The voice of the stag was…strange. It wasn't low, nor was it high, but a strange combination of both. It sounded young, yet ancient all at once and carried a hint of warmth.
Though its voice wasn't the only unnatural thing about it.
It was simply put, large. It loomed over me like many of the trees of the forest. At a glance, it looked to be over twenty feet in size, yet somehow, it fit perfectly in the narrow dirt path we had been following.
Its body was a pristine white and looked as if a block of marble had been carved specifically into the shape of the deer. Across its body, ran countless large cracks, from which a subtle golden light seeped out.
It stood on four mighty legs, each the size of my body alone, with an intricately detailed golden cuff sitting on the ankle of each limb. Its antlers seemed to reach into the canopy, seamlessly interweaving around the branches as if they had grown to accommodate it.
They were made of black crystal and reminded me almost of obsidian. They seemed to almost shimmer, as a few rays of light broke through the canopy. Its eyes were crystallized, and as it leaned down to look at me, I saw that they looked like two miniature suns made entirely of amber.
"I am no enemy, Great Dreamer. Peace upon thee." It told me, meeting my eyes.
Surprisingly, at its words I felt my body inexplicably begin to relax. The tension in my muscles loosened, and my shoulders, which had felt heavy since the moment I first awoke, slowly fell at their own accord.
Even the heat which had begun to build within my veins seemed to settle at the stags words.
"What-" My question died on my tongue, as the large stag before me chuffed, and its eyes crinkled. It almost looked like it was laughing at me.
"Introductions first, I believe is the way of you humans." It rumbled soothingly, pulling its head away from me, and raising it into the air. I watched, almost star struck as it spoke. "I am The Evergreen Stag, The Lord of Order, The World Tree, Yggdrasil. Before you, stands the Empyrean Spirit, Golden Order."
Its voice didn't hold a candle of arrogance as it spoke, but it did hold weight. There was a hidden power in its words that left the earth trembling and the air twisting, distorting in a way that didn't seem natural.
It looked down at me from its impressive height, its amber eyes staring meaningfully at me. It took me an embarrassingly long moment to realize what it was waiting for.
"Oh, right," I coughed, feeling my face grow warm. "My name is Artorias Regulus, nice to uh, nice to meet you?"
I stumbled over my words like an idiot, but I think it only endeared me to the Empyrean Spirit, as its head fell again, and its eyes crinkled as it looked at me.
"No need to be so nervous, as I have said, I am not here to bring you harm." It rumbled, its maw opening slightly to reveal razor sharp teeth that were the size of my hands.
It looked at me warmly, before a knowing gleam appeared within its eyes. "Ah, I see. You are not nervous because you are afraid, but because you are confused." It chuffed again, though it was lighter, akin to a chuckle. "I am an unknown existence to you. Humanity's greatest fear hmm?"
I nodded my head, or, at the very least, I thought that I did. I had an idea of what this stag—Golden Order—may be, but after the whole situation with the System, I wasn't going to place all of my trust on my theories.
"What a brilliant mind you have, Great Dreamer." It rumbled, tilting its head and somehow not touching any trees with its spindling antlers. Its movements were effortless, and graceful. "Trust your wisdom, little one, it is on the correct path."
"R-Right." I stuttered, swallowing the ball of nervousness I felt within my throat. "You're not like, Mighty-"
"Ah!" My mouth shut with a click as Golden Order suddenly exclaimed. Its eyes held a hint of knowing, as if it could read my very mind. "Names have power, Great Dreamer, and this is The Titan of Meadows, domain. Do be careful."
Its warning was gentle, and I felt my body and mind relax just a little more as it spoke. If it weren't for my need to stay awake, I would have probably fallen asleep by now. At the very least, I now knew that names really did have power.
'Thank you, self-preservation instincts.' I thought gratefully, wondering just what sort of mess I would have gotten myself into, if I allowed my curiosity to get the better of me.
"But you are correct." It told me after a moment, lifting its head higher again. "As one of the six Empyrean Spirits, I stand above any and all of the Celestial Spirits which came from mine, or my brothers and sister's bodies."
"I have so many questions." I finally got out after a minute of just staring at the very literal God. At the physical manifestation of Yggdrasill itself.
"I am aware." It chuffed, its voice and laugh bringing with it a warmth that could only be rivalled by the sun. "Unfortunately, I did not come bearing answers, only grave news."
Its two amber eyes grew a little dimmer, and its head fell again as it came face to face with me.
"My time here is limited, Great Dreamer, and whilst I know I would greatly enjoy taking you on as a student, I am needed in many places at once." It was strange, just how mournful it sounded at the fact it couldn't teach me.
"I sense you are confused." It rumbled, the earth beneath us shaking ever so slightly. "Which is good, it is human, it is…" It paused for a moment and looked into my eyes. Whatever it was looking for, it seemed to have found it, as it spoke again.
"…It is a pleasure, to see one so young embracing the gift I granted humanity."
"What?" I whispered, feeling breathless at such a revelation. My mind thought back to all I knew about Norse mythology, and a seed of realization bloomed within me. "The All-Knowing was-"
"Myself, yes." Its eyes crinkled again, as if it was genuinely pleased to see how quickly I made the connection. "Humanity was a net of mindless animals, before I saw their potential, and granted them the gift of sapience."
"So, the title of All-Father…It really did mean that you were the father of all of humanity." I muttered, re-evaluating every myth and legend that I had once learnt.
Golden Order sighed at my words, a very human expression that looked strange coming from a magical stag, that stood taller than a giraffe.
"Truly, little one, it pains me to not take you with me. You have such a wonderful mind, fit for learning." It told me, its eyes dimming ever so slightly.
"Unfortunately, our time grows even shorter, and our fates are destined for different things. I looked for you to quell my curiosity and found myself pleased with your mind. As such, I have come to offer you aid, and a dire warning, for the future which awaits you."
I felt my throat constrict, and my nervousness rising, as it opened its maw, and spoke.