The Forsaken Hero

I spent the next morning looking for Soltair, visiting all his usual haunts. The slave crest’s bond acted like a compass, pointing me in his general direction, but even navigating the halls was a grueling task. After one look at the crowds, I returned to my chamber and found an old cloak, covered in patches and more gray than white, and wrapped it around me. Despite the early hours, the day was already saturated with the summer’s heat. Sweat had already started to gather on my forehead when I pulled the hood up, ensuring it covered my horns. I could deal with the inconvenience as long as it prevented any misunderstandings.

When I reached the ground level, a scene of bustling commotion greeted me, causing me to stop in surprise. The air shook with a cacophony of voices and the stench of travelers after a long journey. Priests, slaves, and outsiders filled the Divine Throne in preparation for the Summer Festival just days away. The complex served as a hub for the world wide celebration, ensuring even the inner corridors were filled. I was immediately grateful for the cloak as most of the mass seemed from out of town, scurrying around like rats before an exterminator. It wouldn’t take much for someone to notice my demonic features and start a panic.

Within seconds, I found myself pushed roughly into the wall and let out a frustrated sigh. My soul was still weak, adding an additional burden, but even on my best day navigating the central corridors would be impossible. It got to the point where I seriously considered magic an option, but ultimately decided against it. Provoking anyone wasn’t in my best interest right now.

As I scanned for an opportunity to slip back into the flow, a young man on the other side of the corridor caught my eye. His rich purple robes, trimmed with scarlet and gold, stood out amongst the sea of white and gray, but it was his face that I recognized. I groaned as my tail stiffened, and quickly sank back down. At the last second, he looked my way, and I could only pray he hadn’t seen me. An encounter with the second prince was the last thing I wanted. What was he even doing here? Shouldn’t he be at the Royal Palace, preparing for the festival?

A tremendous force slammed into my side, hurling me off balance. I tumbled through the crowd, colliding with bodies along the way, before finally landing with a jolt on the ground. Pain rippled through my body, especially in my ribs, although they didn’t seem broken. I shuddered, feeling a spike of fire penetrate my being as the impact aggravated my soul’s injuries.

Gathering my wits, I looked up just in time to see a hulking, eight-foot-tall bearkin bounce off the wall, sending several other people flying as well. I rubbed my side, shaking my head in irritated curiosity. What in the world could have made someone like him stumble?

”D-d-d-demon!”

I looked up, alarmed by the sudden cry only to find my cloak displaced by the commotion. A middle-aged man with gray in his sideburns pointed a shaking finger at me, eyes bulging as he backpedaled. He knocked into a few others, who turned to see what his shouting was for.

I shoved my tail behind me and whipped the hood back up, but it was too late. Cries of ”demonkin,” and ”filthblood,” filled the hall and a wide circle opened up around me. Amongst the sea of panic, a group of weathered adventurers swiftly drew their weapons, forming a loose ring around me. Their faces were young, but seasoned, flickering with caution and ready for action.

I was taken aback at their coordination, noticing the way they subtly watched their leader’s body language for direction. They must really trust his judgment. Behind them, the masses escaped in any direction they could, leaving no small amount of people injured within the stampede.

A flash of purple vanished on the edge of the crowd, and I subconsciously activated the Eyes of Fate. A brief glance was all it took to confirm my suspicions. Although he was long gone, I could still see the third-circle wind spell Vorinth had cast. I scowled, folding my arms and staring at the adventurers around me. Were they all plants, or just a well trained party? I found it difficult to believe the prince had set this entire thing up, as me being here at this moment was a pure coincidence, but how did he manage to spot me?

”Stand down, filthblood,” the leader of the adventurers said. ”We only just got here, and I’d hate to have to spend the first part of the festival cleaning your blood off my sword.”

He spoke casually, with a look that made it clear he didn’t consider me a threat. I slowly raised my hands to show them I wasn’t a threat, but the action prompted him and his party to release their auras. The suppressive weight bore down, feeling no less powerful than Ronin’s. I staggered, but kept my feet and tore my hood off again.

”I’m not here to hurt anyone. I live here,” I said, holding my hands up to show they were empty. ”I’m actually one of the he-”

”Enough, demon. I didn’t ask for your excuses. Surrender, or we’ll be forced to make you submit,” the man said.

His tone was hard and uncompromised, filled with an expectation to be obeyed. I took a closer look at the adventurers, feeling that something wasn’t quite right. They all had impressive mana, and even the weakest was capable of casting fourth-circle spells. Their priest had the symbol of the Law God, who was widely worshiped in the neighboring kingdom of Ornth.

