A few days passed and Ebonheim found herself spending more time with Xellos. Since he had little else to do during his convalescence besides recovering, he took to chatting with Ebonheim. He told her about his early travels after manifesting in the world and asking settlements along the way if he could become their deity. But without success—most settlements turned him away outright. Some treated him with hostility.

She couldn't understand why—especially with his friendly manner and charming personality.

Maybe it was the way he looked?

No—that couldn't be it. There were other gods whose appearances were far more alien and intimidating than his.

He wore a tattered robe over his slender frame, its color a shade of midnight blue with swirling patterns sewn into the fabric. His emaciated form gave the illusion he suffered from an illness, but he assured her that this was how he naturally appeared. Intricate etchings ran all over his deep gray skin. The patterns seemed to shift and move constantly, as though they were alive.

Aside from those features, he looked almost as human as Ebonheim—compared to other gods who appeared more otherworldly and strange.

So perhaps...it could be his mannerisms? Maybe he was too casual and flippant when approaching mortals with the request to become their deity. That might've offended them or put them off somehow.

"I don't get it," she muttered out loud after he recounted a recent incident to her. "You seem like such a nice person. Aside from looking, um, don't take this the wrong way, but rather frail...maybe they worried you wouldn't be able to provide protection. It doesn't make any other sense why you'd get rejected by all the settlements you approach."

Xellos shrugged, his eyes downcast. "Honestly? I'm not sure myself. I don't recall doing anything wrong. Maybe I failed to understand the customs in each place. Then again...perhaps my attitude offended even though I didn't mean to. I've never been particularly good at socializing with mortals—at least not from what I've gathered during my travels."

Ebonheim furrowed her brows.

Was she the only person he got on so well with? She supposed she could chalk it up to her being a friendly type and welcoming towards people, regardless of their pasts or history. Besides...a similar thing happened to her back during her first interactions with the village. They all treated her like a feral creature until proven otherwise.

In a way, Xellos' experiences struck a cord within her. Maybe that's why she found herself empathizing with him.

As they continued talking, Ebonheim couldn't help noticing Xellos' quirky habits.

He always seemed distracted. He kept fidgeting restlessly whenever he sat still for too long. He had a tendency to stare at her in silence before suddenly blurting out random thoughts. At times, he would trail off mid-sentence or babble about something unrelated altogether. When he did talk, he kept shifting between talking animatedly—almost manic—and adopting a morose tone which made him appear dejected.

But those moments would pass as swiftly as they appeared. All rather strange habits—though she wasn't one to talk.

She also found his voice oddly soothing at times—especially during those moments when he spoke softly and slowly. It was hard not to lose herself in the mellifluous sound, as though lulled by a river flowing gently through her mind. Perhaps this was due to his divine nature and how her senses seemed sharper than normal.

Whatever the reason, keeping him cooped up in her cabin all day wasn't doing him any favors. If he had any chance of learning how to interact with mortals better—in a way that would encourage him to be accepted by others—then she needed to find him an opportunity where he could practice his social skills more.

She had to try and convince Engin and the others to let her accompany him on an occasional stroll around the town while he recovered. At least let him have a change in view for once. She made a mental note to talk to Engin about that later. But for now...

"Hey, want to play a game of chess?" Ebonheim offered.

Xellos raised an eyebrow curiously. "Chess? I'm familiar with that game, but haven't actually played it myself. How does it work?"

"Well...let me explain the rules to you."

----------------------------------------

Xellos followed Ebonheim through the town, staying close behind her. His gaze swept over their surroundings warily as he observed everything around them with a practiced eye.

The town was alive, a bustling hub of activity where the villagers went about their daily tasks with an air of contented routine. It was all very quaint, very pastoral, and entirely ripe for his purposes.

Ebonheim walked with the confidence of one who knew every stone and tree, greeting her people with a warm, inclusive smile that Xellos found almost nauseating in its sincerity. Her people loved and adored her, and he sensed their devotion to her in the back of his mind like a constant hum, a buzzing in his ears.

It set his teeth on edge, his instincts bristling at such unbridled adoration.

He found the whole scene rather idyllic—almost cloyingly so—and he couldn't help a small grin from creeping onto his face as he imagined what he could do with this community in his grasp.

