11th of Sunswell, 1372
Two years later…
Ebonheim sat cross-legged in her shrine, reflecting on the past year. Time had flown by so fast—the days passing by in a blur of activity—yet she'd managed to keep up with the needs of her domain and her people.
After Xellos took his leave shortly following his recovery, he'd kept in sporadic contact through the gods' yearly gathering at the Divine Auction. Their exchanges remained cordial and professional—with Xellos bringing her gifts each time in gratitude for providing a haven for him. But he'd never brought up the idea of expanding settlements again after his initial conversation with her.
The mystery of why the Asura demons had captured him continued to elude her, and despite asking Aetheron and Ariastra for their opinions, neither offered a strong view one way or another. So it came down to Ebonheim having to speculate along with Xellos that the attack had no deeper significance other than to cause pain and suffering.
The missing demons that Kelzryn had mentioned also hadn't shown their faces anywhere ever since that battle occurred. She took this as a good sign—maybe they truly had fled after all. Maybe things could resume as normal from now on without interference from any external force. Only time would reveal the answers though.
In the meantime, Ebonheim had plenty to focus on with her daily routine.
The town's growth never failed to amaze her. By now, most of the buildings she'd envisioned for the town had been erected and completed. Only Farrador Keep—which would serve as the Silverguard Company's headquarters—remained in the final stages of construction. It would take some time before the fortress-like structure could accommodate its future inhabitants, but she wasn't worried about reaching that point anytime soon.
Her thoughts shifted towards the town's metrics through the Akashic System's records—and she smiled upon seeing how much progress they'd made since last year.
> Name: Ebonheim
> Size: Town
> Quintessence: 47,352/64,000
>
> Total Population: 6051
> Quintessence/Month: 1576
>
> Human: 5820
> Beastkin: 231
>
> Professions:
>
> Farmers: 536
> Hunters and Gatherers: 375
> Miners: 724
> Craftsmen: 1286
> Warriors: 1243
> Druids: 20
> Healers/Herbalists: 131
> Arcanist: 221
> Artificer: 383
> Village Elders: 19
> Unskilled: 1113
>
> Age Distribution:
>
> Children (ages 0-14): 1113
> Adults (ages 15-64): 4786
> Seniors (ages 65+): 152
>
> Devotion Rank Distribution:
>
> Unbeliever: 0
> Follower: 3174
> Believer: 2167
> Worshipper: 255
> Devotee: 453
> Faithful: 2
>
> Building Types:
>
> Huts/Tents: 54
> Houses: 487
> Farms: 84
> Workshops: 65
> Guard Towers: 8
> Market Square: 1
> Logging Camps: 3
> Mining Camps: 3
> Magitech Workshops (Les Artisanats d'Éclair and Ethervein Enclaves): 8
>
> Special Constructions:
>
> ☆Conduit Chamber (Ethervein Enclaves): 100%
> ☆The Stoneheart Chamber (Deep Miners of Gorgandale): 100%
> ☆La Salle de Mécanique (Les Artisanats d'Éclair): 100%
> ☆Yrsta Klettur (Hrafnsteinn Exiles): 100%
> ☆Farrador Keep (Silverguard Company): 73%
> ☆Verdant Passage (Eldergrove Road):100%
>
> Resources:
>
> Forest: Hardwood, Softwood, ☆Ebon Trees
> Rivers: Fish, Clay deposits
> Mines: Iron, Copper, Tin, Gold, Coal, Granite, Slate, Quartz, Opal, Peridot, Amethyst, Turquoise, Citrine
>
> Prosperity Points: 237
> Harmony Points: 221
> Sustainability Achievement: 116
Nearly half of the new settlers had become Believers. Nearly half! Such an achievement had gone beyond her wildest expectations. And with every additional worshipper came added Quintessence.
She felt pride well up in her.
A good sign, but she knew not to rest on her laurels. This would be the norm for her from here on out. She mustn't grow complacent. The mantle of leadership brought with it responsibility as well as freedom—as Engin often said. People looked to her to act in their best interests. More importantly, they trusted her enough to put faith behind such expectations.
