Ebonheim followed Hilda to the eastern edge of the village where the Jixisha tribe had settled. From there, Hilda led her along a winding path that snaked its way through the trees, the scent of damp earth and the whispers of the forest enveloping them. As they walked, Ebonheim could feel the presence of countless tiny spirits that resided within the woods, watching them intently yet without malice.

Finally, Hilda guided Ebonheim into a hidden grove surrounded by a natural cathedral of ancient trees, their intertwined branches formed a canopy overhead, allowing dappled sunlight to filter through the leaves, creating an ethereal atmosphere. A carpet of soft moss covered the ground, and a small, crystal-clear stream bubbled nearby, its gentle murmurs adding to the grove's tranquility.

Hilda sat down on the moss, facing Ebonheim.

Ebonheim sat across from her, mimicking her posture.

"It's nice to finally get a chance to talk with you in private," Hilda said with a warm smile. "You've been quite busy this past month."

Ebonheim grinned cheekily. "Well, it's the least I could do as your goddess. I had to make up for that awful first impression by racking up some good deeds and helping out around here. Besides, I really wanted to get to know everyone better, so it's been a lot of fun!"

Hilda chuckled. "You're quite the honest one. Everyone has enjoyed having you here. You're quite popular with the younger children, and many of the older women want you to come over for tea."

Ebonheim sniffled and wiped away a stray tear. This was it. This was what she craved all along---just a gesture or word of appreciation, and maybe a little bit of quintessence once in a while. "Thank you. I like tea."

"I must say," Hilda said as she looked at her with a curious expression. "You feel a little different from the gods I've encountered."

Ebonheim blinked. "Eh? What do you mean? You still think I'm not a deity?"

Hilda shook her head. "No, no, has always been clear to me. It's just that your demeanor is so unlike what one would expect from a god."

"Can you give me an example?" Ebonheim asked.

"Mmm, personally, I've only met with two other gods besides you. The first one called himself Aaldir. He came to our tribe when I was a bit younger and wanted to establish himself as a god for our tribe. We politely declined his request and he made a show of force to let us know his displeasure, but he left without incident."

"What an arsehole."

"He was, and he had an overbearing presence that matched his imposing form."

"What did he look like?"

"He had an androgynous humanoid form, two meters tall, four arms, and a face devoid of features except for one eye that looked like a pool of silver."

"Oooh..." Ebonheim tried to imagine herself looking similar to that and shivered at the thought.

"The other god I encountered was much more recent. He went by the name Boravil and ruled over the city of Metosia which was a close neighbor to our tribe. Our encounter with him..." Hilda pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head. "Was more confrontational. Rather than forcing us to come under his rule, his only intent was to wage war against us for the sake of bloodshed. When we asked why he was so bent on his aggression, he merely replied that he wanted to test his new powers to further awe his worshippers. Trying to reason with him fared no better than reasoning with a deranged beast."

"I see..." Ebonheim sighed. "So I can't blame the villagers for their distrust."

"Well, not all gods are like the two I've mentioned. Others have told me that other gods could be just as cordial and kind as you, but they all still seemed distant to those that revered them and rarely show their physical forms to walk among us at leisure."

"Aww, that's a shame. Having an actual body to move around and experience the world with feels so great!"

"That's what makes you quite peculiar," Hilda said. "You move and act just like a normal human would. If it wasn't for your hair and eyes, anyone would have mistaken you for just another villager. You even get fatigued and hungry. Why is that?"

"Eh?! Don't people with bodies get tired and hungry?"

"Not for gods, as far as I recall. They make take on a physical form but there's never been a record of one resting. Some partake in consumption but only as a recreational activity, not for any need of nourishment."

"Oh, wow... That's interesting..." Ebonheim said, her mind racing to find an explanation for the discrepancies. The Akashic System didn't mention anything about needing to eat and sleep while she was manifested so she figured it was just the way things were.

"Yet you get tired?" Hilda asked

"Every day."

"And hungry?"

"Three times a day."

"Thirsty?"

"Do you have some tea?" Ebonheim asked.

Hilda chuckled. "After your training."

"Right! You said you're going to train me. So let's get started." Ebonheim leaned forward, eyes full of eagerness.

"I suppose that's enough for idle talk," Hilda said. "Very well."

"Are you going to teach me about the magic that you use?" Ebonheim asked.

