By the time Thorsten, Lira, Serrandyl, and the others arrived at the village, the storm had eased considerably. Yet, it was still raining and thunder still rolled across the heavens in great peals. It would take days for the village to dry and to clear up—days they did not have.

"What did you learn from Elmsworth?" Lira asked as they approached the village entrance. "Do we still have to go to the Great Ent?"

Ebonheim shook her head, her smile deepening as she strode past them. "That won't be necessary," she said as she continued to march ahead, "I got something to stop this storm."

Serrandyl blinked, her expression dumbfounded, but Thorsten only sighed and hoisted his axe over his shoulder as he began to follow her. "I'm glad you figure something out," he said, a hint of weariness in his voice. "The forest has gone mad—luckily we were able to avoid the worst of it."

They stepped through the village entrance and found themselves in the village square. Many villagers had gathered around to see who had returned, their curious gazes following them as they made their way through. Their eyes fell on Ebonheim's form—who glowed with a brilliant silver radiance as if she had been touched by starlight—her body emitting a light that brightened the whole square as she strode forward.

"Looks like something good happened to you while you were out," Thorsten muttered to himself before addressing Ebonheim again. "What did you learn?"

"I'll explain it at the feast hall," she replied, shooting him a quick smile before turning her gaze forward again.

Thorsten glanced at Lira before nodding and following after Ebonheim. "Right. Let's see what you're on about."

They made their way to the feast hall and gathered around a large wooden table at its center. Engin, Hilda, Argoran, and the other elders had already gathered to await their return. All eyes turned to Ebonheim as she took a seat at the head of the table, her radiant glow dimming so as to not dazzle the onlookers.

Lira was the first to speak, recounting what they uncovered during their scouting mission. "Aside from the tempest that seemed to span the entire valley, we found elementals running amok. There were rocks and earth elementals on the move in one area, fire elementals dancing on the river's surface in another, spectral showers fell from cloudless skies in yet another, and gargantuan elemental bearing a minotaur form appeared in the heavens," she said, her voice even as she recounted the sights she'd witnessed. "It was quite the sight."

Serrandyl crossed her arms over her chest as she leaned against a pillar on the side of the feast hall. "We had to fight off a few that we couldn't avoid while on our way back here."

Lira glanced at Serrandyl and nodded before continuing with her story. "We think we found the source of all these phenomenons. We found a tear in the fabric of reality—an opening between the elemental planes. It is an active breach, and its chaotic energies are causing all this."

A tense silence fell over the hall as the others contemplated Lira's words. Hilda let out a thoughtful hum, her gaze moving to Ebonheim. "What did Elmsworth have to say?" she asked. "Surely he had some insights into these phenomena."

Ebonheim took a deep breath and began her story. "Right...I talked with Elmsworth and he told me that all this is caused by an Elemental Conflux. It's exactly as Lira described. When I asked if there was a way to dispel it, he told me about the Elemental Keystone," she said, her tone even as she recounted what Elmsworth had told her about the device. "It has the ability to realign the elemental planes so that they do not bleed into our world."

A murmur went through the hall as the elders began to talk amongst themselves about what she'd said. Ebonheim raised her hand, quieting them all down again, and continued.

"There is just one catch," she said, her tone solemn. "To align the planes, I need to charge each facet of the Keystone with elemental energy, and to do that, I need to perform a ritual at the origin point of the Conflux."

Serrandyl gawked at Ebonheim, her eyes widening as her arms fell to her sides. "You mean you have to be at that breach thing to try and close it?" she asked, her voice rising in pitch with each word as she spoke. "That huge elemental is right over that place! You'll get caught in that thing's sights!"

Thorsten nodded, his gaze shifting to Ebonheim. "How much time do you need to complete that ritual?"

Ebonheim bit her lip, a crease forming on her brow as she recalled the spectral figures' instructions. "It's going to take about eight minutes to charge all four facets," she said, her voice resolute as she gave them all a stern nod. "That's if I am able to do it right."