Besides...she wanted them to stay happy. Happiness should accompany such prosperity.
If nothing else, Ebonheim found herself enjoying the company of her people. While some did pray at her shrine on occasion, others simply enjoyed interacting with her on an informal basis. Her friendly demeanor and love for the people only drove more residents to form attachments towards her—even if a certain barrier separated a god from her subjects.
Perhaps to strengthen their connection—or perhaps her vanity wished for it—they had created small carvings of her to hold and use in their own prayers, giving birth to the image her Aspect took after: A young woman with silvery hair and kind golden eyes. Having absorbed the aspirations of her people, the picture itself housed power within its delicate frame. Whenever someone invoked her name alongside their heartfelt desires...she'd find herself responding.
Goddess, help me become better at farming. Goddess, give me strength in battle. Goddess, please bless my child on their birthday. Goddess, may I find love? Goddess, old man Doyle is at it again—he's calling his patch of land 'Doyleville' because he swears his spuds are superior to anyone else's in the realm! I implore you—knock him down a peg or two!
Well...not every invocation of hers contained lofty motives, but this didn't bother her. Her worshippers displayed admirable initiative and she enjoyed hearing them ask questions or request advice. Most times she'd simply assure them everything would work out alright, occasionally offering pointers when the subject allowed. Rarely would she interfere in mundane matters.
The Akashic System served as a blessing in her quest to keep track of her subjects. With a simple command, she could easily summon a report showing the state of the entire town's morale or economic health—alongside any individual's details if desired by her. As well, she'd receive alerts whenever anything particularly bad happened around her domain.
Yet, even so, she felt an ulterior purpose hidden beneath its vast cache of knowledge.
The fact that her interaction with the System seemed to differ from the other gods also raised suspicion within her mind. She could purchase divine abilities whereas the other gods could not. She was able to ascend to a higher divine rank, whereas the others had been recently barred from doing so.
The timing of it all seemed strange.
She couldn't help but wonder if a hand other than her own directed these changes. Did something or someone wish to sway her progression for their own purposes? What did they stand to gain from influencing her ascension path?
Her most troubling question revolved around the seemingly arbitrary nature of quests and challenges the Akashic System provided. While she'd received alerts in the past regarding the town's safety, the time during the bandit raid didn't garner any sort of response.
There was also the time when she nearly died fighting Liselotte, only for the System to notify her of a way to activate the ancient Aetherframe and turn the tide of the battle at the last minute...she couldn't help but question the wisdom of such "benevolence".
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Many pieces remained missing in the grand scheme of things. At the moment all she could do was continue down her current path and observe what unfolded. Regardless of whether unseen forces guided her fate, her job centered around caring for her people, and she would not falter from doing her utmost in their stead.
This being said, she had many plans today and could not let herself stay stuck in her own head forever.
"Well, time to stop lounging about," Ebonheim muttered, rising up to stretch.
She took a moment to appreciate her shrine.
Made of wood and decorated with blooming flowers and colorful flora, her shrine sat in a grove beneath the shadow of an Ebon tree's wide canopy. Moss-covered stones led from the entryway to the dirt path connecting to the town's central road. Bushes and plants flourished around her shrine as well—giving visitors a welcoming atmosphere to relax in.
It wouldn't win awards for architectural brilliance by any means, but the simplicity fit her personality just right and everyone agreed with such sentiment, including herself.
She inhaled deeply before making her way into town.
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The townsfolk greeted her with the usual nods and cheerful shouts as she walked along the streets. Most folks continued with their day, giving her a chance to muse in peace. She often paused to converse with those who stopped her for a brief chat. These casual interactions were important—she mustn't neglect them.
In time, she found herself strolling along the tree-lined paths of the central plaza. People milled about, ambling to and from work or pausing to gossip with friends. Children played in the fields while their parents chatted nearby.
