This is something Hiro had been dreading for a while now.  But he had to get it over with.  He wanted to date Sapphire Rose, he knew that Angela had trusted Hiro, and didn't care.  She had trusted him to take care of her while she was gone.  But now that Sapphire knew about his feelings for her, and she had the same feelings for him, he had to talk to her step-father.

Who was now a God.

A God who could crush him if he displeased him.

Wasn't he a God of secrets?  Could he already know everything about him?

Hiro was freaking out inside.  But he had to man up and face the God, mortal to immortal.

Hiro traversed the mountains and arrived at the door for the temple, Tar Eisalae.  He looked over the entrance, there was no door knob, no gate, nothing, except a symbol with words in the center of it.  "Only I know the secret."

Hiro placed his hand against the symbol, and found that the "I" was a button that he had just depressed.  The double doors opened up, and Hiro walked in.  He found himself in the entrance hall to temple library.  Everything was so ordinate, the murals on the wall depicted his whole life.  He noted the book on a pedestal, his name and the time of his visit was written down, as well as everyone else who had visited the God's temple.  He walked into the LIbrary, feeling intimidated by the sheer amount of books sitting in the shelves.  The place looked the size of a regular library (which was already large to him), but was likely even bigger than it appeared.

"Hello?  Is there anyone here?  I'd like to talk to Lord Drae please?  I have something important to discuss with him."  Hiro spoke out loud, in a somewhat hushed tone.  He didn't yell, this was a library, after all.  He wore no armor on his trip here, just traveling clothing, a cloak, and some supplies for the journey.  He had his sword sheathed to his side, just in case something attacked him on the way to the temple, but at no point did he even consider that he'd have to use it.  Or rather, if Lord Drae wanted him gone, that sword would be useless anyway.  Any spell he could conjure, any flame he could summon, was probably useless.  He was a mere mortal in the Temple of a God.  He wished no ill will, but he didn't know how his visit would go.  He was nervous.  He wanted to date the God's stepdaughter, after all.

Now, this, this little scene, was something Drae had both been hoping to avoid, and yet had fantasized about how he would handle it. While he was prodigiously proud of all of Angela's children, it was clear that several of the older children considered him more as a mentor, uncle, or just a good friend. Sapphire, however, he considered his oldest child, and had acted like her father, and apparently she considered him as such now. He had never really anticipated being a father to a teenager so soon, and he wondered briefly just how many young men he was going to chase away from Iva, or any other female children he and Angela would have in the future. 

Now, he knew that Hiro and Sapphire had been close for a while, and he also had it on good authority that Hiro had already spoken to Angela about seeing Sapphire on a regular basis. He also knew that Angela either approved, or decided that it wasn't up to her, but up to Sapphire and how she felt about Hiro. The point was, that Angela knew. But now the boy was here, doing the right, but terrifying thing of asking the father for permission to see his daughter. To be frank, Drae never would have asked for permission, which possibly gave him a bit of respect for the boy. He was already proving that he was a better courting prospect than Drae ever was. It made the warlock smirk. 

He was well aware of Hiro crossing the threshold of Tar Eisalae, and he found himself rolling his eyes as the young man entered the Temple Library and immediately called out for Drae. Yeah, sure the Temple Library was more or less empty, and he had yet to find a head librarian, but that didn't mean someone needed to go about YELLING for him. That defeated the purpose of the Library. 

Tar Eisalae was annoyed too, and immediately a hushing sound echoed down the central shaft down to the Temple Library, chastizing Hiro for his shouting. 

Drae, however, made no move. No, no, if this was going to happen, it was going to happen with the greatest dramatic effect. He looked down the central opening down to where the Tree of Clarity sparkled in the light that came in from above, and spotted Hiro nearby. 

"All right… let's have some fun," he said, looking up at the Occulus. Tar Eisalae hummed in agreement. 

