18th of Scarlettide, 1372
Ebonheim sat beneath the shade of her tree at the center of her shrine. She leaned back against its trunk and gazed towards the heavens. The clouds drifted lazily across the sky while the wind played through the branches above. The leaves danced in the breeze while the last vestiges of sunlight filtered through the canopy.
Her thoughts wandered aimlessly as she relaxed in the cool autumn air.
Despite Engin's worries and concerns about how busy she would be during the coming months, she found herself in the opposite position. Outside her daily routine of providing guidance and advice to her devotees, she found herself with nothing but time on her hands. Even after speaking with every person who came to her shrine to cast their vote on who they thought should receive the chalice's blessing, she remained largely unoccupied.
This gave her ample opportunity for reflection.
She pondered over several things in particular: the nature of her existence as a deity...the role of the divine in the world...and ultimately her place in the divine hierarchy itself. These questions occupied much of her attention throughout the past month. She still hadn't settled on a definite answer regarding any of them. At least not yet at least...
The rustling of fabric drew her back from the recesses of her mind as someone approached her. She blinked and looked towards the source of the sound.
Th'maine stood before her. The old Arcanist wore his usual brown robe with frayed edges. His gray hair was pulled back into a ponytail and his beard rested against his chest. The sun reflected off his glasses causing his eyes to appear yellow instead of blue. He inclined his head towards her and then proceeded towards the trunk of her tree to take a seat.
"May I join you for a moment?" he asked cordially.
She smiled warmly at him. "Of course. How are you doing?"
Th'maine nodded. "Quite well. Busy with my research, of course. Although, there hasn't been much progress lately."
"Still trying to unravel the mystery behind the Akashic System," Ebonheim guessed knowingly.
He nodded again and shrugged. "Indeed. But I'm afraid that solving such an intricate puzzle might take an eternity. Or at the very least...far longer than I've got left. Regardless, I'll continue to chip away at it till I've pieced everything together or drop dead trying."
Ebonheim gazed at him for a long moment, noting his venerable appearance and his wrinkled visage. He didn't seem too different from the last time they met. However, he did appear slightly paler. Not too noticeable...but she could sense subtle changes occurring within him nonetheless.
This saddened her to a degree. But perhaps a bit of good news might cheer him up a little.
"Though I'm not supposed to announce it until the harvest festival, you're one of the ten people voted to receive the chalice's blessing," she said with a smile.
His eyebrows rose in surprise. "Come again?"
"You remember the Chalice of the Eternal Nectar, don't you?" she teased lightly. "I'm granting the blessings on that day too. Your name is among those chosen."
"Really? Huh..." Th'maine trailed off. He seemed dumbfounded by her revelation, as if unsure what to make of it.
She chuckled softly in amusement. "Why do you sound surprised?"
"I suppose because I've never once given any thought to how popular I might be in this town. Or anywhere really..." he muttered, stroking his beard in deep contemplation. "I assumed everyone viewed me as just some odd old coot who sits around writing all day. Not someone worthy of special recognition."
She tilted her head sideways as she listened. His remarks tugged at her heartstrings a little. Despite everything, he seemed content with his lifestyle and lack of notoriety within the community. It wasn't surprising given how antisocial he tended to be. She doubted he even interacted with anyone outside his immediate circle beyond small talk or chit-chat whenever necessary. But despite his introverted nature, there was no denying that he'd contributed significantly to the town's prosperity.
Perhaps he needed a reminder of all the great work he'd accomplished. That might help improve his self-image somewhat.
"You have to give yourself some credit," she pointed out. "I've spoken with everyone in town, and every Arcanist and Artificer here respects your expertise and dedication to your craft. Most of them aspire to become half the scholar and researcher that you are."
He chuckled ruefully. "I highly doubt that. I'm a stubborn old man with strange tastes. No one wants to emulate a curmudgeon like myself."
"You're too hard on yourself. People appreciate your efforts. Including me," Ebonheim countered firmly.
Th'maine sighed. "I know...I'm sorry for putting you on the spot with my personal problems."
She leaned towards him and gently placed a hand over his own. "It's alright. Everyone needs to vent every once in awhile. Don't worry about offending me. You're entitled to air your frustrations from time to time."
