Shane took a deep breath in, letting it out before stretching a hand and tearing open the shadows in front of him, allowing the holy energy to seep into his body, reading his blood before recognizing him as family. Stepping through, he looked upon Silbern, the gorgeous silver spires and sweeping archways calling to him as if he were home. The black robes of a Catholic priest that surrounded him weren't what he'd expected to wear when he first came here, to the ancestral home of his family, but they were forgotten as he walked among the surprising amount of people that still lived there. There was muttering, rumors being spread as fast as possible, fast enough that he was sure that word would get to the princess of his arrival. While he knew that the Inquisition had interest in recruiting the Quincy here in Silbern, that wasn't quite what had them in a buzz.

It was his features, the strong Norwegian structure of his face, the piercing eyes, and the swept-back, soft hair; all things indicative of the Royal Family.

As he approached the doors to the great castle in the center of the city, being drawn through it's halls by a call within his very blood, he felt himself grow nervous. The Princess of the Quincy was said to be the daughter of the Emperor, and thus could be considered his aunt. This...could be awkward. Just before he walked into the throne room, he wondered what would become of this meeting.

Was he about to meet family, or an enemy?

Word did indeed travel fast, however that itself is not what tipped Gwynevere off to the newcomer's presence. Like all in Silbern, she was intimately familiar with the energies of this created realm, and someone of Shane's level of power was bound to stick out like a sore thumb to her. She couldn't tell who this stranger was, but it didn't really matter to her. All Quincy were welcome here, and this one was no exception.

"We have a guest." She says at her office door, certain her assistant could hear her just fine on the other side. "Please prepare a small tray of snacks and some tea, then bring our guest here please." A simple reply of 'Yes Ma'am' was her only reply before silence fell. Only ten minutes and a tray of fresh pastries was on her desk, of which she decides to have one of the strawberry danishes as she waits. "So sweet...!" She hums, mouth full of the light treat. It wouldn't be long after she finished that her assistant would have guided the newest Quincy to grace Silbern's halls to her office doors. A small knock came before the door was opened for him. "Please, come-"

Her eyes would go wide in shock. She had never seen this man before, and she knew that, but his features. They were undeniable, this man before her was a surviving member of her family. She slowly stands and walks around her desk. "... who are you?" She asked, calm but firm. Feeling his energy this close, there was nearly no denying it. He was of royal blood. A descendant of a lucky survivor of her family from long ago. She needed to hear it from his mouth.

As Shane looked around the throne room a servant walked in and gasped, gesturing for him to follow. Raising an eyebrow, the Echt Quincy would follow him through the winding halls before knocking on the door to what appeared to be an office. He heard a distinctly feminine voice invite him inside before freezing as she saw his face. The woman sitting behind the desk was rather statuesque, tall, with a warm demeanor and similar features to himself. The look of surprise on his face was one he'd seen before, someone who thought they'd seen a ghost. At her words, he considered whether or not to lie, to give her the fake name his family had used for ages. However, when he felt her power touching his own, curious and respectful, he decided to tell the truth. "...Erik. Erik Volsung."

Volsung. An ancient kingdom in Scandinavia, where the royal line was known for their strength, both in combat and spiritually, and were renowned for their ties to the early Quincy. After all, it was a daughter of their line that married the First Emperor. "I'm...Well, I think the best way to put it is that I'm your nephew."

Having lived so long, she could barely remember how her father looked, let alone her mother that died birthing her younger brother. And yet... it was undeniable. "Erik Volsong." She repeats, confirming it to herself. This was family. Actual family. She walks forward and pulls the man into a hug, unable to control her elation. "I thought myself alone when my father fell... I am so glad some of my family still remains." She says softly before just as quickly letting the young man go, though leaves a hand on his shoulder. "I'm glad you came, Erik. I could not be happier knowing I still have a living relative." She walks back to her chair, hand sliding off his shoulder, and takes a seat. "Please, have a seat. Let us talk, and help yourself." Regaining her composure she starts things off. "So, young one, how has life been in the World of the Living? That is where you grew up, yes?"

Returning the Quincy Princess's hug with a smile, Shane would take a seat gladly, attempting to keep his happy blush off his face. He felt like a little kid again, as if his father had just praised him for making his first bow all over again. Taking one of the strawberry danishes when given leave to, he'd enjoy the flavor for a moment before swallowing and responding politely. "It has been...interesting. Our family decided to hide in the Scandinavian countries, and kept our heads down right up until the Inquisition was called. Father was slain by Hollows some time ago. He went down fighting, a good death, but Mother was never the same...She was from one of the younger families, and she held it against me. I haven't spoken to her in some time."

While the Norwegian knew he was oversharing slightly, it was because he truly felt comfortable for the first time in years. He was with family. "How about you? How is life in Silbern?"

