8th Day of Highglow, 1366
Ebonheim spent the morning flying around the forest as a fuzzy ball of light, invisible and intangible to those that dwelled in the material realm. The sun rose above the trees, casting a pale light over the landscape. The birds began to stir, and the forest gradually came to life.
She came across a small stream. The water sparkled in the sunlight, and as she drew closer, she saw a large fish swimming in the stream. The fish swam by a small outcropping of rock where a wildflower grew. Ebonheim watched the fish for a time, fascinated by its movement.
Everything she saw and heard seemed so pretty and wonderful. There were still so many things to experience, but before she got too distracted, she turned her attention back to the village and flew there.
The village nestled itself within the thick forest, comprising many clusters of simple thatched-roof cottages connected by dirt trails that wove between the trees. Pockets of clearings dotted the land, which the villagers turned into gardens and fields for cultivation. A pair of tributaries snaked through its western and southern quadrant before converging into the larger river to the south.
As she floated over the village, she noticed a small group of children gathered around a tall, lanky man, who was telling them stories in a dramatic way, his hands flailing about as if he was living the story himself. She watched as the children listened with rapt attention, their eyes wide with wonder.
The man's stories seemed to transport the children to a different world, one filled with adventure and excitement. Ebonheim felt a surge of delight and wondered if she could weave a story like that herself, something that could captivate the hearts and minds of the villagers. She made a mental note to try that sometime.
Further on, Ebonheim saw a group of women sitting in a clearing, spinning wool from the sheep that grazed in the nearby meadow. They chatted and laughed as they worked, their fingers expertly guiding the spindle and distaff. Ebonheim couldn't help but feel impressed by their skill, and made another mental note to learn how to spin herself one day.
In another part of the village, a man was hammering away at a piece of metal, sparks flying in all directions. His workshop was cluttered with all sorts of tools, each one looking more complicated than the last.
At the center of the village resided the feast hall, an imposing structure built of gray stone and thick lumber. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings. The roof was steeply pitched, made of thatch, and adorned with a chimney that gave off a steady stream of smoke. The scent of roasting meats and spices wafted through the air.
It didn’t take long for her to see that the village was more than just a collection of houses and farms. It was a living, breathing organism, with each person playing their unique role in its continued existence. She marveled at how the villagers were able to carve out a life for themselves in the midst of such a wild and untamed forest, using the resources around them to build a thriving community. What a lively bunch. The smiles on their faces filled her puffy, glowing form with happiness.
The Akashic System’s glowing text reappeared in her view.
[5 Attribute Points need allocation]
[Choose 6 starting abilities]
“Hmph.”
These messages were an annoying distraction. She willed them away once more, but knew they would return to her view sometime later. Right now, she had many more important things to think about.
She flew away from the village and headed back into the forest.
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As Ebonheim made her way deeper into the seclusion of the forest, she found herself surrounded by a grove of dark towering trees. Their gnarled roots jutted out from the ground, twisting and coiling like a writhing serpent. The trunks of the trees were massive, with thick, gnarled bark that seemed to have been carved by the winds and the elements over the centuries.
She continued to float around them and noticed something odd. One of the trees, a massive oak with twisted branches, was glowing with a soft, ethereal light. She floated closer, her curiosity piqued, and saw that the tree was covered in a blanket of lichen that shone like thousands of tiny stars.
As she floated on, she came across a small clearing, its edges defined by fallen trees that lay scattered about like discarded toys. In the center of the clearing was a small pool, its surface as still and reflective as a sheet of glass. She watched as a pair of dragonflies flitted about, their iridescent wings shimmering in the dappled sunlight.
While wandering, she stumbled upon a thicket of briar and some fallen trees that formed a natural barrier. Ebonheim's intangible form floated through the dense thicket, its thorny tendrils reaching out as if to snag her, but passing harmlessly through her.
This seemed like a cozy, secluded space to think. However, after meandering around the thicket for a while, she realized that she was no closer to finding a solution.
Should she just casually walk into town and announce her presence? Should she produce some omens of her arrival?
“What do I do? They can’t even see me or hear me.”
Suddenly, those annoying messages popped up again, interrupting her thoughts.
“Shut up! I’m having an existential crisis right now, and I just came into existence not too long ago. Damn it, there’s got to be a way for them to notice m—”
[Divine Ability] Manifestation (Rank I)
[Effect] Materializes a physical form until the form is destroyed
[Cost] 60 Essence
“O–Oh…I could do something like that already? Wait, how much Essence do I have?”
