As Xavier walked, he noticed changes to the crypt. The low hum he had become accustomed to had softened, and its tone evened out. Gone was the semi-consistent thrum that had changed the environment's appearance and composition. He was starting to wonder what had caused the change when he noticed a new icon in the upper left corner of his vision. Right below where he could see the three bars that indicated his health, stamina, and mana was a new image, a miniature picture of Ella now appeared along with her three bars. While that in and of itself was not majorly concerning the fact that there was the barest sliver of red in her health bar and a large white X through her image was. She had never been so hurt before and he chalked the lack of her details up to being minimized up to this point and assumed It was that threatening status that caused her to show in his interface now.
Xavier set off at a dash through the remaining chambers of the crypt. Their now seemingly permanent pristine condition made his passage much easier and faster than before. Taking the stairs up to the central chamber two at a time he pressed himself to move faster. He was not going to lose his only real companion in this world within days… or was it weeks now? The idle thought came and went in a flash as he harshly shut it down to focus on getting back to the garden.
Vaeltheris in hand, he moved through the tunnels leading to the garden barely noticing the change of the flora. The overgrowth had all but vanished. The tunnels were now lined with growth but enhanced their appearance and ambiance than inhibiting passage. As he came out of the tunnels and onto the overlook, he stopped unable to help the awe at the extreme change to the cavern. The overgrowth had completely disappeared, replaced by orderly hedges, walks, and stone-worked pavilions. Had he not seen for himself how chaotic it had been just hours ago he never would have believed this could be the same chamber.
He only took in the view for a moment before his eyes oriented on the center of the gardens, there the pillar supporting the ley line core stood proud, its gem glowing a strong emerald green. Near it stood an equally impressive tree and nestled in its roots were three figures, a child, a shadowmane cub, and a woman.
The child was huddled over the recumbent form of the woman as the cub paced warily about them. Seeing none of the previous threats in the surrounding areas and nothing attacking the trio, Xavier sprinted down the incline and across the oddly well-maintained paths and lawns.
Valkra spun her hackles up and a low rumbling growl in her chest until she saw who was rushing towards them. Recognizing Xavier, she stopped her aggressive stance and bounded back toward the other two. Xavier slid to his knees at their side, wincing slightly at the rocks beneath the grass that bruised his knees and tore flesh but more focused on Ella and Emily than his pain.
Seeing Emily unhurt and conscious, Xavier focused on Ella. Though she had cuts, bruises, and other similar minor injuries nothing explained her current state nor the fact that her hit points were all but gone.
Emily looked up from where she had been hunched over the woman. Her eyes had the faintest green glow behind them as tears welled up and ran down her cheeks. “She saved me, the Ley Line needed new life and told her of a seed” The young girl cried. “She planted it and then collapsed. When she did the core released me.” She fell back across the woman crying harder.
Xavier delicately wrapped his arms around the child and lifted her away from Ella so he could see the woman better. Finally gaining an unobstructed view he inspected her closer. She was deathly pale, to the point he focused on her information in his interface again just to verify there was still that sliver of red in her health bar. It hadn’t changed, neither decreasing nor increasing. Setting Emily at his side he dug through his pouches frantically trying to find some more of the forest sage. Unable to locate any he paused, realizing he wouldn’t be able to get her to chew it in her unconscious state anyways.
He instead leaned over Ella’s unconscious form and lowered his cheek to her face. He sighed in relief as he felt the faintest flow of breath escape her nose. She was still breathing, if faintly. As he hovered there, he was able to spot the slight rise and fall of her chest. Almost laughing in relief, he gently lifted the woman into a princess carry and rose to his feet. No one noticed as her arm fell between his arm and body allowing her hand to briefly touch the hilt of Vaeltheris, nor the brief pulse of light from the blade when it happened.
A soft moan escaped Ella’s lips and her eyes fluttered open. Her gaze was confused and glassy but turned upon Xavier’s face after a few moments. “X…Xavier?” She stuttered before coughing roughly.
His grip tightened on her to prevent her body wracking from causing her to fall but eased as she settled once more. “Don’t worry, I am here. Let's get you back up top and hopefully one of the villagers can help.” He smiled at her warmly, “You are the closest friend I have in this world. I’m not about to let you die now. We have far to much ahead of us and I need you.”
