Beyond the golden fields of Firya and the ether-rich banks of the Mythriel River, the land rose into Sylvanmyr—a realm where Ether pulsed through every root and ripple. Rolling hills exhaled beneath crystalline skies, and forests shimmered with an almost dreamlike glow.
At Sylvanmyr's heart stood the great Ether Tree, a towering mother of life whose radiant branches reached across the horizon. Her roots nourished more than just the forests; they fed the spirit of Skyland itself, even for those who had long since forgotten her grace.
At its South her were the glistening waters of Aeloria Lake and the scattered villages that depended on her gifts: Eldorwyn by the lakeshore, where Eldians, Elves, and Fwllings tended the Ether's flow; Thalindra Bay to the east, its mist-shrouded coves harboring slow-drifting ships; and Luminara to the west, where Elves wove songs beneath leafy canopies. Presiding over them all was Yal Elunore, the Eldian capital, its spires grown from living Ether, veiled in centuries of pride. A Kosmic Dome enclosed the city and its surrounds, a shimmering barrier crafted to preserve peace, order, and an illusion of untouched serenity.
Or so it seemed
Within that impenetrable dome, in a secluded corner of the Blue Forest south of Yal Elunore, the Ether shimmered with a quieter voice. The trees arched like flowing ribbons, their bark smooth and veined with glowing light. Blue-hued flora blossomed at their feet, each petal vibrating gently with energy. Ethereal beasts moved through the branches, marked by luminous traits that seemed half-formed from starlight.
Amid the glowing undergrowth moved four young Eldians, their robes the color of deep twilight. As they knelt to gather radiant blooms, floating lanterns drifted beside them, each one carrying a delicate pouch meant to distill Ether into pulsing crystal. Among them, one moved with particular grace. Her fingers brushed petals with care before plucking them, and her lavender eyes surveyed the grove with quiet curiosity. Her skin was pale as snowfall, her hair cascading like silver under moonlight.
Behind her, a soft giggle broke the stillness.
"Ellie, that guardian by the east ridge keeps glancing your way," teased Kaelora, flicking her silvery braid back as she plucked a bloom with casual flair. Her attention wandered far more than her hands did.
"I think he's checking to make sure we're not stealing petals to wear in our hair," added Ysilwen, crouched low beside a mossy root, her fingers hovering playfully over a vibrant cluster.
"More like hoping someone does," murmured Lirael, adjusting a floating lantern's path with precise fingertips, her pouch already half full.
Ellowyn or Ellie, as her friends called her, offered a faint smile and rolled her eyes. "Come on. If we're caught daydreaming again, we'll be reassigned to mushroom duty."
"I liked mushroom duty…" Ysilwen mumbled, prompting another round of warm chuckles before the group returned to their work.
Sunlight filtered through the canopy as Ellowyn's gaze drifted toward a shadowed section of the woods. A narrow trail disappeared into the underbrush, easy to overlook, unless you were searching for it.
While her friends focused on their satchels, she stepped away without a sound, slipping beneath an arch of mossy branches and vanishing into the shade.
This was her secret path.
The Ether felt different here, muted, reverent, with a wildness untouched by any watchful eye. The glade ahead pulsed with quiet life, free from guards or council oversight.
Atop a moss-covered stump stood a small figure cloaked in light and shadow.
"You're late," he called, smirking, amber eyes glowing faintly beneath his hood.
"You're lucky I made it," Ellie replied, feigning indignation. "Kaelora wouldn't stop gossiping, and Ysilwen nearly spotted me."
"I should start charging passage," he teased.
"You already do." She folded her arms. "Come out, Rikuin. Stop hiding. I want to hear more of your stories."
With a grin, Rikuin stepped from the gloom, his coppery fur catching the light like fire. A Kinitu, a fox-like Quendikin, he carried the air of both mischief and mystery. His red scarf, knotted with care, fluttered slightly in the breeze. At his side, a woven satchel bulged with trinkets and relics from beyond the dome.
With a flick of his ear, he reached into the bag and produced a small bronze cog, its surface etched with delicate patterns.
"Then allow me to collect my fee," he said, tossing it to her with a grin and a light bow.
Ellowyn's eyes lit up and caught it delicately in her slim fingers. "What is it?"