He had no doubts in his mind now that he had made the right choice by coming here. This goddess embodied everything he was not—kind, compassionate, trusting. But more importantly...she was naive and gullible. And he intended to take full advantage of those qualities.

But not now. He still lacked sufficient power to capitalize upon this discovery, and the affliction he had the Asura placed on him had sapped his strength and stamina considerably.

All to fool her and let her guard down enough to allow the Irresistible Influence Mantra to take hold within her mind—which had thankfully succeeded without much issue.

The bigger problem was the dragon he had to contend against—Kelzryn, that ancient wyrm. So long as he resided within Ebonheim's domain, Xellos was wary to even take the risk of making any moves yet. He dared not underestimate him. His presence alone made him cautious about executing his scheme prematurely.

He felt the dragon's intense gaze upon him as they made their way through the town square, but Kelzryn did nothing but follow from a distance and observe, not interfering or approaching them.

Perhaps his presence had alerted him to his true nature. Maybe he suspected something. Xellos had always maintained the appearance of being a rather frail and meek entity, despite his powers and capabilities. But he had an inkling Kelzryn wasn't quite fooled by his demeanor. The dragon might've sensed a threat from his aura...which was a dangerous sign.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

It's fine, Xellos reassured himself silently. As long as I behave and show no hostility or aggressive intentions...he won't interfere. For now, befriending Ebonheim would be good enough—and he'd bide his time and gain as much of her trust as possible before he could begin his grand plan.

As they moved deeper into the town, Xellos caught whispers and glances being thrown his way, words and thoughts spoken too quietly or casually for any normal mortal to hear but perfectly audible to him.

"...Who's he?..."

"Think we can trust him?..."

"Why'd Ebonheim bring him here?..."

"...Weird-looking guy...."

Xellos smirked under his hood, relishing the suspicion and uncertainty directed at him. He enjoyed knowing he made people uneasy in his presence. It pleased him immensely. But more importantly...this proved their devotion and respect towards the goddess. If they held even the slightest shred of doubt about her choices or actions, there would've been a bit more hostility towards her from the start.

They considered the deity walking alongside him as their protector, and she was the only reason they put up with him for now. He'd have to keep that fact in mind going forward.

"This is the main market," Ebonheim said, gesturing to a row of stalls laden with produce and handcrafted goods. "We grow our own fruits and vegetables here in our gardens and orchards."

She pointed towards a section of neatly cultivated rows bordered by tall trees. "That area there grows all kinds of berries and fruits. And over there," she said, indicating another field filled with large leafy plants, "We grow our cabbages, carrots, potatoes, and other tubers."

"Charming," Xellos murmured, his voice low and smooth, the words slipping from his lips like silk. He watched a young boy dart between the stalls, his laughter pealing through the air. "Your people seem very happy," he continued, his tone carefully neutral. "I envy you."

"They are," Ebonheim replied, pride evident in her voice. "We work hard to ensure that everyone has what they need. Community is our strength."

Xellos smiled, but it was a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "Indeed."

His dark gaze swept over the people bustling through their daily chores, their lives seemingly untroubled by any problems whatsoever.

Children played games while mothers chatted amongst themselves. Men worked diligently in the fields, tilling the soil with their plows. Old folks sat together under a large tree and conversed quietly. All around him, mortals went about their business—blissfully ignorant fools who had no idea they were dancing on a blade's edge.

"Life here must be peaceful," he noted.

Ebonheim turned to face him. "We get our share of troubles from time to time. But overall...yes."

Xellos tilted his head, glancing sideways at the goddess beside him. "Then surely you are prepared to do whatever is necessary to protect your people...to keep them safe from harm...even if they don't yet appreciate everything you've done for them?"

A slight frown creased Ebonheim's brow at his words but otherwise did not react to the implied challenge. Instead, she simply nodded.

"I would do anything to protect my people," she replied softly. "That will never change. Even if they don't understand my reasons or intentions."

A smile tugged at Xellos' lips as he held her gaze for a long moment before looking away. "Of course. I can sense great potential in this town, though. There is something unique about you, and I wish to learn more. Would you teach me...goddess of this beautiful land? I promise to repay you properly once my health has improved."

Ebonheim laughed. "Sure! I like teaching others." She gave him an encouraging grin. "What did you want to know?"

