Two days later, Ardeunius and his retinue arrived in Ebonheim. He entered town flanked by a group of knights bearing their standard red-and-gold livery emblazoned across tabards draped over polished plate mail armor. They marched through its streets in formation, drawing stares from curious townsfolk who watched them pass by.

Once they reached the town square, the procession halted. Ardeunius climbed off his horse and strode towards Engin with his back straight and head held high. His men followed suit and lined up behind him.

"Welcome back," Engin greeted politely while shaking hands with Ardeunius. "I trust the journey here was uneventful?"

"Indeed. Thankfully nothing untoward occurred throughout our travels," Ardeunius confirmed, turning towards Lorne afterward and clasping forearms in greeting. "Commander Miradan. Good to see you again."

"Likewise, Knight Commander," Lorne responded curtly. "I hope our services will suffice."

Ardeunius smiled broadly and released his grip on Lorne's arm. "I have no doubts about your abilities. I believe we both share similar goals here after all. Besides, you and your men are veterans well-versed in field operations. I'd rather work with professionals than rank novices anytime. So no complaints whatsoever on my end regarding your role here."

Lorne nodded and returned a slight smirk of his own. "Understood."

The rest of the Order filed in shortly after and camped out around the outskirts. Tents sprang up around the perimeter like mushrooms growing overnight.

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

Ardeunius followed Engin and Lorne through the thickening foliage alongside a few of his knights. They trod a narrow path weaving between trees and bushes until a clearing opened before them. Within the center lay a small pond with clear blue waters reflecting the surrounding sky above.

A dark, massive tree stood at the pond's edge. Its bark resembled polished ebony and its branches curved gracefully towards the heavens like a cathedral archway. Tiny silver leaves clung to each limb like shimmering diamonds. A single figure sat perched upon its lowest branch, clad in flowing white robes.

It had been two years since Ardeunius last seen the goddess Ebonheim. Had he not witnessed her power and divine presence firsthand, he would not have believed that she was a deity. Instead, she seemed more like a mortal girl who happened to possess incredible abilities...though still ethereal enough to evoke a sense of awe within his heart.

As he gazed upon her now, he couldn't help but marvel at how radiant she appeared. The way her silvery hair flowed freely behind her, cascading down the length of her back in elegant waves, reminded him of a waterfall rushing over the edge of a cliff. Her golden eyes sparkled with curiosity and intelligence, and her flawless olive-toned skin shimmered faintly in the sunlight.

Even with her beauty, she appeared to carry herself with a certain amount of maturity and elegance.

Maturity...he mused idly. Despite her appearance, she was likely far older than any living man or woman here. He wondered how many ages she had already lived through and seen come and go. He had always assumed that all gods were ancient beings who chose to manifest themselves through physical representations of their own creation.

Yet here was proof to the contrary...a deity who appeared human, and young enough to be his daughter if not younger. He couldn't help but stare in wonderment as he took in her delicate features.

Ebonheim sensed their presence and turned to face the newcomers. She smiled warmly at their approach before leaping down from her perch, landing softly upon the grass below without causing even the slightest ripple on its surface.

"Knight Commander Ardeunius. How pleasant to see you again after so long," she called out while gliding towards him. "I trust your trip here was uneventful?"

Ardeunius bowed deeply before Ebonheim. "Goddess Ebonheim. Yes...yes, the journey itself proved to be quite peaceful despite its length."

Ebonheim chuckled lightly as she stepped closer towards him. "Please raise your head. There is no need for formalities between us. You are an ally after all."

Ardeunius hesitated momentarily before straightening himself again. He couldn't help but admire how lovely she appeared up close. Her golden irises shone brightly while peering directly into his own. For a brief instant, he swore he could hear music playing somewhere nearby...a tune akin to birds chirping among leafy boughs. Then as quickly as the sound came, it faded away as quickly as it began.

"You honor me greatly," Ardeunius replied with a humble tone before gesturing towards his companions beside him. "Allow me to introduce my companions: Sirs Ulrich, Stephanos, and Emil. They serve directly under me within the Order."

Each knight nodded solemnly towards Ebonheim in turn.

She nodded back kindly. "Hello there. Welcome to the Eldergrove. I've heard much about your organization's deeds throughout the years. Please enjoy your stay here...all of you," she said with a welcoming grin.

