intervened and didn't let Talin walk away.

Talin turned to face Astarion once more. And she did look at him with those sweet, innocent eyes, only this time they were pleading—one final appeal for him to see reason and not give into fear.

Astarionran his fingers through his hair, resting his hand on his hip."Fuck," he said silently, recognizing the impact his words had on Talin. He rushed towards her, his hands gently cupping around her face. "I'm sorry, Talin, that was unworthy. I don't know what came over me. You've got us this far, not just me, but all of us. Without you, I wouldn't be standing here." He took her hand and drew it near his heart, holding it firmly. "You didn't deserve that," he whispered, looking sincerely into her eyes. "Please, forgive me."

She sniffed and nodded silently, seeing beyond his anger and forgiving him. A stone was lifted from her chest that she didn't have to leave without him. He hugged her close, grateful for her patience and care.

They stood in each other's embrace for a few moments as if the embrace itself healed their broken hearts. Then, Talin withdrew from him slightly and looked up to face him. "We don't have to do this, Astarion. You can start anew and leave the past behind," she said softly.

"No," Astarion shook his head. "I need to find out who I was. It's just… I didn't know what to expect. And then there was that woman earlier at the inn..." He paused, pulling back slightly as if revisiting the memory. "I only just realized how angry that whole encounter made me feel. To her and so many others before, I was just an object of desire, a pretty face to be used. Just like with the blood merchant... and countless others I met in taverns and flophouses." His voice was soft, almost calm. The anger had given way to grief. He swallowed hard, feeling Gale's and Thalia's eyes on him. But the only eyes he cared for at the moment were Talin's, and her gaze seemed to see right through him. She listened to his every word carefully, her eyes catching every subtle change in his expression. As he spoke, she noticed the familiar look of disgust on his face. No matter how much he sometimes tried to hide it, self-doubt and self-loathing were always there. Deep down, he was convinced he was undeserving of her. The idea of discovering that he might have been even worse in the past bothered him more than he realized.

"What Cazador did to you doesn't define you, Astarion. Your past doesn't define you. Who you are now and what you'll do is what matters to me."

Thalia approached them slowly. She placed a comforting hand on Astarion's shoulder and took Talin's hand in hers. "You are not alone in this," she said, her gaze shifting between the two. "Gale and I are here for you."

As she spoke, Gale also approached and put his arm around Talin's shoulder, pulling her beside her. "Thalia speaks true, whatever you need."

"And you better make this work," Thalia added jokingly, "because I have a song to finish, and I want sunshine and rainbows in the end."

Astarion felt a bit uncomfortable with the open display of emotion despite appreciating their support. He shifted slightly and cleared his throat, returning to his usual carefree attitude, which he often used to cover his vulnerability. "Well then," he said with a charming smile, trying to get out of the uncomfortable situation, "now that we've cleared the air, what's next?"

Talin smiled, noticing his discomfort. "We should find a heraldry expert. They can decipher the crest and tell us which family it belongs to and hopefully where we can find them," she explained.

"Given the circumstances, that would be the best course of action, indeed," Gale agreed.

Talin turned to Gale and thanked him warmly for everything he had done that night. She rose slightly to kiss his cheek, showing her appreciation.

"Thank you, Gale. You're amazing."