12th day of Scarlettide, 1366
Beneath the earth, the mine spread out like the dark veins of a slumbering giant. Torchlight flickered, casting eerie shadows on the walls as the miners chipped away at the rock face with rhythmic precision in search of the rich veins of iron and copper.
Their hammers and pickaxes rang out against the stone. Sweat dripped from their brows, their muscles strained with exertion, and their breaths came in ragged gasps as they labored.
A lithe figure stood apart from the group, a shadow against the flickering torchlight—Lira, a druid from the Jixishan tribe tasked with protecting and assisting the miners in their perilous work.
She was tall and slender, with an earthen-toned skin and long auburn hair. Her deep green cloak shimmering with a life of its own, seemingly woven from the leaves and vines that she commanded. Her eyes, the color of summer leaves, scanned the darkness, vigilant for any dangers that might lurk within the mine's depths.
"Oi, Lira!" a miner bellowed, his voice echoing in the cavernous space, "I thought druids were s'posed to be one with nature. Yer not scared of the dark, are ya?"
Lira offered the grizzled miner a wry smile. "Fear not, friend. The dark and I are well acquainted. I am here to safeguard you all from the dangers that may hide in these shadows."
A nearby miner, his face streaked with soot, chimed in. "Aye, and we're grateful for it. I'd rather have a druid with us than face whatever nasties might be lurking down here by ourselves."
Lira leaned against a timber support, her keen eyes watching as the miners hewed the rock face with determined vigor.
A burly miner named Tarn, his beard matted with sweat and dirt, sidled up beside her. He grinned, his teeth stained from chewing the leaves of a local herb.
"Y'know, Lira," he began, his voice a gravelly rumble. "I've been thinking. You druids can command plants and have powers over the earth and such, aye? Why not just grow us a tunnel straight to the ore?"
Lira's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Tarn, there's more to the earth than just bending it to our will. We druids respect the balance of nature. Besides, if we did all the work for you, you'd miss out on the joys of hard labor."
“Oh, aye. I do love me some hard labor,” Tarn snickered. “Nah, truthfully I do enjoy the work. Some folk are just meant for mining. It’s my calling.”
“I’m hearing the mine calling you to get back to work,” another miner further into the tunnel shouted.
Laughter erupted among the miners.
Lira smiled. She had always admired their resilience, their ability to find camaraderie and laughter even in the most arduous of conditions.
Tarn did have a point. Unfortunately neither Lira nor any of the other druids, including grandmother Hilda, had the power to rend apart the earth to such a degree. Maybe someone who has ascended into an Archdruid could, but none in her tribe’s history has managed to attain it.
"Hey, Lira," one of the older miners called out, taking a momentary break from his labor. "I heard that druids can talk to animals. Is it true?"
Lira smiled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Indeed, it is true. We are able to commune with the creatures of the earth, to listen to their thoughts and share our own."
The miner raised an eyebrow, his weathered face creased with interest. "So, have you ever asked a squirrel what it thinks about when it's scurrying up a tree?"
Lira chuckled, shaking her head. "I have not, though I imagine their thoughts are largely focused on the task at hand and the location of their next meal."
A younger miner, her face flushed from exertion, chimed in, "What about birds? Can you talk to them too? I've always wondered what it would be like to fly."
Lira nodded, her expression growing thoughtful. "Yes, I have spoken to birds, and their experience of flight is both exhilarating and humbling. They see the world from a perspective that few of us can even imagine, and yet they do not take it for granted."
Another miner wiped the sweat from his brow, his eyes alight with curiosity. "So, if you can talk to animals, do you ever, y'know, ask them for favors? Like, have a squirrel fetch you a nut or something?"
Laughter rippled through the group, the sound echoing through the dimly-lit cavern.
Lira grinned, her eyes dancing with mirth. "I must admit, I have never requested such a favor. My relationship with the creatures of the earth is one of mutual respect and understanding. We aid one another when needed, but we do not exploit each other's abilities for our own gain."
The grizzled miner who had started the conversation scratched his beard, his gaze fixed on Lira. "Well, if you ever change your mind, I reckon a squirrel would be mighty helpful at fetching tools from the surface."
A burst of laughter filled the mine, the sound warm and infectious. Even Lira could not suppress a chuckle at the thought, her eyes crinkling with amusement.
The conversation carried on, a symphony of banter and laughter that resonated through the mine. Lira watched the men and women at work, their camaraderie and determination evident as they heaved their tools against the stubborn rock.
"Say, Lira," a young miner inquired as he wiped sweat from his brow, "what's the worst thing you've ever seen down here?"
The druid pursed her lips, considering the question. "Well, there was a time when a group of miners unearthed a nest of cave spiders. Their venom was potent, but we managed to drive them back and ensure the safety of the miners."