She stared at him a weak smile on her lips before she rested her head on his shoulder closing her eyes once more. “It worked then?” She managed to ask. “The seed was dying, the core said it needed more life, or it would collapse, and the balance would be lost. It was going to use Emily.”
“Hush,” He gently admonished her. “Emily is fine she’s here with us as is Valkra. Both were guarding you when I arrived. Rest now. I can take it from here to get us all back home.”
Emily’s tears had slowed hearing Ella speak and she reached up to hesitantly take the woman’s hand as Xavier spoke. Ella opened her eyes slightly and smiled weakly down at the girl. She was relieved to see that the overwhelming glow that had previously lit the child's eyes was gone though she was curious about the faint remaining portion.
Xavier got the group moving as he carried Ella back towards the incline. His walk was slow, careful to not jostle the woman in his arms for fear of causing her wounds to open and take the last bit of her health. As he walked, he was able to get a better look at the changed garden.
Like the crypt, it had been restored. Where there had once been overgrown plant life, aggressive creatures, and ruined stonework, now, it could rival some of the more extravagant gardens he had seen on the internet back home. Radiating out from the core’s pillar pathways gently crossed through cultivated flowerbeds and around manicured trees and shrubs. They crossed pristine flowing brooks through elegant bridges and ended in the various pavilions. While he had felt peace, before his scare with Ella, in the changed crypt, this renewed garden gave him a sense of serenity and revitalization. He knew they were going to have to come back into the Deeps and explore both chambers further in the near future.
Taking his time meant it was nearly an hour before they finished the climb out of the deeps and stepped through the archway into the mosaic chamber. Sylvie, the halfling who had first noticed Emily missing, let out a scream of joy seeing the little girl. Dashing forward she lifted the child from the ground and pulled her into a tight hug. “Thank you, Lord Vael! You saved her! I don’t know how I will ever be able to repay you. She is like a daughter to me.”
In the middle of the overjoyed woman’s exclamation his vision was once again obscured by prompt screens.
You have completed a quest: “Echoes of Innocence.”
Ella Bree’s sacrifice enabled the rescue of Emily from her connection to the Life Ley Line. Though not intentionally harming the child her life essence was empowering failing line. Ella Bree provided another source of energy. Speak with her to learn more about what happened.
Rewards: Purification and revitalization of the Life Ley Line. Rescue of the missing child Emily. Access to Life Magic. +1000 Experience. Insight into the unknown.
You have completed a quest: “Balance Restored.”
The opposing elements of life and death have had their ley lines restored. This balance ensures that one no longer threatens to subsume the other. Rejoice harbinger of balance your influence has already shown its effects on the world.
Rewards: New access to challenges in the Deeps. Passive Effect: Ley Line Resonance. +1000 Experience.
“I really need to change those to only appear when I want, or it could be a major issue.” He thought to himself. The idea of those prompts appearing during combat or in the middle of a crucial discussion or event. He dismissed the prompts to return his attention to the villagers.
“I would do the same for any of you. I had promised that if you supported me I would do everything in my power to restore you and yours. Though we have not figured out how to retrieve those taken by the slavers, I could not leave Emily to the Deeps.”
As he spoke, he walked forward, still cradling Ella’s unconscious form. As Xavier stepped onto the floor mosaic, the ancient chamber trembled with an unseen force, responding to his presence as though the very stones themselves recognized him. The moment his feet make contact, the air thickened with energy, charged with a long-awaited potential. The mosaic, dormant for so long, pulsed to life beneath his feet.
The Life section exploded with a brilliance that momentarily blinded Xavier. The lush greens, vibrant pinks, and soft yellows burst into motion, the petals of blooming flowers unfurling as if they’d been held back by an invisible force. The vines, once still, now twisted and spiraled upward from the center, their tendrils reaching out toward Xavier like the embrace of an old friend. The blooming flower that marked the section's symbol, pulsed with light, radiating waves of energy outward in a gentle but steady rhythm. The air of the chamber filled with the intoxicating scent of fresh blooms, and a breeze stirred, the skin of those witnessing the event was brushed with the feeling of warm sunlight. The room hums with the sound of growth, like the soft rustle of leaves and the quiet sighs of nature itself. Every breath taken felt those who did so with the sensation of rejuvenation and vitality, a deep, comforting sense that life has returned to this sacred place.