Thorsten leaned back against his chair and crossed his arms over his chest, "That's quite a long time to hope that nothing interrupts you. If you're going to do this, you'll need others there to deal with any threats while you complete this ritual."

Serrandyl slammed her fists together and grinned, her tail swishing and her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Count me in! I'll deal with any enemies that get in your way—except for that huge one...I'll leave that to Thorsten."

Thorsten grunted as he shot Serrandyl a glare. "You'll be better at distracting that lumbering titan than I will," he said, his tone flat and unamused. "Just have it chase you around the forest. You're nimble enough to escape."

Engin rose from his seat and cleared his throat. "So, there we have it then. If the only way to stop this tempest and save our village is to seal that breach," he began, turning to Ebonheim as he spoke. "Then we all know what we must do. Assemble a team and get ready to leave once you've rested. You will need all the strength you can muster."

Ebonheim nodded at Engin's words, giving them all a small smile, as she rose from her seat at the head of the table. "Right," she said, turning to the others. "Let's start our preparations."

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Thorsten rose from his seat and made his way outside the hall, the sound of thunder still rumbling in the distance as rain pelted the ground. He ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the braided ends before letting out a deep sigh.

"Are you still worried, Thorsten?" Lira asked, joining him outside the feast hall. "Ebonheim can do this."

Thorsten turned to her, a half-smile tugging at his lips, and chuckled. "You're a bit optimistic for this kind of situation, aren't you?" he asked, raising a brow at her as he lowered his hand from his hair to his side. "Even so," he added, shaking his head, "she needs help to ensure her ritual goes off without a hitch. I just wish there was more time to prepare."

Lira turned her gaze to the heavens as another thunderclap rolled overhead. "This tempest is causing so much havoc across the valley," she murmured. "If we don't do something about this soon, there will be nothing left for us."

Thorsten let out another sigh as he leaned against the hall's wall, his gaze settling on the dark sky above them. "What a mess," he said, the corners of his lips falling.

The mission to seal the breach and put an end to this Elemental Conflux...it all depended on Ebonheim. But dealing with those elementals around the rift—especially that gigantic one—would be no easy task. He, Lira, and Serrandyl would be sorely tested while protecting her from any interruption. Bjorn, Hilda, and Argoran could join them, but that would put the village in a vulnerable position if they were to be attacked.

A quick glance at Lira told him she was also thinking about the same thing he was. He shook his head and sighed as he ran a hand through his hair again. "I'll assemble our most capable soldiers to aid us," he said, straightening his back as he pushed himself away from the hall's wall and turned to her. "There is no other option."

Lira gave him a tight-lipped smile before nodding in agreement. "We should move quickly then," she said, "in case our preparations will fall short."

Thorsten nodded before turning on his heels and making his way down the village's central path toward the barracks, his mind already planning a formation for their party.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

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Ebonheim paced across the feast hall as she listened to the others talk amongst themselves. She let out a breath, her fingers absently toying with the edge of her skirt as she bit her lip and chewed on her thoughts. There were so many things that could go wrong, and she couldn't afford for them to fail at this point. Not when the village's fate depended on their success.

She crossed her arms over her chest as she continued to pace, her expression falling as her gaze shifted to Serrandyl, who sat on a nearby bench watching her with a curious gaze.

"You're pacing," Serrandyl said, raising a brow at her as she leaned forward, planting her elbows on her knees, and folded her hands together. "You're nervous."

Ebonheim let out another breath as she stopped pacing and stared at the ground, her gaze fixating on a single pebble on the floor as she leaned against a nearby pillar. Nervous? Yes, she was nervous, but that was an understatement. She was worried sick.

She let out a wry chuckle and nodded at Serrandyl. "More than a little," she replied, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "I've never done anything like this before."

Serrandyl barked out a laugh and rose to her feet, striding over to lean against the same pillar. "Yeah, but you're a goddess," she said, grinning as she nudged Ebonheim's arm with her elbow. "You'll be fine. This breach thing is like a broken door, right? You should already be used to fixing broken doors." Serrandyl gave a small wink.

