Aetherion sat in perfect stillness, the endless light of the Divine Domain bathing his celestial residence in an ethereal glow. For days, he had been in deep meditation, his mind focused on the Sacred Flame and the path that lay before him. Time in the Divine Realm flowed differently than in the mortal world, and though days had passed for him, he knew that only moments had passed for the Sky Folk.
Despite the peaceful surroundings, Aetherion felt a stirring deep within him—a shift in the divine energy that fueled his existence. Something had changed. The Sacred Flame within him flickered with a newfound intensity, a heat that he had not felt before. It was subtle, but unmistakable.
Opening his eyes, Aetherion allowed the sensation to wash over him, curious and intrigued by the shift in his power. He could feel the flame burning stronger, as though it were being fed by an unseen force.
"Something is different..." he murmured to himself, his voice barely more than a whisper.
The system's voice answered, cutting through the silence. [Aetherion, what you are experiencing is the first sign of faith. The Sky Folk who have accepted the Sacred Flame are now connected to you. Their belief is feeding your power, allowing the flame to grow stronger.]
Aetherion's eyes gleamed with understanding as the system explained. "Faith... their faith is already making me stronger."
[Yes,] the system replied. [This is the beginning of your ascent. With each follower, your power will grow. Faith fuels the Sacred Flame, and in turn, the flame will strengthen you. This connection is what will lead you to the next rank, and eventually, godhood.]
Aetherion took a deep breath, feeling the power coursing through him. The sensation was unlike anything he had felt before—both invigorating and empowering. He had always known that faith was the key to his growth, but now that he could feel its effects firsthand, he understood the true magnitude of its power.
"How many are there?" he asked, his voice calm but eager.
[There are 15 followers so far,] the system answered. [But for the Ritual of Faith to be performed and for you to be summoned to the mortal realm, you will need at least 20. Until then, the flame will continue to grow within you, but the real transformation will only begin when they reach the required number.]
Aetherion nodded, closing his eyes once more. He could feel the connection growing stronger with each passing moment, and though the path ahead was still long, he knew he was one step closer to achieving his ultimate goal.
In the floating city of the Sky Folk, Elyon stood at the edge of their secluded meeting place, overlooking the vast sky that stretched endlessly around them. The air was still, and the soft hum of psychic energy that kept the city aloft was barely noticeable. Behind him, the group of 15 followers who had accepted the Sacred Flame gathered, their faces serious yet filled with a quiet excitement.
The flame had begun to take root within them, and with it came a newfound sense of purpose. But despite their progress, they knew there was still much to be done.
Elyon turned to face the group, his expression thoughtful. "We've taken the first steps," he began, his voice steady. "But as you all know, we need five more. The Ritual of Faith requires 20 followers to summon Aetherion. Until we reach that number, we're not yet ready."
Saphiel, standing beside him, nodded. "It's only a matter of time. There are others out there who feel the same way we did before we found the flame. We just have to find them."
Kiros, always the pragmatist, folded his arms across his chest. "Finding them is one thing. Convincing them is another. We were open to change, but not everyone will be so willing."
The group fell into a contemplative silence. They all knew the challenges ahead—recruiting more followers meant overcoming not just skepticism, but the pride and self-reliance that defined their people. The Sky Folk had always prided themselves on their psychic abilities, and the idea of accepting a higher power, a divine flame, would not be an easy sell.
Elyon looked around at the group, his expression firm but encouraging. "We need ideas. There's no one way to bring people in. We have to be smart about this."
The group began to brainstorm, each member contributing their own thoughts based on their personalities and strengths.
Elyon, as the natural leader, was the first to speak. "I think we need to take a direct approach. There are others in this city who are just as dissatisfied with the limits of their psychic abilities as we were. We find them, and we appeal to their desire for more."
Saphiel, always perceptive, added, "I agree, but some might not even realize they're searching for something. We need to approach those who have experienced hardships recently. Loss, fear, uncertainty. These people will be more open to the idea of something greater than themselves. We can offer them hope through the Sacred Flame."
Kiros, ever cautious, spoke next. "We should observe people before approaching them. Not everyone will be ready for the flame. We can't waste time on those who won't listen. We need to target our efforts carefully."
As the discussion continued, more ideas were brought forward by the other followers.
Lyra, always empathetic and creative, suggested, "We should create small, intimate gatherings where we can speak openly about the flame. If we share our experiences and how the flame has changed us, it will feel more personal. People need to hear how it's made a difference in our lives."
Ravian, bold and confident, took a more dramatic approach. "I say we make a statement. A public display of the flame's power—something that will draw attention and curiosity. Once people see what the flame can do, they'll want to know more."
Aris, the calm spiritualist, offered a gentler idea. "We could offer meditation sessions. The flame brings peace, clarity. If we can help people experience that through simple meditation, it could open the door for deeper conversations about the flame's power."
Page 5: Different Strategies
The group continued to share their thoughts, with each member offering a unique perspective on how to attract new followers.
Mira, practical and level-headed, suggested starting with friends and family. "We already know people who might be interested. They trust us. It's easier to convince someone who already knows you than a stranger."
Niko, once a skeptic himself, believed in a more rational approach. "Some people will need more than just promises of faith. We should offer logical arguments for why the flame is beneficial. Not everyone will believe in divine power, but if we show them it's real and tangible, they'll be more open to it."
Vera, quiet but observant, suggested finding those who already felt disconnected from the rest of society. "There are people here who don't feel like they belong. The flame can give them a sense of purpose."
The final members of the group offered their thoughts as well, each contributing a different strategy.
Thane, competitive and strong-willed, wanted to target the best and brightest. "We should challenge the strongest psychics. Show them that the flame can make them even more powerful. Appeal to their ambition."
Isla, thoughtful and patient, believed in letting rumors spread naturally. "We don't have to be direct. If people hear about the flame from whispers and rumors, they'll come to us out of curiosity."
Finnis, a man of action, urged them to be proactive. "We can't wait around for people to find us. We need to go out and actively seek them. One person at a time if necessary."
Orianna, ever the idealist, believed in offering help and kindness. "If we help people with their problems, they'll trust us. And trust can lead to faith."
Caius, a natural leader, believed in forming alliances with the city's influential members. "If we can convince someone with influence, others will follow. We need to find the right person to bring more in."
Elyon listened to all the ideas, nodding thoughtfully. "We have a lot of different approaches, and I think we should try all of them. We need five more followers, and we'll only get them by being creative. Let's split up and work on our different ideas. Whoever can bring someone in, do it."
The group agreed, energized by the discussion and eager to begin. They split into smaller groups, each member ready to pursue their own strategy to gather the last few followers needed for the Ritual of Faith.
As they dispersed into the city, a quiet determination settled over them. They knew what was at stake, and the flame within them burned brighter than ever.
The chapter ends with the Sky Folk setting out to find the final five members needed to summon Aetherion and complete the Ritual of Faith.