Evelyne approached from behind, locking arms with Ebonheim in her usual, cheery greeting.
"Ma déesse..." she hummed. "What troubles you? You've a crease across your brow...is something the matter?" She leaned in close to nudge Ebonheim with her hip. "Anything you care to share with me?"
Ebonheim flashed her a gentle smile. "I'm fine, Evelyne. Thank you."
Evelyne cocked an eyebrow. "I know better than anyone in Ebonheim that you are not fine." She grinned as she waved an index finger in Ebonheim's face. "Come now...tell me your troubles. Or I shall nag you to oblivion..."
Ebonheim laughed despite herself. "Oh? Shall I remind you that as a goddess my patience is far greater than yours?" She smirked triumphantly. "Your words won't work on me~!"
"That's where you're wrong," Evelyne sang, wagging her finger back and forth like a pendulum. "My persistence trumps all. You'll crack eventually. Besides...you can't hide anything from me~"
"I...urgh." Ebonheim faked annoyance as she let out a dramatic sigh. "Fiiiiine..."
The two strolled arm in arm through the town streets as Ebonheim shared her concerns about the upcoming summer festival. She wanted to do more for the citizens this year and ensure everyone had a wonderful celebration. But with how hectic things could get during these times...it'd become difficult to manage things perfectly. This year's schedule looked like it was already jam-packed full of events and attractions.
Ebonheim sighed. "I know I want to do more than last year, but with how busy everyone is already...we might not get enough time or resources to organize more events. Or if we manage them somehow...then they may turn out half-baked."
Evelyne listened without interrupting as Ebonheim expressed herself freely. She nodded every now and then while humming softly under her breath. Ebonheim paused occasionally, taking the time to reflect on her thoughts and choose her words carefully before continuing.
When she'd finished ranting her heart out, Evelyne spoke at last.
"I don't wish to sound dismissive of your concerns—as I too believe these festivals bring us much joy—but let's focus on one problem at a time." Evelyne patted Ebonheim's arm lightly. "Let me worry about our festival preparations...and you may focus your efforts elsewhere. Les Artisans and I are already planning something big for this year."
Ebonheim arched an eyebrow curiously. "Is that why you've been holed up in your workshop all month? What exactly are you preparing?"
"Ahaha~ Wouldn't you love to know..." Evelyne tapped her on the nose. "Now come. No brooding! Or I'll force-feed you."
"I wasn't brooding!"
"Were so~"
Ebonheim glanced at her doubtfully. "You wouldn't dare do that to a goddess..."
Evelyne tapped her chin with an impish smirk on her lips. "Wouldn't I? Dare to test my resolve?"
The two broke into laughter. Afterward, they continued conversing as they ventured deeper into town.
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A few days later...
Another busy day in the town hall came to an end. Ebonheim relaxed at her desk after another lengthy discussion with Engin and Roderick about the recent influx of traders visiting the settlement. It appeared the Verdant Pathway—as the name of the road had been dubbed by its travelers—had begun to pay off in spades already.
Ebonheim couldn't quite remember who suggested calling it that, but given her dislike of overly complex terminology and her preference to keep things simple and clear, she had no objections to adopting this title. The Verdant Pathway...
It had a nice ring to it, honestly.
She stretched her arms over her head and cracked her neck slightly as she sat upright in her seat.
One of their most recent visitors was a delegate from the city of Kerkenberge and its neighboring towns in the east. His job had been to survey the terrain and find a spot to establish a frontier town for people who wanted to leave Kerkenberge to forge their own fortunes—as he said.
After venturing out with Lorne and a few of the Silverguards to escort him through the valley, the delegate had found his ideal place—two days' walk southeast along the trail. It lay near a small lake situated between a cliff face on one side and a forested hillside on the other.
A fertile plain spread before it, perfect for agriculture and livestock raising, along with several cave systems providing work for miners and hunters alike.
The number of people willing to risk venturing into the valley to settle down somewhere had been surprisingly high—three thousand in total.
