Grandézil's consciousness lingered in the ruins of the temple, his gaze fixed on the two elves who were on the brink of losing their connection to him. The once vibrant bond of faith had withered over time, and now only a faint ember remained, flickering weakly in the hearts of Alice and Samuel Swiftwind.
Alice, the young priestess, had her head bowed as she whispered her prayers with a voice so soft, it seemed to blend into the wind itself. Her tears, which had once flowed freely, had slowed to mere droplets, a symbol of the dwindling hope within her. She had spent years praying for the return of the goddess, but now, after millennia of silence, even her unwavering faith was starting to crumble.
Samuel, her grandfather and the last of the elder priests, had long since abandoned any hope of a divine return. He was too old, too weary, and far too burdened by the endless years of guarding the temple alone. His faith had become a mere ritual, an act of duty, not of belief. The despair in his eyes was palpable as he gazed up at the broken statue of the goddess, the figure of Grandézil's previous form.
Grandézil knew that if he didn't act now, the last two believers would soon lose their connection to him completely. He couldn't afford that. They were his foundation, the first seeds of the divine power he would need to regain his full strength. They were his only connection to the mortal world, and if they fell away, he would be left in darkness once again.
But how could he reach them?
His divine power was limited, and using it carelessly could drain him even further, leaving him vulnerable. He needed a more subtle approach, one that would rekindle the faith of his followers without expending too much of his precious energy.
Grandézil focused his mind on Alice, who had just finished her prayer and was trying to stand. Her fragile frame trembled as she rose to her feet, her body weary from the long hours spent in prayer. The young elf's eyes were red from crying, but there was a strength in her that Grandézil admired. She had not given up, not completely.
He reached out with his consciousness, gently touching her heart.
At first, Alice didn't notice the shift. She looked up at Samuel, a weak smile on her face. "Grandpa Samuel, we've done everything we can… perhaps it's time to let go," she said softly, the words laced with a quiet sadness.
Samuel shook his head, his eyes distant. "No, child… we've waited for centuries, and there is still no sign of her. Our faith, our prayers… they've all gone unanswered. It's time to accept that the goddess is gone."
Alice closed her eyes, biting her lip as she tried to hold back the sobs that threatened to escape. It was true. She had waited, hoped, and prayed for so long, and yet, nothing had come. The silence from the heavens was deafening.
But just as she was about to turn and leave, a sudden warmth enveloped her. It was subtle at first—just a flicker of heat against her skin—but it grew stronger with every passing second, like the embers of a long-dead fire reigniting.
Her heart beat faster as she glanced around, unsure of what was happening. Then, a whisper echoed in her mind, soft yet powerful.
"Alice… Do not give up. I am here. I have returned."
Her breath caught in her throat. She knew that voice. It was the voice she had prayed to for so long. The voice of her goddess.
"Grandézil?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
For a moment, she thought it was just her mind playing tricks on her, but then the warmth deepened, and she felt a gentle presence fill the air around her. The goddess was here. She had returned.
Alice sank to her knees once more, tears streaming down her face as she whispered, "I knew you would come back… I knew it… I never stopped believing."
Samuel turned to her, startled by the sudden change in Alice's demeanor. "What's happening? Alice, what's wrong?"
Alice didn't respond at first. She was too lost in the overwhelming presence of Grandézil, feeling the divine energy coursing through her very being. She could feel the connection between them, stronger than ever before. It was as though the goddess herself was standing before her, guiding her, lifting her up.
When she finally looked at her grandfather, her eyes were filled with awe. "Grandpa Samuel… she's here. The goddess… Grandézil has returned."
Samuel blinked, confused and skeptical. "Are you sure? After all this time, it seems impossible…"
But then, to his shock, he felt it too. A sudden surge of warmth, a divine presence that washed over him like a wave, erasing his doubts and fears.
"Impossible…" he muttered under his breath, his knees buckling as he sank to the ground before the altar. "Grandézil… is it truly you?"
"Yes," Alice said, her voice stronger now. "She's here. I feel her. She has not forgotten us."
For the first time in ages, Samuel allowed himself to hope. His eyes filled with tears as he placed his hands together in prayer. "Forgive me, Grandézil. I thought I had lost you forever."
Grandézil's presence hovered over them, not physically, but spiritually. He had used only a fraction of his divine power to manifest this moment of clarity, enough to remind his believers of his existence, enough to rekindle the spark of hope that had nearly faded.
But Grandézil knew that this was just the beginning. He had to strengthen this connection, nurture their faith, and build his power from the ground up.
"I have not forgotten you, my children," Grandézil's voice whispered through the air, resonating within their hearts. "Your faith has not gone unnoticed. Together, we will rebuild the world."
Alice and Samuel looked at each other in stunned silence, their hearts swelling with emotion. They had waited for so long, and now, finally, their goddess had returned.
With renewed faith, Alice whispered, "Together… we will rebuild."
And so, Grandézil's first step toward regaining his divine power had been taken. Through the faith of his believers, the embers of his existence would burn brighter, leading him towards the strength he needed to rise again.