Arrival from the Spiral. [open]

[empyrean]

"Indeed." he said simply, looking up at the structure as well. "Impressive what can be done with the undivided attention and tireless efforts of a few hundred workers, is it not? Needless to say, they were well compensated for their completion of my home. Come now."

The carriage took off from behind them as the Duke bid Nsia to follow, making its way around the circular entryway and toward the estate's stables. Maurer made his way up the staircase, and toward the main doorway, which stood roughly twelve feet tall. Large knockers in the shapes of lion's heads biting down on rings sat sentinel against the front of the two doors, but they were not needed -- As the two approached, the large portals opened inward before them, without the manipulation of any apparent servants.

Light filled their eyes as the doors opened, revealing a large room within. A bright, massive chandelier hung above a staircase which spun into two separate directions as it reached the second floor. Red carpets covered select areas of the polished marble floors, and large paintings hung on the walls, displaying the faces of those who were likely relatives of the Duke, long dead. The entire place held an air of refinement, and security; there was little here to denote any sense of danger.

A well dressed servant stepped in front of Nsia and bowed, though he did not make eye contact, merely stood blankly ahead. Maurer smiled, "He will take your cloak, if you wish to be relieved of it. I would very much like to continue our discussion about you and where you came from, before you turn in for the night."

[aimless]

Nsia’s eye glittered under the assault of light, the illumination made it much more obvious just how tan she was as well. She admired the construction quietly, along with the starling portraits of men who looked so much like the Duke.

“I take you have been a figure of high standing for some time Duke.” She said as she slipped off her cloak, feeling more comfortable now inside a well lit building. She pushes her white locks past her pointed ears as she continued to gaze around, not facing the red haired man as she analyzed her surroundings. “Based on these paintings and such.” She said wandering the length of the marble floor silently.

[empyrean]

There was a brief pause, as if the man had pondered her words for a moment. He thought about everything he had been through, since he had first left Bavaria to attend school, and all the events that had occurred after. "Indeed I have been..." There was little more he wished to say beyond that.

Now that she had removed her cloak, He took a moment to look at Nsia. Her skin held a color that he could scarcely remember in himself, his own being closer to the color of her hair. But he could see now that though he felt human blood in her, it was impossible say that was all she was, given her features. Her footsteps filled the room as she examined his home, any servants that arrived or left seemed completely silent, as if they weren't even there; Maurer's own footsteps for that matter seemed nonexistent, as if he were walking just above the ground.

"Come, let us find a more comfortable place to speak. The manor's living room, perhaps." he stated, his tone signifying a suggestion, but carrying a commanding air to it. He began to walk toward the right, near a tall hallway leading to the western wing of the estate. The hallway was adorned with tapestries, and paintings displaying what were likely historic events from where he came from, as well as an occasional piece of furniture, appropriate for the area that the servants might make us of. "Tell me, Nsia, if I may be so bold as to ask: Where did you come from, and what brought you to this place?"

[aimless]

Nsia looked around a bit more before turning to look at Duke with her one good eye. Now that her cloak was off it was quite obvious due to the square patch of black fabric that she indeed only had one eye. The one good one was a wine red, which couple with her white hair almost made her look albino, if you ignored the deep almost red tan on her skin. Her features where young and youthful and would almost appear normal if it hadn’t been for her two pointy ears protruding from her hair, as well as two flesh coloured horns adorning her forehead. “You have a particular air to you I just can’t put my finger on… and to be JUST as honesty your hesitance to say much about it bothers me” Now that her face was visible, her almost monotone little voice matched her expression. She stared straight at him with her one good orb while she asked her question pointedly.

She was quite aware of the tone he took with her, and her ears lowered with only a slight annoyance, but none the less she followed her oddly silent host. Used to it due to her own habit of being a rather reserved young thing. “I came from a place called earth.” She stated bluntly, clearly not bothered with honesty about her past “And I’m in the search for some answers to myself is all…” her long fingers traced the wall beside her as she walked, she looked up at the tall man “And yourself…?”

[empyrean]

He paused slightly at her mentioning that she came from earth. Turning to glance at her for a moment before continuing on down the hall. "I too came from earth, though whether or not we came from the same version of it is beyond me. Please, have a seat." He held a hand out at his last words, and a finely crafted chair seemingly slid from nowhere and before his guest. They had arrived in another large room, though not quite the size of the one they had been in previously. The furniture seemed conspicuously set in the middle near a large, burning fireplace, as opposed to the rest of the room was spread out and open. A large mirror was mounted on one side of the room, above a wooden credenza. The Duke's reflection was seemingly absent.

Ludwig sat down at a chair next to where hers had arrived, light from the fireplace flickering gently, but not reflecting against his eyes. "In my home, I was a Duke, and ruler of the Duchy of Bavaria. What you might have known as Germany. I approached a great spire, and came to this place simply out of curiosity, bringing with me a large number of servants." His eyes turned from the fire, and to Nsia, as a light smile came to his face, "But our in our differences lie the interesting part of this world, my dear. In my time spent, I have seen technology I could not imagine, races of people that earth had not seen the likes of, creatures of myth and superstition... I have met men and women who claim to come from my country, yet have heard nothing of me, or the Duchy I had established." The Duke turned back to the fire, his deep voice carrying an almost somber tone to it, "The world you have come to is a crucible for all of existence, from what I have gathered."