The town square brimmed with life as crowds gathered for evening celebrations following news spreading about Vespera discoveries. People from various guilds mingled with other townsfolk amidst boisterous voices exchanging pleasant greetings while drinking together. Cheerful melodies resonated through the air from lutes played by performers wandering between celebrants. Children weaved between knots of revelers while playing games together.
Even the local guards relaxed their patrols this eve in favor of joining in on festivities taking place.
Ebonheim stood atop the shrine's balcony overlooking everything happening within the town proper below. Her people's joyous energy radiated strongly enough to warm her core. She basked in their positive emotions amidst this gathering without participating physically herself, choosing instead to watch contentedly from her shrine.
An approaching presence behind her caught Ebonheim's attention.
Kelzryn stepped onto the balcony beside her in a deep blue dress lined with golden threads adorning its seams alongside a high collar. The sleeves appeared almost like billowing sails whenever he gestured. His long hair fell loosely behind his shoulders framed by silver earrings dangling freely on either side beneath loose strands obscuring portions of those dazzling azure eyes now trained towards nearby festivities down below.
"I thought I might find you here," he said while gazing pensively towards those enjoying themselves amidst merrymaking taking place. "Your absence during recent celebrations caught my notice earlier today."
Ebonheim offered him a faint smile before turning back toward the streets below where people cheered loudly when a minstrel launched into his ballad. "It seemed prudent to leave everyone else's enjoyment undisturbed with my presence."
"I beg to differ," Kelzryn replied smoothly. "Your people were quite keen to see your shining radiance tonight. It would have been well within your power to grace this gathering in person."
"Perhaps." Ebonheim shrugged noncommittally as they observed others dancing near one end of the square beneath torches mounted high atop stout stone posts lining pathways winding around various houses. "But this is their moment after all."
Kelzryn hummed quietly while leaning forward upon the railing alongside her—eyes flashing brilliantly under flickering flames cast across his form by candlelight surrounding them both within their shadowed alcove.
"Is there something amiss you wish to share perhaps?" He inquired gently without glancing her way. "I sense an unease hidden within thoughts."
Ebonheim laughed softly before casting him an amused look. "You're too perceptive at times. I've only now realized how hard keeping things hidden can prove when around you..." She tapped a finger lightly upon the railing. "I guess there isn't much point in avoiding talking about it, huh?"
Kelzryn nodded and gave a small grin of encouragement. "Only if you wish to."
"Fair enough." Ebonheim breathed a short sigh before glancing back toward townsfolk gathered together nearby.
She hadn't planned on discussing this matter so soon. But since he'd asked—and likely already gleaned something from her surface thoughts—no sense delaying any longer with pointless pretenses when around him.
"I mentioned at the council meeting a few days ago that we encountered a nest of Netherling cryptids on our expedition. And there could potentially be more in the vicinity."
"Yes. I recall," Kelzryn affirmed while awaiting what more she had to say.
"I'm concerned...about what their presence might entail in terms of other unknown dangers lurking beyond...or worse, closer by." Ebonheim pursed her lips and stared out at nothing for a moment. "I wonder if I should just be more proactive and get rid of them now before anything escalates. I'd prefer acting sooner rather than later...after all."
Her face settled into an uneasy smile while she toyed absentmindedly with her hair. "Better to do something sooner when problems arise rather than allowing them to snowball...right?"
Kelzryn let out a thoughtful hum while leaning forward against the railing beside her. A flicker crossed those luminescent eyes and the corner of his mouth curled upwards in a faint smile. "Not too long ago, you weren't so inclined to do more than necessary."
"Ha... Yeah..." Ebonheim laughed a little bitterly and let go of her hair. "But circumstances change...and I need to adapt alongside. Plus...there're fewer unknowns facing me now. It's not as daunting."
"That's good to hear," Kelzryn stated with an approving tone. "And as far as those creatures go...I was unaware of their presence since I settled into the Eldergrove. I would have mentioned their presence otherwise, had I known about them prior. Yet your description of them does stir certain recollections of a far different nature."
