Laurel Shortstride

That fountain in the Angelbark… That was the first time I had prayed to a god. Not that I don’t acknowledge them and their powers, but I always felt that I was helping to preserve things after they had finished their work in creating it.



But maybe that isn’t the case.



I prayed to Silvanus at that fountain, or at least I thought I did. I said words to communicate with him, but when I stayed in silence afterwards, I was not listening for him. Instead, I was thinking about how I have seen great deeds in his name, but also ones I do not agree with. I found myself wondering how these all-powerful entities could allow destruction and violence to happen when they are so capable of halting it.



And then, I heard a reply. Not a male voice, but a quiet, smooth, female one.



“I agree. I want violence to end too.”



Startled, I opened my eyes and looked at the pool. Floating above where I had left a coin was a wooden duck, lovingly painted. In fact, after picking it up I realised this was the very toy I had lost when I was young, that my dad had made for me. Flooding through me was a sense of contentment I didn’t expect at rediscovering this part of my past.



I continued on with our mission, temporarily ignoring what had happened so I could focus. On returning to Daring Heights however, I waited just on the edge of the forest as everyone else left for their own business, took out the toy then sat under a tree and closed my eyes.



“Thank you. I don’t even know who you are, but thank you. This is the first time I have felt that a god shares the same ideals as I do”, I thought, hoping it would be heard.



Several minutes passed in silence, except for the wind through the trees and the occasional bird call. Then, as I opened my eyes, a path through the trees seemed to open up in front of me, leading to a pool fed by a waterfall. Following this route, the same voice began to drift towards me, becoming louder the closer I went.



“I see how you act towards beings others condemn to death. I will never command you to fight in my name, and I do not wish for any to do so. I do not wish for any conflict and hope to always find a peaceful answer. Even if the only course of action at the time is to run, there will always be a chance to halt the conflict later.”



As I reached the pool, I instinctively placed my toy duck onto the surface of the water. I stepped back and watched as it floated away behind the waterfall.



“Do you wish for my support?”



I nodded, wordlessly.



From behind the waterfall, the toy drifted out again, but it seemed different. Drifting behind it seemed to be some fern leaves, and when it came to the bank I saw on its back a blue wooden pendant with a carving of a waterfall on it. As I picked it up and tied the pendant around my neck, I heard the voice once more.



“I am Eldath, and I will help you.”