21th day of Scarlettide, 1372

Engin Meric sat on a rocking chair on his porch and gazed out into the vast plains stretching beyond his home. The sun had already dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the vast landscape. His thoughts wandered as he took in the scenery. He never grew tired of this view. Even after living here for almost a decade now, he still marveled at how beautiful it all looked.

He shifted slightly in his seat as he pondered over his situation.

Longevity... It's a concept he never considered seriously before. Not until recently anyway. He always assumed he'd live and die with no exceptions or deviations. But now that he had been offered a chance to extend his life, he wasn't sure what to do.

Fifty-three years of age. How many decades did he have left? One? Two? Three if he was lucky? His current state of health didn't concern him overly much. He had no chronic illnesses or physical impairments to worry about. But his mind often felt foggy at times. And his joints ached in the cold weather.

He sighed heavily and rubbed his forehead in frustration.

"I don't know what to do," he mumbled softly.

Ebonheim would hand out blessings to ten individuals during the festival tomorrow. His name had been among those chosen to receive a gift from her. But ultimately, it was his choice to make. He could decline the blessing if he so desired.

"Should I? Shouldn't I?" he muttered to himself as he rocked back and forth slowly in his chair. "I want to...but..." He groaned in annoyance at himself for how indecisive he felt about this whole thing. It shouldn't have been such a big deal to him. Yet here he sat fretting over whether or not to accept the gift of longevity.

His musings continued until a soft tap on his shoulder pulled him out of his reverie. He glanced behind him to see his wife Suna standing beside him with a gentle smile on her face. She held a mug in each hand. One contained hot cocoa, while the other contained tea. Both steamed warmly in the chilly evening air.

"Here," she said kindly as she offered him the mug filled with hot cocoa. "Something to warm your insides."

He smiled gratefully towards her and accepted the drink. "Thanks." He sipped from the mug and savored the sweet flavor spreading across his tongue. It tasted like home to him. Like comfort and familiarity. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply.

Suna took a seat beside him and leaned against his side. "Care to share what's on your mind?" she asked softly. "I can tell you've got something weighing on your heart."

He sighed again. "You always know when something bothers me, don't you?"

"Of course I do," she replied. "I'm your wife after all. So spill it already."

Engin glanced sideways at her before continuing. "I'm most likely one of the people Ebonheim offers the Chalice of the Eternal Nectar to during tomorrow's harvest festival."

"Oh..." Suna murmured in surprise. "Are you considering declining the blessing?"

"Maybe," he admitted quietly. "I haven't decided yet." He took another sip from his mug and watched the steam waft upwards towards the darkening sky. "On one hand...I'd like to accept the gift. It would give me more time to help our town grow and prosper."

"And on the other?" she prompted gently.

"I don't want to leave you behind." His voice lowered even further as he spoke those words. They hung heavy between them for a long moment before he continued. "My biggest fear isn't dying young. My biggest fear is to outlive you." He turned to look at her fully now. "How could I enjoy my life knowing I'd eventually have to watch you wither away while I remained relatively unchanged?"

Suna's expression saddened at his statement. She placed her mug on the floorboards beneath her chair and leaned closer to him. Her hand wrapped around his and squeezed lightly.

"Oh, Engin..." she whispered as she nuzzled his shoulder. "I understand how you feel. Truly I do. But please don't let your concerns about me keep you from making the right choice for yourself. That's not fair to you."

"But-" he started before she silenced him with a finger against his lips.

"Shhhh," she hushed gently. "Don't argue with me. Let me finish." He nodded silently as she removed her finger from his mouth. She cupped his face with both hands and stared deeply into his eyes. "You're allowed to live for yourself. Not just for me. I know you want to do more for our town. For everyone who lives here. That's part of why I love you so much. Because you care deeply about our home."

She pressed her forehead against his and closed her eyes. "So please...make your decision based on what's best for you. Don't worry about me. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. Besides..."

She paused briefly to place a soft kiss on his cheek before pulling away with a grin. "You must have forgotten that I'm thirteen years younger than you, hmm? If anything, you taking this blessing means I'll have more time to deal with you in the future. So win-win for me either way." She winked playfully at him.

Engin blinked several times at her words. He hadn't considered their age difference before. Nor did he ever think of himself as much older than her. But now that she mentioned it, he felt somewhat silly for overlooking such an obvious factor—especially considering how energetic and youthful she seemed compared to most women her age. Maybe he'd subconsciously been ignoring their age gap for a while now because he enjoyed her company so much.