"Oh?" Ebonheim's brows rose in surprise. "Do enlighten me, please. Any additional information could prove helpful."
Kelzryn inclined his head. "While I haven't encountered them directly myself...my kin once shared tales of similar species roaming freely throughout other realms during their travels through many planes."
"I thought dragons weren't allowed to leave this plane?"
"I am the only one prohibited from straying too far afield," he corrected mildly. "That doesn't necessarily apply toward others within my kind. There are certain rules binding my kin to different standards than me. Some can pass between realms unchallenged while I have little recourse available for doing so."
"Sounds complicated," Ebonheim remarked. "So you believe they might have come through from someplace else as well?"
Kelzryn folded his arms across his chest and nodded. "It would not surprise me in the slightest. Remember that I once summoned Kungwans to this realm. These Netherlings could have easily been brought over through the same means."
Ebonheim made an involuntary grimace at the mention of the Kungwans before she sighed with a shake of her head. "What about getting them out? Are there other ways for you to banish these creatures back where they came from? If we have some sort of infestation, that would definitely come in handy."
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Even as she spoke the words aloud, her mind was already searching through the Akashic System's repository for any divine ability fitting this criterion.
[Searching archives: Processing…]
The familiar interface window flashed across her vision, its words hovering in midair like pale blue text etched upon glass. Ebonheim waited patiently while scanning available options.
A sub-menu popped up with two choices listed beneath: Planar Banishment and Dimensional Lock.
The first option seemed obvious enough in purpose; sending extraplanar creatures back to their home dimension. But there were numerous caveats listed alongside its description regarding what could or couldn't be banished—along with many limitations towards the power's effective range and duration.
It was an impressive ability no doubt...yet limited in scope regardless.
As for the latter, that sounded more like a stopgap measure compared to the first option. A static effect preventing any planar travel through means magical or otherwise. It would serve as an adequate deterrent for unwanted interlopers attempting entrance without proper clearance—like those Netherlings—but wouldn't necessarily resolve current issues plaguing their region.
Both would suffice under certain circumstances, but the prerequisite conditions for purchasing them gave her pause.
[You must have attained the Divine Rank of Intermediate God, Zenith Stage to purchase this ability. You currently fall short of the requisite ranks to acquire this ability. Further ranks must be attained before this option becomes available to purchase.]
The words hovered before Ebonheim momentarily as she read through them carefully. Then she dismissed the interface with a thought. "Well...that's disappointing."
"Hmm?" Kelzryn glanced towards her questioningly. "Something amiss?"
Ebonheim sighed heavily while shaking her head. "It's nothing. Just realizing my limits. Outside of personally going down there and dealing with them myself...there doesn't seem to be a good solution for sending them packing on my own. At least not yet anyway. It's frustrating having something within reach but being unable to grasp it. That's all."
Kelzryn hummed thoughtfully for a moment. "I do understand your concern regarding their presence here. If nothing else, they may pose future issues regarding the Deep Miners' activities below ground. But I wouldn't trouble yourself too greatly over these creatures just yet.
"We've only just learned about them after all. And while they certainly merit further investigation—especially should their population grow large enough—it would seem premature taking steps towards removing them permanently."
"I suppose..." Ebonheim turned away from him towards where others enjoyed themselves during the festivities. "Maybe I am being a bit hasty here. I just don't want it to turn into another Kungwan situation. There's still the threat of those Asura demons we haven't even addressed properly either."
"Which is understandable," Kelzryn agreed calmly while following her gaze. "But if nothing else, this knowledge will allow us to prepare accordingly should circumstances necessitate such action later on. Besides...our residents already face enough challenges without adding Netherlings as another factor complicating things further. One issue at a time, yes?"
"One issue at a time," Ebonheim repeated after him before smiling faintly towards him once more. "Thanks for listening to me. I appreciate your advice...even if it sounds like I'm overreacting a bit."
Kelzryn shrugged noncommittally and replied in an easy tone, "Not at all. I merely shared what seemed prudent in light of current circumstances. Yet you seem troubled by something else entirely beyond these Netherlings' existence alone. I sense an uncertainty rooted deep within thoughts that don't quite align with our previous conversation that's currently distracting you from enjoying yourself properly tonight."