He wrinkled his nose and chuckled, breaking away from their contact to brush aside his bangs. He seemed embarrassed by her gesture of affection and averted his eyes from her gaze. After clearing his throat, he glanced sideways at her once again. "You've certainly gotten better at this whole goddess business. Last time we spoke, you had trouble being candid with me. Now, I hardly recognize you."
Ebonheim smiled with pride as she straightened up, hands on her hips. "Thank you for noticing."
"No need to get smug," Th'maine admonished as he shook a finger in front of her face. He quickly withdrew his hand though, before returning to fidgeting with his beard instead.
She smirked at him knowingly but said nothing else. He might not admit it, but his remarks had pleased her more than he realized. Just like with the other elders, she appreciated his honesty and candor towards her shortcomings as a deity.
"Anyway," he said abruptly while turning towards her. "While I appreciate you giving me the heads up about my nomination...I'm still not entirely sure how I should react towards this."
Ebonheim settled down, crossing her legs and placing her hands in her lap. "You're nominated, but ultimately, the decision is yours to make. You could just ignore it entirely if you wanted."
"I suppose it all comes down to one's thoughts about longevity..." he murmured with a contemplative frown. "If given the opportunity to live a longer life, why wouldn't one take advantage? Especially if they have something left to accomplish. Although I must admit, I do understand those who choose otherwise."
She nodded slowly in agreement.
Everyone had a different view on what mattered to them most, and each person's opinion regarding mortality differed greatly too. Some welcomed death with open arms while others fought desperately to stay alive despite suffering tremendously as a result. It depended entirely on each individual's circumstances at any given moment. There weren't many universal truths regarding this matter.
"So...would you?" Ebonheim prompted quietly.
"Of course," he answered without hesitation. "An extra decade of life would help me further my research exponentially. I'm only getting older and I've got plenty still to do before I meet my maker. I wouldn't pass such a chance up lightly."
"And what about after? What will you do when you've completed your work?" she prodded further.
"Then I'll work on something else. Although I doubt anything will be as paramount in my life as discovering this mystery." His tone grew more determined as he spoke.
Ebonheim grinned broadly. "Well...I certainly hope that doesn't mean you'll disappear into your study after you get blessed then."
He snorted derisively at her playful jibe before shifting his stance to lean back against the tree trunk and stare off into space again. "I can assure you, I'll be more inclined to step outside every now and then since there are certain social obligations that must be fulfilled. If only to appear 'normal' to everyone else. Although I'm sure I'll still drive them mad from time to time. Just by being my weird self."
She laughed outright at his response and shook her head.
He always seemed surprised by how well-received his blunt comments generally were around here. Perhaps because most people found humor in sardonic remarks. They certainly amused her regardless. She couldn't imagine a world where Th'maine wasn't himself. She would rather have him act like himself than pretend otherwise.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
"So," he continued. "Since you've disclosed my nomination to me, I don't suppose you'd be opposed to revealing any other names?"
Ebonheim smiled mysteriously towards him. "No, I'm sorry. But you'll have to wait and find out like everybody else. There's no fun in spoiling everything beforehand."
"I can venture a guess or two...based on personal observations alone if nothing else," he commented drily. "Engin, Hilda, Bjorn, Argoran, Roderick, Olav, Odette, Brzenk, and Ionus. Did I miss anyone?"
She blinked several times in shock. "H-How the...when did you figure out who else had been chosen?! Only I'm supposed to know!"
His brows arched high on his forehead at her reaction before shaking his head. "Oh please," he harrumphed. "I've made a living on uncovering truths others cannot uncover. Figuring out who's eligible to receive a god's blessing would hardly require more than simple deductive reasoning."
Ebonheim stared at him, dumbfounded.
He rolled his eyes at her expression and elaborated further. "First, the obvious choices like Engin and Hilda would probably be chosen due to their long-standing reputations around here. Bjorn and Argoran are respected leaders of their respective communities. Roderick is a natural choice given his influence among traders. Olav holds great honor and standing within the Hrafnsteinnians. Odette, Brzenk, and Ionus are also one of the founding elders. It would make perfect sense for all three of them to receive blessings in tandem."
After his short monologue, he folded his hands together and waited expectantly for her response. When none came after a moment's pause, he tapped his finger on his temple several times in a self-satisfied manner. "Elementary, dear Ebonheim. Elementary."
She gaped at him, speechless. He grinned smugly at her. They stared each other down for several seconds before they both burst into laughter simultaneously.