"Hah," he chuckled softly before taking another sip from his mug. "You're right. I hadn't thought about that."

"Of course I'm right," she replied confidently. "I'm always right." She picked up her mug again and sipped from it. The steam curled around her face as she savored the hot liquid. Then she placed the mug back on the floorboards and leaned against him once more. "I still want to be blessed with more children before you get too old to perform your husbandly duties though. Imren wants some siblings. Maybe twins if we're lucky."

She poked him lightly in the ribs with a teasing smile.

Engin nearly choked on his drink as she mentioned twins. "Really now? Weren't you the one who insisted we stop after having Imren? Said something about not wanting to have too many kids to handle at once," he teased back.

Suna laughed quietly before responding. "Well yes...but things change. And I'm not getting any younger myself. So we better act fast while we still can. Before I start resembling a shriveled prune."

Engin rolled his eyes at her remark but said nothing more. He merely placed an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him. They sat together in comfortable silence as they enjoyed each other's company. Their mugs remained half-empty in their hands while the stars twinkled above.

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"You know...I love you, right?" Engin whispered softly after several minutes passed by. "Even if I act cranky sometimes."

Suna giggled. "Of course. And I love you too." She leaned over to kiss his cheek again before nestling herself against him once more. "Now finish your drink so we can go inside. It's getting cold out here."

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22nd day of Scarlettide, 1372

Ebonheim stood on the dais overlooking the crowd gathered below her. Her gaze swept over everyone present. The townspeople mingled with each other as they celebrated the annual harvest festival. She smiled at the sight. This event had become one of her favorite times of the year. She loved seeing everyone in such high spirits. And the food and decorations always brought a sense of joy and wonder to the proceedings.

Much of the day's festivities involved games, contests, and performances. Everyone participated in one way or another. Even the children joined in.

Ivera held a skit competition among the kids where they performed their own stories. Several people participated in archery tournaments while others took part in various drinking games and competitions. Meanwhile, those interested in arts and crafts displayed their creations for sale or auction. Those with other talents like music and dance performed for the crowd. It seemed like everyone had something they wanted to show off during this festival.

The evening marked the time for Ebonheim to distribute the Chalice of the Eternal Nectar. She watched patiently as the crowd quieted down.

Then, she lifted the chalice high into the air and addressed the audience. "As the goddess who watches over this town and its people, I wish for you all to enjoy long and fulfilling lives. This chalice contains a divine nectar that shall bless the ten people chosen by the community with longevity and vitality. They will continue to guide our town into the future for many more years to come. The choice remains in their hands. If any chosen person does not wish to accept the gift offered, then they may decline without fear of judgment or punishment."

Ebonheim paused briefly as she glanced around at everyone gathered before continuing. "Please step forward when your name is called." Then she lowered the chalice and read off the names. "Engin Meric, Hilda, Th'maine Kurveteig, Bjorn Hjelmstad, Olav Borrensen, Roderick Sedley, Argoran, Ionus Nevyrand, and Brzenk Durgun. Please come forward."

She placed the chalice upon the dais and waited patiently for them to approach.

Engin stepped forward first. He stood straight and tall with his head held high as he approached Ebonheim. His eyes never left hers. When he reached the edge of the platform where she stood, he knelt down before her.

"Goddess Ebonheim," he said formally. "I am honored to receive this blessing from you."

Ebonheim smiled kindly at him and took his hand in hers. She raised the Chalice of the Eternal Nectar towards him. "Drink deeply," she commanded gently. "Let its power flow through you."

Engin lifted the cup to his lips and swallowed a mouthful of the golden liquid. It tasted sweet and rich on his tongue. He felt warmth spreading throughout his body as he swallowed. A pleasant tingling sensation followed soon after.

As he lowered the chalice back down, Engin let out a deep breath.

"How do you feel?" Ebonheim asked.

Engin rolled his shoulders and arched his back slightly. "Amazing," he admitted. "It's like I've shed years off my body. Did my wrinkles or grey hair go away?"

Ebonheim chuckled softly at his question. "No, unfortunately. But you look more refreshed."

Engin grinned broadly at her words. "Good enough for me," he replied cheerfully. Then he rose to his feet and returned to his spot among the crowd.

Next came Bjorn.