"No. Learning Druidry from me won't benefit you."

"Eh? Why not? You said we both had an affinity for nature."

"That's right, I said that. But that doesn't mean you're able to learn Druidry."

Ebonheim frowned. "Why not?"

Hilda chuckled. "Because it would be like a child teaching a fish how to swim."

Ebonheim furrowed her grow and her eyes squinted as she tried to make sense of what she just heard. Her mouth opened slightly, as if she was about to say something, but then closed again.

"Am I the child?" she asked.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"No, no. I'm the child in this example."

"Eh? Uh...what? I don't get it."

Hilda looked up at the canopy and smiled. "Druidry is a deep connection with nature, a bond that allows us to harness its power and commune with the spirits of the earth. It is a discipline that takes years, even decades, to master. However, Ebonheim, I must tell you something."

Hilda paused, her gaze meeting hers with a mixture of reverence and regret. "You, as a divine being, are already more attuned to the natural world and the source of magic itself than any druid could ever hope to be."

Ebonheim looked puzzled. "So I can't learn any magic from people?"

Hilda smiled gently, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You are already a divine embodiment of the natural world, Ebonheim. Your connection to the land and its magic is beyond what any mortal can comprehend. Druidry is a way for mortals to forge a connection to the natural world, but you, as a goddess, already possess that bond."

Ebonheim crossed her arms and pouted, still unconvinced. "The way you entangled those creatures was still much better than what I did though."

Hilda chuckled. "I'm sure it won't take much time for you to surpass my abilities."

"Ha hah... Yeah, probably not." Ebonheim nodded confidently. "It'll be fine!"

Hilda laughed softly and stroked Ebonheim's hair. "Although you cannot learn Druidry as we mortals do, I can teach you how to make some practical use of your powers. I mentioned earlier that you'd do well using a bow. Would you like to learn how to make one?"

Ebonheim's face lit up, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Yeah! Let's make one."

Hilda nodded, then picked up her wooden walking cane. The gnarled, twisted wood seemed to come alive in her hands, pulsing with energy. "Watch carefully," she instructed. "While I can't teach you Druidry directly, if you observe what I do and understand its principles then you can find the path that will lead you to the same outcome."

Ebonheim's gaze followed the old druid's movements with rapt attention. Hilda closed her eyes and began to whisper softly, her voice blending with the rustle of leaves above. As she spoke, the wooden cane began to transform before their very eyes.

The gnarled wood straightened, knots and imperfections disappearing as if they had never existed. The cane elongated, its bark smoothing to reveal a lustrous surface beneath. Hilda's hands moved gently along the wood, guiding its transformation with the precision of a master craftsman.

Finally, the once-crooked cane had become a perfectly balanced bow, its curves and bends a testament to the harmony of nature and the skill of its creator.

Hilda opened her eyes, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. "You can shape wood and other natural materials to your will, creating tools that are both beautiful and functional."

Ebonheim marveled at the bow in Hilda's hands, her mind racing with the possibilities that lay before her. "But how does it work, Hilda? How does one use a bow?"

Hilda chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "A bow is a simple yet elegant weapon. It relies on the tension of the wood and the string to propel an arrow with great force and accuracy."

She gestured for Ebonheim to come closer, then carefully explained the different parts of the bow, from the upper and lower limbs to the nocking point on the string.

"The key to a well-crafted bow," Hilda said, "is the balance between flexibility and strength. The wood must bend easily, but it must also be strong enough to withstand the tremendous forces at play when the bow is drawn."

Ebonheim nodded, her eyes following Hilda's hands as she demonstrated the proper technique for drawing the bow.

"Now, Ebonheim," Hilda said, "I want you to try it for yourself. I'm sure you can find the power within yourself to shape nature to your will. Once you do, find a piece of wood, and I can guide you in shaping it into a bow."

Ebonheim closed her eyes and the Akashic System's interface revealed itself in her mind.

[Searching for relevant ability]

[Name] Verdant Craftmanship (Rank I)

[Effect] This spell allows you to shape wood from trees to craft items, such as tools or weapons. The wood can be twisted and shaped with precision, allowing the druid to create intricate designs and patterns. The resulting items are imbued with Essence, making them stronger and more durable than their mundane counterparts.

[Range] Touch

[Target] Single tree, or wooden material

[Duration] The effects of the spell last for 24 hours, after which the wood reverts back to its original form.