Ulrich, Stephanos, and Emil exchanged glances between themselves before smiling broadly towards her afterward.

"Thank you!" they exclaimed simultaneously.

Ebonheim chuckled again and turned to walk back towards the base of the massive tree. Roots sprouted from the ground and wove together to form a chair beneath her as she sat.

"Please, take a seat with us," Ebonheim said while gesturing towards the nearby stumps arranged in a semicircle before her. "I believe we have much to discuss about your upcoming plans here."

Ardeunius glanced over at Lorne and Engin. Both men motioned towards him to go ahead. He took one last look at Ebonheim before proceeding forward until reaching a spot directly facing her. Once he'd settled himself comfortably upon his makeshift seat, he cleared his throat and began explaining the details surrounding the Order's arrival.

"As you are well aware, Old Drakon's Castle used to serve as an outpost for the Kingdom of Nordholz in the past. However, during the Fallen War, the fortification was abandoned and neglected by subsequent generations until finally becoming overrun by nature decades later. As a result, its current condition is less than ideal for proper living standards...but nonetheless, its strategic position remains beneficial towards our goals for the near future."

Ebonheim raised an eyebrow at this remark. "Which are?"

"Establishing ourselves in this region. It'll serve as our base of operations within this area," he answered firmly. "And its proximity towards your domain here makes it even more desirable for us to use as a starting point."

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"I see," she remarked thoughtfully. "Well...the Order's presence will certainly encourage additional travelers to pass through here regularly. But what does your god think of this?"

Ardeunius frowned at this question. Perhaps no one had informed her of this minor detail.

"The Order of the Burning Shield does not worship any singular god. We instead devote ourselves solely to protecting those in need."

Ebonheim's eyes widened slightly upon hearing this revelation. "I wasn't aware. My apologies."

"No offense taken. Our neutrality to other deities isn't widely known. So far, they've tolerated our position...and even allowed us to settle within their domains on occasion," Ardeunius said, pausing briefly to observe her reaction. But to his surprise, she didn't seem perturbed in the slightest by his revelation. If anything, she appeared intrigued by it.

"That sounds like a rather difficult task to maintain," she remarked earnestly. "But I suppose being neutral in these matters makes things easier for you."

Ardeunius chuckled mirthlessly. "Sometimes yes...and others, no. Regardless, we persevere regardless. And we intend on maintaining our dedication to our cause here as well."

"Does that mean my earlier remark about being allies isn't accurate then? Since you have no loyalties towards gods?"

Ardeunius shook his head firmly. "No. Your words still ring true. Despite our lack of faith in other gods...we still support their existence and the benefits they provide to humanity overall. You may think us hypocrites for our views...but I assure you, we are anything but. If anything, our stance allows us to fulfill our purpose to our utmost ability. We protect the people as needed without fearing divine intervention to disrupt our plans. Nor do we hesitate in taking action when called upon either."

Ebonheim leaned back against her chair and crossed her arms beneath her chest while gazing curiously towards him. "That's an interesting philosophy for sure. Tell me more."

He smiled crookedly and continued onwards. "Our ranks consist predominantly of men and women who seek out justice and righteousness wherever they find it. We train hard to maintain our skills and talents, and we live austere lives free of distractions and luxury. Our sole purpose in this world is to defend others against monsters and otherwordly threats that would otherwise destroy humanity completely. We do this without fanfare or reward. Simply because we believe such a mission is worth pursuing regardless of its outcome."

"And what if the gods tell you otherwise? What then?"

"We would ignore their commands," he declared bluntly. "Or worse...resist them outright if necessary."

Ebonheim raised a brow towards this bold claim. "Isn't that dangerous?"

"Perhaps. However, we are prepared for such consequences regardless if they arise or not. Better to act against divine will and suffer retribution afterwards than allow innocents to perish needlessly under our watch."

A long silence followed afterwards while Ebonheim pondered over his response.

Ardeunius glanced towards the others present beside him. Lorne and Engin both listened quietly without interrupting once throughout the exchange. He wondered if any of them would object towards his statements...or perhaps even contradict them outright. But neither spoke up at all during this interval.

Eventually, Ebonheim finally stirred from her contemplation and offered a gentle smile towards him. The gesture caught him off guard and caused him to blink rapidly in confusion.