He tapped his chin, pretending to think. "A relic from the outer ruins. Part of a mechanical trinker that could predict time itself! They called it the Tick-Tack Tower—or so the old tinkerers claim. Long before you were born. Some even say it still ticks at midnight when the moon is high."
"Does it really?" Ellowyn asked with enthusiasm.
"No," he admitted with a sly tilt of his head. "But it should."
Ellowyn laughed softly, tracing the intricate grooves with wonder. "You and your made-up tales."
"I prefer the term embellished truths," Rikuin replied with an exaggerated bow.
Ellowyn smiled, her gaze drifting to the sky beyond the treetops. "I wish I could see it. The cities, the other quendikins, the machines, the lands you've wandered."
His ears lowered slightly, though warmth lingered in his eyes. "Maybe someday. But not yet."
"Why not?" she asked.
He leaned back, arms crossed. "Because your people have a duty. To tend the Blue Forest. To guard the balance the Ether. If the flow gets too dense… bad things may happen. As your dear friend, I must remind you to not lead you astray." he teased, gently rapping her forehead with a flick of his fingers.
She winced playfully. "That's what they always say."
Rikuin tilted his head, narrowing his eyes and asked - "And do you believe it?"
Ellowyn hesitated, then gave a slow nod. "I have to. Father always says it's our purpose. Our contribution to Skyland."
Rikuin exhaled, ears flicking once. "Then for now, stay. Watch the Ether. Tend your purpose. And let me bring you the world piece by piece."
Ellowyn looked down at the cog nestled in her palm, its weight tiny yet somehow full of promise. "All right. But someday…"
Rikuin smiled, eyes kind and distant. "Someday."
With a soft rustle, he melted into the shadows once more, leaving the glade quiet, the only sound the faint humming of the flowers.
-break-
Ellowyn slipped quietly back through the winding glades, retracing her steps as the soft hum of Ether faded behind her. The woven pouch at her side glowed faintly, the gathered crystals pulsing in time with her heartbeat. She adjusted it gently, careful not to draw attention.
As she approached the clearing, Kaelora's voice rang out with playful accusation. "Ellie, you always vanish at the worst moment. What would we do without you?"
"I was... making sure no one missed any flowers," Ellowyn replied quickly, her smile sheepish as she stepped into view.
Ysilwen raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Sure. Or maybe you were chatting with one of those handsome guardians again."
Ellowyn gave a short laugh as she passed them, brushing her fingers along the edge of a lantern. "I'd rather not get reassigned to mushroom duty, thank you."
The girls shared a final round of giggles as they gathered their satchels, the last of their work complete. As the lanterns drifted above them, they fell into step along the winding trail, the Blue Forest glowing softly around them. Overhead, the canopy opened just enough to reveal the first shimmer of dusk, casting the treetops in gentle hues of gold and blue. The forest rustled with a quiet hush, as if the Ether itself were bidding them home.
Ahead, the great city of Yal Elunore emerged from the trees like a dream given form.
The walls were not of stone alone but imbued of living Ether, woven into translucent shapes that shimmered with inner light. The entry archway stood open, framed by spiraling columns that pulsed softly in rhythm with the Kosmic Dome above. Eldian guardians flanked the gate, their armor sculpted with crystalline inlays, each holding spears tipped with Ether-bound crystal shaped as dove wings.
As Ellowyn stepped forward to present her pouch, a familiar voice called from the side.
"Well, if it isn't the star of the harvest," said Maeron, leaning against one of the entry pillars. His silver hair fell untamed around his face, eyes sharp and gleaming with amusement. "Short on crystals again, Ellie?"
Ellowyn raised her chin slightly, handing over her pouch. "I have plenty this time."
Maeron smirked, taking the bag from her hands and weighting it in his palm with exaggerated care.. "Mmm… barely enough to keep the dome from flickering." He leaned in, dropping his voice. "Dont worry. I'll cover for you, again." giving a final wink.
Ellowyn just smiled, polite but distracted, already slipping into thought. "Thank you, Maeron. You're always very kind." Running inside to Yal Elunore's heart.
He watched her retreat with a crooked grin before turning back to his post.
Within the gates, Yal Elunore opened like a living mural. Every path glowed with threads of Ether, casting gentle light beneath the feet of passersby. The city's structures rose in elegant curves, spires like frozen rivers, gardens blooming with vines that hummed with energy, bridges of crystal threading between towers in seamless arcs. Every building, every bridge, every vine had been shaped with serene precision.
