The dwarven man simply stared at Astra, Astra felt as if his whole soul was currently being scrutinized and that he could not hide a thing to this being.
"hmmmm….how strange… to think one of you still remains" the dwarf almost smiled
Astra confused wanted to ask "what?" but before he can even ask the dwarf had a laughing fit
"Zehehehahahazeha!" "Oh gods, to think that the idiots of Artemis and Dusk really failed." the man kept on laughing
"What a strange guy" if it wasn't for the aura astra would think this guy is insane as he just insulted a capital of Alfheim and the ruling house of Duskfall
As the dwarf came to a stop Astra couldn't help but ask "you seem to know something about me?"
"Oh kid… this has got to be the ploy of the god of fate"
"Truly this world continues to surprise me even at this age "the dwarf continued to smile
"Why?" astra who was becoming impatient couldn't help but ask, astra waned nothing more than to know why he was so different and lonely. This dwarf was truly confusing
The dwarf simply narrowed his eyes again, sending shivers down astra neck and spine,
"come"
The dwarf urged as wiped the sweat off his body and dressed himself with a robe
"Oh boy" astra sighed
Astra sat beside the furnace of the forge; he couldn't help but stare at the flame
It shone with fire so red it was almost scarlet, but when the dwarf looked at it the fire became brilliant orange and yellow, like the sun it was truly magical
"Was that the flame of war?!" astra asked, this flame was extremely famous, the flame of the god of war. Tyr
"yes" the dwarf sighed almost ashamed
He turned around and looked upon astra again, this time he actually looked at him, not through him
"Hey brat…. what's your name?"
"…..Astra"
"No last name?" the dwarf questioned
"No...I never had one and if I did its long gone now" astra said nonchalantly
"I figured"
"And you sir?" asked astra
"Odinson Steel" the dwarf said his eyes shining a deep blue
Astra immediately panicked and went on his knee
"I apologize your eminence"
"stop that kid" laughed Odinson Steel
Astra knew exactly who this old dwarf was, and was shocked at the idea of even meeting him,
This figure was a rank six Angel, the father of Agnar Steel himself, this dwarf was at least 300 years old! A living legend that's lived through many legendary events and even Influenced the world!
A figure of immense status, power, knowledge and wealth
Astra panicked as his dumb ass has managed to walk into the very forge of a forge grandmaster and one of the most famous ones at that!
"your eminence I truly apologize for all of this" astra repeated
"Relax….., I owe a certain someone a favor anyways"
"What do you mean?"
"Here catch" he threw something with a playful expression on his face
Odinson threw a coin at astra
astra caught the coin and as he soon as he touched it he entered his inner domain
"What the?" he gasped
Astra has never been forcibly sent to his inner domain this was freaky!
He looked and instantly saw the Coin and the star interacting, the star seemed to be sending direct energy into the Coin,
Suddenly he was expelled, and the mark grew colder, the surrounding air rippled with star energy and for a second astra felt as if he was standing in space, gazing out into the empty void of the infinite universe.
Astra looked at the dwarf, his eyes wide
Knowledge flooded Astras mind, skills, ideas, and the coins status.
"is…is….is this?" astra stammered eyes wide
The dwarf just smiled
"A Regal Mark made out of the very stars"
The coin had words inscribed on it
"For where there is day there shall be Night,"
Astra knew a regal coin was not something small!.
Regal coins are the second highest in the hierarchy of status symbols,
nobility was not simply a matter of bloodline or wealth—it was a matter of magic. The most profound symbol of a noble's rank was the magic coin that each noble house possessed. These coins, forged in forgotten forges by celestial smiths, were far more than simple tokens. They were bound to the very soul of the bearer, proof of their nobility and their right to power, wealth, and influence. The coins were not only a mark of status but also a conduit for magic, granting their holders unique privileges, access to hidden realms of knowledge, and powers that most could only dream of. Unlike their counterpart the Mage Coins these coins were given to any rank of any nobility,
The Nobel Coin was a living artifact. It could never be forged, stolen, or altered; its magic was inextricably tied to the soul of the one who bore it. Upon their death, the coin would dissolve into dust, its power and magic vanishing with the bearer. No coin could exist without its owner, and once the bearer perished, their place in the hierarchy was erased as if it had never been. In this world, to hold a coin was to hold a piece of eternity.
At the lowest rung of the noble ladder sat the Baron Coin. It was a simple thing—made of tarnished bronze and stamped with the unadorned sigil of a minor house. This coin, worn with time and use, marked its bearer as a noble—but not one of great consequence. The Baron Coin was often carried by the lesser families of the realm, those who controlled small estates and held only a modest claim to power. It was not a coin of glamour or ambition, but it was a coin of status.
Those who held the Baron Coin had access to the basic rights and privileges afforded to all nobles. They could claim the hospitality of lords across the land, and upon their travels, they were never turned away from a noble's door. A Baron Coin also allowed access to the public infrastructure of the realm: the roads, the markets, and the small offices of the local government. It was proof of a noble's right to partake in the system that governed the world.