Suddenly, down in the Temple Library, all light ceased, except the shaft of light that came in from the Occulus.  Then, Drae waved his hand and the circular glass staircase that wound around the inside of the library and up to the Occulus began to glow a soft gold, guiding Hiro to where the God of Knowledge and the Arcane magics sat waiting upon his 'throne' high above. 

"Come on, little Hiro. This way," he said softly, almost condescendingly, trying to get Hiro to play the game with him.

Hiro wandered through the library, the anxiety was palpable.  He probably shouldn't feel this nervous, but he came to see love's father figure and ask if he could date her.  He was going to do it the proper way.  Though he had a feeling his father, if he was in the same situation, would not be so nervous.  However, he was not his father, he did not have the wisdom of age a father would have.

So he walked around until the room went pitch dark, all except for a beam of light from a room above, and the glowing gold of a glass staircase.  He was welcomed to ascend the staircase to the room above by the voice of the God himself, Drae.  Hiro took a nervous gulp and started walking toward the staircase in the dark, smacking his shin against a table he didn't realize was there.  He winced in pain, muttering a curse under his breath.  Despite that injury, he made it to the stairway, and started ascending the staircase until he reached the top, seeing the God sitting before him on a "throne" (a worn armchair with black leather).  It looked comfortable, though it was heavily worn, maybe he kept it around because it was comfortable, though with all the knowledge and power of a God, he picked something like that?  Shrugging it off, he saw the God himself, Lord Drae, sitting in his well worn throne, staring back at him.  The God was young looking.  Older than himself, but younger than his own father.

Thoughts were going through his mind.  "Keep it simple, keep it short and sweet, don't ramble.  Don't stick your foot in your mouth."  Hiro bowed to the God.  He took a deep breath and exhaled, composing himself before speaking.  "Here goes nothing."

"Lord Drae.  You already know who I am, I am Hiro, son of Sabishii Kouen, and you might already know why I am here.  I am here, because I have taken a . . . no.  I am here because I've fallen for Lady Sapphire Rose, your step daughter.  From what she tells me, you two are akin to blood relatives  I wish to ask permission to court Lady Sapphire.  I promise you I mean no harm for her, and will take care of her.  I feel it's the right thing to do, to ask you permission."

Drae grinned like a small child as he watched Hiro begin to ascend the massive and incredibly long staircase that would bring him to the Occulus. If he had wanted to be nice, he would have directed HIro to the central levitation plate that only went to the Occulus, but he wanted to make the youth sweat. So, Drae waited a bit until Hiro was a good way up the staircase before he went and flung himself onto his armchair 'throne' and picked up a book, and pretended to be reading it. After a moment, he looked up, feeling that the image was not quite as striking as he would have liked, and gave a quick whistle up at the Occulus and motioned to the floor at the foot of his throne. There was an annoyed buzz from the Occulus but a massive black cat materialized at the top of the stairs that went around the Occulus and it quietly pawed down to the floored and laid out at Drae's feet. Drae smiled and scratched the manifestation of Tar Eisalae's personality behind the ears, and received a grateful growl-purr before he went back to 'reading' the book. 

He didn't move, he didn't react when Hiro reached the top of the stairs. He could literally smell the boy's anxiety, and felt his gaze on him, sizing him up. He kept his eyes trained on the page, but looked up when the boy began to speak. 

It was clear that the boy had practiced his speech, and he was very straightforward and to the point. Drae raised an eyebrow at the boy and waited until he was done. There was not a sound for a moment, save it be Tar Eisalae perking up and growling softly at Hiro. Drae stared at Hiro for a moment and snapped his book closed. As if on cue, the feline form of Tar Eisalae got to its feet and looked like it was ready to pounce on Hiro. This was more for the shock factor than anything else. 

Tar Eisalae took a few steps towards Hiro, but Drae whistled and the giant cat stopped. A snap of his fingers, and the cat melted back into the magic of the air, and Drae pushed himself up off his chair. He dropped the book on the seat of his throne, and approached the boy. 