Guess not everyone desired to live within cities, after all...or the lack of new land available forced many people into such bold decisions. A commoner like the majority of those seeking this chance could never own a piece of land as long as they resided within the walls of a city, especially under a god's direct control...
Engin reasoned that it'd take a few years before these new settlers could establish themselves properly. That gave Ebonheim plenty of time to let Xellos know about them. He'd likely jump on the opportunity to help them establish a settlement out there in due time.
Ebonheim idly rubbed her finger across her desk's surface—tracing circles and swirls into the wood. Her thoughts drifted elsewhere as she mulled over various issues weighing on her mind lately. At length she pushed away from the table, standing slowly.
That was enough work for today. She wanted to take a break from her divine duties and responsibilities for a moment. Just an hour or two would suffice...then she'd return to the world outside her tiny cabin where everything was peaceful again and no one bothered her for advice or guidance or assistance.
A knock broke the silence in the room, drawing her attention upwards. Kelzryn stood across from her with his hand resting against the wall.
"You seem preoccupied," he mused as he approached. "Is there anything you require assistance with?"
Guess work might have to continue a bit longer, after all...
"Kelzryn..." Ebonheim greeted with a weary smile, sitting back down. "Ah...no. I'm good. I was just going over the trade agreements we struck with the Kerkenberge."
Kelzryn nodded in acknowledgment and closed the distance. He settled beside her as they studied the documents lying scattered across her desk. His eyes flickered over the various documents briefly before he spoke once more.
"It appears you've done well by negotiating with them." A faint smile graced his features as he nodded thoughtfully at her. "Such relations should strengthen your domain's prosperity immensely in due time, should nothing go awry."
"Thanks for your vote of confidence," Ebonheim chuckled wryly and shrugged at him. She then gestured towards the document closest to him. "What do you think this one's about? Engin says it mentions something about a tax on goods traveling the Verdant Pathway..."
She let her voice trail off as she waited expectantly.
"A toll...hmm." He leaned forward to examine the papers further. He raised a single brow slightly as he did so. "They're willing to offer us one thousand gold per year if we allow wagons carrying cargo through our roads and charge only two percent of the load's value instead of four. That doesn't sound terribly steep. Was this Roderick's idea? Or Engin's?"
"Roderick's." Ebonheim leaned back in her chair. She fiddled with her thumbs absentmindedly as she thought back over their discussion earlier. "I don't really like the idea of taxes...it smacks too much of exploitation in my mind. Especially when charging people for traversing our road. It should be free for travelers and merchants alike to use."
"His reasoning reflects a pragmatic approach," Kelzryn offered mildly. "Though the sentiment you described is noble, Ebonheim...I believe Roderick makes a valid point."
"A valid point?"
"To maintain the pathways in an ideal condition for travelers...requires considerable effort and expertise to perform. Maintaining the road is necessary, but it is not a charitable endeavor; there must always be compensation involved, whether monetary or otherwise, for service rendered." He paused and cast her a sidelong glance before continuing. "If nothing else, these measures provide reassurance—proof the area remains safe to pass through."
She nodded in response. "Makes sense. Still...I don't want to make money from innocent travelers or honest merchants. We shouldn't exploit them. I don't like it one bit."
"This toll is only for merchants and traders," Kelzryn clarified. "Ordinary travelers can enjoy using the pathway for free. And the toll isn't high to begin with. I do not wish to bore you with minutiae...but I believe Roderick's proposals may benefit us immensely in the long term."
Ebonheim mulled it over while drumming her fingers on the armrests. Eventually she let out a resigned sigh. "I guess you have a point..."
"You're still bothered though," Kelzryn stated matter-of-factly.
"A little," she conceded, leaning closer. "Maybe I'm overthinking this? Am I just making a big deal out of nothing?" She gestured towards the papers in front of her. "I don't want to miss out on any important details..."
Kelzryn placed his hand gently atop her head, patting her reassuringly. "No. It's admirable how seriously you're taking things."
"Mmn...thanks..."