"If you would like to, I would love to hear of your story" Euphemia asked, her piercing grey eyes locked onto Hearne. The moon shone brightly, casting an ethereal glow upon the scene. Hearne could feel a slight chill in the air as he faced her, realizing why she had changed the setting. It was an intentional move to intimidate him, reminding him that he was in her realm. Despite their growing acquaintance, Euphemia's sovereignty in this realm was undeniable, and she made sure that he was acutely aware of it.
"Without a doubt," Hearne began to recount his incredible journey. He started from the moment he bid farewell to his Grandfather's Forest, describing the lush greenery and the comforting whispers of the ancient trees. He then vividly detailed his encounter with the formidable Balor, who had captured him in a dream and ordered him to spread the word of his arrival.
As his narrative unfolded, he described the enchanting encounter with the Elves, their ethereal beauty, and how he had led them to their new home. Euphemia remained completely absorbed in Hearne's storytelling, her eyes filled with wonder and her expression reflecting her awe. Hearne's tale held her rapt attention as he narrated the challenges he faced and the friendships he forged.
Hearne's voice grew more compelling with each word, captivating Euphemia and pulling her deeper into his world. As he finally reached the conclusion of his tale, a profound sense of exhaustion washed over him, as if he had been speaking for an eternity. Yet, despite his weariness, a newfound vitality surged within him. He realized he no longer needed sustenance or rest, for he was sustained by the prayers of his followers, who must have awakened before him.
Euphemia's voice carried a hint of jealousy as she spoke, though she managed to conceal the emotion behind her beautiful face. "Don't you feel it now? The prayers of your followers," she asked, as her body slowly collapsed into grey sand. "Each day, as the sun rises, my strength wanes, which is why I cannot continue this conversation. Yet, I eagerly expect our meeting tonight, where I will share my story with you and offer my assistance against this Balor of the Evil Eye, Hearne, son of Setanta."
As she finished speaking, Euphemia opened her hand, revealing a pile of grey sand. With a swift motion, she blew the sand into Hearne's eyes, jolting him awake from the dreamlike world Euphemia had created. This sudden awakening surprised the blonde-haired Elven woman who had been caring for him in the small house that was constructed while he slept.
"What has transpired during my slumber?" Hearne questioned, his voice laced with unintentional anger as if a dormant volcano had erupted. The Elven woman, attuned to the subtle nuances of emotions, sensed his frustration and felt a wave of relief wash over her as she observed that Hearne, like any other being, became irked when abruptly awakened from a blissful dream which ironically humanized him despite his divine nature.
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"In simple words, my lord, you were still, so completely still, that even I mistakenly believed that you were dead but your animal companions told us that you were simply asleep and that you needed someone to care for you while you slept, naturally I volunteered for the role, but If you wanted to know what we were doing in general, while you slept, Lord Tauron, we were building our homes," Confusion washed over Hearne as he looked out the window to witness the sight of his people diligently constructing their new homes which they would never have to leave again and while they did not show it on their faces, he saw how this simple act meant so much to them.
But soon after he focused on a rather peculiar word which was "Tauron" as it had never reached his ears before, leaving him bewildered. Nevertheless, he chose to remain silent, recalling his time in Herne's Forest, where he discovered that the distinct tribes that worshipped his grandfather Herne called him a different name, each name in their own unique language. Though he couldn't comprehend the practice as they were all worshipping the same god, so why not use the same name? But as he grew older, he reasoned that naming their deity in their native tongue fostered a profound connection to their god, at least in their eyes.
"What is your name?" Hearne asked as he quickly went through his memories to find it but he found nothing, which is when he realized that this was something that he needed to change as what kind of god did not know the names of his followers or at least the names of his most important followers.
"My name is Artanis, which means "Noble Woman" in the language of the Elves." Artanis said in a harmonic voice though her beauty and voice paled before Euphemia's brilliance.
"Thank you for sharing your name, Artanis. I will make sure to remember it as a token of gratitude for caring for me in my time of distress."
"You need not present me with a token of gratitude for tending to your needs. My compassionate nature as a healer and helper knows no bounds. Whether you were a diminutive dwarf, a modest human, a towering giant, an ethereal elemental, or any other creature or being in distress, my care would remain unwavering." Artanis wistfully said to her god, but there was an unspoken prayer, hidden within her heart, which resonated silently towards her god, Tauron.
He alone possessed the discernment to perceive her deep yearning and unspoken plea for inner strength. Contrary to his assumptions, she wasn't seeking strength to dominate her adversaries. Instead, she sought the confidence to make an incredibly challenging decision – to part ways with her people and commit herself to the noble cause of healing the creatures of the earth. After Artanis dutifully provided unwavering support to her people and served as a beacon of hope in times of distress, Tauron led them to a new home. She felt that her mission to her people had been fulfilled, and now she was prepared to devote herself wholeheartedly to the earth and its inhabitants, embracing her inherent calling to nurture and heal.
"As it is not in my nature to not reward assistance, I thought of something to give you but when you revealed to me your desire to heal creatures of all manner and make, I then realized the perfect gifts for you, but first you must kneel before me Artanis." Hearne stood firmly on his two feet, concealing any signs of struggle and there could be no sign of struggle in this moment as this was an important moment for him, as he would answer his very first prayer as a godbound and becoming one step closer to a real god.