[Cost] 20 Essence.

[Verdant Craftmanship (Rank I) will cost 100 Quintessence to acquire]

Perfect. She'll take it.

[Verdant Craftmanship (Rank I) acquired]

[Quintessence] 1848 -> 1748

Knowledge of the ability's use streamed to her mind. Now she just needed to find a tree to use. Ebonheim eagerly set off into the forest, her eyes scanning the trees and underbrush for a suitable piece of wood. Her eyes widened as she suddenly came up with an idea.

Ebonheim rushed back to her hut and grabbed a long, thin log of Ebon tree that Thorsten had cut for her. She returned to Hilda with the piece at hand.

Hilda examined the log and nodded in approval. "Oh my, I never thought of using the Ebon tree for the material. Yes, this will do nicely. Now, let's begin."

Ebonheim stood before the log, her eyes closed as she focused on using her new power. She reached out with her senses, feeling the Essence within her converge to her hands.

[Verdant Craftmanship (Rank I) activated]

[Essence] 190 -> 170

Slowly, she began to channel that energy into the branch, guiding its transformation just as Hilda had done with her cane.

[Hidden Quest Completed] Learn skill Craft: Bow from an Elder

[Reward] Acquired Skill: Craft: Bow - Intermediate Rank (+8 Modifier)

The wood seemed to respond to her touch, bending and shifting to her will. Under Hilda's watchful eye, Ebonheim carefully shaped the part of the log into a bow, its graceful curves mirroring the natural beauty of the forest around them. When she was finished, she opened her eyes and looked at her creation with wonder.

"Well done, Ebonheim," Hilda praised, her voice filled with warmth and pride. "You have crafted a fine bow, one that any archer would be proud to wield."

Ebonheim smiled, her heart swelling with gratitude and accomplishment. But what was that about completing a hidden quest? And she got a great skill from it? Wait...Did that mean she could have learned swordsmanship from Thorsten or Bjorn without spending Quintessence to get it? Son of a–

"Now," Hilda said, "Let's move on to the next step–stringing the bow."

Following Hilda's guidance, Ebonheim carefully stripped the fibers from the remaining log and twisted them together, creating a sturdy yet supple cord. She then tied the cord to one end of the bow stave, stringing it with a practiced ease that belied her inexperience.

[Verdant Crafting complete]

[Weapon] Ebon Bow; Ranged Attack: 24; Weapon Damage: 10; Damage Type: Kinetic (Piercing); Special Properties: Ignores 5 Damage Reduction]

[Skill] No applicable skill found.

With the bow now strung, Hilda turned her attention to the crafting of arrows. She demonstrated the process of selecting and preparing the necessary materials – wooden shafts, arrowheads, and feathers for fletching.

"You can spend time crafting your own arrows another time, using the Ebon tree as material perhaps, but for now you can use the ones I've prepared," Hilda said as she grabbed a quiver of arrows for them to use.

Hilda led Ebonheim to a small archery range.

She demonstrated the proper stance, grip, and technique for using a bow, emphasizing the importance of a steady hand and a keen eye.

Ebonheim listened carefully, her body naturally falling into the correct stance as she practiced her draw. With each motion, she felt a growing sense of power and control.

"Yes, that's it. You're learning well," Hilda said before handing her an arrow. "Try and hit the target now."

Ebonheim nocked the arrow, her fingers finding the nocking point with ease. Drawing the bowstring back, she felt the power stored within the stave, the tension that would propel the arrow toward its target. And then, with a deep breath, she released the arrow.

The arrow flew through the air, striking the target with a satisfying thud.

Ebonheim stared at her handiwork, her heart pounding with exhilaration and pride.

[Hidden Quest Completed] Learn skill Ranged Proficiency: Bow from an Elder

[Reward] Acquired Skill: Ranged Proficiency: Bow - Novice Rank (+4 Modifier)

[Weapon] Ebon Bow; Ranged Attack: 28 (24 Base, 4 modifier); Weapon Damage: 10; Damage Type: Kinetic (Piercing); Special Properties: Ignores 5 Damage Reduction]

[Skill] Ranged Proficiency: Bow - Novice Rank (+4 Modifier)

Hilda chuckled, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You're a natural at learning new things. As expected of our great goddess.”

Ebonheim’s eyes started tearing up and she embraced Hilda in a big hug. “Hilda! Thank you, thank you!”