[Essence] 180
“Manifest!”
She channeled her essence and the glowing mote that was her form pulsed and expanded until shattering into fragments of light that revealed a young human girl standing in her place.
[Essence] 180 -> 120
Ebonheim opened her eyes, then blinked, and immediately became amazed at blinking.
“Woah!” she shouted, then gasped, covering her mouth. She sounded a little different compared to her incorporeal form, but it still sounded nice nonetheless.
Ebonheim extended her arms and marveled at the way her fingers moved, bending and flexing with ease. She ran her fingers through her long hair, feeling its silkiness as it slipped through her fingers.
Ebonheim took a step forward and felt the soft grass beneath her feet. She giggled as she wiggled her toes in the lush blades, feeling their coolness on her skin. She had seen the world before, but it had never been like this. Everything was so vivid and real, and she reveled in the sensations.
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Her hands and fingers looked great; her feet and toes...exquisite. Her white dress—She had a dress?! She pinched and stretched the fabric and felt its softness. She sniffed and savored the scent of it.
She spun around, feeling the fabric of her dress billow around her. It was so light and airy, and she loved how it moved with her. As she twirled, she noticed the way the sun glinted off the threads of her dress, making it shimmer in the light.
As she continued to explore her physical form, Ebonheim realized that she was hearing things differently too. The sounds of the world around her were clearer and more defined. She heard the rustling of the leaves in the trees, the chirping of the birds, and the distant murmur of a river. It was like a symphony to her ears, and she reveled in the richness of the sounds.
Finally, Ebonheim looked up at the sky through the forest canopy, marveling at the shapes of the clouds. She felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the chance to experience the world in this way. As she stood there, taking it all in, she knew that she would never forget this moment– the moment when she first stepped into her physical form and truly felt alive.
She placed her hands on her hips and smiled to herself. “As expected of a goddess, there’s nothing I can’t do.”
As she admired her new form, she realized that she had made up her mind. She settled on a simple plan. All she had to do was materialize herself in all of her glory to her beloved villagers after they prayed to her. Easy. They’ll be so amazed.
She scanned the area for an exit through the briar.
None. She trapped herself.
Ebonheim frowned. “Hmph. You think some bush can trap a goddess? Think again!”
She tried burrowing through a slight opening but was met with sharp thorns and jagged branches that pricked at her skin and tore through her dress. She winced at the pain but refused to let it deter her. She tried pressing on but was met with further resistance.
“Ow, ow, Owww!” She recoiled back to her starting point, falling on the ground. “Ow.”
[Health] 180 -> 179
So this was what pain felt like. It wasn’t pleasant, not at all. She winced as she stood to brush off the leaves and dirt that clung onto her. Never had she felt so much shame, being trapped by mere bushes—but also because this was the first time she felt shame.
“Ooh..ugh.” Let’s not repeat this.
But now she was in her second predicament. How can she escape? Could she dematerialize?
[Divine Ability] Demanifestation (Rank I)
[Effect] Dematerializes physical form
[Cost] 30 Essence
[Limitation] You cannot use Manifestation for two hours after demanifesting.
“It costs Essence to dematerialize too? That’s a scam!” She buried her face in her hands and groaned. “I still have to do it.”
Poof. Her physical form shattered into particles of Essence, and only a single ephemeral mote of light remained that quickly darted back to the village.
[Essence] 120 -> 90
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The best place to announce her presence would have to be by her little shrine near the center of the village, just between the feast hall and the commons. Ebonheim made her way there and saw a dozen villagers gathered, their voices carrying through the air as they discussed which crops had the best yield, how to prepare the hunted game, or how low rainfall had been compared to last year.
An elderly man tended to her shrine with care. His hair was combed to the side and his mustache was thin and grey. She hovered above him and watched. He polished her wooden effigy that was worn down from being outside and set it back on top of the miniature garden.
“You are looking majestic today as well, oh great goddess,” said the old man. “I pray for Ebonheim’s continued prosperity and her people’s happiness.” He bowed his head at the effigy.
[2 Quintessence acquired]
[Quintessence] 717/8000 -> 719/8000
Aww, what a kind prayer. If a mote of light could smile, it would look like her right about now. This was the perfect time to reveal herself, right? Surely this merited her presence. It had to be now. But what would she say to him? Ebonheim orbited around the unsuspecting old man’s head as she pondered.