But the Death section awoke in tandem, its reaction sharp and stark in contrast. As the Life section flared, the Death section deepened into darker shades, the grays and blues intensifying into a shadowed vortex. The symbol of Death, a raven’s feather, grew vivid, the pale blue streaks coming to life, curling in eerie spirals like smoke rising from an unseen fire. Mist, thick and ghostly, rose from the mosaic and swirled around Xavier’s legs, brushing against his skin with a cold, tingling sensation. The coolness of death was palpable in the chamber, but not oppressive, more like the touch of something inevitable yet strangely comforting. The air chilled in contrast to the warmth of the Life section, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and distant thunder. A whisper seemed to echo through the chamber, a sound like the flutter of unseen wings or a soft murmur of voices from the beyond, resonating with the quiet peace that only death can offer. The forces of death pulsed gently as if acknowledging its place in the eternal cycle, neither feared nor rejected but accepted as part of the balance.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
The Central Nexus, where all the elements converge, quivered with vibrant energy as if the very heart of the mosaic was now alive with power. The once-still colors of Life and Death blended in perfect harmony, Life’s vibrant greens melting into Death’s shadowy blues. The colors swirled together, creating a dazzling, hypnotic effect as they pulsed, merging and parting in an eternal dance of creation and cessation. The mosaic beneath Xavier’s feet seemed to breathe, the stones and gems vibrating with a gentle hum, as though the nexus recognized the restoration of these forces.
The air within the chamber crackled with newfound magic, a blend of life and death interwoven into the very fabric of the room. It’s a harmony of opposites, each force, though seemingly at odds, found its place in the greater whole. The ground beneath Xavier felt alive, the tiles pulsating as if they themselves were celebrating the renewal of balance in a world long deprived of such unity. Xavier stood at the center, the epicenter of this monumental shift, as the energies of Life and Death surged outward from the nexus, renewing the ancient connection and affirming the delicate equilibrium between all things.
In Xavier’s arms, Ella’s eyes flashed briefly in response to the surge of magical essence. She shifted in his arms before laying her head against his shoulder once again. The restorative and calming air washed over her easing the residual effects that came from her choice below.
After several moments the sounds, sights, and scents faded leaving a bare memory in their wake. However, the tiles of the two reawakened sections had subtly shifted. Gone were the dull and lifeless stones now replaced by vibrant solid frescos reflecting their new status. The villagers released a collective breath as prompts filled everyone’s vision.
Know this! Those who stood witness to the revitalization of the ley lines may now feel their own powers subtly altered by what they have witnessed. The energies of Life and Death, intertwined in ways both delicate and dangerous, have left their mark on the very souls of those present, their effects lasting long after the spectacle fades. Reflecting the balance of the two elements the following changes have taken effect: +2 Charisma and Wisdom to those with neutral alignment. -2 Healing and Damage to those without neutral alignment.
Xavier blinked slowly the sheer intensity of the event having momentarily overwhelmed his senses. As the world came back into focus around him, he became aware of all of the villagers doing the same when another prompt filled his vision.
You have completed quests: “Sleeping Lines 1 and 2.”
Having started exploring the first level of the Deeps below the mosaic you found not only one but two of the dormant ley lines. The ley lines of Life and Death have been revitalized, bringing equilibrium back to the natural order. The mosaic within the Syr’Vailen has shifted and now stands as a testament to your achievement, its radiance reflecting the harmony you have rekindled.
Rewards: Increased Mana in settlement lands. Increased wildlife and quest opportunities. +1500 Experience.
You have been offered a quest. “Sleeping Lines 3.” Most of the ley lines that make up the nexus beneath your settlement remain dormant. Continue your exploration of the deeps beneath the mosaic to find and restore the remaining lines further increasing the ambient mana and additional capabilities for your settlement. As this is a settlement quest it will automatically be accepted when the appropriate conditions are met. Conditions: Personal Level of 15. Retain Mastery of the Syr’Vailen. Potential rewards: Increased Mana in settlement lands. Increased wildlife and quest opportunities. +1500 Experience.