"You are asking permission," he said thoughtfully. "I'll give you credit, kid, it takes guts to go to a girl's father and ask permission to court her," he told Hiro. "Especially knowing that her parents are deities," he mused. "You've got courage I'll give you that." 

The Warlock motioned for Hiro to follow him as he walked behind the throne and up the glass stairs that wrapped around the interior of the Occulus to allow for better observation of the sky. "Tell me about yourself, Hiro."

It took a bit to walk to the top of the stairway.  There HAD to have been another way up there, but since the God had the lights off almost everywhere, he couldn't have found it.  Was the God . . . messing with him?  It was hard to keep a rational mind when the God had all the odds stacked in his favor, and the gravity of what he was going to ask of him weighed heavily on him.  He figured Drae wouldn't KILL him, because that would make his daughter very upset.  But still, he could refuse, or do something else to harm him if he left a bad impression on the Deity.

When he reached the top of the stairs at last, there was a giant cat creature laying at Drae's feet as he read (or pretended to read) a book, not paying much attention to HIro himself.  Hiro had gone over the words in his head many times on the way here, he had plenty of time imagining the scenarios he could be placed through, and how to handle them.  When Hiro finished talking, the God snapped his book closed, and the cat got to its feet, and looked ready to attack Hiro.  Hiro showed no fear this time.  He was nervous, anxious, but he was not going to show more fear than he possibly could avoid.

"Thank you, Sir.  Also, thank you for retreating your cat.  I'm an animal lover, and I would not want to wish to stain either the cat or this fine library with my blood," hesaid with a smirk.  "It is a very impressive library and shrine you've got here, Lord Drae."  The God requested to Hiro to tell him about himself.  "Well, I am human, to begin with. I originate from another world.  My mother was Seraphia Kouen a Fire Elemental, my father Sabishii Kouen, the fabled Phoenix Knight.  He was also a former Deity in that world, who knew Lady Angela, Lady Moliira, and a few former Deities were in this land.  The world we originated ended when the Gods either died or disappeared, and I ended up here in Revaliir via a portal that opened up.  My father was trapped in a different world, and mother . . . I don't know what happened to her.  She disappeared somewhere else.

"Anyway, I am a teenager, around sixteen, seventeen years of age.  I use fire magic and swordsmanship.  I met Lady Sapphire when she found herself lost in the rain forest, and kept her safe, I brought her to Lady Angela's shrine, safe and sound, defending her from a plant monster that attacked.  I was involved in the battle against that invading city, I earned an audience with Lord Torn after completing his Warrior's Gauntlet.  I went on an adventure with him, and would've possibly earned a spot in his group of heroes, had he not fallen.  I assisted the elves in the campaign against the Dragon in the Ice Island, met Lady Dalanesca prior to her change in domains.  I assisted Sapphire with research into saving Lady Angela's soul, and then I escorted her to safety before Lady Dalanesca attacked.  Lady Angela trusted me with Sapphire's life, in case anyone came after her, whether it be Lady Dalanesca, or one of her supporters or whatever.  I am loyal to both Lady Angela and Lady Sapphire.  I wish no harm for either of them.  I wish Lady Sapphire only happiness, which I hope to bring to her, should I court her.  I wish to protect both her, and this world, against anything that would seek to harm them.  My father was a great hero in the world we came from, I wish to live up to his expectations in this one."

"Even if you had run him through," Drae commented flatly, "the only blood would have been yours, I assure you that. Tar Eisalae cannot be killed. The panther that you see on the floor is merely the physical form of the personality of this temple," he explained to the young man. "And thank you. I put a lot of work into this place. I'm a little disappointed that Sapphire has not yet come to see it. I do know that she would like it too," he admitted, but began listening as the boy told him all about himself. 