An idea formed in her mind.
Manifest!
[Essence] 108 -> 48
The old man gasped and covered his eyes as a blinding flash of multi-colored light erupted into existence in front of him, accompanied by a strong gust of wind that toppled over the trinkets and effigy atop the shrine. Ebonheim’s physical form slowly came to view as she descended to the ground beside him.
She opened her eyes slowly and smiled as she spoke. “Your earnest prayers have reached me. This day, I will bestow upon you a gift for your sincerity. May you live long and pros—”
“Eaauurgh!” The old man screamed as he stared at her wide-eyed with bewilderment. He then wobbled and fell on his back, one hand clutching his chest while the other reaching out at the sky.
“Aaaah!” It was Ebonheim’s turn to scream. “What happened?!”
The small crowd around the area also took notice and began screaming and yelling. Some ran away in an absolute panic while others remained, looking horrified at the sight of a girl standing over a fallen old man who was gasping for air.
A young man tried to approach but backed away instead. “Something is wrong with old man Doyle’s heart. He’s dying!”
A middle-aged woman pointed at Ebonheim. “That girl put a curse on him!”
Ebonheim shook her head vigorously. “I didn’t do it! It wasn’t me.”
“Someone call the elders, call Bjorn or Thorsten or one of their sons,” a woman from further back shouted. One man ran towards the feast hall.
Ebonheim looked back down at Doyle, mouth agape and eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
What do I do? What do I do?!
There was definitely something she could do. She was a goddess. Healing her devotees should be innate to her. But what were her powers again?
[Choose 6 starting abilities]
What? She didn’t have one by default? She still had to choose? Argh, Fine.
“I need healing!”
[Divine Ability] Self-Regeneration (Rank I)
[Effect] Regenerates Health at a rate of 8 every 6 seconds
[Duration] 1 minute
[Range] Self
[Cost] 30 Essence
“Not for me, for Doyle! Hurry, he’s foaming at the mouth!”
[Divine Ability] Ailment Cleansing Pulse (Rank I)
[Effect] Restores 15 Health to the target immediately. Every 12 seconds, the target can make a successful recovery from a non-supernatural disease by making an Endurance check versus the disease’s Severity. This ability gives a +8 bonus to the target's Endurance for the check.
[Duration] 1 minute
[Range] Touch
[Cost] 20 Essence
“Yes! This one. I’ll pick this one. Hurry so I can heal him.”
[Divine Ability Ailment Cleansing Pulse (Rank I) acquired]
[Choose 5 starting abilities]
“Later, this is more important.” Ebonheim kneeled beside Doyle and placed her hands on his chest. She focused her thoughts into healing him. Her hands emitted a vibrant green light as she poured her Essence into Doyle.
[Divine Ability Ailment Cleansing Pulse (Rank I) activated]
[Essence] 48 -> 28
Doyle seemed to breathe easier, the pained look on his face softened. A faint green aura surrounded his chest. The aura burst away then reformed back in intervals.
“Come on, Doyle. You can do this. You still have many years ahead of you. I don’t want my first act as a goddess to be murder.”
A minute later, her power faded.
Doyle lay there, eyes closed but with a content expression, his chest rose and fell.
Ebonheim fell on her butt and gave a big sigh of relief. This was a disaster but at least the crisis was averted. She needed a new plan to save face in front of the remaining gathered. They continued to look at her with shock and wariness.
“I—.” She was cut short by a large shadow that suddenly loomed over her from behind.
She arched her head back to look, only to be greeted by a meaty hand grabbing her head, lifting her off the ground, and suspending her in mid-air.
“Who are you and what did you do to Doyle?” Ebonheim knew that this towering man’s gruff tone belonged to Thorsten. He twisted his hand to turn her around to face him, still maintaining his tight grip.
She could only muster an awkward grin.“I’m…Ebonheim. Um, I just cured Doyle of his ailment. Nice to…meet you?”
Thorsten’s grip tightened as the veins in his neck and forehead bulged.
Ebonheim winced, her grin contorted into a panicked look. “Ow! S-sir, Violence isn’t the answer, ow!”
“Your jest does not amuse me, young one. I don’t know if you’re some feral child or an evil spirit, but you’ve just landed yourself in jail for your crimes.”