Their leader wore full plate armor and carried a two-handed sword. His equipment was filled with powerful fifth-circle enchantments, but he carried his helmet on his pack. Likely wasn’t expecting to encounter demons in the middle of the Divine Throne. I was surprised by his relative youth, likely only fifteen or sixteen. He had long brown hair and a strong cheekbone, handsome by all accounts. His eyes narrowed and mana filled his gaze, moving in the unpredictable pattern of an ability.

My skin crawled as he continued to stare at me, feeling like the weight of a gavel. The man frowned a moment later, his expression morphing rapidly from surprise, to alarm, and then to wariness.

”Why can’t I read her?” he muttered, gripping his sword tightly. ”Alright, move in. Be careful and don’t take any risks.”

I sighed ruefully, still holding my hands out. I considered releasing the Eyes of Fate, so that he could properly scan me with whatever identification ability he had, but decided that was pointless. At this point, they wouldn’t back down, so I gingerly grabbed as much mana as my soul would allow and prepared myself. I suspected he was a hero, which meant his power was likely overkill. If I wasn’t careful, he might accidentally kill me.

The slave crest quivered, and I immediately recalled the new commandments. ”Okay, I surrender,” I said. If it wasn’t too painful, I’d let the slave crest prove my innocence, but at least now-

”Surrender? You’d go through all the effort of infiltrating the Divine Throne and then surrender? Ridiculous. As if we could trust you.”

He sounded more than skeptical, tone bordering denial. I frowned, beginning to grow irritated. What kind of absurd situation was this?

”Look, if you want to fight, I heard there’s a tournament for all the heroes during the festival. Why don’t we-”

”How did you know I was a hero?”

I sighed and dropped to my knees, causing them all to tense. There was no point talking like this. Hopefully, the guards would come soon, and we could- ah, there they were. I even felt a little smug, seeing the first face to appear.

A team of guards flooded the corridor, halting behind the team of adventurers. Jordan led the squad, holding his massive sword in hand and releasing an aura proving his strength. My breath left me as the aura slammed into me, forcing me against the wall for support. Fortunately, I’d already knelt down, so I didn’t fall completely.

”What’s the situation?” he asked, coming to a stop beside the hero.

”We discovered this filthblood infiltrating the Divine Throne. They’ve done nothing but mock us, but we’ve intimidated them into submission.”

Jordan’s eyes narrowed, and I felt his gaze sweeping over me. He put the point of his sword on the ground and leaned against it. His lips twitched as though he were holding back a smile. ”Excellent work. And you are?”

The youth bowed sharply, demonstrating his perfect understanding of etiquette. ”Victor, the Law Hero, as well as my party. We’ve just arrived and happened to be in the right place at the right time. I trust we can leave the just punishment of this disgusting interloper to you?”

”Of course. Thank you for your diligence.”

Victor nodded and shot one last look at me before departing with the other adventurers.

When they were gone, Jordan sheathed his sword. Some of the guards chuckled as they followed suit, and I recognized a few of them from the training grounds.

”Well, that was interesting,” Jordan said, restraining his aura. He offered his hand to me, which I gratefully took. The extended exposure to the powerful auras pushed my weakened soul to its limits, and I was very near my limit.

His colossal hand pulled me up with too much force, and I stumbled until he grabbed my shoulders and steadied me. ”Sorry about that,” he said with a smile. ”You need to put some more meat on those bones.”

”Why didn’t you tell him who I was?” I asked, feeling a little indignant. I had at least wanted to see the self-righteousness wiped off his face!

”I remember him from the early days, after he was summoned. Obsessed with laws and rules, just like his god. It will take more than a few words from a simple martial instructor like me to convince him. I’m sure the church will straighten everything up in good time.”

I nodded. ”Thanks for the help. I’m glad it was you.”

”I must say, hearing about a demon spy in the middle of the Divine Throne certainly got my blood boiling. Been a while since I’ve had a good fight.”

I shook my head in disbelief. Why did he sound so disappointed? ”At least the hallways are clear now. Have you seen Soltair?”

The instructor scratched his chin and thought for a moment. With a snap, he nodded. ”I think he received an assignment a while back. Went with that girl who’s always following him around. A good warrior, Trishe, but too busy mooning over the man to take her own training seriously.

He and Trishe went out alone? Wasn’t that like... a date?