Xellos smiled back. "I have trouble understanding mortal concepts sometimes. I would ask for guidance, Ebonheim...to teach me...how to become more appealing to mortals...so they can accept me...and give me their faith. How did you manage to gain such devotion? And how can I emulate you?"

The lie flowed easily from his lips, his words dripping with false humility. He hid a smirk as he watched the emotions play across her features: surprise...concern...uncertainty. But in the end, her desire for him to find acceptance and happiness won out. He could tell. Her resolve solidified and she took a deep breath before answering.

"I didn't have much to do with it," she admitted. "My people chose me without me doing anything in particular. I guess you could say...it was fate." She gave him a half-hearted smile. "And my goal is simple—make everyone happy."

He blinked. He didn't expect that answer. Not one bit.

What did she mean by that? Every god's first objective after manifesting in the world should've been the acquisition of a domain—and in order to do that, they needed mortal devotion. A pact had to be established...or forced upon mortals...to bring them under the god's control.

But this...this goddess—no, she was a walking contradiction. One doesn't simply get chosen as a patron deity over something like fate itself. It didn't make any sense to him whatsoever. She must have misspoken. Or perhaps she had no intention of answering his inquiry truthfully.

"You seem very certain of your path," he observed coolly. His gaze hardened as he scrutinized every detail about her—from the way her eyes shone bright against the light to how her expression appeared so earnest. Something didn't add up here...and he intended to figure out exactly what it was. He smiled politely, masking his thoughts behind his facade.

Ebonheim met his gaze evenly. "I am."

Her unwavering conviction unnerved him. Perhaps she truly believed what she said. Was she lying to him? Or was she hiding something from him? Either way...Xellos decided he needed to change tactics. He'd ask a few probing questions and watch for any signs of hesitation or deception on her part.

"I suppose I must ask then...why do you seek to make your people happy? That's not exactly an objective a god is tasked with. The Akasha doesn't require such a sentiment from a god. As long as one provides protection and guidance to their believers in return for worship...that's all it should need." His voice remained casual despite the intensity of his focus on Ebonheim.

"I...That's what I do." She gave an apologetic shrug. "It's something innate within me. I feel compelled to act upon that desire."

Again with the strange phrasing. What was going through her mind? Did she genuinely lack any self-awareness about her own nature as a goddess? This made no sense whatsoever to him.

"Your instinct must drive you strongly indeed," he noted in a flat tone. "But even so...how do you intend to guide your people? Where will you take them? For all their joy and contentment...what lies beyond those borders? There are dangers in this world...monsters prowling beyond our boundaries."

His words struck a chord with her. A grimace appeared upon her face and she faltered in her response for a split second before managing to speak again. But he didn't fail to catch the shift in her demeanor.

"We'll manage. We always do," Ebonheim declared firmly.

So there did exist a limit to her naivete. And she had doubts as well...about her ability to protect her people against harm. Good. He might find an opportunity to exploit this information soon enough. He merely had to push her in the right direction. Then he'd find a suitable means of manipulating her. Or simply eliminate her altogether if need be.

He flashed her a smile.

"Of course." He lowered his head politely in acknowledgment. "Perhaps you have your own way of doing things after all. Maybe it's not something you can teach directly, but if you'll allow me to accompany you more...I'll learn by witnessing your actions. I'd like to understand you better before taking my leave. Hopefully, you'll allow it."

Ebonheim nodded, her expression softening somewhat. "Sure. I think having someone else to bounce ideas off on is healthy for everyone." She gave him an encouraging grin. "And who knows—you might discover something about yourself while observing us."

A sense of triumph swelled within Xellos at the success of his gambit. He managed to play on her desires perfectly, despite the presence of her overprotective dragon—who still followed behind them, judging from the aura he sensed in the distance.

He made sure not to display any outward signs of satisfaction as he returned her gesture with a small smile. "I hope you won't mind me imposing myself upon your generosity and hospitality any further, Ebonheim."

He'd have plenty of opportunities to gain insight into her character during his stay here. This domain might be beyond him for the moment, but she could still serve as an invaluable ally to him when new settlements begin to emerge within the region—and with her help, one of those could be his to rule.

And he intended to make that happen no matter what.