A week had passed since the hunt for the stone serpent, and Elpenor's training under Ziusudra continued to fortify both his body and spirit. One day, as Elpenor was practicing his sword technique, a call echoed throughout the villa, summoning everyone to gather for an important meeting. The Oracle, Enkidu, had ventured into the Oracle's Hollow to seek answers to a profound philosophical question.

Elpenor joined the crowd as they assembled in the grand hall. Enkidu emerged from the shadows, his eyes filled with the weight of newfound knowledge. As the Oracle spoke, he recounted his journey through the Hollow and his discovery of an astonishing sight: a massive cavefish washed ashore at one of the underground lakes, measuring about 7 cubits or 12 pous.

Curiosity gripped the crowd as Enkidu described the fish, which was unlike any they had encountered before. All other fish in the cave systems had never grown larger than 1 cubit or a little less than 2 pous. Yet this fish was extraordinary, with a bulging stomach that looked like a jagged rock.

With great care, Enkidu and his assistants had cut open the fish, revealing an enormous Spell Null stone mixed with a strange metal—grey with hints of green and orange. The people of the Stone Villa had never seen such a large Spell Null, nor one with impurities.

Elpenor's senses tingled as he recognized the scent of the metal. "Chalkos," he whispered to himself, recalling the legendary metal used by the people of Ctesiphon to harness the power of Zeus. Intrigued, he stepped forward and addressed Enkidu.

"Oracle Enkidu, may I experiment with a chunk of the metal? I have a theory I wish to test," Elpenor requested.

Enkidu nodded thoughtfully. "Do as you please, Elpenor. I have no immediate use for it."

Elpenor bowed in gratitude and approached Ziusudra. "I need to use the forge to test a theory," he explained. "Ziusudra, you mentioned knowing a blacksmith who uses Spell Nulls to create decorations. Could he assist me?"

Ziusudra smiled and placed a reassuring hand on Elpenor's shoulder. "Indeed, Elpenor. His name is Anzud. Let us seek his guidance."

With determination in his heart and the mysterious metal in hand, Elpenor followed Ziusudra to the forge. As they approached, the rhythmic clang of metal on anvil echoed through the air, a testament to Anzud's skill.

where they were greeted by the blacksmith Anzud. The forge was a marvel, with the air thick with the scent of molten metal and the rhythmic clanging of hammer on anvil.

Anzud greeted Ziusudra with a blunt customary greeting 𒋛𒅆𒈠 of the Gorgonkin. His serpentine hair writhing slightly, he then turned to Elpenor, his eyes curious. "What brings you here, Ziusudra, and who is your companion?" he inquired.

After a brief introduction, Elpenor explained their purpose. Anzud's interest was piqued, especially when the mention of Spell Nulls and the mysterious metal chalkos came up. Anzud's expertise in metalworking made him the ideal partner for the experiment.

Elpenor and Anzud set to work, carefully mixing ground Spell Null with ground chalkos. The airless forge roared to life, and as the mixture was heated, it began to glow with a beautiful orange hue. As it cooled, Anzud marveled at the sight, wondering aloud about its properties.

"The color is magnificent," Anzud commented. "I wonder if it has fully cooled or if there's just a bright metal."

Elpenor observed the shimmering material, its surface like a piece of the stars. The resemblance to ýalos orb, and observing glass-like properties of spell nulls, an idea took root in his mind—if he could combine chalkos and spell null, it might provide a means to counter the eldritch beast's magic and lightning.

Elpenor shared his thoughts with Anzud, and together they crafted an orb, which Elpenor named chrysós hualos. The process involved mixing the powders, heating them in the airless forge, and shaping the resulting brick into a ball. The final product was a stunning piece of craftsmanship, its surface glimmering like a starry night.

Anzud examined the orb with awe. "This is extraordinary, Elpenor. How does it differ from a normal Spell Null, or is it merely decorative?"

Elpenor explained that, in theory, chrysós hualos should cancel spells and deflect lightning. However, we needed a way to test it out said Elpenor. Anzud's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "I believe we shall find out soon enough," he said, a grin spreading across his face.

Anzud went to his storage, returning with a bucket. Curiosity prickled at Elpenor as he noticed a peculiar creature within—a lightning eel, its smooth body gleaming like a worm. A small purple snail glyph adorned the bucket's side.

"What's this?" Elpenor asked, pointing to the eel and the glyph.

Anzud smiled, his serpentine hair hissing softly. "This is a lightning eel from the Deserian Kingdom. I obtained it from a Melekhuz merchant, hence the glyph." He gently lifted the eel, its electric charge crackling faintly.

"Watch closely," Anzud instructed. He then used a metal handle with a strange leather wrapping. The leather looked almost like a polished stone, yet it was soft and squishy to the touch. Elpenor found it peculiar.

Anzud touched the eel with the metal rod, and suddenly, a small bolt of lightning shot out, dancing around the rod in an erratic but mesmerizing display. The electricity seemed to wriggle and pulse with a life of its own.

