The air turned colder, the sibilant echo of dripping water serenading their arrival into Kelzryn's main chamber. The vast expanse of the cavern stretched out before them, its darkened recesses shadowing a heart of pure, radiant blue. Ebonheim's breath caught, her eyes transfixed upon the bound colossal form of Kelzryn. His scales gleamed like polished sapphire, a stark contrast against the blackened iron and glowing Magitech that imprisoned him.

The expanse of his cerulean wings extended across the length of the cavern walls, flanked by chains and metal braces. Each limb was shackled in place, the steel tendons strained taut against the weight of their burden. At the center of his chest lay a cavity, hollowed out and wired with an array of intricate conduits and devices. Beneath the latticework of cabling and conduits lay an orb of pulsating energy. It cast an azure light upon the cavern floor, the surface shimmering and swirling with a constant ebb and flow of energy.

Metallic cables and wires snaked through the stonework, connecting the orb to the array of gears and mechanisms that lined the outer circumference. They turned and whirred, sending vibrations through the chamber floor, the cacophony echoing off the cavern walls.

The tang of a storm's breath permeated the air, along with the scent of damp rot and the mustiness of wet rock. A fine mist swirled through the chamber, collecting in small pools at the base of the rocky outcrops. The light from the orb danced and reflected across its surface, casting rippling shadows across the cavern walls.

Even in such a subdued state, Kelzryn's sheer size dwarfed the entire assembly, the fine details of his musculature and structure visible from where they stood. His neck extended gracefully upward, its curved lines accentuated by the flow of his scales.

Calyxia grimaced, her eyes widening as she observed the dragon's imprisonment. "So, this is what has become of Kelzryn?" she whispered, more to herself than to anyone in particular. "To think...he's been bound and enslaved to his own lair..."

Kelzryn stirred, his eyes fluttering open, revealing a single, stormy grey eye ringed in golden yellow. His pupil narrowed to a vertical slit as he gazed upon the newcomers. A deep, sonorous voice resounded in their heads.

Calyxia flinched at the sound of his voice reverberating in her mind. She steeled her nerves and lifted her head high. "It has been quite some time, Kelzryn," she responded. "However, I can't say the circumstances in which we've reunited are ideal."

The dragon let out a soft rumble from his chest, shifting slightly in his bindings. He gave his wings a feeble flap, but the shackles held firm.

Calyxia let out a weary sigh. "How long has it been since you were bound like this? What happened to you?"

Kelzryn let out a ragged chuckle, his breath wheezing through his nostrils.

Calyxia shook her head. "A foolhardy decision, to be sure. Even for you, Kelzryn. Did you not consider the risks?"

Kelzryn shifted his gaze from Calyxia to Ebonheim, who stood quietly to one side, listening intently to their exchange. His eyes seemed to bore through her, and she shuddered involuntarily.

Calyxia's mouth curved into a crooked smile, and she glanced over at Ebonheim. "Allow me to introduce her: Ebonheim. She's the patron deity of a tiny settlement of humans known as the village of Ebonheim. Her domain lies north of yours and borders Elmsworth's territory."

Kelzryn narrowed his eye, scrutinizing Ebonheim with renewed interest.

"Wait, what?!" Ebonheim's eyes widened. She wasn't prepared to hear this. Wasn't Calyxia supposed to be the only one who could help in this situation?

She'd hoped to stay in the background and only serve as a spectator to this whole ordeal while keeping an eye out for her people. Why did they just assume that she was also an expert in Magitech? If anything, she was barely qualified to repair a door hinge. Out of all the ones present, she would have been the second to last option to turn to for help on this matter—right before Serrandyl. She had to object to this!

Ebonheim shuffled uncomfortably under the dragon's gaze. "Um...how, exactly?" she squeaked. "I don't even know the first thing about Magitech...or any Arcane, really. I'm not like a scholarly type. I just keep an eye on my villagers and occasionally give them advice—sometimes bad—on their endeavors. That's about it. How about Th'maine here? He's the wise, knowledgeable sage. Ask him, not me!" She gestured to Th'maine, who flinched and took a step back.

"Now, wait just a moment," Th'maine protested, holding up his hands defensively. "I dabble in the arcane arts, but Magitech isn't my area of expertise. I'm a scholar and researcher, not an Artificer. Asking me to fiddle with a contraption as complicated as this is akin to asking a sailor to perform surgery. Impossible, and likely to end in disaster."

Serrandyl laughed in the background while hiding behind Lira's back. Lira let out an audible sigh, rolling her eyes. "Not helpful!" she scolded.

Kelzryn grunted in irritation, his gaze flickering back to Ebonheim.