She wasn't sure whether or not Bjorn would accept the gift offered to him. He hadn't expressed any interest in the chalice before this point. But when Ebonheim extended her hand towards him with the chalice in hand, he immediately knelt before her.

"I thank you for this honor," he rumbled solemnly. "I hope to continue to serve my people well for many years to come. My loyalty and strength belong to you."

Ebonheim smiled and lifted the chalice towards his lips. "Drink deeply."

Bjorn did as instructed and gulped down a large mouthful of the divine nectar. When he finished, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and gave her a toothy smile. "Damn...that's good stuff," he muttered.

He stood up and stepped back into the crowd. He patted Engin on the shoulder as he passed by.

Th'maine approached after Bjorn. His expression remained neutral as always. But she could sense his excitement underneath.

"Thank you for this opportunity," he said calmly. "I promise to put this gift to good use." He lifted the chalice towards his mouth and drank deeply. Once finished, he wiped his lips clean with a cloth before returning to his place among the others.

Argoran approached next. He strode forward with confidence and grace. When he reached Ebonheim, he knelt before her and bowed his head.

"I am honored by your trust," he stated. "May I continue to serve you well in the years ahead."

Ebonheim placed the chalice against his mouth. "Drink deeply."

Argoran lifted the chalice and sipped slowly. His expression remained stoic throughout. As he lowered the chalice, his gaze shifted towards his left arm. A faint glow surrounded the stump where his arm had once been. The light grew brighter and brighter until a new arm began to form. It started as a vague outline and gradually took on solidity and detail. Within seconds, he had a fully formed left arm once again.

He flexed his fingers experimentally and made a fist. Then he glanced towards Ebonheim with gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you," he murmured softly. "This is more than I could have ever asked for."

From the crowd, Serrandyl cheered and hollered with joy. Argoran flashed her a grin and a thumbs-up before returning to his spot among the spectators.

Roderick, Iounus, and Brzenk came forth to accept their blessings as well.

Olav was next. The blind shaman from Hrafnsteinn walked forward with sure steps. He inclined his head towards Ebonheim when he reached the dais.

"I am honored to have been voted by our people to receive this blessing," he said in a low voice. "But I must decline."

A murmur ran through the crowd at his declaration.

Olav continued, "The spirits have blessed me greatly in exchange for my sight. This additional gift would take away from what they have already given me." He lowered his head. "Thank you for your generosity though. But I humbly request you to pass on the blessing to someone else."

He rose and stepped back into the crowd without another word.

"Hear hear!" Thorsten shouted loudly from where he stood. The rest of the Hrafnsteinnans cheered as well. Ebonheim smiled faintly at the sight.

Last came Hilda. She approached the dais with slow steps and knelt before Ebonheim. Her face remained neutral throughout.

Ebonheim grasped the chalice tightly in her hand. She knew Hilda would refuse the gift.

Most of Hilda's votes came from those outside the Jixishan tribe. The rest had come from the younger members who wanted to honor her for her achievements. Ebonheim sensed Hilda had no desire to extend her lifespan. She had made peace with the inevitability of death long ago.

Despite this, Ebonheim still offered the chalice towards Hilda's lips. She owed it to her to at least try.

Hilda merely shook her head and leaned back on her heels. "Dear Ebonheim...I thank you for this honor. But I have lived a long and full life. I am content with how things are."

Ebonheim lowered the chalice and nodded in understanding.

"As you wish," she said. "Let your light continue to guide the younger generation."

"Of course," Hilda agreed as she rose to her feet. She returned to her spot among the crowd with ease despite her advanced age. Her face remained serene throughout.

The Chalice of the Eternal Nectar dissolved into motes of golden light as Ebonheim returned it to her divine armory. Then she addressed the townspeople once again.

"This concludes this year's distribution of the Chalice of the Eternal Nectar. Let us continue our celebrations in good spirits!" she declared loudly. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. They dispersed throughout the town center after that.

Ebonheim slumped down on her chair as soon as everyone else left. She leaned forward and buried her face in her hands. A few seconds later, she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. She glanced up to find Kelzryn standing beside her.

"Well done," he said encouragingly. "That couldn't have been easy for you."

Ebonheim managed a weak smile. "I was so nervous that no one would accept the gift. Well, I knew Th'maine would, but I was still worried nonetheless."

Kelzryn patted her back gently. "Don't fret over such things. Just enjoy yourself tonight. We can talk more tomorrow."

"Thank you," she murmured as she rose to her feet. "I think I'll do just that."