"Ah, you are one of the ones who fell through the Breach," he mused when Hiro told him he had come from the other world. Angela had told him all about that, since she and nearly all of her family had counterparts that had fallen through from that other world. The name Kouen was familiar as well, and he wondered if it was one that Angela had mentioned to him. From what he was hearing that was probably the case. 

As Hiro spoke, Drae motioned for him to follow him up the set of stair that wrapped around the inside of the Occulus, used for better observation of the night skies. He almost asked the boy to clarify his age. Was he sixteen or seventeen? Did he not know for sure? That was odd, but he didn't interrupt. 

All in all, he had to admit that the boy was giving him a rather impressive resume. Finding and protecting Sapphire, protecting from invaders, completeing Torn's Warrior gauntlet. Hell the boy seemed too good to be true. The bit about helping Sapphire research into saving Angela's soul made him prickle. He credited Sapphire for the help, but largely Drae had considered that little thing as HIS greatest accomplishment. It was almost enough for Drae to want to dismiss the rest of Hiro's words right there and then, and actually began to wave him off almost in annoyance as his words finished up. 

"I get it, Kid. You are a true hero in the making, trying to live up to your father's expectations," Drae said flatly, trying to keep the disdain out of his voice. The high pedestal the boy put his father on bugged him too, but he couldn't be sure if it was the principle that bothered him, or his own personal lack of such a relationship. They were midway up the stairway now, and Drae glanced over his shoulder at Hiro, nothing to hint at his annoyance in his expression. 

"You have an impressive pedigree and list of conquests, I must admit," he said as he turned to face forward again, a jovial tone to his voice, though his eyes were flashing. "Tell me, what do you hope to accomplish in your life? Just go on to be a great man like your father, just like him?" he asked, putting an almost sarcastic emphasis on the word 'great'. 

"Heh, yeah, I just don't want my blood to stain your nice floor.  Or your books.  I severely doubt I could defeat that beast if it is a manifestation of your power.  You're right about that."  Hiro listened to him as he said he wished Sapphire had come here to see the temple.  "I'm sure she'd love it here, she could get lost for days here.  She asked me if I wanted to go here with her, but I felt this was something I needed to handle myself.  Not sure if that was the right decision or not."  It probably would've been easier if she was here, since he wouldn't have to worry as much, but he felt this was something HE had to do.  He couldn't hide behind Sapphire's skirt for this.

Yes, Hiro fell through the breach, and he wasn't quite sure how long he had been here in Revaliir, especially because of Time Death, something that had happened that he wasn't even aware of until after it had happened.  It affected Sapphire, aging her a few years.  Time in this world seemed weird.

He followed Drae up the stairs as he continued.  He seemed to get annoyed though.  Did Hiro go on too long?  The way he waved, it seemed to show annoyance, even if his voice didn't show it.  His words seemed to show somewhat, even if it wasn't in his voice.  Or maybe he was wrong.

His eyes were flashing, but he spoke with a jovial tone.  He was receiving mixed signals.

"What do I want to do?  I want to surpass my father.  I want to become a great hero, yes, I want to be stronger, I want to help people.  Help the land when it's in need of a warrior.  I want to fight for peace.  I want father to be proud of me.  I came to Revaliir, it was a clean slate.  No one knew me, some people knew my father.  I'll make my name here.  I'm not the same as him, but I'll do it my way.  Above all, though, I want to make Sapphire happy.  I don't want you to have to worry about her happiness, because I want to make her happy.  So, I'll do what I can to do that.  Does that satisfy your question?"  There was no hesitation in his answer.  No wavering in his heart.

By now, they had reached the top of the observatory stairs, and Drae turned and faced Hiro. 

"I suppose for now it must," Drae commented. "But I do have my concerns. Mostly involving what you would do if this goal of yours proves to be somehow impossible," he commented. "However, I will leave that to you to discover," he said with a slight shrug and a light tone. He looked over the young warrior, his black hair, pale eyes, and strong build. Yes, he would make a promising suitor for Sapphire, the little goody-goody that he was. He shrugged again, and gave Hiro a bright wide smile. 