"He's right, Ebonheim," Calyxia said, patting Ebonheim's shoulder reassuringly. "I wouldn't have recommended you to help with this if I didn't think you could do it. Just try. Okay? It's only a matter of time before one of us makes a misstep and sets off a trap. Or the contraption spontaneously combusts. I'm not particularly fond of the idea of having to conjure up a shield spell on the spot to protect the others. Do you understand?"

"But—but—!" Ebonheim sputtered, then gave Calyxia a dirty look. She hated to admit it, but Calyxia pulled a fast one on her. Was this the reason why Calyxia let Bjorn and the others lead her right to Kelzryn in the first place and also made her tag along? So that she would have an extra hand to rely on?

Calyxia returned the dirty look with a cool stare. She smirked, tilting her head to the side innocently. "Aw, don't be so stubborn, Ebonheim. Look, you may not be a Magitech specialist, but I'm sure you've got something unique about you, don't you?"

Ebonheim wanted to smack her silly, but she held her tongue, taking a deep breath before composing herself.

"Okay, fine. I'll try." Ebonheim grumbled reluctantly. "But you owe me big time for this, Calyxia. And I'll only jump in if you all seem to be struggling and are out of ideas. Don't blame me if this doesn't work."

Calyxia shrugged. "That's fair. I can live with those terms." She slithered toward the Magitech apparatus, pausing to examine its inner workings. "Now then, let's see what we've got here. Interesting. Very interesting."

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

As Calyxia sifted through the network of wires and cables, mumbling to herself as she examined them, Ebonheim walked over to where Bjorn, Th'maine, Serrandyl, and Lira were gathered. Bjorn and Th'maine remained quiet, observing the scene unfolding before them with a mix of interest and apprehension, while Serrandyl and Lira were discussing their current predicament.

Serrandyl spoke up first, her gaze flickering over to Ebonheim. "Are you alright?" she asked. "You looked nervous back there."

"No, I'm not. I'm completely out of my element here," Ebonheim admitted, groaning inwardly.

Serrandyl let out a laugh. "Well, that makes two of us. I have no clue what's going on either. This is so over my head, I swear."

Bjorn snickered, rubbing the back of his head. "I can sympathize with the feeling. I'm a blacksmith by trade, not an Artificer or a scholar. The fact that I'm standing here surrounded by this much Magitech is already baffling, and I haven't the faintest idea about how any of this works."

Ebonheim nodded weakly. She glanced over to Th'maine, hoping he had any insight to offer, but he seemed more interested in observing Calyxia work.

Th'maine leaned against his staff, stroking his beard contemplatively. "It's a fascinating sight to behold," he remarked, his eyes fixed on Calyxia. "Her skill and deftness with these delicate mechanisms are astounding."

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Ebonheim sighed. Great. They weren't being very helpful either. She crossed her arms, looking back at Bjorn.

Bjorn offered a sympathetic smile, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Listen, we'll help you to the best of our abilities. If Calyxia is confident in your abilities, I'm sure we'll manage. The four of us will do everything we can to support you. In the meantime, just try your best. Alright?"

Ebonheim bit her lip, staring blankly at Bjorn. Try her best? Really? Bjorn, please! Et tu? He probably meant well, but she wished he phrased his words differently. She let out a defeated sigh. "Alright. I'll...do my best. But I really hope that Calyxia can figure this all out on her own, or else we're doomed. No pressure though, huh?"

The words fell from her lips faster than she intended, and she regretted them instantly. She shouldn't be burdening others with her concerns. She needed to put on a brave front and help them the best she could, no matter how out of her element she felt. She should be the one providing reassurance and encouragement, not the other way around!

She straightened her back, offering Bjorn a sheepish smile. "Um, what I meant to say is...with Calyxia and I working together, it'll only be a matter of time before we succeed."

Bjorn opened his mouth as if he were going to object, but stopped. He nodded hesitantly. "Yes, I suppose so."

Th'maine raised his eyebrows, peering over at Ebonheim. "Hmm, yes. Between Calyxia and yourself, I'm sure we'll have nothing to worry about. If you require any assistance from me, I'll do what I can, but I'm afraid I'm not well-versed in Magitech or its construction."

"Yeah, we're all useless here. But we're here for you!" Serrandyl said enthusiastically. Lira merely shrugged, though she seemed to be in agreement as well.

Ebonheim couldn't help but chuckle at Serrandyl's attempt to cheer her up. The mood seemed to lighten, and Ebonheim began to feel more optimistic. "Thank you all, I appreciate it."

The five of them sat quietly for a short while, watching Calyxia study the Magitech apparatus with increasing concentration. She remained silent as she analyzed the different sections of the mechanism, trying to comprehend how each component functioned. Ebonheim noted how meticulous Calyxia's inspection was as she made her way from section to section, scrutinizing the different conduits and cables.