"You sure have a way with words..." Ebonheim chuckled before shaking her head ruefully towards him. "Fine, fine...it's not just about the Netherlings bothering me right now."
She paused briefly to gather her thoughts before holding out her hands palm up towards empty air.
A soft glow enveloped her fingertips as she spoke, spreading outward until a golden goblet materialized within her grasp—its crystalline surface gleaming brilliantly under torchlight surrounding them both. Kelzryn blinked at its sudden appearance.
"What's this?" He asked with obvious interest.
Ebonheim smiled at him before answering. "The Chalice of the Eternal Nectar. It's an artifact capable of granting prolonged life to any mortal who drinks from it. Even though I've had this for several years now, I've never once offered its benefits to anyone."
"I find that surprising given your devotion towards the wellbeing of others. Is it perhaps because the town's elders voiced their concerns regarding its potential consequences?"
She nodded slowly before continuing, "Yes...partly that. We did come to a consensus on its usage and agreed to reserve the nectar for any who prove worthy of such a gift. Meritocracy in a sense, you could say. But my hesitation also stems from something more personal as well..."
Ebonheim sighed and glanced down toward the Chalice resting upon her palms—its golden surface glimmering beautifully under flickering torches lining nearby walls.
"Nepotism?" Kelzryn offered after a brief consideration of what she meant.
Ebonheim gave a dry chuckle before responding in a weary tone. "In a way, yes...I'm afraid I might show favoritism towards certain people regardless of their merits or lack thereof. Even though the townsfolk would vote on who should receive the nectar, there'd still be those who'd believe favoritism had played a role regardless of the outcome."
Kelzryn grunted softly and nodded once more. "So you wish to avoid any controversy surrounding its distribution. And for that reason alone, you've kept it hidden away in secret until now."
"Yeah," Ebonheim exhaled sharply before gazing back towards him once more. "Over six thousand people are living here now compared to the seven hundred who know about the chalice's existence. Most of those newer settlers wouldn't understand why some receive special privileges like prolonged life while others don't...and I don't want our town fracturing due to jealousy or resentment towards me either."
"That's understandable. Although your reluctance to share this gift strikes me as misplaced given your generosity toward others. If anything, this chalice would act as a gesture toward bolstering goodwill amongst townsfolk rather than something divisive. Those who truly value your devotion will not begrudge anyone else receiving such favor from you."
Ebonheim pondered upon his words before asking, "You think so?"
Kelzryn smiled reassuringly towards her. "I'm certain of it. Besides, everyone here knows well enough how deeply invested you are in their well-being. They also recognize you would never allow favoritism to interfere with an impartial judgment regarding your people's affairs. This chalice is no different in that regard."
Ebonheim closed her eyes and breathed deeply as she mulled over his advice.
Truthfully, she did want to offer this boon to a few individuals...not just for the sake of benefiting those closest to her heart—like Engin, Hilda, and many others who'd helped build Ebonheim into what it is today—but also out of necessity given current circumstances.
Many of the elders have reached that venerable age where death would soon claim them before long. Some may live long enough to witness their grandchildren reaching adulthood but not beyond that threshold. They deserved more time than fate allowed.
But with the surge of newcomers entering Ebonheim lately, she worried over their chances of receiving the divine nectar on merit alone. With so many potential candidates vying for so few rewards...it might prove impossible to determine who truly merits its benefits among all applicants without incurring accusations towards favoritism regardless of her decision-making process.
"You're right," Ebonheim finally said as she opened her eyes and turned back toward Kelzryn standing patiently beside her. "I shouldn't hold off sharing this gift any longer because of my fears of potential backlash. I've just been delaying things until I felt comfortable enough doing so without reservation."
Kelzryn gave a satisfied nod before stepping closer to her. "A wise choice indeed. And I believe now would be an appropriate time to introduce the chalice to everyone given recent discoveries under the mountains. The good news will serve as an excellent segue towards its introduction."