Fascinated, Elpenor moved forward, extending his hand to touch the orb. But Anzud's grip tightened around his wrist, stopping him mid-action. "Wait! It will burn you unless you use a handle with Melekhuz leather. We need to make a rope first to lower the orb in and protect your hand."

Together, they crafted a makeshift rope using the special leather. It was a meticulous process, but Elpenor felt a growing excitement. Once they had fashioned the protective rope, they carefully lowered the orb into the bucket.

As the orb made contact with the lightning eel, it absorbed the energy effortlessly. The bolts of lightning that had once danced wildly now funneled into the orb, leaving no trace behind, not even a hissing sound.

Elpenor marveled at the sight. The orb glowed with a radiant brilliance, its surface shimmering like a starry night. He felt a profound sense of accomplishment and wonder.

As the day drew to a close, a sense of joy as thought about how far he had come. He made his way to Nidaba's quarters for a routine check-up. The halls of the Villa of the Earth Tone were eerily quiet, the bioluminescent flora casting ghostly shadows on the stone walls.

Entering Nidaba's chamber, his eyes fell upon a curious sigil marked with the symbol ♇. Drawn to it, he reached out, and as his fingers made contact, a cold shiver ran down his spine. The sigil vanished, replaced by a parchment in his hand. His heart pounded as he unfolded the letter, recognizing the familiar, oppressive presence of Hades.

"Elpenor," the letter began, "the beast has claimed a new target. Nidaba. If you are not swift enough to destroy the eldritch beast, dire consequences will befall her."

A wave of dread washed over him, his stomach churning with anxiety. Nidaba's gentle voice broke through his thoughts. "Elpenor, what are you holding?"

He hesitated, the weight of the letter pressing down on him. "It's nothing," he lied, his voice strained. "Just a task from my old master."

Nidaba's eyes narrowed with curiosity. "Your old master? Tell me more about him."

Elpenor forced a smile, his mind racing to concoct a plausible story. "Oh, it's nothing important," he said dismissively. "Just some mundane duties."

She seemed to accept his answer, but Elpenor could see the concern lingering in her gaze. As the night wore on, he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at him. The letter's ominous warning echoed in his mind, each word a reminder of the danger that loomed over Nidaba.

Lying in his bed, sleep eluded him. He stared at the ceiling, replaying the day's events. Doubt crept into his thoughts. Had he done the right thing by hiding the truth from Nidaba? Would his silence put her at greater risk?

The more he pondered, the heavier his heart felt. Hades' message had struck a chord of fear he couldn't ignore. Why had the hades had chosen to warn him? What was the true extent of the threat they faced?

Every rustle of the wind outside, every creak of the stone walls, seemed amplified, adding to his growing sense of dread. The burden of responsibility weighed heavily on him.

As Elpenor began his training with Ziusudra, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over him. Ziusudra, ever perceptive, noticed the change in Elpenor's demeanor and approached him with concern.

"Elpenor, is everything alright? You seem off today," Ziusudra asked, his voice gentle yet probing.

Elpenor forced a smile, trying to mask his anxiety. "I'm just feeling a little under the weather," he replied, hoping to deflect further questions.

Ziusudra's eyes narrowed slightly, not convinced by Elpenor's response. "Is it about the letter?" he asked, his tone more insistent.

Elpenor's heart skipped a beat. "How did you know about the letter?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Nidaba noticed you started acting weird after you received it," Ziusudra explained. "She mentioned it to me out of concern."

Elpenor sighed, realizing he couldn't keep the truth hidden any longer. "Promise me you won't tell Nidaba if I share this with you," he pleaded.

Ziusudra nodded solemnly. "You have my word."

Taking a deep breath, Elpenor began to recount the contents of the letter. "The letter was from Hades. He sent me to kill the eldritch beast, and he warned that if I don't act soon, the beast will do something terrible to Nidaba. I don't know what to do, Ziusudra. I'm torn between my duty and my fear for her safety."

Ziusudra listened intently, his expression growing more serious with each word. "Do you know why I found you that day?" he asked.

Elpenor shook his head. "No, I don't."

Ziusudra's gaze softened as he began to share his own story. "Nidaba and I were on the run because the eldritch beast was after her, trying to make her one of its brides. We were cornered, and I thought we were done for. But then you charged at the beast, drawing its attention away from us. We were able to hide, and if it hadn't been for you, I would probably be dead, and Nidaba—my sister—would have suffered a much worse fate."

Elpenor's eyes widened in shock. "Nidaba is your sister? I had no idea."

Ziusudra nodded. "Yes, she is. But that's beside the point. I already know she's in danger, but you've already saved her once. This is our burden to bear, not yours alone. We will defeat the eldritch beast together."

Elpenor felt a surge of determination at Ziusudra's words. The weight of his fear began to lift, replaced by a renewed sense of purpose. "You're right. We will defeat it together."

With that resolve, they returned to their training with newfound determination, ready to face the challenges ahead.