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Argoran narrowed his eyes as he stared across the fire pit at his daughter, Serrandyl, who had been staring at him with an impish smile plastered on her face for the better part of the night. The wag of her tail mirrored her playful expression.
He didn't quite trust that expression of hers. She seemed to be plotting something he had no inkling about. And that meant he had to remain cautious of whatever she had up her sleeve.
She was already twenty-eight years of age, yet she still acted like a mischievous teenager at times. And with no spouse or offspring of her own, she tended to focus all her energy on keeping her old man on his toes. Something he'd gotten used to over time. Even if he found her antics frustrating sometimes.
"What are you planning this time?" Argoran asked bluntly. "You seem too casual for someone who's supposed to be preparing for her mating season soon."
Her smile evaporated in an instant. Her shoulders drooped as her tail went limp between her legs. "Dad! You shouldn't say stuff like that out loud!" she hissed under her breath.
Argoran glanced around and saw a few heads turned in their direction, most likely eavesdroppers eager for juicy gossip. But they quickly returned their attention elsewhere after catching a glimpse of his scowl.
Serrandyl groaned and dropped her head between her palms. "Great...now everyone knows," she grumbled bitterly.
"Good," Argoran stated firmly as he crossed his arms. "There have been too many rumors regarding your preference for mates around here. You've rejected every suitor thus far for one reason or another. All of them good, young warriors with bright futures ahead of them too..." he trailed off slightly before continuing. "But you can't afford to procrastinate much longer. I'm concerned for you."
Serrandyl's shoulders slumped further as she heaved a loud sigh. "I know. I just...don't really see myself settling down with someone. There's nothing wrong with the guys who approached me. I'm just not interested."
"So it would appear. But you must choose a mate sooner or later. Time is running short. Those you grew up with have already mated and started families. Yet you remain unattached, without offspring. It reflects poorly on me and our family as well," he pointed out quietly. "You're a prime example to young females in the tribe. A role model even. How could they aspire to become honorable wives themselves if the daughter of their Pridelord hasn't taken the leap herself?"
Serrandyl covered her face with her hands and groaned again. "Dad...please don't lay such heavy guilt on me. This is already hard enough as it is." Her voice became muffled between her fingers.
"Then what should I say?"
She paused at his question, raising her face slightly and peering through her bangs with red irises. "Just give me a chance to figure things out for myself. Like you always do."
Argoran paused briefly before speaking again. "Is there another who holds your fancy?"
Serrandyl's ears perked at this question. She lowered her hands to reveal a faint blush forming beneath her cheeks as her gaze slid elsewhere nervously. "Not exactly...but maybe? It's complicated right now..."
Argoran scratched at his chin and frowned thoughtfully towards her response. He hadn't detected any new scents indicating another male having grown close with his daughter. Yet he hadn't expected this response either. Perhaps she'd fallen for someone out of his knowledge or awareness.
Which wouldn't have surprised him too terribly given how private Serrandyl tended to keep her matters. He only knew what she permitted him to know. Although, her reaction made him question whether or not her feelings towards this mystery male involved more than a physical desire. If anything, he believed Serrandyl to be more pragmatic regarding her choice of a suitor rather than emotional or romantic.
"Out with it, daughter of mine. Don't leave me hanging."
Serrandyl hesitated for several seconds while chewing her bottom lip. Finally, she exhaled heavily through her nostrils and walked over to him to whisper in his ear. He leaned in closer to listen carefully.
"Thorsten?!" Argoran exclaimed before he could stop himself.
Every head nearby snapped towards them again.
Serrandyl cringed visibly before putting Argoran in a chokehold while hissing at the beastkin staring curiously in their direction. "Mind your own business! Nothing interesting happened, so scram!" They hurriedly dispersed after her threat.
When they were alone once again, she glared fiercely at the Pridelord. "Dammit, dad! Now everyone is going to gossip about this! Thanks a lot!"
On one hand, he was proud of how strong Serrandyl had become. The chokehold around his neck wasn't exactly light.
But on the other, the headlock around his throat also reminded him of how dangerous she could be if provoked. And when angry...well...he'd prefer not to dwell upon those consequences. Much less get caught in a chokehold like this again.
"I'm sorry...It just...slipped out," he gasped. "Let go, please?"
She relaxed her grip before releasing him completely, dropping back down to her seat beside the fire while keeping her gaze averted. "Damn it," she cursed as she shook her head bitterly. "This is why I never discuss stuff like this with anyone."