Ebonheim huffed a laugh and glanced at her, her lips pulling into a half-smile as she gazed into her crimson eyes. "Thanks for trying to make me feel better," she said, her tone earnest.

Serrandyl chuckled and reached up to ruffle her hair with a hand before straightening and planting her hands on her hips. "Of course," she said, nodding. "I've got your back."

Ebonheim laughed, her gaze shifting to the feast hall's entrance as Thorsten and Lira strode in. "We have everything prepared," Thorsten said, nodding at Ebonheim as he continued to speak. "We are ready to depart."

Ebonheim bit her lip and nodded at Thorsten before turning her gaze to Serrandyl and Lira. "Serrandyl," she said, nodding at the woman with a soft smile. "Lira."

Lira returned her smile with one of her own while Serrandyl flashed her a toothy grin, both of them nodding. "We'll protect you," Lira said, giving Ebonheim a small nod and a reassuring smile. "You'll do fine."

They left the feasthall, making their way to the village's outskirts as they prepared to set off. A dozen soldiers gathered, all clad in Ebonwood armor and carrying spears, shields, and other weaponry. Several beastkin warriors had joined them as well, all of them sporting fierce grins and confident nods.

Ebonheim approached the group and stood before them, her gaze moving across their faces. Some looked up at her expectantly while others bowed their heads to her, their expressions solemn as they waited for her words.

"We set off for the breach soon," she said, her voice soft as she addressed them. "Once we get there, I will begin a ritual to seal the breach. If there are any elementals nearby, I will need your help in delaying them until I complete my task."

Thorsten stepped forward and added, "You heard her. This mission is crucial to the village's survival," he began, turning to Ebonheim as he continued speaking. "Our goddess will put an end to this unnatural storm. Our duty is to defend her at all costs until she seals the rift."

"Understood," the soldiers replied as one before turning to each other and exchanging nods. The beastkin warriors with them also gave affirmative growls and grunts as they raised their weapons.

Thorsten nodded at them, and Ebonheim could have sworn he gave them a proud smile, before turning to her and nodding. "Let's go."

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Ebonheim stared at the breach in the sky from her vantage point atop a tall pine tree. Wind and rain buffeted her small figure as she shielded her face with one arm, her other hand holding on to a branch as she leaned back against the trunk for stability. The skies around her raged and tore—the air charged with chaotic energies that stung at her skin like tiny needles.

Thunder rumbled across the heavens as a gargantuan elemental in its minotaur form circled above the breach, its massive body blazing with bright flames and illuminating the forest with its fiery glow. Ebonheim could make out Serrandyl from a distance, sitting atop another tree branch, her tail swishing in anticipation. Thorsten, Lira, and the volunteer beastkin warriors and village guards had positioned themselves nearby, their weapons drawn and ready.

Ebonheim looked back at the breach and bit her lip as her thoughts turned to the spectral figures from her encounter in the sanctum beneath the waterfall.

'With a ritual,' one of them had said to her, 'a sacred Arcane ritual that binds the energies of the Elements to the Keystone.'

Ebonheim gave herself a mental shake before releasing a deep breath. It was now or never. She climbed up to another branch and gave the signal to start.

Serrandyl was the first to move, leaping from her perch as she dashed off into the forest like a crimson blur. The gargantuan elemental let out an ear-splitting roar as it took off after her, its heavy footfalls shaking the earth in its pursuit. Serrandyl dodged and weaved through trees and rocks with ease, leading the elemental deep into the woods until they were out of sight.

Ebonheim dived into the pine tree and flowed through the verdant pathways, emerging from the base of another tree directly below the breach's origin point. As she landed on the earth, she could feel the Conflux's energies emanating from deep within the breach's center, crackling with chaotic energy as she neared.

Thorsten and the others were positioned behind trees nearby, watching the sky above for any signs of trouble. Serrandyl had distracted the gargantuan elemental, but there were other, smaller threats in the area—smaller elementals that may interfere with her ritual. She wouldn't be able to support the others once she began the ritual.

