The Zarynthian Tribe was alive with fervor. The shrine atop Mount Aeloria glowed with the golden light of hundreds of lanterns, their flames flickering like stars against the mountainside. Villagers sang praises to their god, their voices echoing into the night as they prepared to complete the sacred ritual.
At the center of the shrine, lying motionless on an ancient altar, was the boy they believed to be Relethis, the Eternal God of their faith. His small chest rose faintly, as though life had only just begun to stir within him.
Near the edge of the shrine, Marion sat slumped on a smooth stone, his face pale and his eyes fixed on the boy. His mouth opened and closed several times as he tried—and failed—to comprehend what had just happened.
"How?!" he finally whispered to himself, running a hand through his hair. "How in all the heavens did I manage to summon… whatever this is?!"
The villagers nearby heard none of his muttering, busy adorning the shrine with garlands and flowers. Occasionally, they glanced his way with reverent smiles, bowing deeply.
"Praise Summoner Marion!" one of them said, clapping their hands together.
Marion waved weakly, a strained smile plastered on his face. Praise? For what? I didn't even DO anything! I'm not even a real summoner! How did this happen?
At the base of the shrine, the village's elders gathered around a golden tray holding the Fruit of Amaranthus. The fruit was unlike anything in the mortal world, its surface shifting with an iridescent glow that seemed to hold all the colors of a sunrise. A faint hum emanated from it, almost imperceptible, but enough to make the air around it feel heavy with importance.
Tovik, the village chieftain, stood at the head of the group, his staff resting against his shoulder. He raised his hands, signaling for the villagers to quiet their chants.
"The time has come!" he declared, his deep voice carrying over the assembly. "For centuries, we have guarded the sacred fruit, awaiting the day our god would return. Now, that day is here. The great Relethis lies before us, and it is our duty to restore his strength."
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Marion blinked, his gaze shifting from the boy to the glowing fruit. "Wait, hold on," he mumbled, leaning toward the villagers. "That's what this is about? You're giving him fruit?"
One of the elders turned toward Marion, her face lined with age but her expression serene. "This is no ordinary fruit, Summoner Marion. It is the essence of life itself, gifted by the gods to our ancestors. It holds the power to awaken the great Relethis."
Marion's mouth opened, but no words came out. Instead, he looked back at the boy on the altar, his confusion deepening. "Awaken him?" he muttered under his breath. "He doesn't look asleep to me…"
The eldest of the Zarynthians, an ancient woman with silver hair that flowed down to her waist, stepped forward. Her gnarled hands trembled slightly as she lifted the Fruit of Amaranthus from its golden tray. The glow of the fruit bathed her weathered face in light, making her appear otherworldly.
The villagers bowed as she approached the altar, her movements slow but deliberate.
Marion watched, his mouth dry. "Okay," he whispered, gripping the edge of his seat. "She's just… gonna feed him fruit. That's it. Totally normal ritual. Nothing strange about this at all."
The elder reached the altar and placed the glowing fruit gently in the boy's hands. The moment it touched his skin, the light from the fruit spread outward, golden tendrils snaking across the boy's body like veins of energy.
A low hum resonated through the shrine, growing louder with each passing second. The runes carved into the altar began to glow, pulsing in time with the fruit's light.
The villagers fell to their knees, chanting praises to Relethis as the boy's chest rose slightly, the faintest breath escaping his lips.
"He breathes!" a young villager cried, pointing at the boy.
"Our god is awakening!" Tovik declared, raising his staff high.
The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices reverberating through the shrine. Flowers were thrown into the air, and drums began to beat a steady rhythm of celebration.
Marion, however, remained rooted to his seat, staring at the glowing altar with wide eyes.
"What… what is happening?" he whispered to himself, his voice trembling. "This… this can't be real. Can it? Did I actually summon a god?"
He looked down at his hands, turning them over as if they held the answers. "No, no, I didn't do anything. I just waved my arms around! This doesn't make sense!"
"Summoner Marion!" Tovik called, his booming voice breaking Marion's spiral of panic.
Marion jolted upright, looking at Tovik with wide, startled eyes. "Uh, yes?"
"You have done a great service to our people," Tovik said, striding toward him with a smile. "The great Relethis is returning to us, thanks to your faith and devotion."
Marion let out a nervous laugh, glancing between Tovik and the altar. "Right. Devotion. That's me."
As the villagers celebrated, the shrine grew quieter, the glow of the fruit fading until it was absorbed entirely into the boy's body. His pale skin now held a faint warmth, and his breathing grew steady, though his eyes remained closed.
Marion approached the altar hesitantly, his steps slow and unsure. He stared down at the boy, who looked peaceful, almost as if he were simply sleeping.
"This is insane," Marion muttered under his breath. "Is he really a god? Or are they all just… crazy?"
He reached out as if to touch the boy but stopped himself, pulling his hand back. The faint hum of energy still lingered in the air, making his fingertips tingle.
"Relethis," he whispered, testing the name. "What kind of god shows up like this?"
As the villagers prepared a feast in honor of the ritual's success, Marion sat near the altar, his thoughts spiraling.
"None of this makes sense," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't summon anything. I didn't do anything. But there he is, breathing like this is all normal!"
A villager approached with a jug of some strange brew, bowing deeply. "Summoner Marion, please drink and join our celebration. You've brought our god back to us!"
Marion accepted the jug reluctantly, watching the villagers laugh and dance. "Brought him back? Me? No, no, I'm just the guy who stumbled into the wrong forest…"
He glanced back at the boy on the altar, his expression torn between confusion and unease.
"If you really are a god," Marion whispered, his voice barely audible, "then why do I feel like I've just made the biggest mistake of my life?"