Her serpentine tail flicked in the air, and the serpents atop her head hissed in annoyance. She muttered to herself under her breath, the words muffled as she leaned in close to a particular node. Her eyes narrowed as she squinted, tracing a finger along a cluster of crystals.

Lira, who had remained silent the whole time, spoke up, pointing out Calyxia's growing frustration. "Seems like she's getting nowhere, I'm guessing."

Serrandyl groaned, slumping on the ground. "What's taking her so long? I can't believe we're all sitting around watching her have a stare down with a hunk of Magitech."

"Yes, it does appear like she's at an impasse," Th'maine agreed, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Though I imagine deciphering such an ancient and advanced artifact is no easy feat."

Kelzryn's voice rang in their minds as he conversed with Calyxia.

"A little bit." Calyxia traced a finger along a metallic coil. "The circuitry is extremely complex, even for someone of my caliber. I'm unable to ascertain its overall composition. Those beings that built this contraption were highly skilled in the art of Magitech. Unfortunately, I need more time to gather my thoughts. What do you make of this section here, Kelzryn?"

Calyxia leaned closer, observing the section. "I see. Then there's no way for us to separate you from this contraption without removing this node."

Calyxia bit her lip. "Hmm..."

After a while, Calyxia finally backed away from the Magitech apparatus and approached the group. She frowned, letting out an exasperated sigh.

"It appears our attempts to free Kelzryn will be more challenging than we initially expected."

"What seems to be the problem?" Ebonheim inquired, curious to hear the results of Calyxia's observations.

Calyxia folded her arms, frowning. "The good news is, there's a way to free Kelzryn without risking his safety or killing him. The bad news is, that solution is complicated. I'm unable to identify the exact sequence of events required to successfully remove Kelzryn from his bindings. In essence, there are several possible outcomes if we tamper with this artifact carelessly. We might end up causing irreparable damage to both Kelzryn and the portal. In the worst-case scenario, the entire mountain may collapse."

All five stared wide-eyed at her. The silence dragged on awkwardly while they processed her words.

"Whoa. Well, that sounds ominous," Serrandyl uttered, her lips parting into a broad grin. "Does anyone else feel like we're about to be buried alive?"

Bjorn groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Don't remind me," he muttered.

"Right." Calyxia turned her attention to Ebonheim, who had been anxiously watching her from the side. "Kelzryn and I have hit a wall in our understanding of this contraption. Our combined knowledge will not be enough to solve this issue without spending years studying this device. But you possess the potential to provide the missing link to solving this conundrum. As humans are often fond of saying, a fresh perspective never hurts. Now, shall we get to work?"

Ebonheim swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. She'd been dreading this moment. "Yes, let's get started," she mumbled half-heartedly, following Calyxia towards the Magitech contraption.

Bjorn, Th'maine, Serrandyl, and Lira all glanced at one another in confusion, unsure what to do next. They exchanged confused shrugs, silently waiting to see what would happen.

Serrandyl shrugged and laid on the ground, propping her chin in her palms. "This should be good. I wonder how this will go."

Lira plopped down beside Serrandyl. "Only one way to find out."

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

Calyxia directed Ebonheim to the outer perimeter of the Magitech apparatus. Ebonheim cautiously approached the machine, surveying its exterior.

"Tell me what you notice about the overall design," Calyxia instructed, watching Ebonheim from the corner of her eye.

"It's...big," Ebonheim stated. She craned her neck as she gazed up at the towering metal frame. The gaping hole in the center seemed to swallow the light from the orb, shrouding it in darkness.

Calyxia's eye twitched. She resisted the urge to sigh loudly, instead clearing her throat and repeating herself. "What else?"

Ebonheim gazed intently at the device, searching for something that stuck out to her. Everything seemed so foreign, however, and she was uncertain if there was anything of note to point out. She scanned the Magitech systematically, noticing small details about it as she did. The strange runes and glyphs etched along the side caught her attention.

As she reached out to touch the intricate machinery, a feeling of déjà vu swept over her, and an inexplicable nostalgia tugged at the edge of her memories. Something familiar about these engravings. A memory long forgotten, a recollection she never had. It evoked a strong sense of recognition, yet she knew she had never seen them before.

"These engravings. They seem...familiar, somehow." She stroked one of the glyphs lightly, her fingertips brushing across the cool metal. Her skin tingled where she touched the rune, a prickle of energy tickling her nerves.

Ebonheim withdrew her hand quickly, startled by the sensation. Her eyes widened, her pupils dilating as she stared at the intricate designs.

Calyxia narrowed her eyes, examining Ebonheim's expression. "What is it? Have you noticed something?"

"Yes. These runes. They look similar to something I've seen before. I don't remember where or when, but..." Ebonheim paused, thinking hard.