It was almost like a young child was sitting before her. She found the light blushing adorable, like her brother was sitting across from her again. "I am sure she is still grieving. You are her child, I am sure she does not truly blame you. She will need time, and it will take effort, but I am sure you two can be close again." She could understand, to a degree. She always blamed her father for Gwyndolin's passing, but that was her only placing the blame where it did not belong. It was the Shinigami that had run her brother through after all. "I am fine. It has been lonely at times, but I was able to pass the time with training and keeping the castle in order."

She takes a sip of juice. "Tell me, how much have you learned of our race's fall? I could tell you if you'd like, I was there after all."

Nodding at Gwenevere's words, Shane would take everything in for a moment, sipping on a cup of tea that had been provided. At her offer of more information, however, his eyes would snap to hers and show his interest immediately. "I would love to hear of it. There isn't much information that I've been able to find about what happened. Hearing the truth from someone who was actually there...How could I possibly pass up this opportunity."

Shane's love for learning was overshadowed only by his love for fighting, drinking...Alright, there were a few things that ranked higher, but that's only because he's lazy. If you left him in a library, he'd go nuts.

Gwynevere smiles a bit. "I am glad to hear it." She leans back in her chair and takes a moment to recall what actually happened. It was understandably not something she just kept at the forefront of her thoughts. "Well, this is going to be a bit of a long story so I'll try not to indulge in unimportant detail. You see, I was born shortly after this mighty castle was built. I have mostly ever known these halls to be my home. My father was a kinder man then, and was only looking out for the safety of his people. He was quite the inspiration as the first Quincy Emperor." She leans forward now, her arms against the desk. "I grew up loved, but my training was strict. I had manifested my first bow at age five, and from there I was always pushed to improve. My father always wanted my best, and I never disappointed. A few years later and my mother, your aunt, passed away giving birth to my brother. I think it was her passing that began the change in him... but from that point on I never seen him around much. He was always training up soldiers, and even used blood rituals to unlock unique powers in some of the Quincy. He became harsh, ruthless and uncaring. He even let..." She frowns now, looking down. This part always hurt the most. No... she would not divulge the details here. "He even let something I would never forgive happen right to his only son because the accused were his elite soldiers. After another ten years he invaded the Gotei, intent on taking over. He dragged us, his only children, out to fight in a war that our people had no right and no will fighting in. My brother, he... he was run through mercilessly by the Head Captain of the time. It was then that I turned on my father, and shot multiple arrows into his back. I called for everyone to retreat, to even escape to the Human World if they couldn't make it back to the gates we had opened." She looks back up, a sad smile on her face. "Many innocents were killed that day. I always think back on whether I could have saved more if I had acted sooner... but then I remind myself that our kin still live, and are as strong as ever to this day. Our life hasn't been snuffed out early." And thus ends her tale, to which she patiently waits to see how this young relative took it all.

Shane's eyes narrowed and he sipped his tea slowly as Gwynevere told her tale, even flashing silver with a quick burst of anger at her implications. She may not wish to speak of what happened to her brother, but the Norwegian Quincy had a feeling that he already knew. There were very few crimes that would truly anger him, ones that couldn't be justified, and THAT was the one that truly sparked his fury instantly. To think one of his ancestors condoned such actions...The teacup in his hand began to shake before being lifted deftly by the strings of Ransotengai, being set gently on the table as Shane took in a deep breath. "Apologies. Few things truly get under my skin as much as...violence of the nature you implied, especially against children. To think an ancestor of mine allowed such actions under his roof...The last true Head of the Volsung Line, Sigurd, would have slaughtered him where he stood. You see, that line were the earliest known examples of Advent Humans, and Sigurd Fafnirsbane was the strongest. We only became Quincy after one of his direct descendants married your father, and as far as I know the rest of the family was hunted down to retain their so-called purity. I'm not entirely sure then how I fit into your family, to be honest. Did you only have one brother, or did you have more siblings?"

Shane's curiosity was truly endless, but he spoke the truth. He was the last true-blooded Volsung, and every last one in the last couple millennia were Quincy. He didn't want to upset his only blood-related family other than his mother and HER line, however. If she decided that he was prying too much, then he would cease.

She made sure to listen to him, having rarely met Shane's ancestors. She was glad to hear that his side of the family felt as she did about her father's actions. However, he began to ask about her brother. "I only had my one younger brother, no other siblings. His name was Gwyndolin." Her smile becomes less forced when thinking about her sibling. "He absolutely loved to read. Before our father became too mad with power he had a grand library made for Gwyndolin to indulge himself with. However... it was one of the things our father burned down to try and motivate Gwyndolin into properly developing his powers." She focuses back on Shane. "What of you? I do not recall if you've said such before, but do you have any siblings?" She chuckles a bit. "Any more nieces or nephews I can spoil with treats?"