Xavier dismissed those prompts and reaffirmed to himself to update his settings to allow him to review new prompts at his leisure instead of being overwhelmed by them when the next major event took him by surprise.
Words etched themselves in brilliant letters, their elegant script filling the prompt screen as a radiant symphony of chimes reverberates through his soul, accompanied by a booming proclamation:
"Hark and Hear! You have ascended in power. You are now Level 6!"
You have crossed the pivotal threshold beyond Level 5, stepping into a realm few ever reach. Where the common individuals plateau, you rise, proving yourself as a true contender among the exceptional. This is no longer the path of the common, your growth now marks the beginning of a legacy.
The touch of the divine lingers upon you, granting 6 attribute points to shape your destiny, an exceptional gift, elevated from the ordinary 4 points granted to humans by the Blessings of the Gods (Danu). Choose wisely, for these points will define your path. You have 3 days to assign them, or they will fall to the whims of fate.
A New Threshold Unlocked:
The horizon of your potential broadens. At this pivotal level, you are granted the power to choose a Gathering Archetype and a Crafting Archetype. These choices are more than roles—they are an extension of your soul’s purpose, connecting you to the lifeblood of the world and the creations of your hands. Will you be the Harvester of nature’s bounty or the Artisan of legendary wonders? The choice is yours.
Mastery Takes Root:
Your growing prowess earns you a unique boon: 20% skill allocation to distribute among your known skills. This is your chance to sharpen the blade of a favored talent, forge new strength in an untapped domain, or balance your growth across disciplines. Let this moment be a cornerstone of your greatness.
Rise, Seeker of Glory. The world awaits your will. Seek adventure, seek wisdom, seek love, and let your legend be forged in your choices. LIVE!
Xavier’s legs gave out as his mind was overwhelmed by prompt after prompt. The successive bombardment of information was too much for him to handle. As he fell to his backside the hard stone tiles of the mosaic broke him from his semi-dazed state with sharp pain radiating from his beleaguered tailbone. Reflexively his arms tightened on Ella preventing him from dropping her. After a moment to steady himself, he turned his gaze upon her.
Her eyes were open, if barely, and lifted to watch him. Her breathing had steadied and calmed, the worst of her experience behind her though she was as weak as a newborn foal unable to hold herself up. “I owe you an explanation,” she said softly. “Seems as if I get the chance to do so. I had thought my choice would take that away, but Vaeltheris opted for something else entirely.”
“Vaeltheris? I know it’s your blade but how can it make decisions for you? I mean it is just a knife right.” He responded; the confusion was clear upon his face as he spoke.
“Yes, and no. Take me to my bed and I will tell you what I can.” She responded wearily and then once again rested her head on his shoulder, the strain of even holding her head up too much for very long.
Xavier nodded and looked about. His villagers had seemed to have recovered. Though he could hear discussions about what had taken place as they started to return to their normal day. Sylvie had set Emily down sometime during the events, but she took both the girl’s hand and that of Pip, her actual son, and led them both from the chamber. It wasn’t long until only Xavier, Ella, Aelriva and Valkra were all that was left in the room.
Rising to his feet and carrying Ella, Xavier followed her request and made for her chambers and answers.
Having placed the weakened woman into her bed, Xavier sat in the new chair that stood beside it. It seems despite the worry for the missing child the villagers had not been idle in his absence and newly crafted furniture had started showing up in the warrens adding a sense of residence and hominess to the otherwise barren tunnels and rooms. He sat there quietly assuming she would talk when she was ready, his hand resting on hers in a show of support and comfort.
After a while, Ella took a deep resolute breath and turned her head to look at Xavier. When she spoke her tone had taken on that of a storyteller, words slightly distant as she seemed to recite a legend of the past.
“I told you in the Deeps of ancient civilizations lost to the ages over their own squabbles and the ravages of time and invasion. To better understand the blade Vaeltheris you need to know of two of these empires specifically, the Sylmyrian Dominion and the Phoenix Empire. Most of this knowledge has been lost to time and faded into mystery and myth. From my understanding, few truly believe the Sylmyrians even existed as a people now.
Both were vast and glorious civilizations, the Sylmyrians were crafters without peers, scholars, and masters of the Ley Lines and the power they held. Their works were sought after by common and Lord alike and they built wonders unseen before and unmatched to this day. The Syr’Vailen and even the great forge of these ruins were testaments to their prowess.