Eldians moved gracefully through the streets, dressed in flowing garments dyed with soft blues, silvers, and green-gray hues. Some floated carts filled with crystal fruits and silken cloth, while others gathered in quiet plazas to exchange words or inscribe glowing glyphs on parchment. From beneath the shade of sculpted trees, children recited verses of history, their voices rising like song while ethereal vines framed their open-air classrooms.
Everywhere, the work of duty thrived: Ether weavers bent streams of energy into pulsing orbs that fed the great Kosmic dome. Guardians patrolled in quiet formations, their steps a dance of vigilance and ease. Children sang verses of history under the teaching trees, where ethereal vines framed their classrooms.
To Ellowyn, it had always been a city of balance and grace. Each soul had a place, every motion a purpose. To her eyes, Yal Elunore was a haven where harmony reigned, where duty and joy walked hand in hand beneath the shimmer of the Ether Dome.
She smiled softly to herself and turned down a familiar side lane, where her home nestled between two vine-covered towers. The modest estate glowed with gentle care, soft lights flickering within walls lined with living Ether, breathing warmth into the evening.
As she opened the front gate, a sudden voice rang out.
"Ellie's late again!" squealed Sorin, her little brother, darting from a side path with untamed energy.
"She's probably been off daydreaming with Ether flies again!" called Seris, his twin sister, holding a flowering vine like a royal scepter.
Ellowyn reached out and ruffled Sorin's snowy hair as he raced past her. "I was gathering Ether like a proper Eldian herbalist. Not hiding in bushes pretending to be forest kings."
The children's laughter echoed down the hallway as she stepped inside. The scent of jasmine and freshly baked bread filled the air, warm and inviting.
In the dining room, her father, Caelarion, sat at the head of a long table, his bearing tall and dignified even in simple evening robes. Beside him, her mother Seralyne smiled warmly, smoothing a hand over the twins' hair as they scampered into their seats.
Caelarion's sharp eyes flicked up as Ellowyn entered. "You're late, daughter. You must not tarry so long beyond your duties."
Before Ellowyn could respond, Seralyne cut in gently, "Come, the meal is waiting. Let us eat before the stew grows cold."
Grateful for the grace of timing, Ellowyn slid into her seat.
For a time, only the soft clinking of utensils and the whisper of conversation among the twins filled the air. The meal was simple but rich, fresh-baked bread, seasoned roots, and fruits preserved with Ether cooling.
Yet as the meal wore on, a question pressed against Ellowyn's thoughts, nudging more insistently with each bite. At last, she lifted her gaze toward her father. "Father... have you ever seen the lands beyond the dome?"
Caelarion's spoon paused mid-air. "Of course. As a councilor, I've traveled to many regions of Skyland. It is part of my duty to oversee trade and maintain treaties."
Ellowyn leaned forward slightly, her voice softer now. "And… what are they like? The mountains? The lakes? The cities built with strange machines?"
A quiet stillness fell across the table.
Caelarion placed his spoon down with care. "Ellowyn, why do you burden the supper table with childish fancies? We do not waste thoughts on distant lands."
"But if you've seen them," she said carefully, "could I see them too? One day? Perhaps serve alongside you?"
Seralyne; her mother; reached across the table, her tone soothing but firm. "It is not the path of our daughters to wander, child. The work of an Eldian woman is sacred, to tend the home, to care for the Ether, to guard what has been entrusted to us."
Ellowyn lowered her gaze. The warmth in her chest from earlier now felt like cooling ash.
"There are dangers beyond the dome," her mother added. "Not all beyond these walls look kindly upon those gifted with Ether's grace. Here, within Yal Elunore, you are safe, just as Shiruba U'windo and the Ether Tree intended."
Before the silence could stretch too far, Caelarion cleared his throat. His voice softened as he regarded his daughter. "Time changes all things, Ellowyn. Perhaps, someday, the world will ask different things of you. But for now, trust the path laid before you."
Ellowyn nodded faintly, a sliver of hope threading its way back into her thoughts.
And so the meal continued beneath the soft evening glow, the family's laughter eventually returning, light and untroubled once more. Yet beneath the calm, something had shifted. A seed had been planted in Ellowyn's spirit, quiet but alive.