"And?" Calyxia coaxed.

"I've seen this pattern somewhere," Ebonheim explained.

Calyxia tilted her head to the side. "Is that so? You mean to tell me that you can read this ancient language, Ebonheim?"

"I..."

Ebonheim hesitated. The more she stared at the runic symbols, the more she became certain that she could comprehend them. Each time her eyes lingered on a rune that seemed so foreign to her, her gaze drifted to an adjacent rune that appeared to resonate within her. When she managed to decipher its meaning, the previous one she couldn't comprehend now appeared to make sense to her.

It's as if a switch was flipped inside her head. Like an unseen veil that had been lifted, everything came into focus. It was as though a long-lost secret had slowly been revealed to her. She could see the logic behind the architecture of this complex machine—How the individual parts connected with one another, the pathways of energy flowing through them, and the means by which they interacted and complemented one another.

Did the Akashic System grant her this knowledge? This epiphany?

No. It couldn't have. The familiar screens and messages she usually saw when she needed information never showed themselves to her. This was entirely her doing. Right? But how could that be?

She focused on bringing forth her status screen with the intent to inspect herself. Maybe there was something about her that was different now.

[Name] Ebonheim

[Divine Type] Terrestrial God (Artificial)

[Divine Rank] Lesser God - Ascendant Stage

[Health] 363/612

[Essence] 276/680

[Passive Health Regen] 30 per hour

[Passive Essence Regen] 34 per hour

[Stats] INT 32, PER 31, RES 33, STR 19, AGI 32, END 23, CHA 25, MAN 8, WIT 13

[Combat Stats] Divine Attack: 31, Divine Defense: 27, Arcane Defense: 31, Physical Defense: 26, Melee Attack: 24, Ranged Attack: 30, Block: 30, Evasion: 30, Base Physical Crit Chance: 23%, Base Divine Crit Chance: 23%

[Innate Abilities] Forest Stride; +50% Health; +50% Essence; Elemental Keystone (absorbed); Manifestation (Rank II); Demanifestation (Rank II); Divine Sight (Rank III); Domain Knowledge (Rank II); Domain Administration (Rank II)

[Divine Abilities] Ailment Cleansing Pulse (Rank II), Vines of the Bramble King (Rank III), Divine Cantrip, Element-Resisting Aura (Rank II), Fecundity of Creation (Rank II), Pest-Repelling Prana, Verdant Craftmanship (Rank II), Enchanted Essence Bolt (Rank IV), Forest’s Call (Rank III), Tempest of the Grove (Rank III), Blazing Essence Bolt (Rank III), Arboreal Stride (Rank III), Path of the Earthen Passage, Charm Animals (Rank II), Self-Regeneration (Rank II), Divine Aura (Rank I), Mystic Roots of Foundation (Rank III), Crystalline Veil of Knowledge (Rank III), Luminous Grace of the Moonlit Shadow (Rank III), Immutable Pillar of Serenity (Rank III), Rites of the Empyreal Confluence (Rank III), Legacy of the Boundless Ether (Rank III), Aura Inversion

[Skills] A̬͙̪̰̗͚̦̾͑͝ḱ̝͈ͦ͑ͩ͘a̝͈̦̖̼̩̪̋͂͞s͓̟͖̻͇ͭ͑͗̋̕h̢̤͓̓̑ḭ̴̯̖̮͖̰͛ç̫̦̯͉̳̰͖̱ͪ̽ ̡͖̠̗̎Ȇ̟̗͔̝͒̉̚͞n̴̩̬̲ͣg̮͇̙̭̠̝̍̌̚͞i̶̘̱͉̞͙̠̘ͧ̈n͖̻ͤ͘ë̯̮̰̠ͯ͐͛͞ė̶͖̯r̨͔̰̭͐͌i͚̳ͭ͋͛͠nͫ͏̦̟̮͉̮̜͕̬g̡̥̪̊̂͂ͮ (Master) +24, Athletics (Intermediate) +8, Awareness (Intermediate) +8, Craft: Bow (Intermediate) +8, Lore (Apprentice) Rank +2, Melee Proficiency: Sword (Intermediate) +8, Melee Proficiency: Dagger (Intermediate) +8, Ranged Proficiency: Bow (Intermediate) +8, Stealth (Apprentice) +2, Socialize (Intermediate) +8, Survival (Intermediate) +8, Investigation (Intermediate) +8, Bureaucracy (Novice) Rank +4

"Huh?..." She uttered to herself. A new skill appeared on her list of skills, but she never recalled learning it. Had she unlocked an innate skill this whole time? But it's at a Master rank? Was that why everything seemed so familiar to her? And the name of the skill...

Akashic...Engineering?