Astralis and Celestaris, the divine eagles who had sworn loyalty to Aetherion, stood side by side on the edge of his celestial residence. The Divine Domain stretched endlessly around them, filled with radiant light and ethereal beauty, but their focus was fixed on the task ahead. Aetherion had sent them on a vital mission: to gather followers in the mortal realm who would summon him through the Ritual of Faith.
Instead of using the realm gate to descend, they activated their Celestial Flight ability, the power that allowed them to travel freely between the realms without passing through any physical boundaries. The air shimmered around their wings as they prepared to leave the Divine Domain, their feathers glowing with the power of the Sacred Flame.
"Are you ready, sister?" Astralis asked, his deep voice resonating with quiet strength.
"Always, brother," Celestaris replied, her voice calm and steady.
With a single beat of their wings, they rose into the sky, ascending higher until the Divine Domain blurred around them. The light of the realm flickered, and in a heartbeat, they were gone—crossing the vast expanse between the celestial and mortal planes.
The journey through the realms was swift, a sensation of weightlessness and freedom as they soared through the barriers separating the divine from the mortal. The skies of the mortal realm soon appeared beneath them, and with another powerful stroke of their wings, they descended, their eyes scanning the world below.
The air of the mortal realm was different—denser, filled with the raw energy of life and mortality. Astralis and Celestaris hovered high above, the vast landscape below them coming into focus. Fields, mountains, and forests stretched as far as they could see, but one sight caught their attention immediately: a floating city, suspended in the sky like a great island among the clouds.
The city was a marvel, made of gleaming white stone and intricate platforms that hovered in the air, supported by an unseen force. Small groups of people moved across the floating walkways, their movements fluid and graceful as they levitated objects with ease.
"This is a city of the Sky Folk," Celestaris said, her sharp eyes watching the scene below. "Humans with psychic abilities. They keep their city aloft with the power of their minds."
Astralis nodded in agreement, his gaze sweeping over the floating structures. "They are strong, but their power comes from the mind, not the divine. If we are to gather followers here, we must show them that Aetherion's flame offers something greater."
As they descended closer to the city, they felt the stirrings of unease among the Sky Folk. The psychic sensitivity of the people allowed them to sense the presence of the divine eagles, and a ripple of nervous energy spread throughout the floating city.
The Sky Folk were quick to notice the arrival of Astralis and Celestaris. Their psychic senses were finely attuned to disturbances in the sky, and the appearance of two glowing, divine beings caused an immediate stir. Whispers spread through the streets of the floating city, and the people looked up toward the sky with a mix of fear and awe.
At first, the Sky Folk were uncertain. The sight of two massive, radiant eagles flying above their city was both unsettling and magnificent. Were these creatures gods? Were they messengers from the heavens, or something else entirely?
"They sense us," Celestaris observed, her voice soft as she watched the reactions of the people below. "They are unsure of what we are."
"Good," Astralis replied, his tone steady. "Let them wonder. Awe is the first step toward faith."
Despite their initial unease, the Sky Folk began to grow more curious. Their fear slowly gave way to wonder as they watched the majestic eagles circling high above their city. The sheer beauty of Astralis and Celestaris, with their glowing feathers and divine presence, inspired a sense of reverence among the people.
From their vantage point in the sky, Astralis and Celestaris observed the reactions of the Sky Folk with calculated patience. They had not come to incite fear but to gather followers for Aetherion, and they knew that a careful approach was required.
"We cannot reveal ourselves too soon," Celestaris said thoughtfully, her wings adjusting as she maintained her flight. "The Sky Folk are powerful in their own right, but they are also proud. If we approach them directly, they may resist."
Astralis considered her words and nodded. "Yes. We must first understand them—learn their ways, their beliefs. Only then can we show them the true power of the Sacred Flame."
For now, they decided to observe. The Sky Folk had noticed their arrival, but the eagles maintained their distance, hovering just beyond the edge of the city, high in the clouds where they could watch without being seen too closely. They would study the people and learn the best way to introduce Aetherion's teachings.
"We need to find those who seek more than their psychic abilities can offer," Astralis said. "Those who are looking for something greater—something divine."
"Patience will be our greatest ally," Celestaris agreed. "In time, they will forget their initial fear, and then we can begin."
For weeks, Astralis and Celestaris soared above the Sky Folk's floating city, their presence hidden among the clouds. From their vantage point, they studied the people below, observing their daily lives, their customs, and their uses of psychic power. The Sky Folk, with their abilities to levitate objects and fly, lived in harmony with the sky and rarely ventured to the world below.
"We have been unnoticed for some time," Astralis noted one morning, his keen eyes watching a group of Sky Folk gathering in one of the city's squares. "Their initial awe and fear have faded. They've forgotten about us."
Celestaris flew beside him, her sharp gaze equally focused. "Good. Now we can learn more about their beliefs, their weaknesses, and their desires. They are a proud people, but I sense something within them—an emptiness, a need for something beyond their powers."
The Sky Folk's psychic abilities gave them control over their environment, but Astralis and Celestaris could sense that these abilities left them yearning for more. Despite their dominance over the air and their self-sufficient society, there was a spiritual void—a lack of deeper purpose that psychic power alone could not fulfill.
"They are powerful," Celestaris said, her voice thoughtful. "But they do not know what it is to be connected to the divine. They do not understand the power of faith."
"We will show them," Astralis replied. "But first, we must find the ones most open to it. There are always those who seek more than their place in the world—those who long for purpose beyond what they know."
After weeks of observation, Astralis and Celestaris began to form a concrete plan. They had seen the Sky Folk's pride in their abilities, but they had also identified the subtle dissatisfaction that lingered beneath the surface of their lives. These people, for all their strength, lacked the connection to something greater than themselves—a connection Aetherion could offer.
"We will approach them not as invaders or gods, but as messengers," Celestaris said, her wings catching the light as they glided through the air. "We must be careful not to challenge their pride, but instead, offer them something they cannot gain through their own power."
"The Sacred Flame," Astralis agreed. "We will present Aetherion's flame as a gift, a way to purify their minds and strengthen their abilities. They are a people of the mind, but the heart yearns for something more."
The eagles would not force their way into the city. Instead, they would seek out individuals who were already questioning their place in the world. Those who felt the void, who sensed that their psychic abilities could only take them so far. These would be the first to listen to Aetherion's teachings.
"We must choose wisely," Astralis continued. "Our first followers will set the tone for the rest. If we gain the trust of the right people, others will follow."
Celestaris nodded. "Let us be patient. The time will come soon, and when it does, we will be ready to bring Aetherion's message to these people."
As the days passed, Astralis and Celestaris continued their silent watch over the city, studying the Sky Folk's patterns and waiting for the right moment to reveal themselves. The people of the floating city had resumed their daily lives, largely forgetting about the eagles who had once appeared in the skies. This allowed Astralis and Celestaris to observe without suspicion, waiting for signs of unrest or longing among the people.
"Look there," Celestaris pointed with her wing, indicating a small group of Sky Folk gathered near the edge of the city. Their expressions were somber, and their conversation seemed heated, their minds preoccupied with something deeper than the ordinary concerns of the city.
"Those are the ones we need to watch," Astralis said. "They are troubled. Their hearts and minds are open."
The eagles knew that it would soon be time to act. They had observed enough to understand the desires and frustrations of the Sky Folk, and now they needed only to wait for the moment when the people would be most receptive to the idea of divine intervention.
High above the floating city, Astralis and Celestaris circled in silence, their divine eyes watching every movement below. The Sky Folk were unaware of the plans forming above them—plans that would change the course of their lives and bring them closer to Aetherion's Sacred Flame.