Argoran cleared his throat several times until he felt air flow freely once again. He rubbed his sore neck gingerly while watching his daughter brooding angrily across from him. Her tail had stiffened in agitation.
"So...Thorsten," he said in an attempt to clear the tension building around them. "How long have you felt this way towards him?"
She remained silent for several moments before glancing towards the fire between them and sighing. "Since forever...I suppose? Ever since I fought him when I first raided the village."
Argoran arched an eyebrow. "Is that so...? That seems rather long."
"Tell me about it..." she muttered dryly. "Besides the whole...being my rival thing. He's not bad as far as male companions go. Though he's got plenty of flaws as well. But still...I dunno...I respect him somewhat."
Argoran stroked the underside of his beard thoughtfully. He never would have expected this turn of events.
As far as he noticed, there had been no signs whatsoever to indicate Serrandyl had developed a soft spot for Thorsten during her many interactions with him. She frequently bickered and argued with him constantly about anything under the sun. But he supposed this could be chalked up to their opposing personalities conflicting together.
Or perhaps Serrandyl had developed deep-seated feelings for him without even realizing herself. This possibility didn't surprise him either given how stubborn she tended to be regarding anything relating to love interests. Although admittedly, he wished for nothing more than a good outcome to come out of this matter.
"You realize he's over a decade older than you, right?" Argoran noted casually. "And a human, at that. I'm sure he's past his prime already."
Serrandyl snorted loudly at his comment. "Doesn't change how he carries himself. He's still got plenty of years left in him. Not to mention the stamina needed to keep up with me," she countered confidently. "Plus...it doesn't seem like anyone else has captured his interest either..." her voice trailed off again uncertainly before adding: "For now, at least."
"True..." Argoran conceded. He could hardly argue against any points she raised so far. But he still couldn't wrap his head around the idea. "So if you intend to court him...how do you plan to approach things from here onward?"
Serrandyl shifted uncomfortably in her seat and avoided his gaze once more. "Well..." she hesitated again before answering slowly. "I haven't figured out the details yet...but I intend to challenge him properly during mating season. To claim him as my prize for victory."
Argoran blinked several times. Then he blinked again. He had trouble processing his daughter's declaration as a legitimate plan for success. "I...see," he replied evenly. His response sounded more incredulous than intended. "That's quite bold of you to say."
"Yeah...well..." she faltered for words. "It sounds a lot worse when I put it into actual speech compared to inside my head. Besides...we've fought each other enough to have gotten comfortable with each other's tactics. So I think...hopefully...it shouldn't be as bad as my imagination makes it appear."
He stared at her quietly for a minute. He didn't doubt the truth behind what she said, although he doubted her chosen method to approach Thorsten with her affections would get them anywhere remotely close to the path of romance together. He'd known Thorsten for quite a while now and knew how reserved and focused on his warrior lifestyle he typically was.
Unless Serrandyl could find a way to win him over before approaching the topic of sex and intimacy, she'd end up failing terribly and cause more embarrassment than necessary. Assuming she could even convince Thorsten to even accept her as a mate to begin with. A tall order considering her personality and temperament.
"Well, I'll pray to Ebonheim that everything goes smoothly," Argoran said.
Serrandyl shot him a half-hearted glare. "You better not tell him or anyone else about this. Or else! I know where you sleep!" She jabbed a clawed finger in his direction.
Argoran laughed heartily at her remark and shrugged. "Of course. It would dishonor your pride to divulge such sensitive information to others."
"You already have," she accused icily as she crossed her arms over her chest with a huff.
"I'm sure they didn't know the context. They probably assume it has something to do with the festival. Besides, everyone will learn eventually. This is just common gossip amongst the tribe."
"Whatever," Serrandyl replied sullenly while continuing to sulk in silence.
Her tail flicked erratically behind her seat before finally coming to a rest by her side.
Argoran smiled sympathetically towards her. He'd learned over time to respect the limits of her tolerance when discussing delicate matters such as this. Although he still wished things had unfolded in a different direction for her sake.
"In any case, why were you smiling like a buffoon before this? What did you come to talk about?" Argoran asked curiously, in hopes to lighten the mood once again.
Serrandyl glanced back towards him and her expression softened at the change in topic before returning to her trademark smirk. "I overheard something interesting earlier today..."