The Phoenix Empire was likewise a great civilization, it was a theocracy as opposed to the scholarly council that led the Sylmyrians. They wrought mystical wonders and architecture. Their ziggurats and gardens were epitomes of divine inspiration. However, the leaders of the Phoenix Empire felt slighted and outshone by the recognition of and the demand for the creations of the Sylmyrians.
As is wont for civilizations of power this festered, the relationship between the nations devolving from respect and trade to hostilities and war. The Sylmyrians bolstered by their magics and superior crafts were matched by the divine power and numbers of the Phoenix people.
Rumor has it though, that one or more of the gods saw potential in this conflict to remake the world more to their own ends and disrupt the Celestial Harmony. They whispered in the ears of the Divine Emperor of the Phoenix Empire, and he in turn into the ears of his nobles and priests. There was a way, through the blessings of the gods, to wipe the Sylmyrians from Arath and claim their rightful place as the true masters of the world. Usurping the knowledge and artifacts of their vanquished enemies.
Those rumors went on to tell of great rites of power, and rituals that were days if not weeks on end. Sacrifices of slaves, beasts, crops and anything else of worth in supplication to the gods, and it worked. A giant sphere of stone and fire took shape in the heavens powered by the demands and pleadings of the priests in the Phoenix Empire, the comet was falling towards the center of the Sylmyrian lands.
But, the Sylmyrians had not been meekly awaiting their fate. As I said they were scholars and mages of immense power themselves. Knowing the destruction that was destined their way they enacted plans of their own. The best of their crafters and casters led by their current Ard’Maelor, their Forge Master, they sought to not only redirect the devastation of the comet but safeguard their people.
In the end, they succeeded in both tasks, but not in the ways they expected. A conjoined spell redirected the comet from its course, and it fell upon the lands of the Phoenix blasting their people and prosperity. Though none are certain due to the fall out of the cataclysm it is suggested that the Blasted Lands in the north are remnants of that magical destruction.
As for safeguarding their people, that is where Vaeltheris factors in. It is an Ethyr’Vael, a soul-forged blade. The Sylmyrians, in their knowledge of the craft, had discovered a way to harness the essence of creatures and use them to give power and abilities to items. Vaeltheris is the epitome of this craft. You see they went beyond simply harnessing the essences of monsters or creatures and using those stones in their creation. They ensorcelled the very souls of their people, all their lives, knowledge, abilities, and their very beings brought together in that blade. Eternal security and safety for the Sylmyrian people, if not in the existence they had intended.
You asked how the blade could make a choice of its own, that is simple given what it is. The blade has a sentience. A personification made of the amalgamation of an entire society. Since it is bound to me it could sense my loss of vitality and understood what was happening.”
She paused and her gaze fell on the blade, tears welling in her eyes before she continued. “It gave of its souls to preserve me. I don’t know how many perished to ensure I survived but it is diminished. The strain has further weakened what it can do, and I don’t know how or if it can be restored. I do know, however, that I trust you implicitly. I want you to become the bearer of the blade and lift its burden from my shoulders.”
She raised a hand, her fingers curled around something hidden within her palm. As she unfurled the digits it exposed a small crystalline orb. “Take this, it will bind the blade to your soul.”
Hesitantly, Xavier reached out and lifted the orb from her hand. He studied it a moment before looking at her once again. “How do I do it?”
She smiled faintly at him. “It is magic, Xavier. You must simply impose your will upon it. It will respond accordingly.”
He turned his gaze back to the orb and focused on it. Soon he was met with a prompt.
It appears you wish to bind the item. “Vaeltheris, Eternal Song of the Blade” to your soul, binding the item for eternity to yourself. It will be unable to be stolen or lost and if you die it will return to you upon your rebirth. Once done this cannot be given to another without the purist intentions of your being. Do you wish to proceed?
Xavier focused on the word "yes," and the crystalline orb sunk into his hand. His head shot up as he heard Ella's soft words as the action took place.
“By binding my blade, you have bound me. I am eternally tied to your side, your trials are my trials, and your will is my will. Thus, it shall be until the gods fade and the stars fall.” Though her words were solemn and soft the look in her eyes as she met Xavier’s was hopeful.