He has had this conversation with several other gods in the past. Although most had little to no human-like expressions to convey their emotions, their tone and body language usually communicated their reactions well enough. However, Ebonheim was proving to be quite expressive towards him during their discourse. It wasn't unpleasant...but definitely unexpected.

Why did she seem so calm towards his declaration? He'd expected outrage...or at least indignation from her. Yet instead, she appeared more sympathetic towards his cause than hostile towards his words. That struck him as odd. Gods craved respect and veneration above all else. The fact that Ebonheim hadn't gotten upset by his disregard towards her status surprised him.

Perhaps she viewed his position differently?

"My apologies for asking so many questions. It's just..." Ebonheim started, interrupting Ardeunius's thoughts. "Your reasons are quite noble. I'd hate to see someone who believes in something so strongly to face adversity over it. Especially when those beliefs happen to coincide with my own as well. So please, continue on with what else you have planned for this region."

Ardeunius gave her another bewildered expression. "You're...supportive of our efforts?"

Ebonheim smiled warmly towards him once again. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

He paused and furrowed his brow slightly. This wasn't the usual response he normally received towards the Order's agenda. It usually involved tithes or tributes paid by its members to appease whichever god's domain the Order encroached upon. He'd expected something similar from Ebonheim as well...yet instead, she supported them entirely.

What game was she playing?

"I don't understand..." Ardeunius mumbled with a slight shake of his head. "Forgive me...but why aren't you demanding payment for our presence here? Or insisting upon our allegiance towards your name alone?"

Ebonheim blinked in confusion and tilted her head slightly towards him. "Why would I? The people here benefit from your service and protection. It seems natural enough to let you do as you wish provided you don't harm anyone while staying. Besides, Old Drakon's Castle lies within Elmsworth's territory, not mine. He told me that he'd accept you there, provided you do not violate the terms he'd set forth beforehand. So long as he permits it...then I have no objections whatsoever."

Ardeunius stared blankly towards Ebonheim for a long moment before bursting out in laughter. Everyone present gave him curious looks as he wiped away tears forming within the corners of his eyes. He didn't blame them. He must have seemed like a madman to them now.

"You are...quite refreshing," he finally managed to say between chuckles. "Thank you for your generous hospitality towards the Order. It won't go unrewarded in the future."

Ebonheim smiled warmly towards him again before rising from her seat. "I'll take you at your word for that. Now, if you'll excuse me...I've kept you here long enough as is. Please come visit me anytime you'd like."

With that, Ebonheim departed and left the others behind. Ardeunius watched as she disappeared into the forest with her back turned towards them. He noticed how graceful and light she moved, almost dancing across the grass below with each step she took. Her hair flowed freely behind her like liquid silver cascading down her back. A soft melody escaped from her lips while she twirled among the trees before fading away into the distance.

Once she vanished completely, Ardeunius glanced over towards his companions. Each man shared similar expressions of astonishment and bewilderment towards what they'd just witnessed.

Engin was the first to speak. "So...how did you find her?"

"Impressive," Ardeunius replied honestly. "Beautiful beyond compare and wise beyond measure. She reminds me of my first wife actually. Except a lot more...approachable. Her kindness radiates throughout everything around her. I'm beginning to understand why the people here flock to her domain in droves. She's everything a goddess should be."

"Sir," Stephanos interjected suddenly. "I don't think it's appropriate to compare a goddess to your former spouse. Especially in such a manner."

Ulrich and Emil nodded vigorously in agreement. "Indeed. That's highly inappropriate."

Ardeunius frowned at this outburst from his subordinates. "I didn't mean it like that! All I meant was that she reminds me of my first wife's qualities. I apologize if I offended anyone here...please forgive my poor choice of words."

Engin gave a dismissive wave towards them and shook his head. "Nah...he meant nothing malicious by his comment. Right, Ardeunius?"

"Correct. Again...my sincere apologies for causing offense."

"Apology accepted," the three knights muttered reluctantly.

Afterwards, they continued to converse among themselves for a short while before returning to town. Throughout the rest of the afternoon, Ardeunius found himself reflecting over the encounter with Ebonheim. Her words rang repeatedly through his mind...causing him to ponder further upon the Order's position within the region and its place within the mortal realm as a whole.

If Ebonheim truly believed in their cause without reservation or expectation, then he owed it to her—as well as himself—to do everything within his power to achieve their goals accordingly.