But for all its benefits, the Baron Coin was limited. It granted no great magical powers or political influence. Those who bore it could not command armies or speak in high councils. They were minor players—a part of the noble class, but on the fringes. Their coin was their only true wealth, and it was a reminder that, in the end, their power was fleeting.
The magic of the Baron Coin was simple: it was soul-bound to the bearer, marking them as a noble, and could not be tampered with. When its bearer died, the coin dissolved into dust, its magic fading with their last breath.
One step above the Baron Coin rested the Earl Coin—a silver disc, etched with delicate runes and adorned with a crest that signified the bloodline's claim to larger lands and greater power. The Earl Coin marked its bearer as part of the noble elite, the landed lords of the realm. Those who wielded the Earl Coin were the rising stars of the noble class—those who held sway in the local councils and whose influence extended beyond their lands.
With an Earl Coin, its bearer could call upon more than just the hospitality of their peers. They had access to classified magics. Earls were powerful enough to command respect but not yet potent enough to command the realm.
The Earl Coin granted its owner access to the more arcane mysteries , making them stewards of arcane knowledge—those who could bridge the gap between the lesser nobles and the great houses. The coin was still soul-bound, and upon the death of its bearer, it would dissolve like the Baron Coin, but in the time it lasted, it marked its owner as an influential player on the field of power.
Above the Earl Coin soared the Duke Coin, a coin of gold, polished to a mirror-like sheen, and engraved with intricate patterns that reflected the ancestral might of the great houses. The Duke Coin was held by the rulers of vast territories, by those who controlled not just estates, but cities and armies. It was the coin of the mighty, the aristocracy of the realm whose power extended far beyond their lands.
The Duke Coin granted its bearer unparalleled rights. They were not just landowners or lords; they were shapers of destiny, councilors to kings and emperors. With the Duke Coin. Their reach extended deep into the political workings of the kingdom, and their words were not only heard—they were obeyed.
To bear the Duke Coin meant wielding immense magical power. Dukes were considered the true rulers , their influence stretching far beyond their borders. Yet, the Duke Coin was still subject to death's grasp. When its bearer passed, their coin would dissolve, and their legacy would be reborn in the next generation.
Above even the Duke Coin lay the Marquis Coin, a coin of platinum, set with a star-shaped diamond at its center, its surface shimmering like the light of a thousand moons. This coin was the symbol of immortal rulers, those whose houses had stood the test of time and whose influence was felt across continents. Marquises were not just lords—they were the masters of the realm, the true architects of the world. Descendants of gods proud of their lineage.
A coin forged of celestial steel; the Regal Coin was the symbol of the ruling family of the empire. It was the token of the empress, the emperor, or the supreme ruler of all the known lands, their dominion stretching beyond kingdomsand into the very heavens. The Regal Coin was not simply a symbol of royalty; it was a mark of divine sovereignty, a sign that its bearer had been chosen by the gods themselves to rule the world. Given to descendants of powerful gods who can rival god kings.
At the apex of all power stood the Imperial Coin, a shimmering celestial artifact imbued with the very essence of creation itself. It was a coin not of this world but of the universe, a token of absolute dominion over the realms of gods and mortals alike. The Imperial Coin was the coin of the descendants of god-kings, the supreme rulers whose will was law not only on the material plane, but across the very fabric of existence. This was given to descendants of God kings and queens
The right to these coins was given out by the Council of the Realms, the people in this council are all emperors, powerful nobles and the apex of the world! To be granted an audience is to be immortalized, this council was the way the six realms kept peace or started wars, each ruled by their own way of government, it was truly a spectacle, they meet every five years at the Lands of War, the very place the gods fought, the place where divine blood was spilled. To make these coins the world had to recognize you and magic itself bless you. A mortal however can reach such status through pure hard work and talent, it has happened many times before. Where a peasant has reached the apex through his Will and Powers alone.
Astra however knew the true value of these coins, they offered guidance, magic channeled through these soul bound coins shows you your power and powers, and hints at improvement, the regal coin has knowledge stored from the ages of the gods! This is truly a boon given to the most privileged.
"And now this dwarf just handed me the key to unrivaled status!"
"Wait how did it even bind with me I'm not a Nobel! Let alone a descendant of a god of that status" as astra started freaking out internally the dwarf laughed
"oh gods…..fate truly is funny" the dwarf laughed
"Hey star magic boy you do know what that is right"
"You know about my magic?" astra nodded and asked at the same time
"Listen kid I know more about you then you know about yourself," laughed the old dwarf
"You're the last heir of night itself, you may be the only wielder of Stars in this generation as well"
Astra was shaken, his most guarded secret, even when the dusknights were scanning potential street talents he has hidden it well, but this old dwarf just picked apart his magic perfectly, he had no secrets Infront of this legend.
"Ancestors? Gods? Regal Coin? Night? Heir?!!"
The dwarf sighed as he took on an intense expressions astra felt pressured.
His voice became infused with the power of mana
"Sit down, it's time for a history lesson"
"Yes, my lord" astra stammered terrified now
"Stop with that…... you can just call me Odin"
Astra dumbfounded just nodded.