Her eyes shimmered as she bade the trees around her to become her sentinels. Three large cedar trees uprooted themselves from the ground, shaping themselves into vague humanoid forms as they took up defensive positions around her. She instilled within them the power to wield her 'Vines of the Bramble King' ability and told them to guard her at all costs.

The sentinel trees nodded and turned to face the breach, their branches rustling as they shifted into a protective stance. Ebonheim watched them for a moment before turning her gaze up to the heavens again.

Time to begin.

Ebonheim raised her arm into the air, and the Elemental Keystone stored within her appeared at her side in a shimmering flash of silver light. Ebonheim's body glowed with a silver radiance as she stared up at the rift in the fabric of reality, feeling the chaotic energies swirl around her and tingle against her skin like icy rain.

'At the origin point,' another had said to her, 'the Keystone needs to absorb the essence of each element to realign the planes.'

Ebonheim's hand began to move in a hypnotic, slow dance. Her fingers weaved intricate patterns in the air as she began to chant under her breath in a language that seemed oddly familiar yet foreign at the same time. As she spoke, the energies from her surroundings flowed into the Keystone as if guided by an invisible hand.

Light emanated from the crystal and pulsed like a heartbeat, mirroring the energies around her as they flowed into its silvery surface. As the Keystone absorbed the energy, the breach's chaos grew, expanding and sending out jolts of energy that lashed out against the heavens as though trying to break free of the Keystone's grasp.

Ebonheim continued with the ritual, her chants growing more fervent and her movements growing more precise as she weaved her hands through the air and led the elemental energies into the Keystone. She poured every ounce of her concentration into the task at hand, hoping against hope that this would work—that she could seal the rift between the planes and restore peace to the valley.

'It is a task that requires both power and knowledge, goddess Ebonheim,' one had said to her before teaching her the ritual.

Ebonheim began to sway back and forth as she continued the ritual, the motions fluid and practiced, beckoning the chaotic energies into the Keystone. The rift began to retreat, receding into itself more and more as power poured into the crystal.

Then, from behind her, Ebonheim heard the sound of cracking wood and branches breaking apart. Elementals burst from the forest all around her. Spouts of flame, streams of water, and swirling tornadoes made of wind—all different forms of elementals charged towards her, their forms shimmering with chaotic light and energy as they bore down on her from all sides.

Thorsten and the others sprang into action as they leaped out from their hiding places to meet the charging elementals. Her tree sentinels came to life, their bark-covered bodies reforming and extending like spears as they plowed through elementals with their sharp branches and swung their great limbs around like clubs.

Ebonheim kept her focus on the ritual as she continued to lead the energies into the Keystone, her voice never faltering and her movements never slowing down as she continued to pour more energy into the crystal.

'You must understand it', one of them had said to her before teaching her the ritual to align the planes. Each facet represents a plane—Fire, Water, Earth, and Air.

Ebonheim continued to lead the energies into the Keystone, pouring more into the device with each passing second, until its glow blazed with an unrivaled intensity. Suddenly, a sound like an explosion echoed throughout the valley, shaking the earth beneath Ebonheim's feet and throwing her off balance.

That didn't sound good...it came from the direction where Serrandyl had led the gargantuan elemental. Ebonheim paused for a brief moment before continuing on—she couldn't lose focus now.

[Your Divine Aura has taken 11 Electric Damage]

A bolt of lightning from one of the air elementals struck her, but her divine aura absorbed the damage. As she continued to lead the energies into the Keystone, she heard Thorsten shouting from behind her as he fended off attacking elementals, and the sound of roots and branches snapping as the sentinel trees continued to battle against their foes.

"Ebonheim!" Thorsten shouted, his voice carrying through the air. "Are you alright?"

Ebonheim kept her eyes fixed on the rift in the sky above her and responded to Thorsten, her voice shaky and strained from the exertion of controlling so much elemental power at once. "I'm fine! Just keep those elementals away!"

"Right!" Thorsten replied before striking down another elemental with his axe and continuing his battle with the others.

Another explosion echoed from the distance—this one closer—and Ebonheim grit her teeth. She was barely halfway through the ritual, and more elementals kept appearing by the second. She just had to keep going.