A shudder rippled through the workers, their imaginations conjuring visions of monstrous spiders with fangs that dripped venom. Another miner, his voice wavering slightly, chimed in.
"We're lucky to have you here with us, Lira. Don't know what we'd do without you."
Lira nodded, her gaze once more scanning the darkness. "I’m here to serve and protect. As long as we don't disturb any spider nests, this week should end rather uneventfully."
As the miners continued to work, the easy banter persisted. The mine rang with the sounds of laughter and the striking of metal against stone. Lira remained vigilant, her senses attuned to the slightest shift in the air or tremor in the earth.
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Ebonheim sat on a moss-covered rock close to the archery range, her legs swinging back and forth as she hummed a cheerful tune. Her fingers danced over the screen that appeared before her.
[*New* Abilities List]: Enchanted Essence Bolt, Forest’s Call, Tempest of the Grove, Blazing Essence Bolt, Arboreal Stride
She couldn't help but giggle as she saw the names of her newly acquired abilities. The thought of the devastation and awe she could now wield with just a flick of her wrist excited her, especially considering her impending rematch with Thorsten.
[Name] Enchanted Essence Bolt (Rank I)
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[Effect] Shoots an arrow made of Essence that deals 20 divine damage to the target. Bypasses 10 Damage Reduction. Deals double damage against dark and corrupted creatures.
[Range] 50 meters
[Target] Single target
[Duration] Five charges.
[Cost] 15 Essence
[Requirement] Ebon Bow equipped
"Enchanted Essence Bolt, huh?" she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she imagined the powerful, shimmering arrow piercing through a target. "Oh, this is going to be so much fun!"
Her laughter echoed through the forest, the spirits of the trees and plants seeming to join in her amusement. As she continued to peruse the list of her new abilities, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation bubbling within her.
[Name] Forest's Call (Rank I)
[Effect] Awakens two trees within range, imbuing them with divine power that animates and instills them with duty and purpose to aid and protect the caster.
[Range] 20 meters
[Target] Two non-enchanted trees
[Duration] 5 minutes or until canceled
[Cost] 25 Essence
"Forest's Call," she read aloud, her voice filled with glee as she pictured the trees themselves rising up to aid her in battle. "Oh, Thorsten won't know what hit him when I show off this little trick!"
She snickered as she pictured Thorsten desperately trying to fend off the animated trees that would come to her aid, a look of confusion and disbelief on his face as he realized he was no match for her divine powers.
Her competitive nature and the memory of her previous defeat at the hands of the veteran warrior fueled her enthusiasm as she continued to read through her new powers. The thought of facing Thorsten again, this time armed with her newfound powers, filled her with delight.
[Name] Tempest of the Grove (Rank I)
[Effect] Creates a massive cyclone that envelops the target, dealing 15 continuous damage every five seconds and reduces the target’s movement speed in half. The target suffers a -5 Attack, -5 Defense, -10 Evasion for the duration of the effect. 15% chance to immobilize target for 2 seconds, can occur once every 5 seconds.
[Range] 30 meters
[Target] Single target
[Duration] 1 minute or until canceled
[Cost] 25 Essence
"Tempest of the Grove?" she said, her eyes widening as she imagined a massive cyclone of wind and foliage tearing through the battlefield, restraining her opponent. "Oh, this is just too good! I can't wait to see the look on his face when I unleash this one!"
Her laughter rang out once more, accompanied by the rustling of leaves and the whispers of the spirits that seemed to share her amusement. As she scrolled further down the list of her powers, her excitement only grew.
[Name] Blazing Essence Bolt (Rank I)
[Effect] Shoots an arrow of Essence that deals 100 divine and fire damage to the target. Bypasses 20 Damage Reduction. Has a 20% chance of instantly destroying dark and corrupted creatures.
[Range] 100 meters
[Target] Single target
[Duration] Instantaneous
[Cost] 50 Essence
[Requirement] Ebon Bow equipped. Can only be used when the caster is below thirty percent health.
Ebonheim paused for a moment, her eyes widening as she read the description of her next ability.
"Blazing Essence Bolt," she murmured, her voice trembling with anticipation. "This is it. This is my secret weapon. If I’m ever in a bind again like that time with the Kungwan, I can finish them off with this power!"
Her laughter rang through the forest once more, the spirits of the trees and plants joining in her mirth.
[Name] Arboreal Stride (Rank I)
[Effect] Allows you to quickly travel between trees, entering one tree and emerging from another tree of the same kind up to 100 meters away. The trees must be living and large enough to accommodate your size. You instantly know the location of all other trees of the same kind within 100 meters and can pass into one of those trees or step out of the tree you are in.
[Range] 100 meters
[Target] Self
[Duration] Concentration, up to two minutes.