"Well, Angela has no reservations, and Sapphire clearly likes you, and I have heard of your father's reputation, so I know you come from good stock. I don't see why you can't court Sapphire. Fine, yes, you have my permission," he said almost grandly. He waited a moment to see Hiro's reaction before his face turned dark, and the magic in the Occulus became almost like an electrical storm. 

"But make no mistake boy…" he said as he grabbed Hiro by the front of his armor. Without flinching, the God shoved the boy hard and stood on the crystal stairs as he watched his fall towards the floor below. 

The fall halted about a foot off of the ground, and Drae appeared again, this time, leaning over Hiro, his eyes flashing like the lightning that crackled over them, fangs filling his mouth as he held back a partial bear transformation. 
"I am neither good, nor am I gentle, Hiro Kouen. And I do not forgive. If I find out that you hurt Sapphire in any way, not even Moliira would be able to find you," he snarled at the boy. "Do I make myself clear?" he demanded. 

Hiro pondered on what Lord Drae said, if the goal was impossible to attain, to become a great hero like his father was in that other world could be impossible to attain?  He was going to do the best he could.  He was going to shoot high, shoot for the moon, the stars, beyond that?  He would aim as high as he could.  He would try his best to create the world that he and Sapphire were to be happy to live in.

Lord Drae smiled widely, and seemingly gave him the go ahead to date Lady Sapphire.  He gave a breath of relief, smiling back at the God.  It seem he was out of the rough of it.  "Thank you, Sir."  However, Lord Drae's face darkened, magic swirled about the room.  He was caught way off guard as the God spoke and pushed him off the stairway and tumbling through the air.  Did he do something to displease the God?  He thought he did everything right, it seemed to have gained the Gods favor, but then he was tossed off the balcony.  He could have thought of a way to stop the fall, to slow his decent, to avoid an untimely death, but he was stunned by the sudden violent action.  He couldn't act fast enough to save himself.

However, before he was about to hit the ground, his fall halted, and Lord Drae reappeared in front of him, holding him by the front of his shirt.  There was fear in Hiro's eyes, as he gazed at the frightening God, whose eyes were flashing with power, his mouth filling with sharp fangs of some kind.  Nothing would be able to stop Lord Drae if he hurt Sapphire.  He was naught he could do about it.

"C-crystal, sir."  The fear was real.

The fear in Hiro's eyes was real, and there was a small fraction of Drae's mind that felt guilty about putting the fear of God (hah, pun) in him. The other ninety-nine point nine percent got a little power drunk from it and relished it. It seemed that his point had gotten across as Hiro stuttered out his confirmation of understanding Drae's VERY real threat, and like that Drae's demeanor went from being monstrous to being the handsome charming half-elf he liked to portray, complete with hundred-watt smile as he carefully let Hiro plunk to the ground after he let go for the front of his armor. With a flick of his hand, Hiro was lifted up onto his feet, and and small feather duster came by and neatly brushed Hiro off. 

"Good man. Nice to know we have an understanding," Drae said, the maliciousness gone. The kid looked like he needed a drink, and Drae snapped his fingers. They vanished from the Occulus and reappeared in the kitchens of Tar Eisalae, which were not huge since it was not meant to cater to many people at once like the Awakening Gardens and other places were. Drae pushed Hiro onto a stool, the kid looked like he needed to sit down for a moment to collect his wits, and the Bear King took a tankard from off a shelf and poured Hiro an ale, sliding it across the large square wooden counter top that served as an island in the kitchen. 

"You look like you could use that," he said. "I promise, I didn't poison it," he said, suddenly looking and acting more like a father than a God. "Don't think I am being hard on you, Kid. A family is not something I have had the luxury of having for very long… so you understand that I am a little more than just protective…"