[Cost] 20 Essence
"And finally, Arboreal Stride," she said, her tone a mixture of pride and excitement. "Not only will I be able to strike him down, but I'll also be able to vanish into a tree and reappear elsewhere like a true goddess of the forest!"
She had to spend a decent amount of Quintessence to get all of them; six hundred was no small amount. Fortunately, she was diligent in performing her daily quests these past two months so at least she was steadily gaining more beyond her monthly stipend from the villagers' devotion.
[Quintessence] 3708/8000
As she closed the Akashic System interface, a grin spread across her face. The prospect of testing her new powers on the archery range was simply too tempting to resist.
With her bow in hand, Ebonheim strode confidently toward the target she had set up earlier. She could already picture the look on Thorsten's face when she finally got her chance to face him again, and she couldn't help but giggle at the thought.
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As the hours wore on, the air grew colder and the torchlight seemed to dim ever so slightly. Lira furrowed her brow, her instincts prickling with unease. She knew that something was amiss, though she couldn’t yet pinpoint the source. The encroaching darkness was unnatural.
A sudden, chilling scream tore through the mine, a sound of primal terror that struck the hearts of all who heard it. Lira's eyes widened as she saw a miner collapse, his face contorted in fear and agony, an inky black tendril wrapped tightly around his arm.
From the darkness emerged a creature of nightmares, a hulking, twisted mass of corruption and malevolence.
Its form was ever-shifting, a swirling mass of shadow and tarry blackness that defied description. Its presence seemed to sap the warmth from the air, casting an oppressive chill over the cavern. The torch lights dimmed to the paltry glow of candlelight in its presence.
Lira sprang into action, her voice rising in an ancient chant that sent tendrils of green energy spiraling from her fingertips. The vines and roots that had lain dormant within the earth surged to life, wrapping themselves around the monster's limbs and holding it fast and allowing the ensnared miner to escape its clutches.
"To me!" she shouted, her voice ringing clear and commanding above the din. "Flee, and do not look back! I will hold it at bay!"
The miners, their faces etched with fear, needed no further encouragement. They dropped their tools and fled, their footfalls echoing through the caverns as they scrambled toward the surface.
The aberration roared, a sound that seemed to reverberate through the bones of the earth. It strained against its bindings, the darkness within it seething and writhing as it fought to break free.
Lira stood her ground, her hands outstretched as she continued to channel the primal energy of the earth into her bindings. The monster's tendrils whipped through the air, seeking to ensnare her, but she deftly dodged their strikes, her movements fluid and graceful.
With each passing moment, the creature's struggles grew more desperate and wild. It battered against the walls, sending showers of rock and debris raining down upon the cavern floor. The air filled with the dust and grit of its fury, making it difficult to breathe.
As the last of the miners disappeared from sight, Lira knew that she could not hold the creature forever. She glanced back at the entrance, her heart heavy with the knowledge that she must retreat, for now.
Lira sent a powerful blast of roots and vines surging through the cavern. They entwined the aberration, pinning it to the cavern walls, buying her precious seconds to flee.
Her heart raced as she sprinted down the dark, twisted tunnels of the mine, the echoing roars of the monstrosity filling her ears. Her breaths were labored, and her legs ached from the exertion, but she knew she couldn't afford to slow down. The miners had managed to escape, and now it was her duty to ensure the creature wouldn't follow them.
As she rounded a corner, Lira skidded to a halt, her eyes quickly scanning the cavern before her. The walls were lined with thick, gnarled roots that had grown deep into the mine. She could sense the life force pulsing within them and knew they would be the key to her plan.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Lira raised her hands and began to chant, her voice steady and strong as she called upon her druidic powers. The ancient words of power echoed through the cavern, the energy in the air crackling with anticipation.
The roots shuddered, as if awakened by her command, and began to twist and grow, reaching out to form a thick, interwoven barrier across the cavern. As the wall of roots continued to grow and thicken, Lira could feel her strength waning, but she refused to falter.
Behind her, the aberration was closing in, its roars growing louder and more enraged with each passing moment. Lira knew she was running out of time.
With a final, desperate push of her will, she sent a surge of energy into the roots, urging them to complete their task. The wall of roots closed in on itself, forming a solid, impenetrable barrier that sealed off the cavern.
The creature's furious roars shook the mine as it collided with the barrier, its inky tentacles scraping and tearing at the roots in an attempt to break through. But Lira's spell held strong, the roots reinforced by the essence of the earth.
Gasping for breath, Lira allowed herself a moment to marvel at her handiwork. The aberration was trapped, at least for now, and the miners were safe.
But she couldn't linger, not while the monstrosity still raged behind her. With a final glance at the barrier, Lira turned and fled, her cloak billowing out behind her as she raced through the darkness.